T-Bird II trip!

[Tomo]

So I flew a T-bird to it's new home today for the owner...

 

The trip was from Jacobs Well near the Gold Coast to Pittsworth, via Gatton Airpark and Toowoomba. After checking the aircraft off and working out what each button and knob does I went for a quick circuit with the previous owner to make sure I was okay with it - Having never flown one of these ever I liked that idea. It was blowing 22kts apparently so pretty windy and really not a day for joy riding for the fun of it! Anyway it all went well, did a circuit and landed quite gracefully considering the conditions - I'd put it down to the aircrafts easy landing performance more than anything I did! Mind you I was thinking on final this feels pretty wild, the wind was crazy. Tight seat belts are a wonderful thing...

 

While the new owner was finishing off the paper work I got myself finalised, some extra fuel strapped in and a track drawn on my map, also a 20ltr drum of water strapped in the passenger seat for some extra ballast. I set off... Amberley airspace was de-active so I pretty much just followed my nose to Gatton Airpark to visit a mate and top up with fuel for the rest of the flight. Arrived about an hour later, getting tossed around fairly well. Was a good flight though, with the engine performing nicely.

 

Topped up with fuel and had a chat to my mate a G Airpark and then set off for Toowoomba, didn't land there as I figured the least number of landings in this ridiculous wind was a good idea. Turned in the general direction for Pittsworth and arrived a bit later - nothing much fast happens in a 60kt plane with a 30 kt cross wind/slash headwind! (according to Airservices anyway)

 

Landing at Pittsworth was good, but wouldn't want much more of a cross wind as I was pretty much on the control stops. Was quite relieved to be on the ground to be honest!

 

Was a good trip and I enjoyed it, not the nicest of conditions, but at least there wasn't any rain around! Thanks for the experience and for the new friends I've met today.

 

The proud new owner! Adam and Gabby

 

 

Cruising - Amberley in the distance

 

 

 

The instrument panel!

 

 

The beast at G Airpark

 

 

Passing over Toowoomba

 

 

 

Control yoke

 

 

It's new home for the time being.

 

 

 

[rankamateur]

The see through instrument panel is a nice touch, Mark will need one of those in his vision when he orders it.

 

 

[Mark11]

Man that thing is crazy... Never seen one of them before!

 

 

[planedriver]

Well done Tomo, list it in your avitar.

 

I'm sure the new owner is grateful for it's safe delivery in very capable hands.

 

Well done mate!

 

I've not seen one of them before either.

 

Did you have any aprehension before taking on the delivery flight?

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Wild ride Tomo, love the see-thru panel and the yoke linkage hook-up! Good to hear you had a fun trip, you can stick another one on the long list. Just looking at the main landing gear leg attach...holy shxx...I do believe I would be beefing that up a bit. Hope the new owner enjoys his new toy...............................Maj...

 

 

[Tomo]

Thanks guys... Planey: Yeah, I've never seen one before either before today! I think I figured out it's the 40th different type of aircraft I've now flown... scary thought!

 

Having flown many types I didn't really have any apprehension as such, I do however try and take a good look at things and you can get a rough idea on it's performance and how it flies by just looking at it. Being a two seater I asked the former owner if he'd come for a circuit with me just to 'be there' incase I didn't have a handle on it. I found it just an aeroplane that has it's own little quirks, but all in all not a bad ultralight, weird yaw characteristics due to it's short fuse and long draggy wings though, I presume.

 

Thanks Maj, yeah that was one of my thoughts too, seems to be fairly adequate though from what I've heard/read!

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Hey Tomo, do you log that as nosewheel or taildragger ???....it's got both !!.........................Maj...

 

 

[ExJourno]

It's got no tail drag wheel any more... fell off somewhere on the way. Might have to find a new one to fit there.

 

The main gear legs are welded in a triangle bracket at the join. Looks less beefy than it actually is, plus by all accounts they are tough enough.

 

Thanks tomo for getting it to its temporary home safely. Just as soon as that dome hangar is up it'll be living at Hogsonvale, Toowoomba.

 

And I intend to enjoy the daylights out of it. One happy camper here.

 

 

[Deskpilot]

As others have said, just love the see through panel. Mind you, I couldn't live with that birds nest of wires up front. That'd be the first thing I'd tidy up.

 

Neat plane though, nice to know it handles strong winds and general turbulence without falling out of the sky.

 

Tomo, don't suppose you can get me a photo of the elevator linkages. I'm having trouble in finding a neat way to do it on my cruciform tailplane. Not wanting teleflex/morse type cables due to weight.

 

 

[fly_tornado]

That looks pretty funky, will look a bit better once that wiring is in a conduit of some sort. Is the floor clear?

 

 

[ExJourno]

There floor isn't clear, no. The forward section is, but under your legs isn't.

 

Tidying up - yeah, I'll probably look at that, but the wiring appears to all stay in place - not an imediate concern.

 

When I figure out where to mount an iPad mini I'll do something with the rest of the wires and I also need to figure out a solid floor situation (removeable, perhaps) for my daughter as her legs dangle over the cloth - can't expect her to hold them up.

 

Deskpilot, I'll be out there later this week and will get a photo of the linkages on the elevators for you - if Tomo doesn't pinch it for a quick fly before I get there... if he does, I'll be assuming he'll get you the pics you want.

 

 

[Tomo]

Ditto what Adam said...

 

 

[Deskpilot]

Cheers guys.

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Hey Tomos' contract ends at delivery doesn't it, he already has the use of way too many aeroplanes........................................................................................................Maj...

 

 

[Tomo]

Hey Tomos' contract ends at delivery doesn't it, he already has the use of way too many aeroplanes........................................................................................................Maj...

Part of the deal!

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Well I still ocasionally fly that Savvy that I ferried through your place years ago Tomo !...so I shouldn't complain !!............................................Maj...

 

 

[ExJourno]

As others have said, just love the see through panel. Mind you, I couldn't live with that birds nest of wires up front. That'd be the first thing I'd tidy up.Neat plane though, nice to know it handles strong winds and general turbulence without falling out of the sky.

Tomo, don't suppose you can get me a photo of the elevator linkages. I'm having trouble in finding a neat way to do it on my cruciform tailplane. Not wanting teleflex/morse type cables due to weight.

Send us an email address. I'll email some pics through to you.

 

 

[Deskpilot]

Could put them on this site for other benefits as well but if it's easier for you, send them to [email protected]

 

This is what I've come up with. The 'up elevator' cable has to go through the horizontal stabiliser. Doable but might have to add a through tube in case I ever need to change the cable. The 'down elevator' cable is outside all other structures.

 

 

 

 

[ExJourno]

I have an error on the page... constantly... the insert picture button does nothing. If I wasn't being lazy I'd figure out a work around (I'm sure theres an easy url=etc etc code that would work).

 

I'll email them to you... feel free to put them up.

 

 

[Deskpilot]

Thanks Adam, photos received. Like I said above, I don't want morse type cables due to weight. I will put up photos if anyone else wishes to see them, meantime....

 

PS, to insert an image from your computer, click the 'Upload a File' button at bottom right on the reply page. Select where your image is, select image and upload.

 

 

[karcsi18854]

So I flew a T-bird to it's new home today for the owner...The trip was from Jacobs Well near the Gold Coast to Pittsworth, via Gatton Airpark and Toowoomba. After checking the aircraft off and working out what each button and knob does I went for a quick circuit with the previous owner to make sure I was okay with it - Having never flown one of these ever I liked that idea. It was blowing 22kts apparently so pretty windy and really not a day for joy riding for the fun of it! Anyway it all went well, did a circuit and landed quite gracefully considering the conditions - I'd put it down to the aircrafts easy landing performance more than anything I did! Mind you I was thinking on final this feels pretty wild, the wind was crazy. Tight seat belts are a wonderful thing...

 

While the new owner was finishing off the paper work I got myself finalised, some extra fuel strapped in and a track drawn on my map, also a 20ltr drum of water strapped in the passenger seat for some extra ballast. I set off... Amberley airspace was de-active so I pretty much just followed my nose to Gatton Airpark to visit a mate and top up with fuel for the rest of the flight. Arrived about an hour later, getting tossed around fairly well. Was a good flight though, with the engine performing nicely.

 

Topped up with fuel and had a chat to my mate a G Airpark and then set off for Toowoomba, didn't land there as I figured the least number of landings in this ridiculous wind was a good idea. Turned in the general direction for Pittsworth and arrived a bit later - nothing much fast happens in a 60kt plane with a 30 kt cross wind/slash headwind! (according to Airservices anyway)

 

Landing at Pittsworth was good, but wouldn't want much more of a cross wind as I was pretty much on the control stops. Was quite relieved to be on the ground to be honest!

 

Was a good trip and I enjoyed it, not the nicest of conditions, but at least there wasn't any rain around! Thanks for the experience and for the new friends I've met today.

 

The proud new owner! Adam and Gabby

 

 

Cruising - Amberley in the distance

 

 

 

The instrument panel!

 

 

The beast at G Airpark

 

 

Passing over Toowoomba

 

 

 

Control yoke

 

 

It's new home for the time being.

 

[karcsi18854]

In Northeast Pa, carb heat is required to protect against carb icing - I rent a Cessna 150, so I'm sensitive to the process. Also, I bleed off some gas from the wing tank. My gas tank does not have a way to get rid of any setiment on the bottom such as water etc. Any input?? By the way, I'm new to this forum. Thanks Chuck