cscotthendry

I've now been working with the AvMap tech support people for about 18 months and they still haven't sorted out the heading freeze issue. It appears to me that the AvMap EKP is just a program running on Windows CE and using third party external antennas. The system is buggy and doesn't work particularly well. They seem to be trying to pin the problem on the external antenna, but they don't seem to know what it is. Do yourself a favor, don't buy an AvMap GPS.

Well, it's possible you might be in that picture or this one. I took it at Airventure in July. Yeehaw! What a show. Did you stay for the fireworks on Saturday night?

This is probably not an obscure plane, but I didn't recognize it when I saw one at Oshkosh. What is it?

Here's a circuit of what I think is wired up in the plane. Or at least it's what I think it should be. Even if the diode shorts out, you would still only have 12V on both sides of the solenoid coil. In that case, the engine might not start at all and you'd likely get a little spark in the start switch every time you tried to start the engine. The back EMF across the coil of the solenoid can become quite high as one end is open circuit when the start switch is released. That's why you should use a diode with a high PIV rating. With the diode in place, that back EMF across the diode should only get up to about 0.7V (the forward voltage drop across a silicon diode), but the coil of the solenoid could generate quite a bit of current through the diode depending on the number of turns and the voltage it tries to generate, so a diode capable of withstanding a high current is best for this application. Even then, being periodically zapped with a high current pulse, and living in a high temperature environment, it's not unreasonable to expect occasional failures of the diode. In a pinch if the diode fails at a remote place where it can't be replaced, it would be OK to just remove it temporarily to get you home. Just don't have any sensitive electronics switched on while starting the engine (if you can avoid it). In fact, this last point is important with or without the diode.

Derek: The diode is a "snubber" device used to shunt back EMF from the solenoid coil to ground when you release the start switch (or button). The actual value of the diode is not too important and if your diode has failed, try one with a higher PIV and current rating. The 1000V rating that you mentioned is the PIV (Peak Inverse Voltage) rating. All the diode really does is to stop arcing in the start switch (or button) after you release it by shunting the pulse generated by the collapsing magnetic field in the solenoid, back to ground.

As you said, it's any airport where RPT operate. As for enforcement? That can be a bit "inconsistent" shall we say? I wasn't carded at Bundy, but was pulled up at Thangool! Go figure. Was at Dubbo, but not at Moree. I wouldn't guarantee those results though.

Heath: Depending on your transport arrangements down there, Bob McIntyre sometimes has casual hangar space available. He's just outside of Yamba. We based ourselves out of there a couple of times when we had the trike. McIntyres Airfield

One of my flying instructors has a saying; "I don't do low flying because I have a back problem ... I have a big yellow stripe down it." Same applies to me.

Yep, a bit of a buff out and she'll be right! I'd say he was very, very lucky to find that tree when he did. It looked to me like the left wing had stalled and if the tree hadn't broken his (and the plane's) fall, the outcome could have been significantly worse. I'd guess that the ground rushing up at him would not have been as flexible as the tree he flew into.

Just watched this today. I thought they did a great job at keeping the tension up throughout the movie. Sure you could pick holes in the movie details, but name a movie that you can't. I think they portrayed the bravery that it must have taken to be involved there, quite well. The biggest letdown for me was Kenneth Branagh. I think he is one of the most overrated actors in the industry. People like to compare him to Olivier, but he's not a pimple on Olivier's bum. The flying sequences were reasonable, but the CGI wasn't all that great. Get beyond the details and soak up the dramatic tension and IMO, it's a good movie.

This is not specific knowledge, just thoughts. We flew out to Ayers Rock via Birdsville in early May. The weather was a little changeable but the temps were good. My feeling is that late October would be starting to get warm out there, especially this year as it has already started to get unseasonably warm here in Qld. Happy flying.

Thanks Bob. Do you know who has them and whether they will let other people use them?

Short answer is "Yes" a 912 can be hand propped, but it takes a bit of doing. There is a video on YouTube showing a guy doing it.

G'Day all: I have a very small project that I've made for my plane, but to finish it I need to bend a piece of sheet metal. Is there anyone on the southside of Brisbane that has a sheet metal brake that I could use for about 10 minutes? Cheers

Update: There are now 5 videos in this collection. 6 and 7 are uploading today.

And if all else fails, try ringing RA Aus and get the ops manager on the phone and ask the question directly. They're not dragons down there, they're just people like us and will answer questions. Then once you have a direct answer from the horse's mouth (so to speak) you have an authority to quote if something goes awry.

This is for the airplane tragics, like me. On the way to EAA Airventure (Oshkosh) we stopped in Dayton Ohio and visited the National Museum of the United States Airforce. All warbird tragics should know about this place. The extent and scale of the museum cannot be described in words or even pictures or video. You have to visit the place to take it in. We spent two days there and my wife thought it would be boring so she thought she would sit in the cafeteria with her laptop to pass the time. She didn't spend much time in the cafeteria! I videoed a walkthrough of all eight galleries as well as the rocket gallery. I will post the walkthroughs (mostly) unedited rather than select which aircraft people might be interested in. As I write this, there is one (of nine) galleries posted. Keep an eye out for more as I upload them in the next few days. If you enjoy these videos, please share the links with your friends. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries

Do you think that all cars should be fitted with turn signals and brake lights? Oh wait, they are! Aircraft radio is the aeronautical equivalent of turn signals and brake lights. Why anyone would want to fly without a radio is beyond me. Many's the time I've been approaching a field and heard someone in the circuit and looked and looked for them, and not been able to spot them among the clouds or ground clutter, but at least I was aware they were there and could stay away from the circuit until I was sure it was safe. Don't want to have a radio in your plane? It's OK to gamble with your own life, but don't gamble with mine thanks!

This was my second last flight (my last one was 13 hours in a 747) In the first pic, if you look closely, you can see EAA Airventure out the front windows. It was a birthday present from my wife.

Narromine is within easy walking distance to town. Lightning Ridge is interesting, but you may need to book some transport into town. The Bowls club may be willing to come out and pick you up. There are some interesting art galleries in town.

Also, to be legal, you must have done at least three landings in the previous 90 days. This is normally an easy box to tick, but if your flying is infrequent, it may come into play.

Interesting, I wasn't aware that pipistrel do kits.

Hmm, saw some pics of the Pelican on floats. V.Interesting!!!

What a brilliant little machine!

Goodonyer! As for building an airplane: Now that you're retired, this is the perfect time to do that. I know I'm biased in these things, but IMO the perfect plane to build is the Skyranger Nynja. They can be built as fast or as slow as you like (in build times that is), cruise at a respectable 100kts and are very predictable flyers with few vices. They're a great airplane for low time pilots (I'm proof of that) and they are a proven, solid robust aircraft that will take a bit of punishment. The build is very simple and you will be up and flying very quickly (Greg built his in 10 weeks). The REAL benefit of building your own plane is 1) You know every inch of it 2) You can maintain it better and trust it 3) When you want to add the latest electronic gizmo or whatnot, you can and will know how to go about it safely 4) Building it will de-mystify airplane and engine maintenance. Caveat: Building and airplane will not save all that much money over buying one second hand. However, you will have the airplane EXACTLY to your wishes, it will be YOUR airplane. I know the above looks a bit like a Nynja ad, but I am not connected with them in any economic way (I still regard Greg Robertson as a friend though). I built one and never regretted my choice. Other kits like RVs etc might be flasher looking, but will take more time to build. In that time you will have to rent other peoples' planes which costs money. Welcome back to flying. Here's wishing you clear skies and tailwinds.