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Methusala

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Everything posted by Methusala

  1. Methusala
    Spurways ST-10 is a good hand riveter (long handles - good mechanical advantage) but are a bugger to reassemble after cleaning the jaws. Marsden Klicker are good and easier to service. Don't get any chemical contamination on the rivet stems as this causes a build up metal fragments on the jaws.
  2. Methusala
    This is exactly what I envisaged as the perfect town car. ABC news reported a few weeks ago on a similar Chinese project which sells for around $5,000. Could sell the Astra and keep one X-country wagon and use this as a town car. Would smack the arrogant Angus Taylor in his mouth claiming that govt support for EV's would be the equivalent of subsidising "luxury" cars. Don
  3. Methusala
    Sorry, didn't mean to be sexist. "Stages of life" may be more appropriate.
  4. Methusala
    Kaspar, stages of man is the answer. Either you are in the still developing state of existence where all $$$ need to be shepherded for children's school etc or you reach the end stage (some call this retirement) where the money is your super and intended for enjoyment of your later years. Hopefully you've reached thay stage in which case... don't think about it, just do it! Don
  5. Methusala
    Try $10bn and counting for MT's boondoggle Snowy 2.0. This is exclusive of new transmission lines and estimated 50% energy loss in said transmission to Syd/Melb. As I have stated before EV's are only a political sop. Without legislation how many will be bought. Angus Taylor has insulted the intelligence of us all by stating that subsidies in this field are the equivalent of govt paying for people's "luxury cars", fer *hrissakes!
  6. Methusala
    Here's one for you red blooded pilots to watch...
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  7. Methusala
    G'day NT5224, I don't mean to be unnecessarily pedantic and I am not obtuse either. We have had a discussion over the past regarding abbreviation of geography. Not everyone who reads our posts has a categorical memory for 4 letter codes nor are they interestedf. For pure clarity and also as a display of good faith, could you please use layman's language. Thanking you for taking this point, Don
  8. Methusala
    Darwin markets?
  9. Methusala
    Nev, I have apologised for mistaking the gist of your post. I am an amateur pilot with less than 1,000 hrs in basic planes over the past who knows how long. I read de Crespigny's book and agree that a lot of very fancy footwork only just avoided disaster. I have not read more than one tech report on the Air France disaster but it left me (and others) wondering why the crew thought holding full back stick would have been wise under the circumstances. You have provided a plausible reason for this and I thank you. )
  10. Methusala
    Nev, I'm sorry if my reading of your words was in error. I cannot see how the Air France accident near the Azores was anything but pilot error. Whatever software fixes embedded in the FMS systems to prevent pilots from crashing obviously were not enough to prevent catastrophe. Nothing can prevent bad outcomes resulting from profoundly incorrect actions. Airbus seem to be doing well and 'fly by wire' is set to become universal as greater efficiency demands more technological inputs.
  11. Methusala
    I don't get this implied antagonism towards AB. I have read praise of Airbus from many eminent captains for their aircraft. Richard de Crespigny, Captain of QF32 had nothing but the highest praise for the Airbus engineers, responsible for writing the POH, on the A380. In particular he was astonished that every question he asked during the 5 hrs preparatory to landing the crippled jet was answered. 'Automatics' did not prevent the crew from managing a nightmare occurrence into saving the plane. Others comment that the workspace is far more user friendly than Boeings because of the side stick controller. A350's have the quietest cabins I've experienced and have a lower cabin altitude than others. Seems that criticism of Airbus may be based more on prejudice than experience. Remember: "If it's not Boeing - I'm not going!"
  12. Methusala
    Best compromise...T-600 Vision (Jabiru 2200 of course!)
  13. Methusala
    We have an 'A' model Karatoo project which may take a bit of work to get back to Flyable. PM if interested/curious. Don
  14. Methusala
    Just looked up the specs... says up to 300l/hr. I used to pump from 60l drums. Don't recall it being terribly slow but it was a long time ago and so not crystal clear in memory. Beats hand pumping!
  15. Methusala
    I think that he will find difficulty in obtaining parts for the engine. Must need a full strip and re-build with a smashed prop.
  16. Methusala
    Collings wrote a bloody good book called (I think) "Riding the Fire".
  17. Methusala
    Great replies you blokes!!! Agree that any additional information is a plus to "see & be seen". Nev, I agree with"pass on the right". Just that, as has been said in this thread, Things can and often will happen within seconds. That's why I have mentioned the dichotomy of *turn left for circuits* and *pass always on the right*. As you say,Nev, we have to be soo clever. Never stop learning (and thinking too).
  18. Methusala
    Please comment: We were "Shootin' the breeze", in the clubhouse the other day. Actually discussing see and avoid scenarios. Someone mentioned overtaking or passing another aircraft and spoke of conditioned reactions. My mind was confronted with the fact that circuits are most commonly left handed whereas the accepted avoidance manoeuvre is to turn right in a descending turn. Which one is going to be the "conditioned reaction"?
  19. Methusala
    SorryJacko, many of us are to old and tired to put up much fight any more. Understand that we have been trying to carry the torch since the 60's when we marched through the streets of Sydney in the Moratorium against the Vietnam war. Carrying the torch for the plundered native forests through the 80's and 90's then trying to change minds on the mad plans to flame the Middle East in the "War against Terror" (haw, haw!). Watching, shocked as a functioning govt is replaced by a grotesque effigy shouting "Axe the Tax" and (disgracefully) "Ditch the Witch. Now we are being led to a "Gas led " solution to the existential, urgent collapse of the living planet. So...No , we don't easily become active in the face of such stupid resilience on the part of ill-in formed voters and a system which takes no mind of the valid opinions of voters.
  20. Methusala
    Not looking forward to that either OME. Best to remember that as a mega-star collapses it releases an unimaginable fireball consuming all around it. Better in our old age to concentrate on our grandkids/pets and not think too much about the future. Have a good day, Don
  21. Methusala
    "Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat historic mistakes". I hoped that the neanderthals inhabiting the powerful positions would benefit from the Vietnam war experience. The "world's greatest military power" humbled by a society schooled in millenial struggles against powerful invaders. Staggering it was to see in the 90's headlines stating that overcoming Iraq would be a "cake walk". Fools whose only life experience was as indulged rich kids in a society drunk on its material indulgence. As they gloated over Russia's "Vietnam experience" in Afganistan they blindly walked into another killing free for all. Now they use the corporate media to whip up similar hysteria against Russia (the west's eternal Satan) and China, an industrial miricle that they inadvertantly created. You can argue from your armchairs the relative merits of one war killing machine over another but remember...guns don't solve problems, they only magnify them.
  22. Methusala
    We had breakfast at the Tumut Aero Club on Sunday. These 2 men had spent a week based there. Reports were that they were very nice fellows. Always such a waste and a tragedy. IMO powerline surveys should be helicopter or drone based activities. Too dangerous for fixed wing.
  23. Methusala
    You can always trace the money. It is said that the original Rothschild averred, "Let me control the money and the voters can go hang themselves". (Or something akin). Last time I looked the US had cornered around 75% of Aust. industry. You can expect the tiny population of true oligarchs in the states to urge their political enablers to defend that investment. However I don't take any comfort from this: See the Munro Doctrine and how it is administered in relation to the South American states. Especially Cuba and Nicaragua. The awkward decision to buy Super Hornets (against overwhelming contrary advice from the wiseheads in Defence) and then the stupefyingly dumb purchase of F-35's shows the power of these oligarchs to direct foreign powers to support their armaments cash cows. BTW there is a lot of difference between being "independant and un-aligned" and "isolationist". See Switzerland and Sweden.
  24. Methusala
    I suspect that more than a few people were pleased enough to build a Quicksilver as supplied. Surely another, well researched kit would receive similar reaction. I'm not familiar with this Aerolite thing.
  25. Methusala
    Spacesailor, You have been dudded by the old "grandfather clause" switcheroo. I know that at least 1 Baby Great Lakes acrobatic biplane was registered as 95.10 by manipulation of this "get home free" card.
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