Rallye

factory assist Hi Maxamos, I contacted Jabiru as I had been told about a Factory Assist. They told me there was no such thing. There is a builder assist program, but that is a seperate entity, and they gave me name and phone, email address, which I believe I still have. They did not reply at all and that was two months ago, perhaps they have all the business they need at the moment. As I understand it the self build umbrella is slightly fudged under this arrangement. Technically I suppose both the builder and perhaps a employee/owner of the organization could or should be named as self builders and you continue as a normal self build project as far as the normal privileges go. All the best Dave

Hi ZULU1, Sorry for delay again. I have replied twice but for different reasons I was dislogged once again and something else. I won't waste time with looking at spelling or grammar. There were many bases which were not American by the way. Many were RAF also with personnel from all over the world. The Americans contributed greatly but did not win on their own. Also they did wait for quite awhile before joining in. There was much in the way of aviation debris, crash sites were only visually cleared up as a rule. A barn on our farm strip had several battered aero engines from US, German, and British aircraft, in a corner that had been dug up just locally. Two major museums, and you might have been to them are, Duxford (Part of the Imperial War Museum) which has a huge collection and several flying days as well as restoring old aircraft. That's south of Cambridge. Another one is the RAF museum at Hendon in North London. the airfield itself is now built over but it has purpose built buildings and the old original Belfast pattern wooden hangars. The collection of aircraft and other artifacts is quite extensive and always worth a visit. My Father joined the Royal Auxiliary Air Force here before the war, his squadron was 600 City of London. the airfield was all grass and I believe they operated Hawker Harts. He then went to Manston near the Channel coast. the Germans bombed this completely out and the squadron moved to Biggin Hill. He was then loaned to the Fleet Air Arm and finished up in India and Ceylon. Another great museum, again south of Cambridge is the Shuttleworth Trust. They have flying days as well with aircraft from pre World War I well worth a visit. I know Mason's site well, we use to make equipment for Mason's Cement Works, before it was shut down. All the best Dave

Newsletter Hi Ian, It is I think a good idea,especially taking on board some of the remarks and concerns.My main concern would be the possibility of breaking someones back.I have seen it happen in other organisations where avalued member becomes so burdened that they depart altogether,and you lose a valued member. All the best Dave

Ipswich Airport etc. Hi ZULU1, Sorry for delay. Was a bit slow and had problems. Yes Ipswich did have an Airport. It was beside the road to Nacton (eastwards heading in Felixstowe direction) if that does not locate it for you, if you were crossing the Orwell Bridge over the estuary heading in a northerly direction it would be at about 2 o'clock ahead of you. Nice airfield great big grass runways and the estuary and later the bridge made it easy to find when you were new at navigating. What Company were you at whilst at Great Blakenham? The old airfields often have websites or sites with information on the net. Ipswich and Martlesham Heath both have and many others. When I was a kid several were within easy cycling distance and we use to scavenge on the airfields looking for souvenirs. Some were freshly abandoned, some still in use and some still using the hangars for MOD storage. Sometimes you were accosted by MOD or police keeping an eye on the place. As one got older they tended to make one feel somewhat sad about the people and their lives, many of the crew obviously not surviving. You could still find their names, dates and home towns written in concrete patches. The nearest one to where I live was Ridgewell this does have a sight with info and photo's and letters from personnel (and families) who served there. Later on graduating from control line and free flight to radio control we use to use the runways to fly models from. Flying about East Anglia one could usually see two or three old airfields at a time sometimes more depending on visibility, important to seek another feature as well when navigating. The runways were mostly broken up for crushed concrete in later years. But the runways still show through the crops as the topsoil had been taken away when they were constructed. Safe flying Dave

Hi Ian, No problems I am an old chauvinistic pig according to my wife of 30+ years and I suppose she would know! However they do have lady members at Lilydale who also fly and even have Ladies Fly Aways!!! All the best Dave

Hi all, All the facts in previous posts I believe are correct from conversations I have had at Lilydale. There is a meeting there for existing owners/flyers and others for explanations and I guess to allay fears. According to information given and notice displayed it's for February 14th at 7 for 7.30pm or 1930hrs if you prefer. All the best Dave

HI Ken de Vos, Yes, you are right. I went and asked at Lilydale yesterday (Friday) I had asked about keeping a RA Aus aircraft about a year ago and was left feeling a bit lower caste. I was told if I had seen an ultralight there it was one that had landed without permission. However, the rumour is correct - two Jab 160's arriving February as well as two experienced competent and friendly RA Aus instructors. Flyers in this area SE of Melbourne might even be able to guess their identities. The existing GA Instructors are being brought on line as well. It seems like the start of a VERY GOOD THING. Also, I would like to emphasise a VERY VERY FRIENDLY atmostphere, -- you know - when you get that feeling that you can stay taking up space and not that one where you think people would be happier if you buggered off and left them in peace. From my conversation there I believe they are welcoming recreational flyers. BUT I think the welcome mat is for the aircraft types that will not conflict with existing traffic and performances. I stress that this is my opinion, but it might be a reason for their measured and obviously careful consideration leading up to this decision. Any existing organisation, particularly a commercial one, has to remain viable as well as considering existing clientele. That is my two penny worth of thoughts, hope it does not trample on anyones toes. However, the new changes and feelings are an answer to my requirements at the least, as well filling a pretty big hole in the flying facilities for this part of the world. All the best Dave

Hi David C, Thanks for your troubling to welcome me, those welcoming replies give one a sort of happy glow! I had a look at the Oakes (I think it was December 9th) but everyone was sheltering from the rain and I did not like to intrude. If you were there you might have noticed a suspicious blue Prado that crept in and crept out! I had been visiting my Mother in Law in Albion Park to cross off her list of jobs to do. The Rallye was, and is a very good aircraft. It was still being made until recently at least in Poland under license. A Colleague bought a new one about six years ago. There was a story, believe it if you will, about a Rallye and a couple of French Aviators (the French support all things French good or bad) who in dire weather had got above the murk ( and consequently in the mire), darkness was falling, and in desperation pulled back on both throttle and stick, uttering Gallic prayers at the top of their voice (in order to b e heard better). All this, including the prayers must have been most effective as they descended on an even keel and struck the ground with sufficient force to bottom out the trailing arm mains and drive them through the wings. They survived and the Rallye acquired a nickname "The Tin Parachute" take care Dave

Hi Mike aka Pelorus 32, Thanks for the reply. Your class of Masters at School was certainly a grade or two above mine. The slats are pretty effective, our farm strip had a short fairly flat bit, then over the crest and down the hill - only one direction for take off and the reverse for landing regardless of wind direction - you hoped to get the wheels off the ground before the crest then follow the slope down picking up speed to clear the trees and power lines. Not as bad as it sounds, the first stage of the Fowler flaps made it a very good STOL Aircraft. Every take off was a short field one. Landings could be alarming with a tail wind but as you landed at the bottom of the hill you still might need full power to taxi up the runway. The 150 was a better performer than the original Morane Saulnier 880 with only 100hp and that was assuming all the horses were still alive. Sometimes the slats would open with a bang whilst in the cruise if you caught enough draft, which certainly focused the mind the first few times it happened. As you say it was certainly not fast with everything sticking out in the breeze, a sort of aerial 2CV. A very pleasant aircraft to fly. The large engine version 235hp with C.S. prop was not a whole lot faster but it could certainly get off the ground and climb, but guzzled fuel. All the best Dave

Hi Chris, Pleased to hear from yourself, and also to have arrived without a crash, perhaps that is to follow. Your kind offer is appreciated - I will certainly be in touch with inevitable queries (I hope the offer was not simply an automatic response on your part that you might come to regret). Thank you for the welcome. Safe flying Dave

Hi Ian, Thanks for your greetings ---- I have not changed my mind about my computer, I threatened it with having to answer to yourself, and lo and behold it functioned accordingly. All the best Dave

Hi there, Never having been involved in any forum, chat or cyberworld, and having no love or understanding of computers, I have been reading the posts that most interested me for the last few months on this site. This was fuelled by interests in flying, not by interest in computers, which I think hate me. Ian's efforts have been truly enormous, as well as, I guess have the other administrators. The New Forum Site is brillant, but it took me two evenings to regain access. Thank you Ian for emailing me with the friendly other to help. I felt I could not ask for any special assistance whilst you were fighting your computer battles. I thought I should announce myself as if people only read posts, there would be no posts to read! Having recently retired from Engineering and moved from the UK I had been looking at building a Jabiru. A J200 seemed the best whilst I was still in the UK. Now probably the J160, for as Rod Stiff said as I was retired he could not see why I should be in a hurry to get anywhere. The J160 would still enable me to cover a lot of ground. In reflection I think it was sound advice. I have had a few goes in the Jabiru for a look, and also with a view to obtaining an RAAus Certificate. Two mates back in the UK have Jab's - one a U.L. and one a J400. I am from GA flying - had a share in a Rallye 150T for a few years. For the UK or Ex UK Forum members, I got my PPL quite a while ago at the Suffolk Aero Club at Ipswich Airport (now covered with houses). Last few years based at Hill Farm Nayland (a strip near Colchester). Anyway that is my introduction to you all. All the best for now Dave P.S. If you haven't found this post, it means I didn't post it correctly! Can't beat a slot in a mail-box, you know it's gone