onetrack

Wow, that Airtractor on floats is certainly a very imposing machine! Does it lose much capacity or abilities with the floats, as compared to a standard Airtractor? I see them quite often in the wheatbelt here in W.A., doing cropdusting. Fast, manoeuvrable, and powerful. 1300HP to 1600HP makes them very impressive to watch.

Nev, I'd be quite happy to be given one! Just as long as someone else was picking up the fuel tab!

I've got a car called the Rolls Canardly. It rolls down one hill and canardly get up the next.

Aw, c'mon Nev, you can't get much more reliability than a P&W Wasp engine. It appears I have to readjust the numbers of Spartan Executives built and surviving. The initial figures I got, were wrong. The bloke below has done an exhaustive list of all the Spartan Executives and he says 38 were built, 10 were destroyed in crashes, war action, or fires, and Howard Hughes never actually owned one, he just rented it for a period. The Golden Age of Spartan – VintageSpartanAircraft.com VINTAGESPARTANAIRCRAFT.COM

Balance master devices have been around since WW2. My first experience with them was around the early 1970's, with them being used attached to truck rims, to dynamically balance the wheel and tyre assembly. Naturally, the company gave glowing recommendations and testimonials from users - but strangely enough, they never really "took off" as far as general use and acceptance went. There are multiple reasons for that, but I won't go into detail about those reasons right now, because truck wheel applications are different to aircraft applications. The Balance Masters fitted to truck rims contained mercury and steel balls. The principle marketed, was that the steel balls gravitated to the area that needed weighting, and the mercury added a little more weight, but also slowed down unnecessary rapid and constant re-positioning of the steel balls. Then came versions using silicone fluid, or just mercury alone, and applications covered everything from motorcycle flywheels to propellers. They were always marketed as the ducks guts to solve balance problems - but many users were not satisfied with their performance. The bottom line is, balancing is a black art, and a field all to itself. You can have imbalance coming from torsional whip in shafts, or imbalance simply coming from large rotating masses that have excess weight in one position. My best mate spent 30 years balancing tailshafts and that was really eye-opening, as to where imbalance could come from, and often, how little it took to cause vibration, and how little it took in correction to get near-perfect balance. RPM ranges can also produce harmonics that increase vibration - witness the RPM range of some aircraft piston engines that engines must not run at for extended periods. due to damaging inherent harmonic forces. A lot of people fail to understand that Balance Masters don't actually put rotating masses into precise balance. They operate by DISRUPTING the harmonic imbalance, by moving the imbalance around. The interesting part is the force amplitude of the imbalance with the Balance Masters fitted, is actually larger than when the Balance Master is not fitted. But because the variations in force amplitude change randomly, the amplitudes generated, don't affect any other components that might have some imbalance.

.....the reasons the SES were in Afghanistan, instead of attending to natural disaster cleanups in W.A. and Victoria. "This is an abominable move that really needs to be exposed, to show the dark underbelly of the SES management!!" he thundered. "This is an organisation charged with repairing storm damage for Australians, and here we have them doing overseas junkets into 3rd world countries, and swanning around in taxpayer-supplied vehicles, and using..........

Peter is spot on with the ID. Spartan Executive NC17665 - 36 built, 34 survive, and one of the most desirable "executive" aircraft of the 1930's, owned by oil barons, sheikhs, and even Howard Hughes owned one. https://www.tvrphotography.com/index/G0000Ao7gunHtqmE/I00007_ESfNh8Qm4

And if the frog jumps out?? .... does it mean you do the same??

And what kind of ABANDONMENT are we talking? Jumping out of it after an emergency landing? Or jumping out it of whilst airborne, and you've packed a 'chute for the occasion?

You're looking as flash as a rat with a gold tooth, mate! - Congratulations! - an achievement to be proud of. 👍

Nev, a Drott skid shovel is primarily designed for loading trucks and excavating in hard soils, such as making underground garages on sloping ground. You can't level evenly and over long distances with a Drott, like you can with a motor grader. A motor grader can mix soils at the same time as it levels, producing an even airstrip base, or road base material. Often, a satisfactory airstrip base/road base material can be produced by mixing topsoil with clayey underlying soils. You can produce a satisfactory airstrip/road base with a mix that can range from 15% sand to 85% clay, through to 85% sand to 15% clay, provided the clays have fine binding components in them. Some clays lack the necessary fine binding clay components, thus the reason for farm dams that leak. Graders can not only move soil sideways rapidly, they can also move it longitudinally, this is all dependent on the moldboard angle. If you want to "carry" material to fill in depressions, you reduce the moldboard angle and pitch the moldboard back. This produces a longitudinal levelling effect and removes "swoops" and waviness from the surface. If you want to mix the soil materials and move them sideways to produce cross-levelling, you angle the moldboard steeply and pitch it forward. This sends all the soil material sideways and does mixing and levelling in one pass. In addition, the heavy rear wheels of a motor grader provide an ideal rolling/compacting motion. The only final requirement is a good level of moisture, which can be acquired via recent rainfall, or by a water truck. The moisture is necessary to aid in binding as well as compaction, as the water acts as a lubricant between the soil particles, and ensures that voids between the soil particles are substantially reduced.

There is only one machine to build an airstrip with, and it's called a motor grader. An old Cat 12 "knucklebuster" (mechanical lift) grader will do the job just fine, if you can source one.

Moneybox, you need a grader to level the bottom of that drain, so the pipes have a steady fall. 1 in 100 minimum, 1 in 50 is better. Plus, you should be setting the pipes in a layer of sandy material. I trust there's very little catchment area for that drain, because 2 x 8" pipes won't carry much water away in a thunderstorm.

.....was asked repeatedly to be inducted into the W.A. Business Entrepreneurs Hall of Fame, but he politely declined the offer, as he never sought or wanted a major public persona, but always preferred to operate behind the scenes. Typical of his quiet modus operandi was the time he went to that great PM, Bob'awk, and told him that there was a pressing need to develop a new ultralight organisation, and accordingly Bob'awk saw to it, via contacts in the Painters and Dockers Union (as well as various other Unions), that the RA-Aus was brought to fruition, via a bit of toenail-cutting, and various other gentle inducements, that made opposition to the new organisation fade away. Few recreational pilots today know just how much they owe their flying freedom to OT and his backroom manoeuvring and political party pressure, whereby he is known and respected far and wide as.........

....this then brought the earbone engravings up to a highly satisfactory and current standard, which would then ensure that they passed any sudden-death CASA ramp inspection. Meantimes, Turbo's mind was on designing a whole new ultralight machine, that would meet the expectations of 21st Century recreational flyers. After all, most of the designs in use, were still so 20th Century. After a rare visit to Adelaide, Turbo was astounded to see that so many of the great citys car manufacturing facilities were no longer in existence. There was the great Whole-Dun factory at Elizabeth now bereft of any manufacturing activity, and which factory had been turned into a giant mushroom farm. Despite seeing the massive irony of the Whole-Dun factory now keeping everything in the dark, and not just the owners of Whole-Duns, Turbo was intrigued by the possibilities of turning some other derelict S.A. manufacturing facility into a 21st Century aviation manufacturing powerhouse. Turbo thought about the Mitsubishi Tonsley plant - then found it had been turned into the Tonsley Innovation District, where people sat in fancy offices and discussed brilliant futuristic ideas, without actually manufacturing anything. However, as soon as Turbo visited the TID, he was immediately recognised as a brilliant ideas man, and highly capable of starting up his own innovation office in the TID, and putting out fabulous videos of futuristic flying machines, which of course, would simply stay forever on the screens of aviation daydreamers, without anything ever coming...........

The pilot of the Cirrus S@ 22 (VH-DCB) called in loss of oil pressure and potential fire, landed safely on the Mitchell Hwy, and the aircraft has now been pushed off the highway into a paddock. Good job there was a nice big long runway right there! Roadside signs are the biggest hazard of any highway outlanding. Well done that man!

The Perth airport crash of VH-MME, a Douglas C-47A-20-DL, on 2nd July 1949, which killed all 18 on board, was due to inadequate W&B checking procedures which meant the rear baggage compartment was overloaded with newspapers. The aircraft climbed steeply to only 500 feet before it stalled and spiralled straight down, resulting in almost total destruction of the aircraft - aided by an intense fire, thanks to full fuel tanks. It was W.A.'s worst aircraft crash to that time, and it was a combination of poor company procedures, and individuals mistakes on the ground crew, that led to the crash. No-one was ever blamed directly for the crash, but investigations revealed the gent responsible for W&B checking when loading the aircraft (the senior despatch officer) had inadequate knowledge of aircraft loading principles and limits. He also believed it was not his job to weigh cargo, only the passengers and their luggage. The two ground crew loading the cargo compartments were not involved in the W&B checking. The Dakota was heavily loaded with newspapers for the Northern towns of W.A., and newsprint is dreadfully heavy stuff. 1949 MacRobertson Miller Aviation DC-3 crash - Wikipedia EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG

The Poms have a high quality fuel filler neck hose which may suit your needs. I'm not sure if there's an Australian supplier, it's made by AP Automotive, and it's reinforced with a light steel mesh, not a spring wire. Maybe one of the U.K.-based lads on here, such as Red, has experience or knowledge of this product. QUOTE: (from website) "EPDM Fuel Filler Neck Flexible Hose is typically constructed of multiple layers of high-quality EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) rubber material. The EPDM rubber provides excellent resistance to heat, ozone, and weathering, making it ideal for use in harsh environments. The inner layer of the hose is designed to be fuel-resistant and compatible with a variety of fuels, including gasoline, diesel, and biofuels. The middle layer of the hose is reinforced with wire mesh layer, which provides additional strength and flexibility. The outer layer of the hose is also made of EPDM rubber and is designed to provide additional protection against weathering and abrasion." 51mm Rubber Fuel Filler Neck Hose - 1/2 Metre WWW.AUTOSILICONEHOSES.COM Application: Fuel Filler Reinforcement: Textile & Wire Temperature: -40°C to +150°C Material: EPDM Fuel Resistant DOWNLOAD DATA SHEET VIEW FULL RANGE BUY IN BULK

Congratulations on having the determination and persistence to see the build through to completion. That's an uncommon trait that will ensure success in all that you do. ㊗️

You can also get small (1-1/2" or 38mm) cut-off wheels that fit the Dremel electric rotary tool, or that fit air-operated cut-off tools (they're like a pencil grinder, but have a cut-off disc and guard fitted instead). The small air-operated cut-off tools normally use a 3" (75mm) disc, but you can use the 38mm cut-off wheels on them for close-quarter work. However - for a hose distance of 30-40mm, you wouldn't need spiral-wire reinforced hose. Fuel-resistant, un-reinforced hose would be quite adequate. I'd look at using a length of silicone intake hose - it's very durable. https://autopro.com.au/ap/Autopro-Category/Performance-Parts/Induction-%26-Fuel/Silicone-Hose/c/524

Your ability and level of skills as a pilot, is directly related to how rapidly you can speak in acronyms. Rattle off a pile of aviation acronyms during discussion, and watch just how awed your audience will be! 😄

The bank angle is difficult to gauge from many shots, due to camera angles, lens distortion, and viewers position - but the A400M bank certainly does appear to be more than 60°. I'm surprised there isn't more wing flex visible on the steep banking turns, the A400M must have a pretty stiff wing. Get a look at the numbers of people standing on the steep slopes, to get their own particular, "outstanding photo"!

.....if you can picture the Turtle Man from Kentucky, and the way he grabbed snapping turtles, and held them up in the air victoriously, you can get some idea of what was about to happen to Doughtfire. But Doughtfire was made of sterner stuff than the average fishing inspector. He also had longer legs than the average fishing inspector, and this gave him a major advantage over his pursuers, who by now, were just............ (for the NES readers who came in late, here is Turtle Man.......)

........78 turtles, all starting to dig a hole to lay their eggs. Then it got worse, when the green turtle nest-watching groups arrived. Doughtfire knew it was time to make tracks, and big ones at that. He burst out of his sand hide with a spray of sand, which terrified most of the turtle nest watchers. Most took to their heels, but some hung back to see what monster it was, that had burst up out of the sand. When one of them recognised Doughtfire, he yelled out, "Hey, it's that f^$&#** WAFISH Inspector again!! Let's..............

.....hit, this sounds like another Agent Orange story, where the Americans told us a bit of deforestation of the jungle would improve lighting on the jungle floor, and assist the birdlife in finding their way around. Of course, we all know that the Agent Orange dioxins ended up in the Mekong River, and that's the reason our whitebait today have 4 heads, 2 tails and taste like..........