rick-p

Well I don't know what would be worse a Kangaroo or one of the Bustards (plain turkey) that frequent my strip. At least with a roo you more likely than not would be on the ground or at leat almost there. These confounded protected dam flying fortress turkeys reach a reasonable altidude but are quite slow and would take forever and a day to move out of your path of travel. It is quite frightening when you are on short finals and you have a dozen of these birds come out of the long grass beside the strip and decide to fly accross your path. They grow to about the size of a small emu without the long legs. I have never hit one but have on a number of occasions come extremely too close for comfort. They are a very determined bird and take a lot of effort in chasing them away. I have only experianced one larger bird strike and that was a crow which in fact attacked us whilst taxing, it flew from the rear of the plane through the prop and we had to return to the tie down area to wash the blood of the screen as basically you couldn't see anything out of it. At Thangool on the grass strip I once cleaned up on takeoff obout 30 poor little swallows who fly so fast I just didn't see them untill they hit me. No damage but a big mess. Rick-p

Gooday mate, that little friend of our's (Greg) was sitting on your shoulder, for sure. Regards, Rick-p

Nev you will recall that some time ago I had an oil pressure problem with my Jab 2200, it is now fixed. I installed an oil cooler to the rear of the motor with cooling ducting directed from the top of the cowl. All works perfectly now. It must have been heat layering of the oil that wasn't being picked up on the probe but causing the drop in pressure as apposed to an unacceptable rise in temperature on the guage. The moral of the story is that notwithstanding the fact that the engine is operating suposedly OK elsewhere in the same type aircraft the interveneing factors where you are operating from may well be sufficient, although only suttle, to change the position of the goal posts. Jabiru did advise me that they wouldn't warrant the engine unless it had an oil cooler installed. It hasn't upset my hot box for carby heat, in fact I think that it has complimented it. The Jab's running in Lambada's in Ireland and Europe must because of the climate, much cooler weather, offset some of the oil cooling problems with layered oil heat. The plane was purchase by me from a guy on the otherside of Sydney where there is much cooler summer temperatures than here, he had no problems these only commenced in the much hotter climate where I play. The X-Air's flying in the Philippines with Jab 2200's because of no cowl must have some of the layered oil heat disapated by the cool air flowing around and over the whole motor. This is probably evidenced by the fact that they tape up their oil coolers as the engines otherwise don't reach operating temperature. Anyway the bonus moral of the story is listen to the engine manufacture as even if they can't pinpoint the problem exactly they can always offer a fix within the range. Also you and guys like Brent through this forum offered some very valuable advice as to the possibilities in respect of the problem and for this I say thankyou. Rick-p

The main thing is that you both walked away and is the most important thing and always good to hear. Thanks for sharing. Rick-p

It would I think be appropriate for all that read the quoted reports to read in each case the whole report as what is addressed is a past issue now rectified by the manufacturer and the reliability has improved and improves with time as has been the case with every aero engine ever manufactured, that is those that have remained in production and have not been pulled out. I have spoken to hundreds of Rotax and Jab owners and it is I now know the case that there is little difference in the reliabilty of each of the subject engines. One thing is certain to me that most of the problems on the simpler of the 2 engines has been finger mentality. That is those who think they know how to tinker really don't. The Jab engine was the tinker's dream as it is so simple whereas the Rotax is a mechanical God which instills fear even in the hearts of the most brave and fools alike. It has really come down whether you like Ford, GMH, Mazda or Toyota or what religion you are or what football team or political party you follow and it has very little to do with reliability or anything else. As for oil coolers my Jab engine didn't have one and I did have some issues and after speaking with many experts I decided to fit one and have never looked back both pressure and temperature wise and yes it is a good idea to crank the engine over a few times without the mag's on. Always do this after you have change the oil and filter. I have both a 912 and a 2200 and a Gypsy Major Mark 10 and the best engine out of all of them is the GM tractor engine (Gypsy Major) it is like the Perkins Engine used in trucks even if a piston falls out of it it will still keep going. Rick-p

Hey Nev that comment of your's is only applicable to sand groppers, mexicans and cockroachs it has no application north of the border as it is a fact and even has judicial notice that the legal men in the sunshine state are as honest as the day is long and are for certain not morons as for being able to weld I don't know about that. :hittinghead:

No excuses then see you all in Obanana land (Monto) on QB weekend

Mike keep reminding me and I will remember it. We are getting rained out here, too much water to get to the shed. Rick-p

Once again Nev you have hit the nail right on the head. You never cease to amaze me with your posts. If it's engineered then there is always a point at which it will fail, nothing is finite:Flush:. Regards, Rick-p

It just goes to show that CAT ain't the whiskers, now if it was a FIAT it would have hit you all in the head and come out undamaged, NO BULL:ban me please:

Hi Sean I have had the same problem, who is the manufafacturer of your new sensor and the part no.? Also, what was the cost? I just love it when things go wrong it gives me something to whinge about and unload a bit more money on. BY THE WAY THE WINNING NUMBERS FOR NEXT SATURDAY'S LOTTO ARE:- 3, 4, 13, 26, 39 & 40 Regards :baldy: :kboom:

Thanks Ozzie good post. Some people live a full and wonderful life contributing through their inventions to human enjoyment and whilst on the other hand we have the Taxman and politicians. Life does suck, doesn't it!

Like the young kid on the bike, "look mum no hands" CRASH BANG OUCH, "look mum no teeth". OR MORE LIKELY THAN NOT FAR WORSE

Mate for a minute I thought that you were going to drive it there:rotary:

PLeasant little site, well presented. A site such as this does nothing but good for recreational flying. Well done.:thumb_up:

Hi Mike, I sent you some pic's and number did you receive them? Rick-p

jacmiles I have sent you a PM so if you don't receieve it post here again. Rick-p

Hey jacmiles do I know you? Is there a Crook in your family?:DirtDOG: And no I'm not attempting to be humerous :big_grin: as you will know if my assumption is correct and even if it isn't then you will probably understand if I say I know a JC and a Jab 1something residing in your neck of the woods not too many Miles from your base. Rick-p :peepwall:

Dazza, yes thanks I have used the magazine previously with success. It is a great publication with good variety of info for all concerned and the members market does have a very good success rate. Rick-p

Thanks Vorticity but I think that I will retain the attitude because of my past bad experiences with people you think are genuine but are just con artists wanting to impart the vast knowledge they think they have in respect of the particular item that you are trying to sell. In my profession we call them men of straw. If a person has a look and just feels that the item is not really what they want then fair enough but when they have you bent over backwards, tied up in knots and just basically exhausted coming up with every minor matter in an attempt for you to just give it to them at a fire sale price, no thanks. I have sold aeroplanes before to people for less than someone else would have paid me on the basis that I can't tolerate fools and bull:censored: artists. On another point I have already had a couple of good enquiries from members of this site and both these guys are good honest people who can ask what they want and take it as far as it goes and in the end if it isn't what they want that won't be a problem for me as they are not just tourist's but genuine in their search for a suitable aircraft. The last aircraft I sold was advertised in the old AUF magazine and was a very quick result but this time I wanted to try something a bit different and with any luck it has paid off.:thumb_up: Rick-p

Maj. it's not my Drifter it belongs to the club in the Philippines. It's a wire braced model. I find the SkyFox so much easier to fly off, on and just generally around the patch. But in any event I will check out the Drifter when I go over there again in November. Thanks for the advice. Regards, Rick-p

THANKS, BUT YOU CAN'T WIN IT THIS FRIDAY AS I HAVE ALREADY PLACED MY ORDER.

Thanks Nev and Maj. your comments are greatly appreciated. Nev, I know that a lot talk about the difficulty they have experienced in landing a SkyFox but I can honestly say that I have never ground looped any of the number of Fox's I have flown. The only way to land the old girl if other than a very calm day or the wind straight on the nose is to wheel her on. Speed and stability and it saves the tail spring somewhat. The plane that gives me some difficulty and not in landing but taking off is the Drifter. It's those infernal pedals, my feet just can't come to grips with them and my right knee gets tangled up in the dash and fuse. But I do know this that I wouldn't want to be in anything else if I have an engine out over a rice paddy's as you can bury the tail wheel into the mud like an arrestor hook on an aircraft carrier come to a full stop in about 30 feet. Twice proven. Rick-p

I need help and good advice. As some of you are aware I have a CA21 Skyfox which I do really desire to sell in order to fund a restoration project. I don't fly the Fox anymore it just sits in an enclosed shed gathering dust. It is in reasonable condition, a very honest aeroplane. I don't want a fortune for it, only a reasonable price. I might even be prepared to sell the airframe complete without the 912UL. I just don't want all the bull:censored: of dealing with tourists, I only want to deal with genuine buyers. If someone is genuinely interested and has a inspection and then decides not to buy it no problems but I can't entertain tyre kickers. When I bought the aircraft some years ago I told the vendor if the plane is as he describes it I will come to him with a bank cheque in my pocket, give it to him and fly away. That is exactly what happend. It's not a new aircraft and therefore it does have warts but it is safe and flys well so a minor paint blemish or scratch on the perspex are not bargaining points only safety matters and obvious more than minor appearance issues are. I am open to offers but not insulting offers. There have been a few Fox's sell in recent times for around $28,000 to $29,000 but I'm open to offers under that range as even though money does have some reference herein I really don't want to see the aircraft rot away in a shed which will happen if I don't sell it. The 912 only has 350hrs TTIS and the airframe approx 1500hrs but this can be confirmed from the log books. If someone is genuine contender then they will be most pleasantly suprised at what I may be prepared to let it go for. I will not disclose any price at this time as I feel that only the genuine will than look at it but I can say it's less than $28,000, even maybe quite a reasonable amount less that I have in mind. I will say though it won't be as low as the $20,000 a certain worm offered me a little while ago on a sight unseen basis. I don't know what the point of his exercise was as I know what the market value of the aircraft is and I am prepared to sell it under market value but I won't cut my throat for the sake of a sale. I collect things and don't like to part with them but I just feel in the case of the Skyfox it would be a shame if no one ever again got enjoyment from flying it. Anyway if someone can point me in the right direction it will be greatly appreciated. I'm aware of the RAA members market as I sold a Supa Pup some years ago through that method of advertising. What do you all think of Ebay? In anticipation thanks all, for your help and good advice. Regards, Rick-p