Jack in Arizona

BH799, I'm writing this to you from the States where, as you'll probably know, there is a very large fleet of single engine piston aircraft. Your 'discovery' - an appealing plane at a distant location, at a good price but not flown whatsoever for several years - is a common trap door over here. I would advise great caution. And I think I do understand your dilemma: SA probably doesn't offer you the a/c for sale that you'd like to find. When we sailed out to Oz from the States, we put our boat through Customs at Brisbane because it offered an active group of potential buyers who would fly in from yachtie strongholds in cities like Adelaide, Perth and even Melbourne. These were sailors who wanted to cross an ocean, their home port pickings were slim in number, and so they came to Bris and Sydney to shop the new arrivals that had already proven their capabilities at sea. And if that meant the cost of airfare and a hotel room, they'd make the shopping trip into a bit of an adventure as well. (As it turned out, we sold our 13m ketch to a couple who just arrived from the Falkland Is. of all places!) So I'm sympathetic to your plight. The best planes here often get sold by word of mouth without being advertised. E.g. someone looking for a specific model will be connected with its type club or perhaps an owner or two of that same model, who will have their own grapevines. Most single engine piston a/c are sold by their owners via listings like Search For Aircraft & Aircraft Parts - Airplane Sale, Jets, Helicopters, UAVs, Drones, & Aviation Real Estate | Trade-A-Plane because the prices are low enough that they don't easily cover a broker's commission without inflating the price too much. But for a mix of reasons - poor health, work obligations away from home, perhaps a family issue - the owners of some planes can't decide to let them go but can't fly them. And once flying currency is lost, it's a double challenge for the owner to return and get back in the air. So the plane languishes, one or more cylinders corroding, the corrosive qualities in the used oil doing its work, perhaps mold getting a foothold, and let's hope birds can't get into the hangar. Also consider: What are the chances a needed repair or compliance obligation is taken care of while the plane sits as an orphan? (A total non-starter would be a fabric airframe tied down out on a ramp). Now consider what it will take to get that plane across 3000 km of sky, safely and without undue anxiety on your part or that of a hired pilot? There are probably two answers to that Q: It will take a fair bit of mechanical attention by someone who knows the model well, and it will take a fair bit of time. I have to wonder if you shouldn't consider a 'shopping trip' to a more populated region in NSW or Victoria where there's a relatively larger fleet of active a/c from which to shop. Good luck on your hunt, no matter what you decide. Jack Prescott AZ USA

There's a general theme of advice directed at aspiring long distance sailors you might want to consider: Buy the 'last boat' first and then keep it. One learning curve to master plus more learning sooner given the boat's expanded mission capabilities. One set of costs for upgrading and one set of efforts for personalizing, plus you'll find it easier to make quality choices for upgrading kit since you know you will be living with the boat longer. Your devotion to the boat's care may be stronger since you know it will be yours longer. If you can bear the cost of the 'eventual' boat first, the purchase will be outright cheaper, sooner vs. later, and you'll avoid the buy-sell-buy again sequence that can add even more cost to the equation. You'll notice one of your first responders' comments, regretting he didn't build a RV-10 'first' and now is a bit 'stuck' by buying the 'first plane first'. I think this theme makes even more sense for planes than boats. You are starting with known geographic limits (flying within Oz) while, with a boat, distances are essentially unknown initially. There are multiple plane choices to meet your requirements within reach of financial mere mortals. Some ongoing costs (e.g. hangar or ramp storage or an avionics upgrade) are independent of a plane's size (unlike boats where 'more' truly does seem to cost more), and you can buy the larger airframe/engine capable of that 10% mission ( perhaps initially with less avionics and/or cosmetic upgrades to be budgeted over time) whereas with a boat you may need for it to have the structural requirements for an ocean crossing, even if that may only be a 'one day' goal. Jack Prescott AZ USA

To the OP, and as mentioned above, the Chinese 'Rotax' clone is on the way... https://airkmotors.com/?lang=en#moteurs Yes, these are "Chinese" engines...but don't overlook the poor reputation (at least in the USA and Europe; IDK about Oz) which Rotax has earned for poor warranty support. Here's one recent example: "I have to agree on the Rotax Warranty. I spent $2,100 using a Rotax heavy maintenance approved technician to repair a brand new engine. We submitted a warranty invoice, and 6 months later, I received $310 – When I called the Rotax customer support, they were rude. Very disappointed in Rotax – not sure I would risk a Chinese knock-off, but the pricing is tempting." Those comments were posted by one of the Pipistrel dealers who is located in Florida, an individual who should have as much influence with Rotax as any 'mere' customer. Perhaps it's way too early to consider these Air K engines...but OTOH they are copying a 30 year old design that, for most of the engine, is well past its patent protection. Jack Prescott AZ USA

Altho' this is a dated thread, I sure do appreciate Exadios mentioning the Soaring the Sky link. That podcast, with its many differing interviews, safety segments, etc., strikes me as a good resource for getting introduced to the range of soaring activities that exist. Thanks, Exadios! Jack

After you work at it for a while, federal and state agencies begin to realize, with their limited budgets, they actually need you. Case in point, the RAF and the National Park Service signed a Letter of Agreement (LOA) for the RAF to maintain the Chicken Strip airfield at the Death Valley National Park. It's a very desirable destination during the winter time since natural hot springs can be walked to. And the road trip by car is 4+ hours each way on a very rough road. We have other agreements with both the Bureau of Land Management and the U. S. Forest Service, these two agencies managing public lands that are the equivalent in land area to 26 U.S. states. None of these agencies were receptive to these kinds of arrangements when we started, so it does take both time & patience to convince them a partnership makes sense.

Trump also wanted to appoint his White House physician (Ronnie Jackson, as I recall) as Secretary of Veterans Affairs, a cabinet level position in the federal government. About equivalent to Trump nominating his local pharmacist or green grocer as Administrator of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. It's been a l-o-n-g four years, folks....

Just to clarify, Class A airspace is generally the airspace from 18,000 feet MSL up to and including flight level (FL) 600, including the airspace overlying the waters within 12 nautical miles (NM) of the coast of the 48 contiguous states and Alaska. The reference to a 10,000 MSL limitation is likely related to the newer Sport Pilot license that was created in conjunction with the LSA aircraft classification. As I recall, the FAA even 'adjusted' the 10K limit for Sport Pilots to allow for up to an additional 2,000' above 10K when overflying high terrain.

It's a pleasure to be back. Just before departing from the U.S. for the South Pacific aboard our yacht, I made contact with several folks here who were flying out of Colaundra's aerodrome. The next year, after clearing in, I was able to visit the airport and meet some of those pilots, and learn more about how regulated the GA flying is in Oz but also how it is nevertheless full of enthusiasm and a 'can do' spirit. I still remember that visit well, from a group of 10 owners of an almost new Skyfox to a just completed RV10, if memory serves. I'm hoping to return to Bris (timing uncertain, as you can imagine...) and so I thought it would be good fun to reconnect with all of you here. And BTW you might not be familiar with the Recreational Aviation Foundation (the 'new' RAF I referred to above) but it's worth a look. www.theraf.org It's an aviation charity I've been involved with for many years, it's main goal being to expand recreational access by aircraft to backcountry areas that have recreational appeal (so think national forests, federally owned lands, state forests, etc.). Basically, it's about 'public access', but with aircraft vs. a backpack or RV. We also maintain existing backcountry airstrips and have created new ones by partnering with government agencies. It's always struck me that Australia would benefit by an initiative of this kind, given your large land mass and geographical diversity. Anything like that happening in Oz and meeting with success? Jack Tyler SEL IFR ~1300 hrs PIC