Litespeed

So how are the Jabiru prices going? Should be relatively far cheaper than the inflated imports.

Yes , I do remember. But as you said a Angle of attack indicator is essential, as is knowledge of the aircraft feel to get that seat of the pants ability. Remember this was a instruction flight and instruments were inoperable, so I deduce the AofA was also inoperable. I will assume an instruction flight means the pilot is either learning or getting current. Either way it should not happen. We should never encourage no instruments been operable and still taking off regardless, it's a very bad example for a instructor to allow. If the instructor said " the instruments work, but we will fly as if they fail in flight ( cover with post-it notes) and see how you fly using the your learned skills " that is different. I am not having a go at the pilot or glider flying but the attitude of the instructor and how that flows into the skills and attitudes of a training pilot.

Given its an instruction flight, how can you guys not think this is dodgy as fuck... Sure fly by the seat of pants works, but how many crashes are stall related? Most of them. The instructor is dodgy and I would never fly instrument free, esp in a aircraft you don't have heaps of hours on. Instrument failure in flight , sure fly by pants, but otherwise it's a dumb way to die. Sure it's a glider but gliders still follow physics and will kill real quick if you stall.

Did the stall warning operate? No instruments sounds bloody dodgy. Would you fly a powered aircraft with none operating? Sounds like a instructor seeking death, don't be anywhere near her.

At least the heater might work in the cabin up front. A bonus as you plummet from the sky because the pilot froze to death mid flight after suffering hypoxia. A 19,300 ft service ceiling?

That would really sick to be the pilot. All weather, night and day? Did the designer hate pilots?

Thanks for the info Skippy. I hope his family health improves, it can be a huge burden, I wish him and his family the best.

Just buy a quality open face helmet, no better protection and a fine field of view And never ever strap a camera to it. Not helmets are made the same. How much is your brain worth?

The ST 1100 are great tourers but very heavy. The V4 is a smoothy but very heavy to convert for a aircraft.

Wow, a HP 2 dirt squirt. A hyperbike for the road/dirt. Amazing machine and peerless. Pity you sold it.

Yep older riders are hugely at risk when returning to the bike world. It's not just rusty skills but the roads are far busier and the bikes are hugely different. 100 HP in the 80's was a superbike. A old CB750 was 70hp, came with a hinge in the middle and part time brakes. And we road them to suit. I used to have a 1975 CB 750 F1. Now a modern bike, even a "slow" BMW twin is 120hp and only 220 kg wet and has brakes and handling light years ahead of anything the old rider has experienced. A fast one is 180hp and less than 180kg, ie over 1:1 power ratio not the old 4:1 of the Rhonda the Honda. You can even get a BMW that is too light to race and must add ballast to make 165kg to compete. If you see a bike wreckers you will notice quite a lot of new hyperbikes with a dent in the top of the tank and broken screen. How? The silly bugger does a wheelie and flips the bike at speed- they rarely survive. A hyperbike can mono in most gears purely from more throttle. Many new bikes actually restrict full power in the lower gears to stop it flipping. The old Rhonda in a dream monoed in 1st, and only got the wheel up a little, not vertical. Mind you, a lot of the dead old riders are on cruisers ie. Harleys which come with bugger all cornering ability nor brakes. They are very easy to approach a corner too quickly and run wide as they run out of clearance and scrape. Another factor is dickheads who ride in close formations this means they can't easily see the proper corner line nor be on the correct position. Also they are too close to each other for even one to swerve around a pothole, hence they bring down the other riders with them. This is quite common and stupid in the extreme. In the USA such rides killed over 6 riders purely from one swerving. A recent one here killed one and disabled three riders. Maybe a compulsory rider course for anyone who registers a bike after not owing one for five years would be a good idea. For most returning riders it's like flying a Drifter years ago and jumping into a Turboprop with no training requirements or currency. I've road ridden for 38 years but know when I am rusty and practice my skills. Most forget anyone can ride fast in a strait line, but real skills are practicing very slow tight laps around witches cones- that generates real balance and control skills. If you can't do a very tight 180 turnaround in a car length, you need to improve your skills. Those skills are bike irrelevant, even a full dress Harley can do it if you have proper riding skills.

I know we have no power but sometimes we still need to stand up and try to protect our fellow flyers from them selves. It also means they might pick up our our failures and save us from stupidity/poor decision making. Casa has no bearing on it, it's advice, the pilot is in command. We can moan and bitch about regs etc and training but we all should be looking out to help fellow pilots. Yes, his judgement might have been poor but a word from experienced pilots can make a big difference esp when low on hours. I'd rather get roasted by him than watch a guy fly off into the danger zone unknowingly.

As an aside on personal responsibility and training issues.. Why didn't the pilots on ground at the airport radio him and say the conditions where dangerous and return to field immediately? Sure they have no legal need to, but common sense looking after a fellow pilot seems important. We all need to be confident calling out our fellow flyers when their judgement is suspect.

So as I expected the buggers can't be trusted. The so called experts they had, have disregarded all current knowledge in safety to justify their complete lack of quality and safety in manufacturing. Prior to this any cracks were a no no. Now it's no problem, physics didn't change but Vans wants us to accept their bullshit. I would never fly or buy one that been made in the last few years and definitely not a new one. What's next? Leave out every second rivet to save money? Vans have now become the Boeing of light aircraft.

I would not worry too much, if you want one get it. Simononi are not just a two stroke maker but manufacturers of parts for Formula one and have a good reputation .

I guess the weight is the issue. I agree the v twin would be much nicer for nvh.

Wow, Never before have I seen a helicopter packing cones.

I think cw is right. Everyday I watch birds here at Port Stephens soaring at low levels and it's almost always cw from ground level to at least 500feet. Masses of sea birds esp Sea Eagles and pelicans to watch. Plus plenty of others that will soar if any currents are around.

I agree, more likely a airframe issue or possibly a engine or prop failure. Looking at the crash site, he came in fast and fairly steep. The tracks on the ground are short for a simple engine out, but it's still in a straight line. It doesn't appear a turn stall or a power off stall. I could be wrong, either way truly tragic for all. I give the young bloke the benefit of doubt and hope they find the actual cause. At least it's GA so the ATSB will have to investigate. Bloody awful, RIP

I will give it some 🤔

Good onya Ian. Progress is always a good thing as I am sure you won't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Don't worry about the Luddites. Is it possible to have a longer list of reaction emojis? Sometimes we need a more emotive reaction than provided. Cheers Phil

I think it's a given that we won't be using this design as a float plane. A IFA prop with the Jabiru sounds a great solution, all the speed you should want and the climb/acceleration you need to get out of sticky situations in lessor machines. I think I would much prefer this over a Rotax and all its extra bits and costs. The extra speed naturally is appreciated as well. I always lusted after the Arnold AR5 but wanted a four stroke or a 110hp Simononi Italian motor rather than the 65hp of the original. Naturally that meant a new design etc ..., But this is a lovely solution esp if it could meet RAA regs. I will just need a suitable donor of kidneys to sell on the black market...

Bob, Great comments borne from experience and the fundamentals of aircraft design. That Falco just is sexy, a timeless beauty. If it looks right, it flys right. Yes, today a better aircraft might be designed but damn it's hard to beat an Italian master. No CAD, no CATIA or fluid dynamics programs just pure design. This provides an Italian lesson "form follows function, but beautiful form gives beautiful function". Not only does this provide a wonderful flying machine but makes the pilot and bystander want it. It's an emotional thing when you purchase or lust after a personal aircraft. Same goes for cars and bikes for fun, you don't pay top dollar for the fugly one that lumps along. No we want a machine that attracts the eye, commands the heart and satisfaction in high engineering. If you can make a baby Falco as good as the original or better, you have a winner.

Hi Dennis Lovely fisher you have, looks beautiful. A few members have built and flown the Corby, wonderful little sportster for the sky. I am sure they will reply and help you find what you need. Give it a few days and if you have no help, post again or pm me and I will help find them for you. What engine are you considering?

I expect it's in Boeing's best interest to ensure the recorder deletes after two hours. Help cover shit up.