A new Nynja in the area

[Blueadventures]

Mondays flight a section of a 1.5 hour fly to the north of the home airfield. Including a fly along a local creek at 500 feet in south westerly winds.

 

[Blueadventures]

Engine Hobbs meter power is taken of the 'L' terminal of the Rotax regulator.

 

My Airspeed switch is a UMA Instruments model 17-800 series and it is connected to another Hobbs meter. (On my unit I found the factory wiring diagram was incorrect and had to wire positive 12 volt feed to 'B' and ground to 'A'; so just check and keep in mind if anyone fits this unit.)

 

Hope this is helpful to any builds.  Cheers

[Col]

Thanks for your informative posts Mike. Most helpful for me as a newbie builder.

Enjoying the project.😀

[Mike Gearon]

First flight in winter. Quite a cool weather performance upgrade.

 

 

 

Edited August 25, 2022 by Mike Gearon

[Blueadventures]

Starting on an armrest for between the seats.  Chris with the NT now SA based Nynja made a similar one so I'll try one out.  It will hinge up and be supported by a wire at the hight that's comfortable.  Using 10mm ply and two WDG14 pipe clamps.  Other image is what a guy in the UK did.

[Mike Gearon]

There should be a new Nynja in the area tomorrow. French island to Dubbo then she flies further north with new owner.

 

Videos..

 

Yesterday wet paddock dislodged wheel spat.

 

Landing at Tyabb a little hot. Seemed to float forever and reality on review was quite a short float.

 

Bottom pic all cleaned up ready for Dubbo just now parked next to the dry runway!

 

 

[Mike Gearon]

Dubbo flight today. 9,500ft added about 5kn and safety factor over the divide. Bloody cold though. Had ski pants on and multiple layers. Had to grab that jacket you see to wedge behind. Kidneys started getting painful from the cold coming through seat and in a rush to get out before fog set in I’d forgotten the cap. Jacket and Bob Tait took sunscreen duty. 
 

Definitely investing in one of those stick on sun screens to push into the appropriate roof area.

 

Thankful to John for bringing Guy down in that beautiful 4 seater tail wheel. Wish I’d gotten a pic. TD Used to live at Tyabb until John purchased 4 months back. 
 

I managed a horrible landing at Dubbo. Guy did 2 circuits in the Nynja with me right seat and way better landings. 6:50am departure, stop at Tumut for fuel I didn’t need and wheels down at Dubbo 11:35am. 400nm averaged around 100-103kn gs. 
 

I finally worked out how to work that spring up top. You can lengthen or shorten it to get exactly the right wind correction for course. It’s just in front of Bob Tait wrapped around.
 

Trimmed out and hands off for a fair portion of the flight. Really enjoyed the trip and meeting John and Guy. Guy is the good looking chap left seat in Nynja.
 

Rex out of Dubbo and Qantas back to Melbourne from Sydney. 
 

 

[Guy s]

Many thanks for flying the Nynja up to Dubbo Mike and great meeting you.

It's been a ongoing saga with getting the Skyranger to her new home with weather, work and other factors kicking in but we got there in the end and Mike seems to be a relaxed kinda guy so all good☺

A mate John flew me down from Lismore to Dubbo taking 3hrs in his Piper pacer with a slight tail wind and a smooth flight.

After losing the Blue budgie (Savannah S) to Lismore flood waters (Northern Nsw) and the bottom end of Qld late feb which was devastating on a huge scale.

I've attached some photos of what I saw the first day I was able to get into the hanger and spent the day walking around bewildered and in shock.

I plan on rebuilding the Savannah,  which virtually had very little damage surprisingly, except for the leading wing edge. I'm going to de-laminate the whole leading edge so i can clean out the mud properly and put new skins on. I have all new gauges, wiring harness etc but I reckon it will take me a few yrs to do get her flying again.

At 1 stage I thought of giving up flying but maybe that was just a stage I was going through with what happen to our hometown and feeling a bit low.

I then realize if I don't get back in2 flying soon I may lose that confidence and not fly again, so then I started seaching planes for sale and when I saw the Nynja I knew that would suit me down to a T.

I thoroughly enjoyed flying it back home, 3.5hrs from Dubbo to Lismore and about 100kt cruise so quicker than the Budgie but they are similar to fly in some area's but different in others,  I know I'll have lot of fun with the Nynja and going to change a few things on it to suit me as well as the 600kg upgrade kit.

Again many thanks for being patient with me Mike and look forward to shaking your hand again.

Cheers Guy.

PS. Photo's of the Skyranger Nynja to come 😀

[Mike Gearon]

That damage is very confronting. You guys have been through an awful lot.

 

I liked your plan to change the throttle linkage. Hopefully it’ll become more positive at both idle and WOT. The current arrangement isn’t good at either end.

[Guy s]

The Nynja at her new home and a very happy pilot.

[Blueadventures]

Life's a Beach, heh.  Nynja enjoying the sand and warm early spring weather.

[eightyknots]

On 06/09/2022 at 10:42 AM, Guy s said:

Many thanks for flying the Nynja up to Dubbo Mike and great meeting you.

It's been a ongoing saga with getting the Skyranger to her new home with weather, work and other factors kicking in but we got there in the end and Mike seems to be a relaxed kinda guy so all good☺

A mate John flew me down from Lismore to Dubbo taking 3hrs in his Piper pacer with a slight tail wind and a smooth flight.

After losing the Blue budgie (Savannah S) to Lismore flood waters (Northern Nsw) and the bottom end of Qld late feb which was devastating on a huge scale.

I've attached some photos of what I saw the first day I was able to get into the hanger and spent the day walking around bewildered and in shock.

I plan on rebuilding the Savannah,  which virtually had very little damage surprisingly, except for the leading wing edge. I'm going to de-laminate the whole leading edge so i can clean out the mud properly and put new skins on. I have all new gauges, wiring harness etc but I reckon it will take me a few yrs to do get her flying again.

At 1 stage I thought of giving up flying but maybe that was just a stage I was going through with what happen to our hometown and feeling a bit low.

I then realize if I don't get back in2 flying soon I may lose that confidence and not fly again, so then I started seaching planes for sale and when I saw the Nynja I knew that would suit me down to a T.

I thoroughly enjoyed flying it back home, 3.5hrs from Dubbo to Lismore and about 100kt cruise so quicker than the Budgie but they are similar to fly in some area's but different in others,  I know I'll have lot of fun with the Nynja and going to change a few things on it to suit me as well as the 600kg upgrade kit.

Again many thanks for being patient with me Mike and look forward to shaking your hand again.

Cheers Guy.

PS. Photo's of the Skyranger Nynja to come 😀

I am really sorry to hear (and see) what has happened to your Bue Budgie, Guy. 

 

When you rebuild her, hopefully you can find a hangar which is located a bit higher above sea level/flood level.

[Guy s]

Thanks 80kts but there's a huge shortage of hangerage space in our local area and finding something out of flood reach is near impossible.

 

There is talk of a plan to relocate the hangers to higher ground on the west side of the Lismore strip but guessing that will be a case of pushing shit uphill as most councils are broke.

[Blueadventures]

Received in the post two check valves for my wing tanks vent arrangement.  Made by Peter Anson Engineering and will stop the fuel flow out the vent pipes when taxing with full tanks.  I'll commence taxi on the tank that the return line is plumbed to.  Hopefully fit tomorrow or in near future.  They have a 3/16" ball inside that is positioned that it lets in the outside air and when fuel flows out of the tanks the ball seals.

$35 each and valve for money as specially made the Nynja wing tanks and vent setup.

 

 

Edited September 27, 2022 by Blueadventures

[Blueadventures]

Fitted the non-return fuel tank vent valves to the wing tanks today.  Fiddly job but all done now.  Used 577 locktite to seal.  Keen to try out with filled tanks.

 

 

Edited September 28, 2022 by Blueadventures

[Garfly]

This video shows some interesting mods being done on a classic Ranger"

 

 

 

[Col]

Our Nynja build is at the engine cowling installation stage. I'd welcome suggestions on the best option for quick release fastners
DZUS or Camloc or ??? and where to source them? I've read the thread "Dzus spring loaded cowl fastenings for a savannah cowl" but still undecided.
Also any thoughts on the preferred positioning of headphone sockets? Lower dash? Between or under seats? Above and behind pilot/passengers head on tu7 tube??
 

[Blueadventures]

Hi Col  My lower cowl is held on with three 4mm metal threads into nylock nut plates.  The upper cowl is held on with camlocs in stainless steel.  I would if doing again place the headset plugs low in front of the seats on the console.

 

You should consider a dedicated thread for your build as that heaps all posts together.  No worries on this one; up to you.

[pmccarthy]

The headset sockets should be positioned so an accidental tug does not bend the plugs. I have ruined two headset mic plugs in my Foxbat where the sockets are in a rail behind my shoulders. The plugs are vertical, a simple lean forward can bend them, cost of the Bose replacement is about $300 each as the whole cable and noise canceller must be replaced. Or solder in a $50 plug and the headset looks crap. Never had a problem in 50 years of flying planes with sockets in the instrument panel.

[Blueadventures]

Merry Christmas to all Nynja and Skyranger flyers and friends; hope you have nice festive seasons and receive some nice equipment additions for your flying and nice weather for your flying.  Best wishes and fly safe.

 

[Blueadventures]

Have the 600kg upgrade kit on the way to be fitted, undercarriage first then do the wings upgrade. Also viewed Barry’s build that is a new 600kg variant.

[Blueadventures]

Unpacked the upgrade kit today.  Weighed the items so I have a record of the new structural bits.  I’ll weigh the respective bits removed. A new w&b will be carried out on completion.  Doing the upgrade in two stages, undercarriage first then later the wing upgrade then I’ll be the 600kg variant.  Caving up two lift attachment plates to allow suspending the aircraft without removing the wings. Cardboard template and being made in 25 x 3mm flat bar, made and just need dressing the edges.

[Garfly]

Very interesting Mike!  Looking forward to further reports. That solid one-piece undercarriage member is very impressive.  The U-bolted individual legs of the earlier Rangers never did inspire a lot of confidence (though they seem to work ;- ) 

 

[Blueadventures]

Fabed up the lift/support lugs; will check fit tomorrow.used 25 x 3mm flat bar.

[Blueadventures]

The Nynja is back on her wheels now and detached from being lifted. Tapped the threads for the bobbins that prevent sideways movement of the undercarriage. Yesterday had the wheels back on but needed some long sockets to allow torque up of the nylocks for the 10mm undercarriage bolts. Stopped for the day and had a beer with my mate who was helping. No more work is ever done once a beer is opened.

 

Did them today, looked at elongating the brake band holes and decided to fabricate up new ones as a perfect fit. Put some fuel in the tanks and plan to double check things in morning, vacuum the inside, fit the seats, and doors then try it out.