Sapphire

It doesn't have wings but it moves mountains.

Bloated financiers getting control over Government, who change the rules to allow the rich to get even richer at the expense of the poor. That happens in Australis, ie the last revolution here brought a change of government because the mining industry didn't like the tax policies of the previous government-so Mr Rudd was disposed of. We think we have competative choice in day to day buying. only looks that way. Check out household costs in Europe and USA

The person/business that designed your small plane does not seem to be required to supply complete performance data. That could be hard to supply because people put in different engines, esp if home built. Make up your own figures for your a/c. Measure landing, t/o distance, rates of climb at different temps and weights-if you like to fly by the numbers.

Spent two years hand propping a plane. A hot engine can fire with mags off as if it was a diesel. Hope my next plane has a starter

Looks like it's R rated as well-been disabled for me. Utube has lots of choices on this subject

They are a great plane and the only one I know of you can get now for under $10000 made from composite. Had one of the first factory built-no flaps and no wing tanks, points ignition. One guy I talked to put a door in the side of the fusalage and loaded it up with camping gear. Wonder if he is still alive.

Nice plane. Seems a lot less work than built from scratch using the "moldless method"

Don't forget to retract before landing or you will leave abrasion marks all the way down the runway! [time for another preflight...]

It could be a cheap alternative to viagra if the wind chill factor was bout -20c

Ive never had a plane with a hole in the top of the canopy, but sometimes there is a drain hole in the floor. A wet "appendage" would work just as well there

Congratulations Motzart, now you can fly for free and fill up your bank account at the same time.

Of course, Metalman, after all the discussion you meant that you wrap your lips around the pitot tube and apply suitable pressure as observed by someone in the cockpit watching the asi. There is no terminology for that technique that I can google under "aviation terms" Just use your terminology and tell them you're *Metalman*, able to leap from tall buildings in a single bound. That should stop any uncomfortable queries.

I'am thinking.........

Thats ok unless you are flying a C5 Galaxy or similar. Requires about 12000 feet to take off and that is probably at ISA sea level. It wont be flying to Bangda airport[worlds highest] in Tibet too often- 15000 feet plus. The terminal must be pressurized there.

Most gliding clubs have this device. Will give you errors in your indicated air speed over your whole speed range. The blowing bit from a distance was just to get the needle to twitch, but not recommeded by many here.

As a result of the above "discussion" we can conclude there are three ways of checking your ASI preflight. First is to check it on the ground run, second is the rolled up rubber tube method, and third is to wrap your lips around the pitot tube "using the pressure of your mouth". That requires some precautions as listed above, including anyone around intent on photographing it [for educational purposes of course]

I don't think I want to go there.

length & girth of the pitot on the Sportstar this definitely fitted into the "things you see when you haven't got a camera" category! I think some planes are sold just on the size of their pitot tube:wink:

I think I'll pass on the smacker around a heated pitot tube. Blowing from a distance [3"] was the usual way to do it but saliva and bad breath are out. I like the idea of pushing a plastic tube over the pitot tube and rolling it up until "cruise speed" is reached. After you have done it once you know how far to roll up. Each preflight, roll it up and hold it in place with a clamp. Go around and check the ASI. Don't forget to remove before flight. Checking the ASI on the ground run is faster though and very rarely would you have to power off and taxi back, but not practical for a glider.

In gliding circles they do it all the time-lots of time to check the a/c before the thermals start. How would you check it otherwise??

How many people check the air speed indicator preflight? To lightly blow into the pitot tube and view my ASI at the same time is a gymnastic manoever I can't do. Was flying out of Kununurra to remote strips and the ASI was not working. Returned to an irate boss who said "If it ever happens again, just keep going". I eventually kept going-out the door.

EXPECTED to break all the rules you were FORCED to learn.. Training institutions have the agenda to produce a safe pilot as determined by the enforceing authority. Charter organizations are there to make money and if safety gets in the way........

Probably of no surprise, while flying commercially I had to break the rules consistantly in minor and major ways. Was called on short notice to fly a group of three in a Mooney. The plane was loaded and fully fueled when I got there-with baggage piled high to the ceiling. Air temp was approaching 40c and used most of the 3300 foot runway. Other issues involved landing on private strips that wouldn't qualify as a driveway.

He couldn't climb so he decided to bounce it back under the lines then yanked the stick back again but sank into the ground and killed all on board He might have made it but was doomed as soon as he decended beneath the lines. He was already near the stall and to arrest his decent he "yanked the stick back again". Now the aircraft had to suddenly produce both more lift to arrest the downward momentum and more lift to climb away. There was no lift left to produce as the stall angle of attack was now reached and the a/c "sank into the ground and killed all on board". Of course don't fly overweigh anytime but that tragedy will repeat itself again and again

I've heard of so many similar cases where the pilot loads up and thinks it's ok when the plane does climb away, then comes back down past the strip after leaving ground effect. If you have to fly really overwight, stay in ground effect till your speed builds up and then climb at a very low rate [100fpm]. If terrain doesnt allow it-dont go. Thats what I would do.