JG3

First very first thing I did was to disconnect the soft start module, and closely examine all connections, especially earth connections. I never actually removed the B module. Just replaced the A with a new one. With the new A in place, then the B was found to be able to start the engine by itself once again, and continues to work now. This might seem to indicate a connection problem that cured itself by disturbing the wiring, but that still doesn't fit the clue that both old modules always worked at speed, but neither would provide a starting spark.... The old A module still works at speed, but cuts out below 2500rpm. I now always start only on the B module in order to monitor it, and it's never failed again..... JG

Gday Hank, The bike lid added 6.5kg. The bike itself weighs 12kg. And no, I'm not planning on getting into more manufacturing at this stage of life. But there has been some interest, so if someone is looking for an opportunity, they're welcome to it. In fibreglass it would be lighter and pretty easy to fabricate. JG

I just came back from a 2700nm trip with my new Aero 500. Definitely mixed feelings..... Good points: Screen is brilliant! Very visible in all conditions. Compact so fits well on then panel. Press screen is not sensitive to false touches. Bad points: Press screen often needs a second press to register. When in keyboard mode, it often registers the neighbouring letter, so have to use 'backspace' a lot... Much more complicated procedures than the old Garmins for entering a user waypoint then going to it. To enter a new user waypoint is easy enough: HOME / POSITION / MARK WAYPOINT / enter name / OK / LOCATION / change coordionates / OK But then there is no way to go direct to that waypoint. First have to go BACK /BACK to get to HOME screen. Then to go to that waypoint there are two ways that I know of: 1 - HOME / DIRECT TO / SEARCH BY IDENTIFIER / key in waypoint name / OK / ACTIVATE or 2 - HOME / TOOLS / USER WPT list / select name / WAYPOINT INFO / hold down MENU button 3 seconds / ACTIVATE In the old Garmins once you had entered a new user waypoint, or highlighted a user waypoint in the list, all you had to do was press GO TO and it was done. I used to use that feature a lot, and really miss it...... Maybe I'm missing a shortcut, and would be happy to be corrected......... I guess I'll get used to it, but I sure did prefer the old standardized Garmin procedures..... JG

I don't think jumper leads could crank any faster than it does now. I have an almost new Odyssey battery right behind the firewall, with a heavy lead to the solinoid, and an earth lead directly to the starter motor. I have enough experience with starting engines in very cold conditions to know the importance of no-loss connections. With that old module, I could start on B module then switch B off, so running only on A. The A module would cut out as soon as the engine slowed to 2500rpm, tried it many times. No way could ever crank that fast.... JG

Yeh, Dags, we thought of you often, and wished you had been able to come along. Next time for sure, and there will be more trips for sure.... As to planning and fuel stops, I'll write up a guide later when I can make the time. I just have a lot of issues to catch up on first, and resent spending too much time at the keyboard this time of year. Fuel and logistics are not a problem when you know where to go. It's quite doable in just about any aircraft, and sure is worth doing, so keep your dreams alive for next year. So that you can start by booking your holiday time, this is the advice from Ken Watts at Bond Springs, who's been flying out there for more than 40 years, and will welcome visitors to that airfield. Late April thru May -- cool to cold mornings - very good temperature inversions - warm days - light winds. Chance of frost late May. June thru July -- Cold frosty mornings - low level temp inversions with a higher inversion level at 5-7000 Ft. AMSL -- fresh and gusty winds associated with cold fronts moving across the Great Australian Bite. As we experienced, winter rain a possibility, usually from the same North West cloud band. August thur Sept -- Cool to cold mornings with a chance of frost -- warmer days - lighter winds - good temp inversions - diminished chance of rain. After 2nd week in September I always say that you can expect the weather to be getting hot. Late September you can expect the start of the equinoctial gales -- October defiantly with a slight possibility of cool mornings but hot days -- turbulence & thunderstorms. Tailwinds always, JG

Just a reminder that Saturday is the annual QUA Watts Bridge Poker Fun Run. It's a good chance to land at several local airfields and then gather at Watts for a visit and a feed. See ya there! JG Fun Fly Poker Run 2010.pdf Fun Fly Poker Run 2010.pdf Fun Fly Poker Run 2010.pdf

I finally replaced the A module with a new one. The old module on the A side would run once the engine was started on the B side, but wouldn't run below 2500rpm on just the old A module. Earlier on I couldn't get a starting spark on either the A or B module, but the B module now does start the engine. So I placed the Soft Start module on the B side, and always start on that side now in order to keep an eye on that module. I just did a 48hr cross-country trip with no problems. So the mystery is unresolved...... I sure checked thoroughly for bad earths and leakage, but couldn't find any problems. I note that the standard modules supplied by Rotax now have a soft start feature built in. JG

Yeh, any of those aircraft could do the trip. All those strips that you need, such as Kings Creek Station, Curtain Springs, Bond Springs, and Kulgera Roadhouse are long, well-maintained dirt strips suitable for the Flying Doctor aircraft. I have a passion for going 'off-road', thus the big tires, but that's a whole different game.... JG

Yes, by all means do it! I'll do a write up for the magazine, that will answer all those planning questions. It's really quite easy when you know the right spots and contacts. JG

Gday All, I just got back from a grand flight to Alice Springs and The Centre. 2700nm round trip. Wish we were still out there, but a rain front was pushing in from WA. Went with Hans (701) and myself (Savannah) from Kilcoy, Roger and wife Kerrie (Savannah) from Caboolture, and Brian (Savannah) from Boonah. Went Injune, Rolleston, Longreach, Lark Quarry, Boulia, Mt Isa, Boulia, Bond Springs, West MacDonnell Ranges, Hermannsberg, Palm Valley, Kings Canyon, Henbury meteorite craters, Curtin Springs, Ayers Rock, Kulgera Roadhouse, then they went south to Lake Eyre, Flinders Ranges, Broken Hill, and are now following the Darling back home. I went east into the Simpson Desert and found an abandoned oil exploration strip and landed and stayed the night. Wish I could have stayed longer, but the approaching weather pushed me all the way home on a strong tailwind. Some photos are at: Picasa Web Albums - j.gilpin - Centre Flight... Cheers, JG

I just finished fitting dual caliper Matco brakes in place of the single caliper that came on my Savannah. The improvement in braking effect is dramatic. Same master cylinder. And also no fade now, which used to be very noticeable when trying to stop downhill. The disc is much thicker and is steel instead stainless. Stainless is a very poor conductor of heat, so doesn't conduct heat away. JG

Mike, I recognize that as a Permacool brand oil thermostat. Several of us have tried them and found disappointing results. I found the Thermo-Bob coolant thermostat to be much more effective, without all those hoses and hoseclamps running hot oil. JG

Gday all Southerners, It seems like a good time for some of you in southern parts to start planning to fly up to Monto next year. We'd really enjoy seeing you again, and showing some real country hospitality. There's nothing quite like standing around a big open fire swapping aircraft stories, and sipping port, or whatever is your preference. It's a whole different experience from the formal and commercial feel of Temora. It's a really easy x-country flight, and a chance to see some new country; we've done it to Narromine so many times. The weather here is very dependable this time of year, with almost nil chance of rain. Daytime sunny and mid 20's, night time maybe a frost, but that won't bother you fellas, eh. So start planning, eh........ JG

you could consider giving a call on the international distress frequency 121.5. And also call on the area frequency. The line-of-site range to high-flying jets will be considerable, and they have means to forward a message for you. JG

In automotive comparison, the original Savannah looks like a real 4WD, which is just right for what it is. The S is trying to look like the pansy 4WD's meant for city use. I like the original much better. I've done video tuft testing on that square fuselage, and the airflow is much better than you'd expect. Nice clean flow, even at the corners. That rounded shape won't improve speed at all. Construction is so much easier with the square corners. I don't think it will be any lighter because of more complex internal framing. That's an interesting idea that the slab sides improves stability. It may well be so, because the Savannah is very stable in flight. I regularly fly x-country for hours at a time without touching the stick. JG

The traditional 'aircraft aluminium' is 2024. It's stronger for it's weight, but very prone to corrosion, fatigue, and bend cracking. Most of the recreational aircraft these days use structural aluminium 6061, which is very corrosion resistant, and less prone to fatigue and bend cracking. It's an excellent material. JG

I'm mystified by all those complaints about the cold. It was only about -1C and calm, no problems dressing for that. Canadians have a saying, "There's no inappropriate weather, just inappropriate clothing." I was toasty warm all evening and night. At sundown I just put on long johns, thick wool socks, a beany, and a couple of jumpers under my flying jacket. Bulked out like a teddy bear, but warm and cozy inside, even moving around between fires. At night just take off the flying jacket and jeans and into my double sleeping bags. Yes, double bags, just get a light weight summer bag and put it inside your regular bag. The double layers are even warmer than an expensive down bag. The summer bag weighs .9kg and fits in the palm of the hand. And that summer bag is good for those summer nights that are too warm for the regular bag. I have a lot of experience of light weight camping, and have learned how to be comfortable in all conditions. For more info on how to keep warm at minimum weight have a look at http://www.stolspeed.com/id/75 JG

Yeh, that 19 ft take-off at Valdez was into a strong headwind, flags fluttering straight out, and when you see all the snow on the surrounding mountains it was a very cold wind. Those aircraft are specially built for that competition, and tuned just for that role. Stripped down to absolutely minimum weight, such that they're too delicate for real bush use. Prop pitched so fine, that they can only fly at 60 before red line. A fair comparison would be the specially built dragsters you see at the race track. And in the Aeropakt video you can hear the wind roaring in the mic, and no leaves on the trees so that's cold European winter wind. To see STOL action in Australia, at 26degrees and 8-10kts, have a look at Hans in his 701 with extended wing and VGs at http://www.stolspeed.com/stol-videos JG

Yeh, been thinking about them, but no action yet. Too many other things more pressing, and I'm not real optimistic about the benefits on our aircraft. There's some claims around, but I've yet to see any real life comparison tests on aircraft. Differences that can be measured in a wind tunnel don't necessarily carry through to real life aircraft ops enough to be worthwhile. And since they're such a tempting opportunity for manufacurers for image marketing, as a skeptic I'm prejudiced on the suspicious side already...... JG3

Sunday morning at Monto, temp -1C. My Rotax started immediately, and warmed up much quicker than others that I watched ground running for ages to try to get the temps up. This difference was due to the coolant thermostat that I have recently installed. It makes a heck of a difference to warm-up time, and keeps absolutely constant 92 degrees in flight. See the story at StolSpeed Aerodynamics - Performance Enhancement for Light Aircraft Also noted that a quad bike with booster battery was making the rounds to start Jabirus....... JG

Yes, the RAAus Northern FlyIn was excellent! A good turn-out of just the right sort of flyers for really interesting visiting. An excellent venue of a country airstrip, with the catering by local service clubs. All home cooking, and the proceeds to good causes. There was hot soup until late, provided by the P&C of a school with only 46 students, and desperately trying to earn the funds to keep the school open. I really like to be able to help support such efforts! Several big open fires with heaps of good firewood provided. If the conversation turned to politics or some such boring trivia, then just move to another fire to find airplane talk. We'll all look forward to it again next year. JG

Yes thank you very much Rafael, We can learn much from Brazil about real life ethanol use. Brazil has many years of practical experience, and a good technical expertise, to know how to use ethanol successfully. We make such a big fuss about the possible dangers of 10% ethanol, and are afraid of it, while Brazil has figured out how to use much higher concentrations. I have heard of crop dusting aircraft running on 100% ethanol, and Australian-made Holden cars imported over there running on 20% ethanol mix with no problems. - You say you have not personally had problems with moisture. Has it been a problem for other users?? - We hear that it will be a problem for some rubber and gasket materials. Has it been a problem there?? - We are told that the Rotax 912 series is OK with some ethanol, but the fuel system itself may be a problem. Do Brazilian users take special precautions?? Hopefully others will ask questions, and we can all learn more from the Brazilian real life experience, rather than just our 'arm chair experts'. Once again, thank you for offering to help. Please don't feel embarrassed by your English, it is quite adequate. Ciao, JG

Just a reminder to periodically photocopy your pilot log book. I just remembered to do it recently, and noticed that I hadn't done it since 2007. That's much too long ago...... To lose the log book without a back-up would be a disaster...... JG

Hey Mark, don't ever feel anal about fussing about weight of your finished aircraft - it's REALLY important. Every once counts. So many make the mistake of adding weight and then are disappointed by the performance. JG