XP503

To DazzaI live in Logan, and very good friends of mine live in Inala, and you who live in GG have a lot to say ,crime is rampant ,drugs galore ,and dont leave your vehicle unattended ,might not be there when you get back, for all you say about Jabs , what about the Rotax powered Tecnam Of Airsports Boonah that GAVE up not to much from you on that one ,pull your head in good people live in all sorts of areas (as do the bad people)

cheers gareth

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Flying in some old avro or auster or Fairchild, would entail being exposed to a similar reliability issue. Anything that has an old motor that has been overhauled. If there were a lot of overhauled Rotax's they would not be as reliable as the engines were originally. The main reason rotax are more reliable is being water cooled heads and valves that don't require attention the engines don't get fiddled with and they don't detonate.The basic aircooled Jabiru won't run for as long without attention

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My sentiments exactly Motzartmerv. I'd never want to see Jabs grounded however I'd love to see the engine reliability improved. I fail to see how anyone could justify disagreeing with this......?

Why do you and your friend seemed so concerned about what others choose to fly or use as powerplants? Not that I don't have my concerns with some Jab motors, but really! Your going to tell the RaAus? The way I see it is that I fly a recreational aircraft and I started flying in what seems to be what you are currently flying. When I started I understood that I flew in an unreliable 2stroke motor and flew in a manner with that in mind. We were very limited in what we could do. Just keep pushing your opinions in this manner and you might find in time that your open air cloth and tube 2 stroke ultralight might loose it current privileges. Lets face it ,, right or wrong the public will see a Drifter as a death trap and a Jabiru as a plans. I had that problem when I owned a Trike that had better certification than my Jab. I agree we all want safer flying, but this has always been to me as seat of the pants recreational flying. Want better standards and reliability the one will need to spend more money than that of something like a Drifter, go for a twin GA aircraft. I can see that in time that this kind of banter will do everything to destroy the freedoms than many older pilots gained for us, including the builders, developers and risk takers.

Anyway a bit off topic (sorry for that)

2)You mention that you flew your 2 stroke machine with the notion that the engine will fail at all times, as I do, and good on you. The problem I have is that somewhere along the line this fundamental lesson is not being taught. As I said, pilots just seem to be flying blissfully along over trees and rocks and mountains.....

3)Your argument that you need to go and fly GA to be blessed with better standards and reliability is the most ignorant thing I've heard in a while, I know the regulations regarding maintenance are more stringent as is the training but there is no reason whatsoever that a a rec pilot cannot enjoy flying that is just as safe or safer than any other machine in the sky. It comes down to TRAINING and knowing your aircraft.

4) A Jabiru goes down almost once a month, and yet you are telling me that I might risk being able to not fly my Drifter because of the public's perception on how it looks???.....my mind is boggling trying to grasp your logic.....So should we ban hang gliders and paragliders and bungee jumping because the public thinks they look a bit weird??? If I was Joe Public I would sooner ground the little white aeroplanes with the engines that tend to stop...........

5)Let me point out - I LOVE JABIRU'S - and I honestly mean that. I have flown them extensively, my Grandpa has a J400 which he flew around Australia with not one hiccup. I WANT jabiru to become an even greater success story. They have such a good product, and it is ruined by the dead weight at the front.

6) I'm just sick of hearing about them failing and injuring people. As members of the ultralight fraternity we should be banding together to demand a higher quality engine.

7) I'm afraid I disagree that this banter puts our freedoms at risk. I have no desire to destroy the privileges gained by our pioneers in fact my intentions are the complete opposite!!!!! I am pushing for a safer engine and more accountability from the manufacturer, as well as improved training by FTF's with regards to engine failures, wouldn't you agree this would result in a safer organization?

8) I am not a Jab-Basher so don't waste your breath calling me that, you can call me a Jab-Lover though hahaha.

http://www.jabirucrash.com/

http://www.aircentre.com.au/aircraft/efato.htm

Awesome! Hey where do you get those blue seatbelts from and how much mate?

On an aside, I heard from a pilot friend today who rang RAAus to see what action they were going to take about solving the problems surrounding the rubber band powered dead weight AKA Jab engine - and was told by a senior RAAus exec - 'nothing because if we ground them then instructors will be out of work and no one will be able to learn to fly'

What a crock. I am going to call them on Monday and get more info but if that is true then they are better watch out.....

Yes the Jab came down in the Logan area and anyone from QLD will tell you that if it's not chained down with 10 CCTV cams monitoring it, the "Logan Bogans" will attack like paranahs. The place is a cess pool of low life, dole bludging, rats tail wearing uneducated scum of the earth. They probably sold the parts to buy drugs and they probably left their 5 snotty nose babies in the car with the windows up. When I become PM I'm going to send all the Logan Bogans to Nauru. Scum bags.

Catch the bastards

It will

Airsport Boonah will have one online for training by December. Can't wait, they look awesome.

Ignorance is bliss. I reiterate my point, a fantastic aircraft, an Aussie success story, fun to fly. All ruined because the engines are ticking time bombs, what a damn shame.....

Yea probably a bit harsh in hindsight but seriously how many jabirus are going to have to crash due to engine troubles before everyone gets their head out of the sand? And why do they very seldom land in a suitable paddock or the like? I love the jab airframe they are bloody strong but that's no excuse to not have a way out when (not if) the fan stops. Such a shame as they are almost a great Aussie ac....jab lovers - don't bother, I've heard it allllll before,

If you fly with an aircraft with a Jabiru engine, it is not a matter of 'if' it 'may fail' - it is a certainty that the piece of crap 'WILL' fail - Just such a shame that those who suffer the inevitible/unavoidable ''Jabiru Engine Failure'' curse (N.B applies to all jab engines) all seem unable to be within a safe gliding distance to somewhere decent to land.

Are they ten foot tall and bullet proof?

Oh well. Darwins theory being proven before our very eyes..........

No wonder RAAus is in such a bad shape..........

Whole bunch of jabiru drivers out there with no expertise and a hand grenade for an engine....

happy flying

(Firstly: I am no expert on these things I will just say what I have heard and seen.

Things can be stowed in the wings by undoing the velcro. I also believe there was a Fatality due to this because the stowed item slipped out the back, into the prop which chopped off the tail/ structural failure of some sort.

If you have a large nose pod, a collapsable fuel bag should fit in there.

a collapsable bag could also fit behind the piliots seat. I Know wayne fishers training drifter had a cargo pod moulded into the back of the front seat.

I have seen pilots flying dual carrying a 10l jerry behind the pilots head attached to the A frame.

There is also room to attach a collapsable bag behind the pax seat between that and the framework before the fuel tank that slopes back like this /

http://www.drifteraircraft.com/DesktopModules/SimpleGallery/SlideShowPopup.aspx?PortalID=1&ItemID=57

would be interesting to hear what other knowledge drifter drivers can shed

Do you train with Peter Reed? If so - you are in the best hands RAAus has to offer, and can be safe in the knowledge that you were taught by the VERY best......

Yep, and some stink more than others...

I have Emah lined up to manufacture a set for my Drifter as soon as the funds permit. But it would be great to have a specialist maintenance facility/contact for parts/repairs etc....

Viva le Drifter!!!!!!!

Sure you are. Jabiru has a huge fan in David

Emah is still manufacturing the skins. Good luck finding someone as good as Wayne to take over the airframe (etc.) side of it......RIP

That's good to know Patrick, may come to you for advice.

Good pilot. Not legal in Aus but nothing the Sierra can't handle

Thanks Dazza. And yea I will be there with bells on to fit yours with ya

In the not too distant future I plan to purchase a new set of sails from Emah at Lismore.

My question is, does anyone out there have any experience, tips and advice they would like to share?

With the passing of Wayne and his depth of expertise, I am worried about getting it right.

There are a few guys at Boonah who will hopefully offer support but I was wondering if any of you had anything to share on the topic.

Thanks in advance

I will say this, the cabin of a Jabiru is tough as nails, id feel a bit safer coming down in one of them than most other LSA's - (roblem is, they come down more often than most..........*not jab bashing*** I love all aeroplanes :-))))))) But holy moly theyve got a strong cabin structure