can it be done

[storchy neil]

:thumb_up:thumb_down:thumb_up:The Wallaby Kit Challenge

 

 

What does a handful of people, a truck load of aircraft pieces and the Easter long weekend all have in common? Hmmmmm not sure?

 

 

Well if you guessed a weekend of NATFLY fun, you’d be right!

 

 

Ok, it started out with a few pilots chatting away on the recreation flying forum run by Ian Baker. The topic of discussion was about the new Temora venue for NATFLY and how NATFLY could enhance its reputation as Australia’s leading Light Aircraft fly in and what new ideas could emerge to bolster this new venue.

 

 

Then someone mentioned the idea about demonstrating the skills of some aircraft construction, and how good this would be to those attending NATFLY.

 

 

Now we’ve probably all been to a fly in where someone demonstrated how to rivet a rudder or elaborated on the skills of tuning your propeller, but how good would it be if a whole aircraft could be built? But that’s impossible isn’t it?

 

 

At the time I didn’t mention it to the others on the forum but I knew of a kit that was sitting in a shed that just might fit this bill! Not only that, I knew the bloke who owned it and if he couldn’t oblige, I’d make him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

 

 

The next day I rang Caz from Fly Synthesis, “Hey Caz, do you still have that Wallaby kit in your shed”? “Ummmm yes why do you ask Neil”? “Well I need to borrow it for a few days”!

 

 

Now Caz is a pretty easy going bloke so it wasn’t too hard to convince him this was a good idea, besides he sold me a plane a few years back and we’ve been mates ever since.

 

 

A few more phone calls and here we are, our plan is for Fly Synthesis to supply all the bits we need and the rotax 503 engine from our friends at Bert Floods and that should be it!

 

 

Oh yes did I mention we need builders? Well, we are looking for volunteer builders - preferably with some building experience - to see if the Wallaby can be built over the 4-day weekend.

 

 

We already have the Temora Aviation Restoration Hangar at Temora dedicated to this inaugural challenge and all the tools will be supplied by Fly Synthesis for this job. So far we have 4 dedicated builders but we would like to involve as many as people as practical so that the experience can be shared and enjoyed of course.

 

 

Our plan is to have between 4-5 people working on the kit at any one time with a shift change after 4 hours or when ever someone wants to have a break.

 

 

Commencement of the construction is to start on Thursday morning and with a bit of luck completion by Easter Sunday.

 

 

Now Fly Synthesis Italy say the Wallaby can be built in 180 hours plus the extra time for Instruments and engine fit out. But we think we can do it better, well at least that’s the challenge, after all isn’t the Wallaby an Aussie!

 

 

The Hangar will open each day and viewing by the public encouraged.

 

 

I wish to acknowledge the support of Fly Synthesis Australia, Bert Flood Imports, Ian Baker from the forum, Boyd May for Technical advice, Carol Richards from RA-Aus for helping to organize the Museum restoration hangar at Temora and Steve Bell for offering his Technical and airworthy knowledge throughout the weekend.

 

 

If you’re interested in participating in the construction of this kit please contact Caz from Fly Synthesis on [email protected] or you can call myself Neil Bradley on 0419 202 665 to express your interest.

 

 

[Riley]

Re-phrase your caption to 'It can be done' and your team will most likely prove you correct over that weekend. Hats off to yourself, all those individuals and firms mentioned in the last para and to any and all participants who get involved in the project during Natfly. I look forward to eventually hearing/reading of your communal success. A most admirable undertaking - well done Neil.

 

 

[Guest drizzt1978]

Pilots fly missions, Give yourselves a start time, and finish time and some way points!!

 

No problem, Go for it guys!

 

 

[shags_j]

Good luck. Make me even more jealous I can't attend.

 

 

[Deskpilot]

You and me both Shags.

 

Good luck guys.

 

 

[facthunter]

Media coverage.

 

Is it a good look to advertise (without any control of the take on it) that we can build a plane in 4 days. I am sure you can, but couldn't it be misrepresented by simply implying that to do this might suggest a casual approach to safety? and that corners must have been cut. (Been disappointed by the media before).. Nev

 

 

[Smokey]

The only thing you can sensibly do is video it for yourself and for whomever the eventual owner is . .

Sorry guys, but to me cow-towing to the media is akin to getting the world to change its views just because a fruitloop with a piddly bomb has a 1 in 10 million chance of getting you.

 

Our position shouldn't be to hide but to promote our sport in a positive way and don't give up until they 'get it right'.

 

storchy indicated that Carol is already on board, lets utilise the skills we have available to us through the RAA and promote this as a good objective, 'How to build a safe aircraft in 4 days'. If the media screw it up yet again, then we have another go.

 

We already have a head start in Temora, the town is behind the airfield and the local press is already on side.

 

I really can't think of a better opportunity to put together a project that can be publicised outside the RAA community and educate the public to what we’re really about.

 

Mark

 

 

[shags_j]

I agree with Smokey here. If the result is a safe, professionally put together aircraft I think it's a great outcome.

 

I also think that this is the sort of news item that would show up in the news section of this website (therefore hopefully appearing in ones over the world). Can only be good for the cause.

 

 

[Tomo]

Fantastic job Neil, should work out great I reckon.

 

If I'm able to get down, I might be able to fit in a few hrs of help. I've never actually built an aircraft from scratch before, but have built many other things. And have worked on a few aircraft/helicopters also.

 

I'll let you know further when I finalize if I'm going to be there or not.

 

 

[Relfy]

What a fantastic idea and good luck to those turning spanners!

 

For the Natfly-challenged amongst us who can't make it for whatever reason, Ian or delegate may be able to run a thread on the progress over the weekend so we can follow the action and see the kit morph into a complete aircraft? Hint hint.

 

With Steve Bell there along the way overseeng things, the whole exercise should be a fantastic, positive, safe demonstration on the aspects and process of building an aircraft. :thumb_up::thumb_up:

 

 

[storchy neil]

:thumb_up::thumb_up::clap:yes it was done thanks to you

 

yes it was great to see you all plane a5 :hittinghead:or was that plan 9b :hittinghead:but 6oclock sunday:clap: was startup and taxi time:big_grin::big_grin: neil

 

 

[moy71]

any video of the final stages or finished product available? would love to see it.

 

 

[Guest Wigg]

Neil has been given a small video of the actual testing to make sure it worked Cheers Wigg