rodgerc

The panel’s paint (~200 microns) is vaporised and the aluminium is just a little “etched”. The rattle can epoxy is probably only 50-75 microns thick, so it is ever so slightly recessed.

Yes and etches the aluminium

Anyone with a low power engraving laser can do it. It works with paint, preferably 200 microns. To achieve the effect, mask the panels once painted with old fashioned masking tape. Don’t use the silicone impregnated type. The lasers etches away the tape. Once etched, blow it off with compressed air to remove any residual “ash”, then spray the etched area with rattle can epoxy in a contrasting colour. Once dried, remove the masking tape and you’ll have nice sharp text.

My own panel…If you’re in Brisbane I can give you the name of the chap with the laser. You’ll need to complete your cut-outs, do a layout in 2D CAD and have the “blank” powder coated before he does the etching.

I had a few laser etched. Here’s the latest I did a few weeks ago for the friend’s RV-8

That’s partially true…. Again using BITRE’s published survey results from 2021, once the hours flown by Gliders, Hang Gliders and Gyroplanes are deducted, the average annual hours flown by Ultralight (RA pilots) decreases to around 17h.

I’d usually caution against quoting mean (average) numbers alone, as they can be misleading, but if we accept the federal government’s Bureau of Transport Research and Economics survey of annual hours flown by non-VH aircraft in 2022 and 2023 (353.1k hours and 333.6k hours, see reference below), then the average number of hours flown by RA-AUS’s ~10,000 members (“RA pilots”) is likely to be greater than 30.

Maybe some RA-AUS members still own a kerosene heater that they drag out in winter

Keep doing what you do Gilpi…You’re a recreational aviation legend around the airfield with joie de vivre that most can only aspire to.

As a pilot of tailwheel aircraft with very limited forward visibility for the last 600or so hours, I find it preferable to make continuous shallow S-turns while taxiing to see where I’m going and thus avoid clobbering someone on a reciprocal heading….Frankly, I consider taxiing blind to be a poorer form of airmanship than weaving either side of a centreline.

Sorry….I know this isn’t helpful, but it provides an insight into contemporary Australia’s national IQ

I currently hold both GA and RA licenses/certificates….My current aircraft is registered with RA and once the CTA endorsement becomes a reality, I’ll cease doing a GA BFR. About a decade ago when I “transitioned” to RA, it took around 5h dual and 1-2/2h of solo. During COVID my B777 check captain next door neighbour, took 6h of training to acquire his RA pilot’s certificate. If you don’t already have your RA qualification, it might be more “economical” to do the GA BFR navex’s.

Myles Breitkreutz is up your way….Maybe Gladstone.