pudestcon

A Drifter (or Thruster). Just stretch out your arms horizontally and you still can't touch the sides:bash: Pud

Some good stuff on this link regarding propellers. A mate of mine, who is a lurker here, we'll call him Dick, pointed me in this direction. http://www.airborne.com.au/images/manuals/108968-X%20MMrev2-0.pdf Pud

Goodonya flyerme, It's always nice when a satisfactory conclusion is reached. Well done. Pud

My wife was in the bathroom for hours getting ready to go out when finally the door swung open and she said, "Honestly, do I look fat in this". I replied, " Yes love, but to be fair, it's only a small bathroom". Pud

All my powers of persuasion, such as they are, comes up short in convincing Gay to come for a fly in Gaygirl David. She thinks I'm going to die everytime I fly, so sitting her in the seat is like mission impossible. Nup, that's not it. Looks like the floods in NSW are a disaster of mammoth proportions; the cost to fix just the roads is estimated at half a billion dollars!! The government says the disaster contingency fund will be well and truly exhausted. And it's not over yet. Pud

Hmmm, didn't think of that, probably because trying such a thing in a Thruster would be as likely as me commanding a moon shot!! Pud

All in good time eightyknots, all in good time. You can be sure it won't be flying the Thruster inverted at zot feet above the runway!!!~ Pud

Well David, it is the end of summer here which is usually very dry with the vegetation looking like it needs a drink. Whilst it looks really dry in the photos, we had a localised storm a couple of weeks ago that did some minor damage and dumped a lot of water (for us, not you!!) in a short time. I commented to Poll as we were flying around, about the green tinge across the paddocks. You could see clearly the extent of the rain fall from the green pick just showing through We certainly feel for you guys on the East coast that have had a fairly difficult Summer weather wise - don't envy you at all. Looks like a cyclone may form to send a bit more your way - good luck with all that. Pud

What a great weekend! Travelled to the hangar at Wirraway early Saturday morning with my good wife Gay. By the time we unpacked it was 9.30 so I left Gay to clean out our caravan (the "Silver Bullet") so I could give Gaygirl (T500 Thruster 0331) a good going over as it has been a good couple of months since my last visit. Amongst other things I had to connect the battery, lubricate some joints, jack up the tail wheel and tighten the pivot bolt on the TW assembly to guard against the dreaded tail wheel shimmy:) I fitted a new overflow coolant bottle and then did a very thorough inspection. All was good but the heat of the day had come in after lunch so we went over to Poll's house for a cuppa with Poll and his very nice wife Judy. So around 5pm I yelled "Clear propeller" and hit the starter button. The 582 fired into life after 2 or 3 revolutions more than I thought it should have - possibly needed to clear out some spiders and other insects before barking into life!! You know, I reckon this is what it's all about - a beautiful late afternoon, an aircraft running well, still smooth air, and just me and Gaygirl snoozing around:smile: Doesn't get better than that. I landed after a while and Poll hopped in, we blasted off (in a Thruster?) for another 40 minutes or so watching the sun go down from 3500' - Maate, how good was that? We landed just as the sun was disappearing below the horizon to finish a great 1 hour plus of joy. Of course I was up at 'sparrows' (early, early for you people who don't know what I'm talking about) did a pre-flight and was in the air before I realised I didn't have breakfast:roflmao:I noticed a coolant leak so landed for some ongoing maintenance - these Thrusters are like that!! So Poll and I jumped in again and away we went. The conditions were nowhere near as perfect as the previous day , with wind from the NE at about 10 knots I reckon. Take offs and landings took some concentration as the wind was coming over a large stand of bush causing some dirty air just before lift off - some fancy footwork came into play a couple of time. I'm glad I attend dancing lessons every week:spot on: At altitude the air was smooth but we weren't going anywhere fast with the wind on the nose!! It didn't matter because we were there for the sheer joy of it all. Here's a couple of photos. Ya gotta be happy with that!! Pud. PS. I reckon I have one more thing to do before this Thread will be at an end. I'll tell you about it in a few weeks, once I have achieved it. It's not a big thing, strictly speaking, but I have dreamed about it for more than 50 years!

Now I know I've seen an article on adjusting propeller blade tracking but I can't seem to find it. I've done a search here but came up with a blank. Any ideas? I'll try the prop manufacturers website. Pud

OK, I've got a 25 hourly to be done next time I'm at the hangar so it will be done then. Thanks Riley, I appreciate your advice. Pud

Haven't done anything about the prop balancer yet but over the weekend I thought I'd check how the blades were tracking on my 3 blade brolga. 2 blades track very close to identical but the third blade is tracking approx 9mm to the rear of the other 2. Is that to be concerned about? I don't notice any particular vibrations except at slow idle when the Rotax jumps around a bit - smooths out at 2200 revs or a little more though. Idle on the 582s should be 2200 anyway. Pud

Funny about the light shoes or no shoes for flying. My mate Poll suggested the old style moccasins would be the go for flying the Thruster as it is not all that comfortable with your knees up around your armpits when you wear thick soled boots!!! So I've been using an old pair of joggers that aren't too bad. The bar type pedals in the Thruster wouldn't be comfortable in bare feet I don't reckon. I've just purchased a pair of DBs (Desert boots for those too young to know), but these ones don't have the ripple sole, rather quite a thin flat sole so should be good. I'll let you know after trying them out this weekend. Looks like the weather gods are playing the game for the first time in about 6 weeks.. I can't wait. Pud

Thanks for clearing that up Maj - you should weaqr them more often eh? Getting a bit late in the evening for you ol' buggars from North QLD isn't it? Pud

Crikey Tim!! I don't like the sound of that. I don't have the knowledge or experience to advise you but I'm going to do some ferreting around to see what I can find. Hopefully some of the old, experience guys (where are you DI and Riley, and AVU) that swan around here might be able to help. Pud

What's the issue with your ailerons flyerme? Pud

"You must have footwear suitable for the purpose". I'm having trouble though, coming up with a purpose for steelcap thongs. Pud

Yep, thought so... See post number 38 for what I do, although a few other things have changed since then. Including a complete rebuild on a T500 Thruster - that's it in my avatar to the left here. Pud

Yeah, but wot didja do? Pud

Bit of "Hammer toe" there Maj - right foot, third toe!! Pud

Well I must say you look very much at home sitting there Bob:smile: Pud

Thanks Frank, I never knew that?? Pud

While you two are debating the pros and cons of language and how she is spoke, I'm just gonna continue bastardising anything I can lay my tongue to. I might go and visit our mutual friend when I get some time Riley, I owe him for his Thruster doors so I'll lay it on him then - might need some backup though:wink: Pud

You had better come visit us in the North Eastern Wheatbelt of Western Australia MrH. Nothing there, but it will be an experience:smile: Pud

Thanks Riley. We have plenty of time, it's just he hasn't flown for some time and wants to get some airtime with an instructor before flying his Gemini. I like the idea of coming up to the farm some time, just a bit too hot at the moment. Still, we are in the back end of Summer now so cooler weather must be just around the corner... isn't it?? I'll be in touch Riley. Pud