boingk

Hey guys, just thinking lately it might be nice to have my own aircraft. I've made a post or two around the place and have decided against buying my own and using it for obtaining my CPL rating. Besides having to do the 200hr course I would also be up for hangaring fees etc. What I am currently thinking of is building something fairly simple along the lines of an SD1 Minisport - smallish, reasonable cruise speed (70kt+) and room for an overnight bag are my main asks. MTOW would be aimed around the 300kg mark. I would most likely class it under 95.10 unless somone could recommend a better category. Configuration would most likely be basic low wing monoplane. I have no idea on construction method and am toying with the traditional wood methods but also metal trussed frame and wooden/foam wings. Either way I'd like it simple and 'fast' to build - doesn't have to look pretty but must be sound. I have a garage and a reasonable selection of tools and know how to use them. For the engine I was thinking a Briggs & Stratton 23hp unit; reasons being readily available, good aftermarket support and relatively low price. Drive would be direct. If anyone has any advice or plans they could point me to that'd be great. I am also toying with the idea of designing it myself based on a few designs I've studied so far. Cheers - boingk

Yeah I agree mate, very cool and exciting... just make sure you do the job right. I'm toying with the idea of making my own plane at the moment but I can tell you right now I'd be test flying her with a parachute on! Rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it I reckon. Basically Part 103 in the US lets them build something and fly it without an official licence so long as it weighs under 254 pounds ready to fly, will not exceed 60mph and can carry no more than 5 gallons of fuel. Generally they are small, basic rag and tubers (search 'Legal Eagle' on youtube) but the Hummel certainly sets the standard. At 73kg and 5'10" I'd say you'll be fine for the majority of craft, you lucky bugger. I'm a young guy with dimensions of 6'2" and 90kg so size can be an issue for me at times! One thing I've been thinking about seriously is designing my own craft, either simple tubed construction or traditional wooden, and powering it with a Briggs & Stratton 23hp engine as they're stone reliable, easily maintained and use sod all fuel - similar to a half VW but without the stuffing around of manufacture. Anywho, just food for thought. - boingk

From what I've been able to find the Hummel birds are all around good eggs - decent performers with some horsepower in them and very forgiving. Structure seems simple enough too. One thing you want to watch is the version you make - the original 'Hummel Bird' is designed under Part 103 of the US aviation code, allowing planes under 250lb to be piloted without an aviation licence. Most only make allowance for a small/light pilot, and often need to be expanded for anyone approaching 6ft tall or 90kg in weight. Such an expanded bird would be the 'H5' version of the Hummel Bird I believe, also stocked in kit and plan forms. Cheers - boingk

Measure twice, cut once! But seriously, I'm also looking up the build-it-yourself kind of alley as I would dearly love a personal aircraft. Apart from the designs out there I am also halfway thinking of designing one myself - I'm an avid aeromodeller so have at least a smidge of design experience. Any info on the good old Volksplane would be awesome. Cheers - boingk

Yeah I like my coffee as well (roast my own dontchya know!) but stuff the crazy gizmos... just another expense. I save the money for flying! I'll get the legit interior dimensions of my 'Backpacker' if you want - it comfortable sleeps 2 x 6ft+ guys and I reckon would take a double matress easy. Cheers - boingk

Just got off the phone with CASA and they don't like the idea of an RA registered craft for the 200hr course - they say yes thats fine... but it must be VH registered, even if that is VH experimental. Damn! Ok... back to looking for an inexpensive personal craft. Anyone know anything about the TEAM/Icon Minimax? Thanks again to everyone who's tried to help me out here. - boingk

Way too much technology for camping... use ground coffee with a cheap plunger and you'll be fine. I take one that came with a small satchel of ground coffee from Woolworths. Works just fine, cost about $5 haha. FWIW, if you're really pinching it you could eBay search for an 'EPE Spartan' tent - 1 man true double skin and very light. Easy to set up and very warm, decent headroom too. Quite minimal but very light at 1.2kg I think. Cheers - boingk

Thanks for the info guys, and no there isn't a charging system installed on the craft. The VHF draws power from a 7Ah gell-cell behind the seat which periodically needs recharging, or I'd assume can be kept topped up via a simple 12v solar panel on the rear shelf. One craft I'm looking at is a Carden GY-201 Minicab currently registered 28-0825, previously registered VH-ULH. Total time 900 hours with engine (A65-8) rebuilt 200 hours ago. Cheers - boingk

Top stuff mate, they really can't be beat and the non-stick ones are very easy to clean... just make sure you only use wood or plastic on them or they'll deteriorate. Cheers - boingk

Wow guys, awesome photos on here, both planes locations and kit! I'm a hiker/camper from way back and would recommend a few bits of kit to anyone out there: Outer Limits 'Backpacker' tent - 2300g, 2 man twin-skin tent. Spacious, light, easy to erect, had it in gales at the top of Mt Koz without issues. Outer-Limits 'TrekSmart' sleeping bag - 1000g (0'C rated?), opens up blanket style, full hood. Very spacious (I'm 6'2"), compact, light warm & cheap. Trangia 27-2 cooking kit - 900g, runs on metho, weatherproof, very reliable, comes with pans, kettle and frypan... and collapses into itself! Those are things I've had for around 10 years or more and they havent let me down once. They've all been carried hundreds of kay through crazy places on my back and done their job with ease. Best part is they are compact, light and reasonably priced. Sure, $200 for a tent might seem a bit to some but as far as decent hiking/camping gear goes its pretty cheap. The Trangia especially is really the best bit of cooking kit you can get - it runs on metho (or mogas in a pinch), is totally weatherproof and packs up into itself. You can actually cook fairly sophisticated meals on it as well, I've done pancakes and coffee on top of Mt Koz with mine a few times. Uses sod all fuel, too, and very reliable - my Father has had one for maybe 30 years and the only bit to 'go South' was the O-ring in the burner. It still worked fine you just couldn't store fuel in it after use and had to drain back to the storage bottle. Seriously, I can't say enough about these stoves. Can't wait to go aircamping at some point, would love to head up North somewhere in the winter. Cheers - boingk

Cheers guys, and yeah the beastie I'm looking at has a Continental A65 fitted so no worries there. It does not, however, currently have a transponder - how big of a deal would it be to have it fitted with one? Cheers - boingk

No worries, and yes I am well versed on the minimum height over populated areas - I often have to start descent over Goulburn town before joining circuit at YGLB and will not descend below 1500ft AGL before clearing the town and adjacent freeway. I believe actual the wording is something like 'not below 1000ft AGL and able to glide clear of any structure'. Thanks again guys - boingk

Thankg guys, and yes Nev I'm aware of training limitations. However the training area I have learnt in at YGLB is in no way 'controlled airspace' - I may have had limitations on distance and height etc but it was Class G airspace. Otherwise I completely agree with you in regards to no commercial activity, IFR etc. See, thats what I thought. It sure makes sense anyway. Cheers - boingk

Hey there guys, just a quick question as I've got varying answers on this in the past. What I'd like to ask is what restrictions (if any) are placed on a PPL flying an RA-registered craft? Obviously you need an RA conversion and cannot exceed 10,000ft in altitude, but other than that can you fly it much like you'd fly a GA craft as regards controlled airspace etc? Cheers - boingk

Nice stuff guys. I'm only 23 but have had a few jobs, notably: farmhand, pharmacists assistant, military disposal/camping store, postie delivery rider, ...and now bar manager. Currently I work 5 or 6 nights a week in at the bar and fly through the day when I can. I'm a few scant hours off getting my PPL and will most likely pusue the 200hr course to CPL by purchasing my own RA aircraft for hours in command and getting time in aircraft by either working for aerial surveyors or some other such role. Eventually I'd like to end up in the 'aviation industry', whatever that happens to be. Thats the rough plan at this point, anyway! Cheers - boingk

Cheers guys, thanks for clearing up the finer points for me. I understand that 'training in homebuilt aeroplanes' is out, but as a PPL holder I would not be 'training' anyone - I would merely be building command hours. On GA Exp it was more of an idea than a real decision - most likely I would be continuing training for CPL with the field I am at and using the RA registered craft to quickly gain hours without restrictions of availability etcetera. Part of my reasoning is that 1 in 3 days I cannot fly because of bookings and on weekends its almost impossible because of the popularity of the field. I personally cannot book ahead reliably because of the nature of my work - I work nights as a bar manager and late nights rule out (safe) early flying. Additionally, I regularly drive/ride distance to see my girlfriend and being able to convert that to flying hours would be a nice bonus. Dont read into that too much, either - I'm dedicated to getting my CPL no holds barred. Everyone else can wait. Cheers - boingk

Hi there all, I'm currently looking at a craft with the idea of using it to gain hours for my CPL, my current state of licence being just prior (several hours and the actual test) away from PPL. The craft I'm looking at is RA-Aus registered and fairly conventional with trike undercarriage, low-wing monoplane design, all metal construction and the usual ailerons, flaps, rudder, elevator. It is owner designed and built. Would I be able to register such a craft in the Experimental category and use it to gain hours for my CPL? If so, what would the costs be? Cheers - boingk PS: I am aware I can fly an RA craft 100hrs for the '200hr' CPL course.

Bingo smokeybear, bingo. So far I've been learning with a huge array or intermingled approached - flaps, flapless, glide approach (idle power) and deliberate missed approaches to learn the procedure. Emergency landings etc are a very good thing to learn. I have heard the Jabirus are a brilliant craft but not for beginners - I have actually heard of instructors dismissing them outright due to what they call 'dangerous ground handling' characteristics with regard to student pilots. Given the choice a taildragger such as the foxbat would be good, and one extra endorsement in your logbook. You'll appreciate it later on when looking for a craft that you're able to fly something other than a tricycle undercarriage! - boingk

Don't worry about it mate - if you're trying hard and concerned about how well you are doing then you should do okay. I am about to get my PPL on minimum time and have also had a few frustrating flights - don't dwell on them and instead think of what you can do better next time. Just brush it off and get on with it and you'll do fine. On going around etc, its nothing to be ashamed of. As above, its a good mindset to have - if you are at any stage uncomfortable with an aspect of the flight, make steps to remedy it. This holds true whether it be weather limiting visibility, your descent being too fast or approach unsuitable for a safe landing. Cheers - boingk

At the moment (student pilot approaching PPL) I just use my Android smart phone - it updates automatically from the network and gives good, consistent time. Obviously if you have your hands full its not the best option but is sufficient for point fixes, flight times and other basic stuff. The best watch I currently own is a basic Colorado wristwatch, bought maybe 15 years ago and currently awaiting new band (been through 3 so far) and battery. Its a hardarse thing that won't quit and keeps good time. Manual date adjustment etc but hey - it works. The best watch outright I've ever had was a Victrinox / Swiss pocketwatch. Bought for maybe $80 on sale and kept the best time imaginable (accurate to digital standards) until somone flogged it. Looking for another one now actually. Cheers - boingk

No worries mate, shall do. At the moment I'm flying the red/white Cessna 150M, having a ball but at the same time a bit frustrated at its inefficiency... 25L/hr for a climb thats best decribed as 'marginal'? No thanks Right now I'm negotiating with a fellow regarding possible purchase of a plane... all metal, 85kt cruise, 4hr+ duration, single seat and all the bells and whistles as far as instrumentation go. I'll keep everyone in the loop. Cheers - boingk

Cheers guys, and yes, the plane in the photo *is* mine... but has a wingspan of 800mm and flies with the aid of radio control. Apart from being an aspiring commercial pilot I'm also an avid enthusiast of radio-controlled aircraft. On 'flying the wings off', yes, thats the plan! Buy something, fly it as much as possible, and then either keep or sell it once I get my CPL. I'd rather buy my own than pay $250 and hour to hire a C150 out at the local field for the nhext 110 hours! Cheers - boingk

Hi there all, I'm from Goulburn, NSW and first started flying in January. I've always wanted to and thought one day 'why not'? Since then I havent looked back. I will shortly be obtaining my PPL, with a view to completing my CPL by years end. This might seem very ambitious but I think its doable with some hard work and sticktoitiveness. Yes, I'm working hard to fund this! I figure hard work now will result in a career I can be proud of later. One thing I'd better put out there in the open is that I'm looking to buy an aircraft of my own. Ideally it'd have a 70kt+ cruise with at least 3 or 4 hours duration, and be capable of carrying myself plus one passenger. RA-Aus registration would be a big plus, as would a ticket price under $30k. Anyway, thats all for now and can I say its good to find a site with so many informative and friendly posters. Cheers - boingk