Methusala

Is there water on Mars?

I was flying in a friends newly acquired Luscombe. It had a C65. He asked me to pull throttle and stall. I did. The engine stopped! Don

My esteemed CFI years ago remarked that it took an ultralight pilot to teach him the really safe method of precautionary landings. This was not to do a pass at 500ft and a second pass at 250. No, it was to do a pass at twice treetop height and a second at 1/2 that height. The first pass you could see powerlines from above and the second you got a really good look at the terrain you were about to land on. Don (I have had actual experience of engine failures and survived the landing)

Little leg room, not comfortable for larger terrestrial frames (that is human beans!).

An aeroplane such as the Flightstar Pioneer is NOT at all challenging to fly. I haven't flown this type but have flown 2 & single seat Thrusters, Drifters, Mustangs, Jeeps, Robinson B1RDs, Tyro's etc. They are generally viceless, stable and having high drag are difficult to accelerate to high airspeed. The stall is usually a mush and they don't usually drop a wing quickly due to greater dihedral than higher performance a/c. Pilot incapacitation or some exaggerated panic response (perhaps PIO) is likely.

It is not lawful to quote prices in Australia that don't include GST

Saw an Airbike at Holbrook once. Liked the simplicity and elegant design.

Not enough ll practice I presume.

Being followed on SBS before the 630 news this week. The greatest reality show ever! Recommend.

A fellow named Tim deHaan built an Emerald in the '90's. was good friends with Simon Pike at Temora. Maybe you could follow up to get access to plans etc. Don

Cliff was living at Wedderburn some years ago as was Steve Cohen. Perhaps someone from the forum also resides there.

Perhaps "Nobody's " comment closer to the (fairly obvious) truth than "harsh"?

I have been teaching construction industry participants for the past 10 yrs (just retired). This has left me with an enduring conviction that a life lost is a terrible burden for survivors to bear. I am 100% with Nev on this one. The risks are too great, the unknowable factors too many. The human brain has trouble prioritising tasks when under severe stress. We can take a lesson surely from the almost incredible accident on the Hawksbury occurring in almost perfect conditions with a highly respected and experienced pilot.

Coincidence is unpredictable (by definition). Ever come to an intersection on a slow day when roads are all but deserted? Suddenly there are two cars approaching from opposite directions and a couple of bike riders as well. As you drive away the roads are again deserted. Funny thing, the law of (im)probability.

Should be written SFA.

Just seen a photo of the pilot. He was our pilot when we flew 2 1/2 years ago. So sad...

Placing bets on Joyce showing courage in an area so mired in conservatism is a "brave position to take, Minister!"

Delicious irony is that, judging from the crop of current press photos, Joyce is most likely going to re-introduce free beer on domestic flights.

I consider myself, along with most of us, an aficionado of all things with wings. I don't have formal aeronautical qualifications, apart from my experience flying many types of mostly ultralight aircraft. I am posting here so as not to directly divert from the feelings of grief in another thread. I read a lot of aero related stuff and recall a pilot report some years ago in the British magazine Pilot featuring the Beaver. I have loved the Beaver since the 1950's when the Snowy Mountains Authority flew a fleet of 6 from Polo Flat in Cooma. I flew as a passenger in VH-NOO a couple of years ago doing 3 landings including one on the Hawksbury River. Back to the pilot report. This stated that the aircraft was, because of the long and narrow chord wing, prone to savage wing drop at the stall. A local accident cost the agricultural pilot a leg and lucky to get away with his life, when it stalled and crashed while dropping super out of Tralee Station south of Canberra. It is important not to allow our love for a particular type to cloud our perceptions. A friend of mine was waxing lyrical about the Dromedary to its pilot on a visit to Forbes. The pilot responded quickly saying that it was just another aircraft and could kill you in an eye-blink. High aspect ratio wings cause gliders to have fairly aggressive wing drop in stalls. Try it in a Blanik.

Beavers have a reasonably high aspect ratio wing which makes a sudden wing drop in a stall common.

Tyres probably Nitrogen, not air! Hehehe...Don

I naturally drift towards suspicion when confronted with desires to make something appear "as clean as new". Fuels contain a varied cocktail of ingredients, some of which will act as natural dyes. Good quality high volume filters, monitored regularly and changed as required should keep the fuel flowing with minimal chance of contamination downstream of the filters.

I've just seen some new Airbusses and the upper and lower red flashing beacons are apparently leds. They really are a big improvement on strobes. wonder if this development will happen for us soon at a reasonable price?

I believe that Dave Cuthill is a great choice. Flys Thrusters so you know you will be able to handle anything capably. My 2 bobs worth.

Does anyone know what has happened to Tony Hayes' molds for the Thruster pods? I would like to track a "Swift" pod if possible. Don