J230 @ YSWG

[Ross]

Hi Geoff

 

I was visiting my daughter in Concord in August and was taking a few photos outside around the house when I looked up to see the blimp. So I got a few low quality photos whenthey were on the far side of their circle when I could see the programmable screen on the blimp but better qualityon the other side of the circuit. See photos below.

 

This first shot was 10X but trimmedbut notenlargedas the blimp was at about 45 degrees south of Concord and a fairly good shot but got too far away after it did a 180 degree tun.

 

[ATTACH]213[/ATTACH]

 

In this photo below they can program the screen to display different scenes but this shot was a very long shot with 10X zoom and the pic was very small and has been trimmed and enlarged substantially so quality is pretty bad.

 

[ATTACH]214[/ATTACH]

 

Regards

 

Ross

 

 

 

 

[Guest Fred Bear]

Biggest problem with that thing... it's a Holden!

 

 

[Ross]

Hi Clem

 

Mainly the blimpwould not come close enough. I was contending with houses, trees and powerlines to get that last shot.

 

This morning I discovered our tarpaulin manufacturer in Leeton stocks Velcro and a limited amount of felt. As well as that I got more carpet tack goo from the local furniture and carpet shop this morning.

 

So I was able to make up covers using felt a bit heavier than I wanted with Velcro zipsfor the fuel lines on the J160 today as well as doing the last of the screen side and top felt cabin liners. :big_grin: So it was a reasonably productive day compared to some. But it did have a bad start as I put my fingers into a tin full of pens and pencils to extract a rechargeable battery (the clock in my office had stopped) only to slice open one of my fingers next to the index finger on a very sharp razor blade in the bottom of the tin. It kept getting acetone (and my attention)on it during the day!

 

Tomorrow I will get to lining the luggage area. I have changed the position ofthe power unit for the flasher to behind the pilot seat on the fuse wall.

 

Regards

 

 

[Guest AusDarren]

I have to get the Sailplane ready for its Form 2 for the next couple of days.

So thats how you take 3 people.. tag along behind..

 

you could have put the seats in the back. *grin*

 

I do like those curves on the fuse though

 

Regards,

 

AusDarren

 

 

[Ross]

Hi Captain

 

Did you see all the gliders amongst the GA aircraft that lost their registration on the CASA list. There seemed to be a lot of L13 Blaniks. I noticed that most of the ex Leeton Gliders now owned by others that I flew were on the deregisterd list. I think I saw GIX, IUK, IUU amogst others that I was familiar with.

 

Regards

 

 

[Guest Roger]

Geoff your machine looks real good. Your efforts are showing the results you deserve

 

Hehe - Without putting too much pressure on you, our machine should roll out of the factory around the 19th. So everything been fair and equal, which it generally isn't, you will have your ride at WoverW on the 28th!

 

What colour are you finishing with? Or are you keeping that a secret? ;)

 

ps. Ross get going on your 160 then we can all fly away.....

 

somewhere...

 

out there....

 

Roger

 

 

[Captain]

G'day Fellas,

 

I did notice all the deregistered aircraft Ross. Everyone got their reminders and final warnings so it will be interesting tofind outwhether all of those owners have been slack .... or all those aircraft are still about but unused. It's a small world Ross. I lived in Concord when I was a Whipper Snipper. Went to Nth Strathfield Public and all. I was in High St. Where is your daughter? I went back there for dinner in Majors Bay Rd with a couple of Italian mates. Boy has it changed.

 

There was an article in the last Soaring Aust Mag, Darren,about using J230's for towing Sailplanes ..... but geez I'd have to multitask to make that work. I agree with you about the curves. Am quite pleased with the shape behind the back windows.

 

I'll keep 'em crossed for you for the 19th Roger. That would be a great week of flying if the weather is kind. Bundaberg to home then a hop over this way and let everyone admire your beast. When you (and any others) come over to Wagga just kiss the northeast corner of the Kapooka Restricted Area and you'll come right over my place. You'll see me weeping on the lawn. Do you have your rego number yet Roger?

 

My colours and decoration have all been worked out here and will be on in about 2 weeks, so I'll post a pic then. Captain

 

 

[Guest Roger]

Do you have your rego number yet Roger?

Not yet - I am told it all happens this week. It seems to be travelling along happily.

 

Problem is that I lost my seat to go and get it to another syndicate member. He is better then me at "Paper/Scissors/Rock - bugger!

 

 

[Captain]

Roger

 

If your other syndicate members are too proficient at Rock/Scissors/Paper, I suggest that you see what they are like at interpreting Syndicate Rule 243 ......... see attached pic.

 

Just put one thru their front door and see if a seat suddenly becomes available from Bundaberg.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Regards Geoff

 

(Disclaimer - This is meant as a warped sense of humour ..... and should only be tried by trained professionals in a controlled environment)

 

 

 

[Ross]

The two front runners look like a fairly convincing argument depending on what speed they cruise at.

 

 

[Captain]

Ross,

 

VNE is about 3,900 feet per second.

 

Geoff

 

 

[Ross]

Geoff

 

Sounds like it would leave the 303 model for dead with better and lower faster flying characteristics.

 

 

[Guest Roger]

Damn fine rule that one!

 

It slipped my mind, I might try and invoke it - the fact that the other guy is an officer of the law shouldnt deter me either....

 

....much :confused:

 

 

[Captain]

Well the Sailplane is done and goes tah-tahs to Corowa tomorrow where it will live all this summer.

 

That frees up 2 bays inthe shed for J230 stuff to be spread out ..... and if I keep spending like I have been, I'll be living over there too.

 

Ihaven't yet mentioned that there are Bose headsets in the pipeline.

 

For those who are interested, here is what the dash of a late model sailplane, with an engine, looks like.

 

Fitted the latest OzFlarm anti collision display today ... at top centre.

 

Also for those of you with a GPS and a PDA, check out www.winpilot.com if youare interested ina relatively low cost moving map display. They have both Gliding and VFR Power programs and it works very well in my machine.

 

Regards Geoff

 

 

 

[Captain]

Can't believe it's been so long since my last post, but have been locked in combat with the top & bottom engine cowls.

 

I have found this to be the most difficult part of the build so far ... mainly because I haven't done it before, am being over pedantic about getting it right .... and it's bloody hard to get it all spot on.

 

The front needs to be central on the prop shaft, the back needs to fit into the joggle on the fusl*ge and the sides have to meet up in a piano hinge. Doesn't sound too bad, does it? Except that when you adjust one area all of the others move as well.

 

I've been ringing and emailing all that are giving me guidance, then I sit and look at it all for a while ... then make another adjustment. Then sit for a while and swear.

 

Part of the past 11 days was also taken up with some work, too, whichdistracted me from aviation for a while. It's a bugger like that, isn't it?

 

Well ... for the good news.

 

1 The 1st headset has arrived and they are yummy. See pic below.

 

2 My Glider is at it's new home for this soaring season and the Form 2 annual is complete. That's yummy too. See pic.

 

Then see the pics of the Cowl when initially taped together. That's the easy bit.

 

Then see them on the aircraft as of today .... ready for more adjustment and hopefully for trimming & final fit tomorrow. Don't worry about the fact that the piano hinges aren't together, as thy should all come together nicely once all is trimmed and fitting into the joggle ... I bloody-well hope so, anyway.

 

Have also fitted a SAF-Air oil drain unit and it is pretty close to the exhaust. I wonder if the new extractors are closer than before and am waiting for a reply from someone else who also has one on a previous model3300.

 

Regards & if any of you have an easy procedure for the cowls (other than buying a factory aircraft) please let me know before I start trimming them tomorrow.

 

Regards Geoff

 

Captain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Captain]

G'day All,

 

Went out to Wings Over Wagga last Fri & Sat. It was blowing a gale both days and I suspect that many cancelled their trips, but there were a few J230 aircraft and owners out there to look at, learn from, drool over and bullsh*t with.

 

I had a great time until Roger's J230 turned up flown by one of his syndicate members. How depressing was that. They won the race and were as happy as Sand Boys ... with huge smiles. Congratulations fellas. I'll be over for a coffee & a chat once mine is up and running.

 

Also met up with another of our more illustrious Forum Members in his J400, and who was bounced from pillar to post coming up and back from southern Mexico on Saturday.

 

Well .... after all that I'm inspired again and have a second wind .... or is it perhaps just normal wind?

 

Have done a 1st trial wing fit and all looks good. Geez the 230 wing makes them wide buggers, as you can see from the following pics.

 

I just about have the cowl beaten,with just a fiddle or two to go before final attachment of screws and camlocks.

 

Also on here is a pic of the ceramic coated muffler and tail pipe by Jet-Hot Coatings. They did a nice job& I meant to post this a week or two ago.

 

Now onward and upward to finish the cowl, bond on the strut/undercarriage fairings, and complete the wings.

 

Cheers Geoff

 

Captain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest Fred Bear]

Someone told me that there were approximately 6 J200/400 variants there at Wagga. I remember when they were few and far between. Roger's new LSA J230 was impressive with a nice pin-stripe set-up - not too heavy on colour and not too light. Me liked.

 

I heard Captain that you were practically too busy wining and dining with the SAAA dignatries to socialise with some of the other pilots, however that could be just hear-say.

 

You will thank yourself that your aircraft wasn't ready for WAGGA as you'll end up getting a much better result now by not rushing.

 

 

[Guest P.A.]

[ATTACH]229[/ATTACH]

I think I can see a potential problem here.

 

 

 

[Captain]

No Peter it's OK. The shed is expendable.

 

You are right Clem. There were 200/400's of all persuasions with 3 blade carbon fibre props, central locking everything with disco lights a-flashing, 4 speaker toof-toof stereo systems in the back etc etc.

 

It was certainly worth the look.

 

You are also right about the wining & dining too Clem. Someone said that if you do that, you will be given an RV6 to play with, so I thought it worth the effort.

 

Regards to you both Captain

 

 

[Ross]

Hi PA

 

He might adopt the Griffith aerodrome solution. Ag owner building a deep sea fishing boat in his hanger on the airfield is going to remove the roof off the hanger and use a crane to lift the boat out. Even then vertical clearance may be a problem to get it to Port Fairey!

 

Regards

 

 

[Ultralights]

G'day All, [ATTACH]230[/ATTACH]

Is it just me or does that look like a cessna 307? you know, the pusher puller twin aircraft with the twin tail booms??

 

now that would look different, a twin tail boom Jabiru, Vampire style!

 

 

 

[Guest sypkens]

Captain,

 

Can I ask a stupid question? :confused: How will you get it out of the hanger/shed? Does the wings detach?

 

Regards,

 

Jan

 

 

[Captain]

No probs with that question Jan if you haven't built or studied a Jabiru.

 

What is shown in the pics is just the 1st trial fit of the wings. Each wing has 2 bolts attaching to brackets that are molded into the fuselage and then there is a bolt at each end of the struts.

 

I just have the bolts thrueach hole at this stage and it's a 30 second job to take the wings on and off as I progress the build.

 

I attached the lower strutmain fairing to the fuselage last night .... havingneglected to do it before I undercoated it. We saw others at Wings Over Wagga, so did it over the past 2 days.

 

Will post a pic on that as soon as I can.

 

Regards & thanks for the question.

 

Geoff

 

 

[Guest AusDarren]

Every pic makes it look teasingly closer!!

 

your making great Progress

 

:big_grin:

 

Regards,

 

AusDarren

 

 

[Guest sypkens]

Hi Captain,

 

Thanks for the explanation. Does that mean once the build is complete it will still be that quick to get the wings off i.e. is it an aricraft you can easily load onto a trailer?

 

Regards,

 

Jan