Soleair

Hello Walrus. I fear you are right. Another aircraft-specific forum I have used for 8 years, & used to be crammed full of builders' & flyers' anecdotes has virtually dried up, with one long standing member making the same observations as you do. I grew up making model aeroplanes, like many of my generation (I'm 71), and then got into flying via hangliding, microlights, gliding, & eventually graduated to PPL. My health now prevents me flying, but I still visit forums. I do not see the same level of early interest in flying that seemed prevalent in my day. The younger guys certainly have the money to fly (unless runaway house prices have taken all their money?), but the clubs seem exclusively populated by old farts of my generation, who usually like to talk about their flying stories. Very few youngsters from what I've seen. Perhaps they prefer the instant gratification of computer games, or just prefer to use their leisure for beer & barbecue. Flying is perceived as difficult, dangerous & expensive, and few seem to get as far as even a trial flight. What fun & achievement they're missing out on! And, as you say, the omnipresent power of CASA doesn't help. In the UK in the 70's & early 80's we were exempt from any regulation. I, like others, designed, built & flew 3 microlights, before graduating to design on a fully licenced 'conventional' trainer. Without the freedom of those early days, it is doubtful I'd have finished up flying & working in aviation. Indeed, due to a re-registration issue recently, my poor little plane spent 2 years in a hangar at huge cost, unable to fly. I eventually cut my losses, sold it, and that's the last I shall fly. I don't know what the solution is. Neither of my sons in their early 40's is interested in flying. But I agree, I think the whole sport aviation scene is gradually atrophying. But I'm so grateful for the fun, pleasure & excitement flying light aeroplanes has given me. Bruce

And a healthy gliding club, too. (At least there was in the early 2000's when I spent a memorable summer learning the art).

The drag generated by the control surface deflection will tend to have a restorative influence on the diversive force generated by the lift element. Take for example a rudder deflection. As detailed above in Jabiru7252's post, deflection of the rudder generates a lateral component (lift) and a rearward component (drag), although he only shows the resultant combined vector in his diagram. The lateral force will cause the plane to yaw (which is the desired effect). The rearward drag force will act about the centre of drag (roughly on the centreline), but being displaced progressively more with increased yaw, this induced drag will represent a restorative couple, and attempt to prevent the tail from yawing. Same applies to elevator & aileron deflections: the induced drag acts counter to the lift, but the value is lower, so the lift wins. Bruce

The trouble with using digital bathroom scales is that they only display for a short period (30 secs?) then revert to zero. Not enough time to read all three. So when I weighed my MiniMax, I bought 3 old digital scales from the tip shop - $2 or $3 each. I calibrated them with my own weight, which was about the same value as 1/3 the weight of the Max. Then I set everything up and recorded each reading at my leisure. I suppose if the microlight you're weighing is 6-700 kg you could use 6 scales, with a plank across each pair. But it wouldn't be a microlight. . . Bruce

I am unclear as to what is allowed under Stage 3 restrictions in regional Victoria. Numerous government & quasi authoritative websites list ad nauseam the infamous 4 reasons to leave home. These include shopping for food & essential items. Elsewhere, often on the same site, it is stated retail shops may remain open subject to the 4sq.m density rule. What is sold by these retailers is not specified. So if any retailer is allowed to open, by extension, one is allowed to shop there. Whether for essential or non-essential items. And where is the definition of essential? What one deems essential another may say is frippery. Please note I am no relation to Karen, nor do I embrace her misguided, foolish and selfish objection to mask wearing. I just don't understand the regs, & find it difficult to see how anyone can be prosecuted breaking for such ill-defined regulations. Bruce

I was musing over my lifestyle recently. Although I'm over 70, I still run with the dog for 5 km every morning. After a cold shower and a breakfast of muesli and fruit tea, I cook 20 meals for the homeless and deliver them to the hostel. Then I work out in the gym for an hour or two. Alternate days I am rebuilding a 1939 Morgan trike, or restoring a 1944 J3 Cub. Then it's flying most evenings at sunset, coming home to work on my Phd on philosophy. Then I retire to bed with my young wife, where we make passionate love, often several times. It is usually about this point that I wake up, throw another log on the woodburner, and go back to my afternoon nap.

I'm guessing Bex is not a taildragger pilot, otherwise he would understand the appeal of a conventional undercarriage.

Thanks. CASA approved hot glue, I take it.

Great, thanks. Last question - what glue are you using?

Looks fun. Where did you get the templates to download? Keep posting your progress! Bruce

Very interesting video. Main thing I took from it was the very small vortices from the owl in glide mode - incredibly efficient. Presumably that's why their flight is so quiet. As an aside, I've often wondered why birds don't have any trace of a vertical tail surface. Fitting a fin to early flying machines was a stroke of genius by whoever first did it.

I was washing my Minimax yesterday when Machtuk came over to chat. He then wheeled out his immaculate RV8, and invited me for a trip. We had a great flight, out to Hanging Rock. We flew over my son's place, & were duly spotted by my wife. It is a great aeroplane: very light on the controls (yes, I had a stick-waggle & loved it!); great visibility; superfast & flickable. Thoroughly enjoyed it!! So thankyou very much Machtuk - made my day. Bruce

Help! I'm trying to post on the Classified, and I'm not allowed to attach photos. File size 453 kb. Logged in. Message says "you do not have permission to perform this action" How can I post one (or more?) photos on my ad?

Ian, a crie de couer: Please can you instigate/resuscitate/reanimate the Classifieds section? I know it was small, but thetre really isn't another Recreational Aircraft sales site for the lower end of the market anywhere else. Good luck with your improved site. Bruce

Here's mine. Add simplicity!