frankmcm
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Everything posted by frankmcm
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Starting battery and solenoid
frankmcm replied to Old Koreelah's topic in Instruments, Radios and Electronics
Just a thought. Is there an optimum angle to position the prop, to assist with starting in marginal conditions? My jab rarely fails to start, the only episodes due to condensation on a cold foggy day with sub zero temps... However I use an electric start on model aircraft engines, and it is noticeable that the starter motor will fail to swing the prop if it is engaged late in the compression phase. I ensure that the prop is " wound back" so that the first few milliseconds of rotation is not trying to compress anything. Once rotation is established it is easier to maintain. Don't know if any of this would translate to a 4 stroke 4 cylinder, but in marginal conditions anything that can help initiate rotation and take some load off the battery should be useful.. -
Time to sign out, so you can all relax again. Heading back to snow and real weather in UK, with power outages due to snow and high wind. ;-). Thanks to all who made me welcome. You have a great place for flying, so don't waste it. Sorry especially OME that I couldn't take up your invite because of other calls on my time. My original offer still stands, so don't be shy.
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Now that's better! Yesterday at Caboolture had a joyride with Al Harford. No problem once we had cleared the kangaroos from the strip. Never had that hazard at EGAD ! Could get used to this. Today beach combing, in fact next week beach combing,
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Thanks for the invite OME, but I can't get clearance for today, and tomorrow we head north for 2 weeks. Maybe after I get back we could find an opportunity to say hello. Thanks again.
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Back from HARS today. Too bad the main flying attractions were elsewhere. Full marks to Russell and Tony who took pity on us and gave us the full special consolation tour. Excellent day out.
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The LAME who inspected it just diagnosed bolt failure, seizure was not mentioned so I presumed it had been ruled out. it will be a few weeks before I talk with him again, and should it be an issue I can update. Meanwhile I expect that some thruster drivers will be looking hard at their bolts..
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T600 I think . Not completely up to speed on all the details, but I believe that Jab UK mandated replacement of bolts every 500 hrs following the first event 2 years ago. GKYLE had the specified bolts changed, and the failed bolts were way short of 500 hours. I dont know what prop was involved, except that it was 2 bladed composite. Both events I understand were similar, no warning sudden departure of complete prop. Neither prop retrieved incidentally !
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And again ...........
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Lets see if I can post some graphics. Advise if this doesnt come through..
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Last week I helped a friend retrieve his thruster from a field. Prop separated at 2300 rpm as he was climbing to join the circuit. He was fortunate to walk away, but wrote off the thruster. This is the second such event at our airfield with this combination of jab 2200 & composite prop. Sheared the bolts connecting the prop boss to crank i believe. I am sticking with wooden blades henceforth.
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Hello OME. Don't know if your offer still stands, but I have a few more days in the Sydney area before heading out. Best way to contact me would be my brothers phone in the evening. Cormac +61438178431. No pressure though.
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Finally got here! Went for a long bikeride along the Bondi coast yesterday. The rain kept me up last night, so I feel right at home ! I get my campervan next Tuesday so should be on the road so long as it hasn't washed away. I notice a flyin at Wisemans Ferry. So might look in there if permitted. Melbourne is too far, and might have trouble making Caboolture. I now understand the reference to shopping in OZ ! Deep pockets needed in Sydney at least. However you guys are more than compensated by the toned and tanned supermodels jogging round the streets all day. In fact everyone here looks well maintained. Roll on the good weather again.
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I keep getting a "Hell NO! " from my 86 year old mother when I offer her a ride. I would just love to give her the chance to see her world from a different perspective, but I doubt that she will change at this stage. Credit to your dad for going up.
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Do you prefer to navigate track up or north up...?
frankmcm replied to Gnarly Gnu's topic in AUS/NZ General Discussion
Everything north up. last time my GPS battery died and defaulted to track up I couldn't cope. (Comment removed - mod) -
OME Wow ! Getting better and better. Will certainly take up this offer too ! Local flying today is barely VFR, though I managed an hour yesterday round Strangford Lough. I imagine its not great conditions for flying in England this week. I can pick presumably pick up an aviation chart at one of the airfields on arrival. In the UK you could do worse than download Skydemon Light, a freebie navigation program, which allows browsing and shows all the significant airfields and airspace. Valerie is not the shopping centre type, but I am sure we can come to some arrangement for her amusement. She will be happier on a horse, so I will look for a dude ranch to drop her off. Frank
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This is beginning to take shape. I have been browsing the map, and can now pin down a few place names. I once did a primary school project on Australia, maybe 45 years ago, and I read "The Fatal Shore" more recently. That's where I picked up whatever tiny amount I know about Australia . So this is a great learning opportunity for me. My baby brother travelled a bit and finished up in Sydney. He is rebuilding his house somewhere in central Sydney, which fits well with his building career. Until now I never needed to locate it, but will be gathering data as of now. I can PM contact details as soon as I get hold of him online. I find the indigenous place names in Oz very exotic, and am looking forward to seeing them first hand. Hope they are not too mundane. I am travelling with my wife and 10 year old son, so might not have complete freedom of movement. Thanks for the offers from several people. I will certainly follow up.
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Thanks for that summary. I now have some names to google....... Now just where is The Oaks. By all means let me know when next you are in the Oul Sod ! I spent a lot of my youth holding a camán, though the joystick has taken it's place nowadays... So far as I know the flying club will want to see a PPL or better before they rent you a plane. Not sure how they regard a RAA certificate, but I can find out next time I am there. Or you could email the cfi yourself. Google ulster flying club. EGAD has enough runways to cope with most wind directions, so yes, we are spoiled ! The main problem is rain and cloud.. We routinely cross the local Belfast and Aldergrove control zones, though they must be a lot quieter than Sydney airspace... Best regards.
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Here's a shot in the dark to see what comes back. I'm heading to Australia to catch up with my brother, who emigrated 30 years ago and now is settled in Sydney. This is my first visit ! I thought it might be good to know what the flying is like there. All suggestions welcome. I have a notion it may be possible to visit a few small airfields where there aren't too many turbos, see some aircraft, smell the exhaust, book a joyride, maybe even put a face to a forum member known only from posting online. Also interested in pointers to interesting stuff that I might include in my plans, such as aviation museums ect. My brother will know the usual tourist stuff, but he is not a flyer. In Sydney from 25Feb, leave 23March. Hope to have wheels and a campervan (or should that be a ute), and make a 2 week circuit within maybe 4 or 5 days drive from Sydney. So where should I plan to visit ??. As a reciprocal offer, totally unconnected with the above, should any forum member happen to pass near EGAD , I would be more than happy to offer some air miles in my Jabiru microlight. The Mourne Mountains and the Glens of Antrim are especially pretty at the moment with their white coats..... Did I see OME somewhere in the neighbourhood?
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Ultralight crash near temora
frankmcm replied to pilotdave69's topic in Aircraft Incidents and Accidents
Sorry to learn of David's passing. I know him only by his postings on the forum, and clearly he was a gentleman. He will be missed. -
Hi Poke Thanks for your comments. Microlight license. Jab 450 is 2 seater tight squeeze microlight, I don't have any other license. I posted and read recreationalflying because it came up when I was browsing and seeking relevant information. Don't intend to cause confusion, and I reckon the cockups and learning are probably universal. I came late to flying, and am pleasantly surprised to find the "flying" is not beyond my skills. The big next step is to learn airmanship. That probably includes decisions about turning back and consideration for others. I believe you were referring to this in your post. I hope I can improve somewhat in the airmanship department. In contrast to learning to fly, when an instructor can observe and comment, ones airmanship probably is beyond the reach of an instructor.
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Just returned from darkest Africa, and surprised to find this thread alive.... No excuses, just an effort to reinforce the safety issues that I failed to take sufficient account of. I have had plenty of advice on the subject since the episode, so I'm no longer as sensitive as I was.... I would like to think that I am not the only one to benefit from this learning experience. I am a lot more cautious now.... On a recent outing I had to make 2 weather diverts, and in the same area where I had my problem with cloud I spent a whole day trying to get past a weather system before succeeding on the 4th attempt. On that event I logged 36 hours in 7 days, making around 25 landings. There are plenty of exemplary pilots out there; those who never make mistakes. But not every pilot is so perfect, and a short browse through the literature on aircraft accidents will reveal a fair number of poor decisions in experienced pilots. And despite every effort, there will continue to be poor decisions. One way of increasing awareness is to encourage reporting of mistakes...., but this can be a painful process, after all who likes to admit that they cocked up?. Any reaction which increases the pain will discourage reporting, and with it the learning.
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I just want a safe and practical setup. Currently I have to move the tank to reach this filter, and until recently I didn't even know it was there at all. It has been suggested that I get rid of it and just rely on the single forward filter. Tempting.
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I just spent an enjoyable few hours over the past week preparing our Jab for annual inspection. Inpector wanted a few things fixed, like a frayed air intake hose, and the UC bolts replaced, and an improved mounting for the oil cooler. For the first time I got inside the workings of the aircraft, and the experience left me much more knowledgeable about how it is held together, and more confident that I can keep on top of any problems that may develop. One unexpected finding was a fuel filter buried between the tank and seatbacks, out of sight and forgotten during the past 4 years, and not changed in that time because we didnt expect there would be one there. There is another filter plainly visible in the forward footwell. The fuel system schematic shows a " finger filter" at the tank outlet, just upstream of the electric pump. I am not sure I would recognise one if I saw it, but I am glad to have located this one as it was pretty discoloured internally. I will make sure to replace this annually. Any thoughts on the design?
