rodgerc

Thanks Clinton. Yours is an all-too-familiar scenario. Good luck with your adventure.

Hi Clinton….I’m not a S14 owner sorry, (S-20) but I am curious to know your motivation to return to RAA. Lower cost of flying/ownership, freedoms, medicals, reduced bureaucracy, other?

....and a locally built example

On the subject of power plant cost, based on my experience it makes absolutely no sense to spend a single cent more on any engine, until the millisecond after the less expensive option selected earlier starts to play up. At that instant, a pilot’s perspective is changed and the sound reasoning behind earlier decisions is brought into sharp focus.

There is a very comprehensive list of L2 Maintainers on the RA-Aus website. You’re looking for an L2 (or L4) not a LAME.

Ist February 2023…..😳…🤔…😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

As an amateur/experimental aircraft repeat offending builder, it is my opinion that tenacity is a far more valuable personal trait than technical prowess. When I first commenced building I was told by an experienced builder that for any mature model of aircraft kit sold, 1/3rd were flying, 1/3rd were under construction and 1/3rd were abandoned. The two finest examples of the Vans RV6/7’s that I’ve inspected, were completed by builders without pre-existing technical skills….but they both possessed a keen “eye for detail” and were totally committed to the finishing the task. After 1,500-4,000h of hard slog, it’s reasonable to assume that completing builders will acquire and develop the technical skills and knowledge. So my advice to a prospective aircraft builder is to critically assess yourself. If you tend to chase after every shiny new object and have a collection of unfinished projects in your garage, then do yourself a favour and buy a flying airplane. If however you’re prepared to launch yourself “once more into the breach” whenever obstacles, exchange rates, drill bits through fingers or life gets in the way and have a willingness to remake parts 3, 4 or 12 times to get one that’s right, then you’re a homebuilding candidate….but it almost certainly won’t save you money. The joy and satisfaction that comes from sitting in your hangar and gazing upon your completed aircraft will cause the considerable cost and years of labour to seem insignificant….and before long you’ll want to build again.

From my viewpoint, RA-Aus is pursuing the weight increase in response to the stated wishes of its members. Many of whom have both GA and RA flying qualifications. In my case, CTA access is the only reason I maintain a Part 61 licence and the instant RA-Aus gains CTA access, the small novel sized document that is my GA licence will be placed in the round file under my desk.

Wondering if anyone in the greater Brisbane area has found someone who can cut a replacement (copy) double-sided key to suit an ACS Ignition Switch?

Possibly time to become accustomed to VH-XXXX with only 56 VH-XXX options remaining to chose from. The good news is, there are some great choices remaining…. For example; VH-JUF ie New Zealand speak for a very short piece of elapsed time, VH-FVR ie A set of flight rules for those afflicted with dyslexia, VH-ING ie Good rego for a financial institution’s corporate jet, VH-FNN ie Not fun without you, VH-VAQ ie Perfect rego for those in the sunshine state flying an aircraft designed by Dick, and VH-SEQ ie The only rego choice for those living in the best part of Oz. 😛

There’s some scary content in these videos….I’m often amused when I talk pilot friends who say they couldn’t bring themselves to fly in an aircraft they built themselves (experimental/amateur). I counter by saying I can’t bring myself to fly in an aircraft that was built by someone I’d never met…. But then, I wouldn’t fly in aircraft that some of my pilot friends built either.

Heart breaking

Those reading this forum will be.

63 today….~2 1/2 months until crunch date?

Only 78 VH- marks available now. I wonder if CASA is banking on RA-Aus’ 760kg initiative freeing up a bunch of C152, Vans, PA-38 etc regos. 🤔

I’ve held a GA (CASA and its predecessors) licence for >40 years and a RA-Aus pilot certificate for ~15 years….I fell for the promise of a Basic Class 2 medical being equal to heavy vehicle standard and was then disappointed to find it wasn’t. I am a SAAA member and see value in their experimental/amateur builder support, camaraderie, the role of Chapters and TC’s….but I do wish that SAAA and RA-Aus would become more closely aligned and cooperate with each other. These days my aspirations seem to be more closely aligned with the RA-Aus model….My flying does not involve NVFR/IFR, aeros, >2 seats or CTA other than the occasional transit. I prefer the RA-Aus style of customer service and thus, that is the direction I’ll be heading with my current build project’s registration. I appreciate and respect others may prefer the CASA license and registration option.

As of today, there are only 86 VH- marks available. One wonders if they are hoping that RA-Aus expedites the 760kg manual amendments.

Ah the D-block “stump” with it’s hi-vis extension for dills like yours truly who cut the corner. Interesting results, as usual, thanks JG.

Perhaps consider locating a NACA vent (or blast tube) strategically where it will provide cooling to your electronics....Specifically, ignition modules, regulator and condenser.

I’ve recently discovered that even simple analogue doesn’t save money

It’s actually a RANS S-20 with the Classic tail and S-21’s single-strut all aluminium wing options. With the aluminium (S-21) wing its design MTOW is 1500 lbs (680 kg), but I’m resigned to registering it at 600 kg rather that being a trailblazer. I refer to it as a RANS S-20.5

Stick with your plan @Kenlsa…I don’t hold any patent or copyright over the scheme and it would be pretty cool to have a doppelgänger 😉

This one is still a work in progress.

Perhaps this explains why there’s no panic that CASA have only 147 VH- registration marks remaining available.

Looks sweet Mark