Newby without a clue and Streak Shadow 19-917

[Guest Marwil]

Hi, Mark from Amberley QLD. I've been fortunate enough in my working life to maintain some fantastic military aviation machinery including 25 years (well 24years 247 days) on the F-111 aircraft and am still in awe of its capability even though it has been retired for 6 years. My present job is to maintain flight control components for supersonic military jets, maritime patrol aircraft and heavy lift helicopters, tolerances are measured in mico-inch, flatness by the light wavelength of helium light and time calculated to 5 decimal point. Having been doing this day in day out for the last 11 years I have come to the conclusion that I really really love motorcycles.

 

Dirt bikes in fact - and there's nothing better than a 1000 km ahead of me and a 1000km behind, no bitumen in sight and 500km of desert before the next fuel stop to try to rid myself of the 'conditioned conformity' that runs my life. I have ridden Australia from west to east a number of times including a solo crossing of the Simpson Desert along the French Line and the challenge of these endurance rides seemed to be waning. I needed something bigger/harder so I started the ball rolling on an Australia crossing from most westerly point to the most easterly point (6650km) in less than 4 days on the smallest reasonable dirt bike I could build.

 

Stay with me and everything will become clearer.

 

To do this I needed some valve guides for the XR head and used the trusty Google to find the guides, not any guides but Kibble Whites to be precise. After searching for a while I ended up doing a deal on an airplane! Not any old airplane but one of the best CFM Streak Shadows (19-917) in the country (I'm sure it is!) powered by a freshly built 2200 Jabiru with Warp Drive 3 blade pusher prop. One look and I was hooked. All my life I have wanted to be in and around aircraft, I have wanted to fly as long as I can remember and the majority of items on my bucket list revolve around aircraft and flying. Once I saw the Streak Shadow on the net I was hooked. The fact that I did not have a license, had not heard of RAA, did not know how to fly, had never seen a Streak in the flesh, did not know what to look for or what to ask, had little knowledge of the differences between a Rotax 582 or Jabiru 2200 meant nothing. I told my wife that the valve guides had cost more than I planned for but I got a free aircraft with the deal!

 

I have yet to join the RAA, start my lessons, have the plane inspected and reregistered, right now it is a piece of mechanical art in my shed, something to look at something to dream about and something to plan around while I savior a scotch. Yep - no more motorcycle endurance rides for this little black duck - too busy looking at Australian Ultralight distance, endurance and altitude records.........now where's my calculator?

 

 

[Kyle Communications]

Welcome Marwil

 

Not sure on that Shadow but it may have been owned by a friend of mine. I will ask him its rego number. It is a great flying aircraft the only issues were cooling the engine it seems being a pusher

 

Mark

 

 

[kasper]

Welcome ... you'll be hard pressed on altitude records for Australian ultralights ... its over 30,000ft ;-)

 

 

[Kyle Communications]

I spoke to my mate and yes that is the second Streak Shadow that came into the country. TIt was built in 1991. Originally had a Rotax 618 2 stroke but was changed around 2000 for the jab engine. Did you get the trailer with it? By the way the very first Streak Sadaow built in australia is in the hangar next to me at Caboolture airfield

 

Also Danny said you will need to look at the wing skins as they may need to be redone as it is 25 years old and the fabric could come away from the ribs only due to its age. He tells me its probably the best aircraft he has flown you just need to know a few things when learning to fly it.

 

 

[kasper]

And if the fabric needs replacing you can still buy the original spec from the mill in the UK much cheaper than the cheapest uncertified fabric from aircraft suppliers ... if you need it i will dig up the details

 

 

[Guest Marwil]

Welcome ... you'll be hard pressed on altitude records for Australian ultralights ... its over 30,000ft ;-)

That's a bit of a bugger! 2 out of 3 is a pass - right?

 

 

[Guest Marwil]

I spoke to my mate and yes that is the second Streak Shadow that came into the country. TIt was built in 1991. Originally had a Rotax 618 2 stroke but was changed around 2000 for the jab engine. Did you get the trailer with it? By the way the very first Streak Sadaow built in australia is in the hangar next to me at Caboolture airfieldAlso Danny said you will need to look at the wing skins as they may need to be redone as it is 25 years old and the fabric could come away from the ribs only due to its age. He tells me its probably the best aircraft he has flown you just need to know a few things when learning to fly it.

No trailer with this one unfortunately. It was originally hangared at Boonah I believe, then moved to Bundaberg before I bought it back home. Its currently in my shed waiting for me to build a transport trailer for it but as usual, too many jobs ahead of it. The plan is to tow it behind the motorhome when I retire and literally "see" the country. I trained and qualified as an Airframe fitter but have never used cloth/fabric before so its on my need to learn agenda. Thanks to all for your input and advice and I wouldn't mind catching up with you Kyle to meet the first Streak into the country.

 

 

[Kyle Communications]

I will be down at the hangar in the morning if next door is open I will snap a photo of it for you. I am not sure if George actually built that one but Ross definately built the one you have now. Ross flew it for many many years its been literally all over eastern australia from what I have heard of the trips, I think it was only sold from here around 4 years or so ago. I think it went to Boonah from here but it did go with a trailer from here then the guy in Bundy bought it. I dont think the guy in Bundy ever actually flew it though.

 

 

[Kyle Communications]

Seeing you have worked on the the "pig"...Here is a couple of pics of the F111 fuselage I have here for RC model jet turbine. I havent got around to finishing it yet but will go well complete with swing wing and 16kg thrust turbine

 

Mark

 

 

 

[Guest Marwil]

[ATTACH=full]42269[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]42270[/ATTACH] Seeing you have worked on the the "pig"...Here is a couple of pics of the F111 fuselage I have here for RC model jet turbine. I havent got around to finishing it yet but will go well complete with swing wing and 16kg thrust turbineMark

Sensational model, looks like you and I are going to be very good friends. I mean Streak Shadow, F-111 and a completely full shed. its just like being home.

 

 

[Kyle Communications]

This is what a full 15m x 7.5 m shed looks like when you finish building you aircraft and you do a final assembly to set everything up before you pull it all apart again to take it to the hangar to reassemble to fly it for the first time

 

 

 

 

 

[Yenn]

Marwil.

 

Welcome to the forum. I think that Streak Shadow was the one Ross brought up to Rods Bay a few times. Avery nice machine and from memory Danny would be his son. A very cluey bloke, but i havn't seen either of them for many years.

 

I am sure you will enjoy it when it is going again.

 

 

[Guest Marwil]

Thanks Yenn, Its always good to tap into someone's experience especially when its first hand, usually the history of most things is lost from owner to owner. Hopefully I can meet up with the previous owners to expand on the Log Book with the story of why? and where? they went. Mark.

 

 

[horsefeathers]

Hi Mark.

 

I owned and flew a Streak Shadow (28-1456) until 6 or so months ago.

 

First thing. It's one of the easiest planes to fly, and is perfect for low time pilots.

 

There is an active British forum for Shadows here http://forums.bmaa.org/default.aspx?f=45&r=x

 

They will have answers to all your questions, (except about your Jabiru installation)

 

If you want any info (pilots handbook, maintenance tips, etc), just let me know, and I'll see what I can dig up.

 

There are a few things you should be aware of that are issues common with Shadows, (boom tube wear, horizontal stabilizer reinforcement), but NOTHING that there is no relatively simple solution for.

 

PM me with your phone number if you'd like a chat.

 

Cheers

 

Gerry

 

 

[dtanner]

Hi Marwil, I am the previous owner of 19-0917, and can enlighten you on most of the details of the Shadow. I have a second one that I am currently rebuilding. I have a feeling that I stillbhave some copies of the relevent paperwork of your aircraft. The log books should have been supplied with the aircraft upon sale, and are required for continued complience for registration. If you would like some assistance, visit "tp21.net" for contact details. I would be happy to help. Regards Dave.

 

 

[dtanner]

Hi Marwil, Have you had any luck in getting info about your Shadow. Give me a call on 0402107927 and I will assist with what I can. Regards dave.

 

 

[farri]

Hi, Mark from Amberley QLD. ?

G`Day Mark,... For a while, there was a Shadow based here on our property, I got to fly it and thought it was very nice and easy to fly, my only dislike was the difficulty getting into the back seat and the poor visibility, from there.

 

Revisiting the 1988 ultralight flight from England to Australia

 

Dalgety Flyer ultralight aircraft

 

Frank.

 

 

[Nightmare]

Hi Mark and welcome

 

I have to admit, I was tempted with a Streak Shadow that was for sale within the last year. The Jab 2200 is a great engine when it's operated correctly.

 

I see you are local so I can recommend a couple of flight schools in your area. I highly recommend Coominya Flight Training, both very affordable and John is one of the most knowledgeable fight instructors around. Flying the Lightwings will well prepare you for the Streak Shadow. I completed my RPC with Coominya Flight Training and attained my PAX and XC endorsements through them. I have to admit I am biased towards them. CFT also offers flight training in your own aircraft if it is a dual control 2 seater. Not sure about the 19 registered, but something to talk to them about. If you can, it will save you heaps of money, $70/hr vs $199/hr, I think.

 

There is also a flight school, Aerosport at Boonah, flying Tecnams. I put in a couple of hours there flying the Tecnam P2008, I was looking at hiring, but decided to go down the road of aircraft ownership instead. They are not as easy on the wallet as CFT, but they are still within the average price for flight training.

 

PM me if you need any more info, happy to help

 

All the best and keep us up to date how you progress