JohnMcK

Hi All, For interest sake, some years ago while heading to Inglewood (SW of Brisbane) in the Drifter I had a near miss with an F111. I was flying at 500 ft following the road and traffic spotting for my wife who was driving the car below me. She yelled into the UHF "Jet jet" as two F111 traveling at over 500 knots, wings swept back went underneath me. I didn't see them until they were long gone. I spoke to the pilot on the VHF and he said he only saw me because of the bright yellow wing. On my return I went to see the pilots and we discussed the incident. They told me the radar was in ground mode and it wouldn't pick me up. They also told me that because they get so little hours they hand fly at every opportunity. This was very fortunate as the Mk one eyeball of the F111 pilot stopped me going down the air intake. At 500 knots you don't see a Drifter until it is very close. The bright colour was an asset. They went under to stop wake turbulence sending me aerobatic. JohnMck

Hi Ian and Mike, Thank you for your comments and clarification on this matter. Regards, John McK

Hi All, You can be assured that we have two excellent people in our organization now, our President John Gardon, and our CEO Lee Ungerman, who will do their best to look after our interests. John McK

Hi, We are now all hit by Government safety regulations. Just look at flying now and all the every day items you can no longer take on an aircraft. Also think of the throttle and control locks we must have on our aircraft, even on rag and tube aircraft. Now consider this. Until recently the ONLY protection the British Government had on their Nuclear Weapons was a bicycle lock. Yes, you heard right, a common everyday bicycle lock. The BBC ran a show on it earlier today. (10.30 PM their time) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/7097101.stm John McK

True Story. While stuck in Casino with the Drifter for a few days due to weather, my agent rang to say that the light bulb in the bathroom of a small rental investment property I own had blown, and the elderly tenant was unable to change it. I explained my predicament and said to the agent get someone to change it for her. The bill to change one light bulb was $120.00. True. (Weekend rate, minimum call out fee, hourly rate or part there of, etc.) John McK

Hi All, Thank you for your feedback. If you are a member; the RA-Aus is YOUR association. We the Board Members work (or should work) for YOU. The Board set the policy at the last Board meeting. The response itself was written in the main by your Executive Director Lee Ungermann, with final input and political editing by your President John Gardon. If you like this excellent response (written on your behalf) why not drop the guys a quick email (see front of magazine). People who disagree with something are quick to let them know. A bit of positive feedback to them will go a long way. Regards, John McK

Hi Phil. No petition at the moment, but that is an option for the future if common sense doesn't prevail. Regards, John McK

None at all. The site is listed with my name and phone numbers in the front of our magazine. John McK

The RA-Aus has submitted an official response on this matter. As a board member for South Queensland I have posted it on a blog site I run for the benefit of members in South Queensland. If there are any RA-Aus members who would like to view the response please check the link below. http://ragandtubeaviator.blogspot.com/ John McK

Hi Ian, I personally have no issue, and my understanding is, neither does the RA-Aus for ASDB to be fitted for entry into controlled airspace. My main concern is for the grass roots members of the RA-Aus. The ultralight people. We have become a major growth association, (while most others are shrinking) by looking after our members, and having a policy of affordable flying. "Safety with responsibility". Just look at what has happened to GA in the past few years. Now ask yourself why? If we agree to this being compulsory outside CTA we are selling out not only the vast majority of our current members but also the vast majority of our future members. How are all our "Rag and Tube" members going to cope with this?. How are all the HGFA trike pilots going to cope with this, or all the roatacraft people? I will tell you how. They will be back in open paddocks like the early years. (and there are those who would prefer this to happen) There is an old Latin saying "Cue Bono" It means "who benefits". We should all ask ourselves Who benefits from all this business. First, only the out link will be compulsory, who will benefit from this? Certainly not any recreation aviator. Where is the safety benefit in this if none of us has a down or in link? There isn't any. If there was a real concern about safety outside CTR the Government, instead of giving a $10,000 one off voucher for the up link only they could subsidize ALL aircraft in Australia (RPT included) with something like the current "Flarm" unit fitted to gliders. This is a very small box, draws next to no current, and costs about $600. This unit has in and out link, audio and visual collision avoidance, data logging, and output plotting for those with LCD screens. You can also have obstacle (power lines) and terrain (high ground) database alarms added. All this is available NOW for $600. (perhaps much cheaper if mass produced) No I think we need to look further. Lets look at this from a "cue bono" aspect. - Who does really benefit. I have a few personal ideas. Perhaps some of you do also. John McK PS. In the interests of full disclosure. I have a Flarm unit fitted in my Drifter as I fly from a mixed ultralight and glider airfield. I have absolutely no connection with the manufacturer or sale of these units.

As per John Brandon's post above it is better to put your own words to your reply. Read the document and make up your own minds. The RA-Aus message is we don't want ADSB to be compulsory in class G or any CTAF® Period. Other people on this forum may have different views, that is fine, we live in a democracy and can have different views. However whatever you do, take this seriously. GA people, particularly those who are upmarket, and/or fly IFR could probably live with this. RA-Aus types can't (and there are 8,000 of us now). HGFA and GFA and the Rotacraft people need to speak for themselves, but I am sure they can't live with this either in its current form. There are some powerful people in the "heavy" side of aviation who would be happy to keep all those "pesky little private planes" out in open paddocks and below 500 ft. Be vigilant. We have worked too hard to get where we are today. We can lose it through this business. How to respond Please forward your response to DOTARS by 31 October 2007 by one of the following means: Fax Attn: ADS-B Proposal (02) 6274 7804 Post ADS-B Proposal, Office of Airspace Management, Department of Transport and Regional Services GPO Box 594 Canberra ACT 2601 Email [email protected] We, as Recreational Aviators must be very proactive on this matter. RESPOND NOW. John McK

This thread is in the RA-Aus forum section but I believe it is important enough for ALL members to start doing some serious research, some serious thinking, and taking some serious action about this one. Below is a copy of my post in the RA-Aus section of this forum. ADS-B Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast Airservices /CASA (my Mistake both names are on the consultation paper http://casa.gov.au/newrules/airspace/jcp/jcp.pdf) are pushing ahead with ADS-B (a type of upmarket version of Flarm used by gliders and some ultralights at mixed airfields) This, in its current form, I believe, will be VERY BAD news for us. By 2012 all aircraft entering CTA will be required to have ADS-B fitted, and by 2014 all aircraft in CTAF® will require ADS-B. CASA policy is to make all aerodromes that have a visit from one or more 10 seat aircraft per month a CTAF®. So starting 2014 if you want to go into or through a CTAF® you must have ADS-B, and by then most of the airfields we currently fly at or near or through will be CTAF® The “estimated” cost of these units is $10,000 to $15,000 plus instillation?. They can only be repaired by a CASA approved Radio Tec. They will also need to be serviced every two years by an approved Tec. Most of us can’t fly our aircraft into Brisbane or some other major center for a service, So if you can’t put your plane on a trailer, think of what the call out fee might be. There are suggestions that the government may cover the costs for the initial instillation for currently registered aircraft but not for any new aircraft in the future. But even if we get a “free” unit, the upkeep could "bankrupt" many of us. We will also sell out all our future members of RA-Aus, or if you belong to AOPA, SAAA etc, your future members, if we accept this in its current form. Also no one seems to know how big or how heavy these aviation units are or what their power consumption will be. There will be exemptions for aircraft with low battery capacity or no alternator etc, plus other undefined aviation uses. You could have airspace full of, say, gliders, hang gliders, paragliders etc but banned to ultralights. If so what is the point of having them compulsory outside of CTR. Also, as I read the new regulations, If you don't have ADSB you won't be able to fly above 5,000 ft (QNH) regardless of the terrain. My personal view is we need to lobby to at least stop them from being compulsory in CTAF®, and below 10,000 ft. In the marine field this system is called AIS (no height requirement) and has been in operation for some time, and I guess is where the Aviation idea came from. This is now mandated for commercial shipping but you can buy pleasure craft versions of AIS for under $1000, which use is voluntary. Also non AIS equipped pleasure craft are not excluded from shipping lanes where AIS is compulsory for commercial shipping. Eg The narrow shipping lane up Cape York Peninsular. The great "sell" on the safety aspect of AIS doesn't gel either. Just look at the serious big ship collisions in the English Channel in recent years with ships fitted with AIS and all the alarms (TCAS equivalent). There is no real substitute for "see and avoid". Only aids to help you. Also if any of you people out there have a "thing" about your personal privacy in sporting or pleasure pursuits, be advised that every single move you make in your aircraft fitted with ADSB, from key on to key off, will be tracked, recorded and logged by the government agencies. (track, height, time, bearing, speed, landings etc). If your IQ is greater than 10 you can work out future possible ramifications of this. The military have rejected their compulsory instillation for now. My personal view is we should do the same under the current proposals. John McK (wearing my personal and RA-Rus Board hat on this one)

ADS-B Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast CASA are pushing ahead with ADS-B (a type of upmarket version of Flarm used by gliders and some ultralights at mixed airfields) This, in its current form, I believe, will be VERY BAD news for us. By 2012 all aircraft entering CTA will be required to have ADS-B fitted, and by 2014 all aircraft in CTAF® will require ADS-B. CASA policy is to make all aerodromes that have a visit from one or more 10 seat aircraft per month a CTAF®. So starting 2014 if you want to go into or through a CTAF® you must have ADS-B, and by then most of the airfields we currently fly at or near or through will be CTAF® The “estimated” cost of these units is $10,000 to $15,000 plus instillation?. They can only be repaired by a CASA approved Radio Tec. They will also need to be serviced every two years by an approved Tec. Most of us can’t fly our aircraft into Brisbane or some other major center for a service, So if you can’t put your plane on a trailer, think of what the call out fee might be. There are suggestions that the government will cover the costs for the initial instillation for currently registered aircraft but not for any new aircraft in the future. But even if we get a “free” unit, the upkeep could "bankrupt" many of us. We will also sell out all our future members of RA-Aus , or if you belong to AOPA or SAAA etc, your future members, if we accept this in its current form. Also no one seems to know how big or how heavy these aviation units are or what their power consumption will be. There will be exemptions for aircraft with low battery capacity or no alternator, plus other undefined aviation uses. You could have airspace full of, say, gliders, hang gliders, paragliders etc but banned to ultralights. If so what is the point of having them compulsory outside of CTR. Also, as I read the new regulations, If you don't have ATSB you won't be able to fly above 5,000 ft regardless of the terrain. My personal view is we need to lobby to at least stop them from being compulsory in CTAF®, and below 10,000 ft. In the marine field this system is called AIS (no height requirement) and has been in operation for some time, and I guess is where the Aviation idea came from. This is now mandated for commercial shipping but you can buy pleasure craft versions of AIS for under $1000 which use is voluntary. Also non AIS equipped pleasure craft are not excluded from shipping lanes where AIS is compulsory for commercial shipping. Eg The narrow shipping lane up Cape York Peninsular. Also if any of you people out there have a "thing" about your personal privacy in sporting or pleasure pursuits, be advised that every single move you make in your aircraft fitted with ADSB, from key on to key off, will be tracked and logged by the government agencies. (track, height, time, bearing, landings etc). If your IQ is greater than 10 you can work out future possible ramifications of this. The military have rejected their compulsory instillation for now. My personal view is we should do the same under the current proposals. John McK (wearing my personal and RA-Aus board hat on this one)

Hi JL I am far from being a expert Drifter Pilot but I have been flying Drifters for about 12 years now. The areas I generally fly often have strong cross winds, sometimes with rotor from hills and or buildings, and sometimes very narrow. I prefer the "crab" approach method in a Drifter rather than the "wing down slip" approach. I believe with the crab method you can put in and take out crab very quickly as the x-wind speed changes. You can flick a Drifter from full left crab to full right crab very quickly if you wish. I myself, can't do a x-wind landing effectively in a Drifter with the slip approach. Different people have different ways. Often there is no particular right or wrong way. In very strong X-Winds I flare in the crab and only kick straight and put a wing down just before touchdown. If you straighten too early you will quickly drift downwind. (across the runway) This can be very serious if the runway is narrow. I find it is better to be a little too late than too early. Every now and then I don't always get it completely straight in very strong cross winds before touchdown. but it doesn't seem to cause a problem in a Drifter. As I said, I find it is better to be a little too late than too early. I posted a Drifter X-Wind landing video yesterday on this forum (general discussion- flying videos). Have a look. Regards, John McK

Hi Ian, For what it is worth original Ultralight pilots (as distinct from GA converts) have a real "thing" about landing fees. Everyone I know won't go to a venue if there is a landing fee. However they will happily pay a camping fee or a registration fee or something fee. But not a landing fee. Regards John

EFATO Hi Guys, When you practice this be aware there is a MAJOR difference in performance with the engine in "idle" mode and a real engine stop mode. There is also a significant drag penalty if the prop is windmilling instead of stopped dead. If you think practice in idle mode will give you an indication of performance in stopped mode you are mistaken. Get a good instructor to show you performance in a real stopped mode. JMcK

For those interested I have a cheap ($299) video camera mounted on my drifter pod and plugged into my helmet. I can speak onto the tape as I go. This way the tape also picks up both outbound and inbound radio calls. The mount is a simple aluminum mount on rubber pads to take out vibration shudder. My trial and error attempts show you need a tape or hard drive camera not a disc camera as the DVD discs "flutter" from vibration and wind. You need a microphone input to cut out the wind noise and allow you to record audio, and with a cheap camera you are not so paranoid if it gets wet or damaged. I mounted my camera on the right side of the pod but it would be better on the left side as you don't get good "circut video" with the camera mounted on the right side Regards John