Ultralight Aircraft Australia

The Perfect Day

May 18th, 2012

(Minus the BJ )

You’ll like this one guys. Got an email from Gatton’s Flying Copper, AKA Mark Gamer, about what a great day he had. Seems, well, why don’t I let him tell you the story…..

So the call came on Wednesday:-

Nigel: Hey big fella, what ya doing tomorrow?

Me: Nuffin, I’m on a day off.
Nigel: Want to ferry a Yak-52 from Caboolture to Boonah for me?
Me: Sure, why not (not wanting to sound too eager).

So yesterday I flew my RV-7 from Gatton to Boonah. Got picked up by Nigel and mate in a yellow four seat Yak-18T at Boonah. Flew Boonah to Caboolture in the 18T chucking an ‘aileron roll’ on the way. Jumped in a lovely Yak-52 and flew back to Boonah chucking a few more ‘aileron rolls’. Then flew my RV-7 from Boonah back to Gatton airpark.

Is that not the best day off ever?

Yak-52 roll 2

Formation

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Night Approach to LAX

May 1st, 2012

Here’s a view that us ultralight pilots never get to see … unless we also fly for one of the heavies.

Neat. Enjoy!

Tags: Heavies
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Sick of Sitting in Traffic?

April 6th, 2012

Try this for size:

Thanks for the Link from Dave Tonks

Tags: flying car
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Pacific Aerospace P-750 XSTOL aircraft

March 31st, 2012

I know it’s not an ultralight, but this is sure a cool aircraft.

Take a look…

Thanks to Dave Tonks for the link

Tags: XSTOL aircraft
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Solve Jabiru hard starting issues

March 30th, 2012

Sometimes have trouble starting your Jabiru? Many do. This may be the solution you’re looking for.

Very impressive!

See attached what we have been up to lately, while the LCH continue to sell well, I’ve been wanting to develop these items for some time as I see a real need for them both.

The batch of alternator kits we are currently producing also have the Jabiru accessory pad threads and spigots added also, just in case folks are running vac pumps or what ever off the rear they still can.

Top view of Jabiru Alternator set up and Hall sensor in place of mag coil.

The electronic ignition is fantastic and it starts first blade every time, the engine can even be hand propped! Battery condition is no longer important and can be quite down with slow cranking at she’ll still fire.

We have been using this ignition combination ie one electronic and one magneto on our radials or over 12 years and feel that this combination is the ultimate as it offers the required redundancy yet makes starting the engine so easy as you do not need a good battery or high cranking speeds for the electronic ignition to throw a big fat blue spark. In fact unlike a conventional magneto the slower the electronic ignition is turned the hotter the spark. Where as a magneto requires high cranking speeds to get a decent spark happening. This is why the Jabiru can be difficult to start when the battery is down or cold and wet conditions.

Power is up on the electronic ignition and it can idle way lower due to the healthy spark created at the lower rpm.
Want some of this stuff? Thought so.

Yes, you can get these goodies NOW.

Send an email to Martin Hone at “aerobiz1 at gmail dot com”.

Or you can call him on 0419 368 696.

Jabiru Alternator the other side

Jabiru high energy coil and ignition module

Jabiru lawn mower alternator OUT

Rear view of Jabiru Alternator and Hall electronic ignition sensor

Rear view of ignition sensor pick up and Alternator

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Hitch a Ride on a SRB

March 27th, 2012

This is some of the most amazing – and beautiful – video I’ve ever seen.

A Solid Rocket Booster’s “eye” view of a Space Shuttle launch. Watch it in full-screen mode!

Video done by Martin Hone personally, one-handed, while clinging to the SRB with the other. Boy, he sure can hold his breath awhile!

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News from Aerosport

March 22nd, 2012

Dear Editor :

something that could be of interest..

Aerosport Aviation has a new contact based In Queensland Andre Meier will be taking care of ULPower engines and Parts and accessories.

Also some hot new products on the Horizon too, check out the latest we have to offer.

We are proud to announce that the range of engines on offer is extended with 4 new types 6-cylinder engines, ranging from 140 hp to 200 hp.

The installed weight of the UL520i and UL520iS is 108 kg [242 lb] and like the popular UL260 and UL350 line of engines the new engines are direct drive, horizontally opposed, air cooled, electronic ignition, multi-port fuel injection and FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control). The FADEC system controls the fuel/air ratio and ignition from start-up to shutdown so the engine is always operating at optimal performance thereby increasing power and economy while minimizing wear and tear and reducing pilot workload.

The result is startling! Convince yourself by reading specifications below.

All engines have following configuration:
- 7 bearing crankshaft with thrust ball bearing
- Direct drive
- Air cooled
- FADEC
- Multipoint electronic fuel injection with automatic compensation for altitude and temperature
- Redundant dual electronic ignition
- High fuel efficiency
- Excellent power to weight ratio

The UL520i and UL520iS are available now, the UL390i and UL390iS need more ground tests before we can release them.

Thanks,

Andre Meier

Aerosport Aviation (www.aerosportasia.com)
ULPower (www.ulpower.com)
MasterCraft Boats (www.mastercraft.com)

251 Lee Martin Rd
RD1 Cambridge,
New Zealand

PH: +64 7 8295940
M: +64 21 953 718

Tags: Engines, fadec
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Baumgartner Takes Base Jumping to New Heights

March 21st, 2012

Would you call it a giant leap for mankind? Probably not, but it’s quite a step anyway.

From a capsule suspended below a helium filled balloon, Austrian Felix Baumgartner stepped out into thin air recently, 71,581 feet (13.6 miles) above Roswell, New Mexico, and free-fell for the next 3 minutes and 43 seconds before deploying his ‘chute.

Felix Baumgartner about to take the plunge

Photo from dailymail.co.uk.

This was a practise run for his attempt, in a few months, to jump from 120,000 ft, 23 miles, setting a new world record. He was watched by the current record-holder, Joe Kittinger, who seems delighted that someone is out to break his record.

Here’s a video of the jump:

Now, this has started me thinking, (Always likely to break something).

There’s surely not much difference between 23 miles and 62 miles, is there? Very thin air at either height, so the pressure suit should be okay. And if he stepped out of Spaceship 2 (Virgin) where it slows at top of climb, then he would literally be jumping from space.

Main thing is possible heating during “re-entry”. Maybe need a drogue ‘chute deployed up high.

Just a thought.

If it happens, you read about it here, first!

Tags: base jumping
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New Rotax 912iS

March 13th, 2012

BRP-Powertrain GMBH – the Rotax people, have launched a new model in the Rotax 912 range of lightweight four-stroke power-plants.

The 912iS features fuel injection and a digital engine control unit (ECU) and is claimed to posess 38% to 70% better fuel efficiency than comparable competitive engines in the light sport, ultra-light aircraft and the general aviation industry.

A three-year development period included more than 1,000 hours on the test bench and 700 test hours in the air, BRP revealed at an international launch for the engine at its Gunskirchen, Austria facility on March 8.

The launch customer will be Slovenian LSA manufacturer Pipistrel Aircraft, and mass production of the engine will start in May 2012. Power output for the new engine remains 100hp at 5800rpm but dry weight increases by 9lbs (15 lbs if you also add the necessary twin electric fuel pumps and associated components) to take the engine to 140lbs. The overall engine dimensions remain largely the same, as does the TBO of 2000 hours.

Anticipated pricing is that the new engine will be 14% – 17% more expensive than the carburetted 912S. The April issue of Light Aviation will include a full report on the new engine.

Here’s the video….

Tags: Rotax 912iS
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DIY UAV’s

March 10th, 2012

Martin sent me this link about a site devoted to amateur built UAV drones. Seemed to think a homemade cruise missile wouldn’t be far behind.

Here’s the Link

I recall a Kiwi put up a site called “How to build a cruise missile for under $5000″ a few years back. Site disappeared very quickly, too. Wonder why.

Well anyway, he also got me thinking about a model aircraft feat some years back where a model named “The Spirit of Butt’s Farm” was flown on autopilot from Newfoundland to Ireland. 38 hours flight time. I known I have a number of aeromodellers as readers, so I’m sure you guys will enjoys this. Even if you’re not, most pilots will regard this as quite remarkable.