Riley

Tomo In response to your closing query; my RAA instructor was not yet 21 (believed to be the youngest CFI in RAA at the time) and I was a 65-year-old 'ab initio' student. We got to pilot certificate issuing state in 21 hrs total instruction without me accidently killing him and him reluctantly not deliberately killing me (tho he did scream at me a couple of times "whadda ya doing THAT for? I didn't teach you to do that!"). I guess, given that I passed the ultimate flight test, he must have beat on my hard head enough to push something in. That said, there was never a time when I didn't respect his authority nor a time when he forgot who was paying for tuition. cheers

Wise words Pots . Your closing statement is a guideline we should all practice explicitly in this sort of situation. cheers Riley

Thinking about Ahlock's post over the weekend, I experienced an epiphany and came up with the very solution recommended by Yenn except that I was going to measure the volume of water needed to fill to the plimsoll line and convert that to a weight value. Fortunately there isn't any bouyancy medium in the chambers. Now.. how long will it take me to getting around to doing it? Thanks Ahlocks & Yenn and cheers to the rest of ya.

Andrew Don't sweat. Lack of access to the original logbook/history is more a nuisance than a major problem. Your 'Terror Dacsfull' can fly again legally. You have a PM. Cheers

Many thanks for the enjoyable viewing AlanB. Question: ...does the Goat have cabin heat for those frosty NW Victorian winter mornings?

Yeah Turbs, that's yet another area that would need specific study but fortunately there's a wealth of data & instructions available in layman's terms on the web addressing the correct mounting of floats to an airframe. As such, I wasn't anticipating any major hassles when I got to that stage (project now totally dead & buried) but the simple question of "how much airframe weight can the floats effectively and operationally sustain?" must have a reasonably-achievable answer so I'm hoping someone can beat some 'smarts' into me. cheers

It wasn't 20 minutes after putting the 'floats for sale' ad in the classifieds that I rcvd a call asking "How much weight will they carry?" and my immediate response of 'duh" advertised my lack of product knowledge. I suppose a 'sink' test with sandbags would be proof of the pudding but it's a bit late for that. Can anyone advise if there is a simple formula (an oxymoron perhaps) to calculate the buoyancy value of a set of floats? Waiting with eager anticipation & much appreciation (but only if it's simple!) Cheers Riley

Kaz, I dispute that Bill was innocent. In actual fact, the prosecuters had him tied, trussed & done like a dinner but his clever lawyer got him off on the technicality that he should have been brought to the court under his formal name of WILLIAM B. Posters, (Bill Posters was/is his uncle from East Gippsland). Once again the law was been proven to be an ass. I despair!

Maj & 80K's. Based on your info, we calculate that the weightshift and the B22 will peacefully co-exist in the available space so we're bringing the trike in from the country on Sunday. Thanks for your assistance gentlemen. Cheers Riley.

IMO there is a lot to be said in favour of pre-mixing 2 stroke fuel as opposed to the convenience (??) of just topping up the oil injection reservoir. Lack of clean fresh fuel and incorrect spark are the two major items that cause our machines to quit the air. We therefore traditionally carefully measure and filter fuels (+ pre-mix the exact lubrication?) prior to going aloft. To rely on an additional mechanical hook-up (with the suspect areas you have mentioned) as an extra link in the breakable chain has to be a questionable saving of something. Being old, lazy, grumpy and of low IQ, I subscribe to the KISS principle. Personally, I'd be rigging down the injection system thereby making my machine just that little more problem proof. The greatest win obviously is all the weight saving by eliminating the plumbing - that Drifter would fairly scream. My thoughts only. cheers Riley

For hangar space utilization planning I need to know the footprint measurements of a Bantam B22. Don't have access to one to measure & Google gives only length (9m) and w/span (5.5m) but nothing about size (height & width) of empennage. I'd be grateful if anyone out there could provide the necessary numbers. Tks in advance

If you encounter supply problems, I have a 1946 Lanchester automobile in the shed awaiting restoration with 4 flat tyres that I won't need. Methinks too large for a trike however, I would consider selling just the flat bottom bits and you could modify to suit. To assist a fellow aviator, I wouldn't want big bucks. Let me know if I can be of any help.

Reflecting that 18 months have elapsed from the time you first started playing with it until you eventually got it up, I'd suggest that "Wanna see my Thruster?"ain't gonna cut much ice as a pick up line with the maidens. On the other hand, the offer might possibly entice a couple of old hangar rats like Pommie John & his mate into your shed. When it comes to pick up lines, (in the hopes that it doesn't work) perhaps best that we stick with Tomo's "haven't we met somewhere before?"

Ha. Cop that Pud!!! I Love it. (is it calibrated in knots or wrinkles?)

You're a cunning old bas+ard Mr Emu (but I like your style!) Cheers Riley

Tks Pud - will record those details in my 'collected smarts cum reference bible' (read - old school scribbler). Cheers Riley

Tks for that Robinsm. I'll file that info for reference pending response from some of the T300 guys who I've assisted with parts in the past. Cheers Riley

Cripes, talk about a speedy response! (hope I never end up owing you money - there'd be no peace). Unfortunately I won't be able to hit the White Gum Fly-in this year as I'm doing an 'overnighter' walking the Bibulmum Track but I'll have my ducks properly prioritized next year you bet. Tks for the sleuthing on my behalf. cheers Riley

Gentlemen Am now getting serious about the resurrection of the T300 project that's been languishing in the shed for the past six years and a preliminary inventory shows that, besides being a few sandwiches short of a picnic, I'm also missing a few Thruster parts. Whilst I have two of the 4130 Crmo upper main spar brackets I'm lacking the 'wrap around' boom bracket that it mounts to. Just checked with Bob Llewellyn to learn that the late Tony Hayes' modified angle of incidence bracket isn't going to happen for some time (if at all) so am on the hunt for a decent boom-to-front 'A' support posts 316 ss bracket that is in good useable shape. Anybody out there have a spare or know someone who might? I have quite a range of T300 used spares that I could offer in exchange or am happy to make an outright purchase. Any and all info would be very much appreciated. Call me on (08) 9299 8008. mob 0428 338 933 or email. Tks in anticipation Riley

Still waiting (NOT patiently) for mine in the hills of Perth. Maybe they reckon us banjo players can't read?

Pud, at your age I'd go easy on that 'desire' front (or at least conserve it for equally important occasions on the home front)!

Hell Pud, had we know you were really gonna put the beast in the air this weekend, Bindoon probably could have arranged with Whitehall to re-write history and delay the Battle of Britian Day commemorative fly over until a date that was convenient for you to lead the parade in the Thruster. Kidding aside, heartiest congrats on finally strapping it to your bum and levitating. Witgh a bit of luck, Pommie John & I will get over to Northam to see you/it before you relocate to the farm strip. cheers Riley

Ah, flying helmet memories... Also in Canada for about a decade after the war ended, the cheap and plentiful war-surplus leather helmets were much utilized in prevention of schoolboy frozen ear lobes. Most of us wore them & most of us hated them with a vengeance and always wanted something more fashionable. Ironically, what my current one cost me in 1996 would have kept the whole family for a fortnight in 1955. Go figure eh?

Re post #12 I agree with you David and you're pretty much echoing what Tony Hayes was predicting just prior to his demise (such a loss). The Guru reckoned 'rag & tube' component of recreational flying would ultimately either get nudged out of the mainstream of RAA participation like a red-headed-stepchild or would withdraw of our own accord into a semi clandestine sub movement. Despite my post-election high anticipation/expectations of the 'new wave' of member representation in Canberra, I seriously doubt that the diminishing inventory of early ultralights will command much attention in future RAA deliberations. Let's face facts, the ratio of plastic fantastics to hills clothes hoists is very much one-sided (and that's not bad) so logically the largest component will require and receive the largest resources. Methinks this picture has been subtely illustrated by both the number of rag & tube aircraft not featuring in any of the RAA calenders over the past five years and the number of 'info-mercials' & 'for sale' ads for top end aircraft in our monthly magazine. Weight increases, altitude increases, controlled airspace access, +$100K boys-toys? I guess great for some but it all adds up to a phasing out of 'low & slow' machines. Don't like it and don't want it but can't change it so will anticipate the morphing of RAA into a style of de-facto GA and just stay in the bush as you suggest. My off-thread rant is over - I'm back under my rock.