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Little Billy and his Dad were at the airport
watching planes taking-off and landing.
Little Billy looks up to his Dad and says,
"Dad, when I grow up I want to be a pilot."
His Dad looks down at him and says, "You
can't do both son."
Bud Blekeberg <budlight@lakes.com>
- Friday, June 29, 2001 at 12:44:59 (EDT)
I went through all sorts of patches. Never found anything that was any better than duct or Poly tape. I did quite a few hand sewn patches (with a curved sailmaker's needle) and felt a little better about them, but can't really say they worked any better than tape. Course My R277 powered T-1 never went any faster than 45/50 mph. Best solution is those new sails. By the way, knowing what I know now, I would IMMEDIATELY spray paint the sails with a UV blocking clear coat like Poly-Fiber's Aerothane. My Brand new 4.1 ounce Dacron sails lost over half of their original strength during only 200 hours of flying. They were covered with expensive Sunbrella wing covers all the non-flying time.
Mike
- Friday, June 29, 2001 at 08:56:53 (EDT)
Has anyone got a good method of repairing the small rips that occur over time on the wings of my big mylar coated bird? Tape? hot patch of some kind? goop?
or is plain old silver duct tape the fix of choice until re-cover time comes around?
Thanks
Cliff Morrison
- Friday, June 29, 2001 at 00:48:27 (EDT)
Hey Guys, Man, CA was great. I see why you guys live in N.CA. Great flying area. A little windy but it was really nice. Spend over a week there and also drove down Big Sur. Really cool place. My clutch drive also has a keyway. I guess it came on the unit new. So I guess they that way.
I had a Wizard one time ( Rip Silver ) and it had the same set up. It worked really good. I ran a Kawasaki 440 on it and it was a neat package. Well, just wanted to say hello to everyone. The guys in WV and TN. (snoopy and timebomb) take care guys. Snoopy get that plane in the air. Its not doing any good setting in the barn. Its a great plane and you need to fly it.....timebomb, heck you just need to buy one. If nothing else, take snoopy's. He will never fly it.
Ok, remember, attitude and altitude, you need alot both to stay safe.... fly safe. TR
TR Arizona <N757NW@home.com>
- Tuesday, June 26, 2001 at 17:22:11 (EDT)
Hey Mark,
I didn't know that you had a keyway in the original shaft drive. Mine didn't. On the new 532 with the clutch setup we put a 1/4 inch bolt all the way through it(clutch). I do not power up until aircraft starts rolling as I have seen even quicksilver aircraft pop belts when going into dragster mode. The belt drive is giving no problems, thrust line is correct. Climb out at 6250 with warp drive set at 6.5 degrees(3 blades). Top speed at 70, but the real sweet deal is cruise at 60 with only 4200 rpms. Wheel pants helped. Cannot wait till winter to put doors back on to see what the stats are then. Advise on broken crankshafts. My 503 went through 3 of them before the previous owner found one that didn't twist. Points were set and flying down the runway it skipped within 15 minutes. Of all the faults I have ever found with Rotax engines, is the pressed together crankshaft.
Keep up the good work on the web....Wayne
Wayne McCullough
- Monday, June 25, 2001 at 16:35:42 (EDT)
Going to a gear box was one of the best things I could have done. The problem I always had with the original setup was the key in the keyway on the shaft kept shearing off. I got tired of machining the shaft each time. I don't have specifications, but I do have pictures of what we did.
Note: Take careful attention to maintain the thrust line regardless of what you do. This can be the tricky part.
For pictures look at the following link.
http://www.ultrapilot.com/Tierra/tierra_trigear.html
Mark A. Carter <mark@ultrapilot.com>
- Sunday, June 24, 2001 at 12:16:03 (EDT)
Hi guys, I would like to convert my '83 T belt drive to a gearbox. Has anyone done this? do you have pictures? The crankshaft on my original 503 broke the other night, followed by a very exciting ride into the bushes. Luckily there is very little damage to myself or the airframe. Not even any ripped fabric. Fortunately my habit of keeping something flat under me at all times, this time a well placed swamp, worked out well for a forced landing. So while I am making repairs and saving for a new engine, I would like to go away from the troublesome belt drive. Oh, I almost forgot, I had logged 382 Hrs in 15 months before it broke. The former owner said that it had approximately 95 Hrs on it from new in '83. I was of the opinion that if it isn't broke don't fix it, but I think next time I will pay a little more attention to Rotax's recomended TBO (300)Hrs. Fly Safe and plan for the unexpected, Jeff C.
Jeff Campbell <jeffnancyc@ime.net>
- Saturday, June 23, 2001 at 21:05:17 (EDT)
Oil mix correction: Brian Carpenter at rainbowaviation.com sent this to me today:
Use the Marvel @ 2oz per 5 gal and the fuel oil
at 75/1
Mike
- Thursday, June 21, 2001 at 21:21:24 (EDT)
Thanks for the oil input Mark. Much appreciated!
Mike
- Thursday, June 21, 2001 at 10:02:05 (EDT)
Not to start a religious war at my oil is better than yours....
:-)
I used Union 76 Aircool oil in my old Tierra quite successfully. I now use AV/2 in my Flightstar with a Rotax 582.
My Father-in-law uses Pensoil outboard oil in his Rotax 503 and has over 350 hours on the engine.
I used to chastise my Father-in-law all the time about using this oil, but won't anymore.
I was fortunate enough to attend a Rotax class/seminar at CPS this year; instructed by Eric Tucker. Per Kodiak Research as long as your oil meets or exceeds certain specifications it should work just fine. However, if you aren't an active flyer you should probably stay with a mineral type of oil. Mineral types of oil tend to cling to the walls of the cylinders for extended layup. Where synthetic oil tends to provide for better cooling and less wear.
The above is probably why many have moved to some type of synthetic - mineral blend.
The one point that Eric stressed is that they have seen unusually high carbon build up if you have been using synthetic and suddenly switched to mineral. However, nothing sientific has been to study this.
These are just my observations and learnings your mileage may vary.
Anybody else have an opinion?
Mark A. Carter <mark@ultrapilot.com>
- Wednesday, June 20, 2001 at 08:03:50 (EDT)
Hello Tom and Jay! Good to hear you guys are still active!
To Bud: I have not done any of this now, (I've only used Pennzoil Aircool at 50 to 1) BUT Brian Carpenter at www.rainbowaviation.com is a CFI/BFI/A&P who is the Main Guy at the Corning CA. airport. He swears that he and MOST of the other Rotax operators there are mixing AMSOIL synthetic with Mystery Marvel Oil at 5 (synthetic) to 1(marvel). Then burning that mix in the Rotax at a 75-80 % mix. He says they a terrific reliability rate (no engine outs in three years!) and the engines tear down clean and trouble free. Ask him about it at
http://www.rainbowaviation.com
I've got to say that some stuff in the EAA Experimenter has me a little nervous about synthetic.
Mark, You're active in the field, anybody using synthetic?
Mike
- Wednesday, June 20, 2001 at 00:24:10 (EDT)
Hello Everybody. I have been flying my T-Bird. Had some good flights going both days this past weekend. The rain finally stopped in Louisiana and after about a week the field dried enough for us to get the planes out. Saving money for new sails. We are having a pancake breakfast and flyin on June 23rd.
Tom Cummings <tomlc@gs.verio.net>
- Tuesday, June 19, 2001 at 23:20:12 (EDT)
Regular or synthetic oil - I have heard some guys swear at synthetic oil and others swear by it. Opinions?
Bud Blekeberg <budlight@lakes.com>
- Tuesday, June 19, 2001 at 10:15:24 (EDT)
Hi all. I haven't checked in on this site in a while.
The fuel gauge is best at JC Whitney. they have the gauge and sending unit for 19.95. It works great. Never have to worry abut fuel level again.
Everyone should convert to the tri gear.... JMHO
Jay
Jay Dewberry <jdewberry@peoplepc.com>
- Tuesday, June 19, 2001 at 06:41:35 (EDT)
Hey Mark! Great Solo flight pix! Good work. =]
Mike
- Saturday, June 16, 2001 at 00:18:52 (EDT)
The link on the Related Sites tab to BING Carberators appears to be broken both to the Web site and email. Does anyone have a correction? If not I'll remove the link.
Mark A. Carter <mark@ultrapilot.com>
- Friday, June 15, 2001 at 18:58:07 (EDT)
These few mods have made the T2 more stable in pitch and yaw. No more nose hunting and landings are a breeze with wider, softer, and taller mains. Gained 8 mph in cruise with 300 rpm reduction. also stalls are now below 38 mph. with 240 lb. pilot andfull fuel. for more info e-mail or call 716-289-8611 N.Y.
Bill Delmore <bdelmore1@earthlink.net>
- Monday, June 11, 2001 at 17:12:23 (EDT)
For sale. fully restored classic 83 Teirra 2.
converted to single place, have parts for 2 seater. new items- Sails, areothaned, cockpit cover, Drive, BRS-5, repack 01-06, new heager 6" wheels tires + diff. brakes, saddles + hardware, 10 gal tank, custom spring alum. landing gear, adj. prop, cables, dual stobes, streamlined struts.
503DC, CDI, 205TTAF 105 since TBO, ceramic coated exhaust, set up for radio, ASI, ALT, VSI, compass, hobbs, tach, dual EGT-CHT, adj. trim, extra vert. stab. like Areolite 103, rudder cables down middle of cockpit.,elevator lowered behind hor. stab. TE.,reshaped ribs, no recurve on top.
Bill Delmore <bdelmore1@earthlink.net>
- Monday, June 11, 2001 at 16:58:34 (EDT)
I have purchased a 1983 Tierra II with 1 seat, a ten gallon hamilton seat tank, full enclosure, taildragger that has set for a number of years. I have put it back together and replased the boom tube that was cracked. I have only taxied it about 3 hours but it seems really squirley (I am not a pilot) I have seen Marks nosewheel conversion I am interested in hearing from anyone.
Thanks
Walter Allen
Walter Allen <walter.allen@northstarbattery.com>
- Monday, June 11, 2001 at 13:25:43 (EDT)
To all,
Just wanted to say that I am really enjoying my 1999 T-1. I have been flying off a grass strip on my farm. I went to a fly-in this past week end and turned over 100 hours on the hour meter.
Thanks,
Tim Delf
Tim Delf <timothy.delf@alcoa.com>
- Monday, June 11, 2001 at 10:13:15 (EDT)
Re: the insurance question. I recently did some research into this and found two other companies offering competing products for ultralights besides AVEMCO. They are Louisiana Insurance Consultants and D'Onofrio. L.I.C. is based in Louisiana USA and D'Onofrio is located in Canada. A full detail of my report can be found in my club's newsletter at http://www.tufa.org (MAY issue).
If you have a two place ultralight then the only insurance available to you is L.I.C. and D'Onofrio, as AVEMCO will not insure a two place ultralight unless it is registered experimental. (G.A.)
I went with L.I.C. even though they cost more $$ because they appeared to be more accessible and returned my calls more expediently. However both companies offer like products.
Mark A. Carter <mark@ultrapilot.com>
- Monday, June 11, 2001 at 08:35:40 (EDT)
Ok guys, number 15 is in the air again. Wow, what a ride T.R. Stats are in no wind and lots of humidity......Takeoff in 125' climb out see T.R's pic....Did the water pump fix on my 532 works great...Tiny tach is the best for the money... C.D.I. coil replace from airscrew performance. Base tube on my 1983 two place is 48" 2X2, with a round tube inserted at .058 wall(on tube). Weighs in at 2.5 lbs. without gear legs. Spring gear. Engine has changed a sleeper into a rocket.....
Wayne McCullough
- Monday, June 11, 2001 at 08:01:10 (EDT)
What is the ideal cockpit crew?
A pilot and a dog. The pilot is there to feed the dog, and the dog is there
to bite the pilot in case he tries to touch anything.
TR Arizona <N757NW@home.com>
- Sunday, June 10, 2001 at 19:26:17 (EDT)
Bud, I found a gas gauge that was reasonable for 60 bucks in CPS and it is a VDO part 5497. It is a mechanical type sender but it fits in most universal type tanks. T.R. ,The Geo wiring harness has to be modified and use an external pump ,but that is about all,everything else is stock. I did have the head shaved .030 and had it ported for more H.P. Joplin did that. I also measured the square base tube that you sit on at it is close to .135 inch.
Joe Wooten <wooten@nelsondesigngroup.com>
- Sunday, June 10, 2001 at 15:21:42 (EDT)
Question - besides AVEMCO, what other insurance company have some of you used? Also, I would like to put a gas gauge on my dash but the ones in the airplane catalogs are quite spendy. Have any of you tried putting a car gas gauge in? Also if any of you have an e-mail address for Gerald Jones or Shawn Lawrance would you please let me know. Thanks.
Bud
Bud <budlight@lakes.com>
- Sunday, June 10, 2001 at 14:35:51 (EDT)
Airline captain: "If only I made as much money as people think I make, had as much time off as my neighbours think I have and had as much fun on stopovers as my wife thinks I have".
Sign seen at refueling point: WARNING Do not operate any radio transmitter within 100 metres of the pumps. If your life is not worth anything..... the fuel is!
-Any attempt to stretch fuel is guaranteed to increase headwinds.
-A thunderstorm is nature's way of saying "Up yours!"
-Keep looking around, there's always something you missed.
-Remember, you're always a student in an airplane.
-Any pilot who does not at least privately consider himself the best in the business...is in the wrong business.
-It's best to keep the pointed end going forward as much as possible.
-Hovering is for pilots who love to fly but have no place to go.
-The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.
-The only thing worse than a captain who never flew copilot is a copilot who was once a captain.
-A terminal forecast is a horoscope with numbers.
-Takeoffs are optional. Landings are mandatory.
-The first thing every pilot does after making a gear up landing is to put the gear handle DOWN.
bumperstickers
Stewardesses do it in the air
Airline pilots do it straight and level
Reconnaissance pilots just look at it
Stewardesses do it all over the world.
Fighter pilots do it better
Bomber pilots do it with a big bang
-It's easy to make a small fortune in aviation. You start with a large fortune."
TR Arizona <N757NW@home.com>
- Saturday, June 09, 2001 at 23:18:18 (EDT)
Tip top of the day lads!, tis a fine time in AZ. Well with the exception on needing a new transmission for the van. But hey its only money right! Mike, trip postponed for a few days as I have a new one put in.
Joe, were there any changes to the Geo motor with the exception of the Gear reduction? Just wondering!.
Remember, moving the stick quickly to the right and the right wing goes down, to the left and the left wing down.
Straight fordward and you scream ooooooooooohhhhhh ssssshhhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii..... fly safe. TR
TR Arizona <N757NW@home.com>
- Saturday, June 09, 2001 at 20:26:17 (EDT)
Hey guys, Man what a day.. The torque converter on my Caravan, started to shutter a little. A mechanic at Chrysler told me to change the Lock up Selenoid. I spent the afternoon doing it. Bummer. HOt... Did not try it yet but will find out tomorrow..wish me luck. Hey I sent several of you a picture today of Waynes T on take off.
Like I said its a rocket...Joe, thanks for all the pictures,
You have me thinking now. After you work the bugs out. I will probably do the same thing. Keep me posted. Ok Mark, everyone slapped my hands, sorry, I did not realize the amount of work needed. I guess I am one of these people who think everything is should happen yesterday. Again sorry.
Mike, what color are you going to paint your sky raider?
Wayne, where are you. Nothing for a while. Punching holes in the clouds? Also Mike, if the van is working ok, I will head for CA for a week or two... I will keep you posted and would like to stop by. Fly safe guys, do your self a favor and do that extra safty check on everything. Dead pilots took something for granted.
TR Arizona <N757NW@home.com>
- Saturday, June 09, 2001 at 00:07:28 (EDT)
Yeah if you are talking about the base square tube you sit on ,I can measure mine. It is aluminum with inserts. Joe
Joe Wooten
- Friday, June 08, 2001 at 19:48:45 (EDT)
My 84 T11 has an aluminum square base tube. It is more than .125 thick if you want I can have a measurement for you in a few days. If anyone knows the cause of the latest crash, or others less serious, perhaps you could pass it on, I'd rather learn from someone elses mistakes. As for the pictures on this site, they don't bother me at all. The site works great and I couldn't do it even if I did have time, Keep up the good work!
barry <barrystrus@hotmail.com>
- Friday, June 08, 2001 at 18:30:30 (EDT)
T.R. I don't know about the Geru,Ha Ha . I am getting my feet wet with this Geo and I may end up with a soaking,I don't know and time will tell. Jerry my new gear is round ,you must have an older T-bird. I think my single gear and tundra tires only weigh about 20lbs,I am guessing. I would say if it has been heated or welded it is time for a new. There is a guy around here who heated his gear after a bend and it failed to almost a catastrophe. In short I don't know about the 2x2 landing gear only the round. Joe
Joe Wooten <wooten@nelsondesigngroup.com>
- Friday, June 08, 2001 at 16:59:37 (EDT)
TO Joe Powell, check the "Suppliers" page on this site, Ultra Prop (and others) listed there.
I HATE to hear about good people going down in airplanes. It's so often an avoidable event! I've known personally five fellows that went in. They were all ( with one exception) either WEATHER, FUEL, or WATCH ME! The unknown was a guy I flew with often. Because of his preflight habits, I've always suspected fuel. But fire doesn't leave much evidence.
Now TR, you gotta lighten up on Mark. Until you've managed one of these sites, you can't appreciate the amount of time and effort it takes to get up to speed. Remember, I worked on this puppy for 5 years! AND I'm retired, which really changes the equations.
Mark, Hang in there, you're doing fine.
To Jerry and Bud. There is a WORLD of information about your birds on this site. It takes time to dig it all out but there's structural and Center of Gravity information here, you'll have a hard time finding elsewhere.
TR, keep the humor coming pal, you're a good man!
Mike <mike@napanet.net>
- Friday, June 08, 2001 at 14:26:44 (EDT)
TEST
Mark A. Carter <mark@ultrapilot.com>
- Friday, June 08, 2001 at 09:40:10 (EDT)
Need a little help. I pulled the gear tube from my t-II project last night and thought it felt heavy. Weighed it on a good scale and came up with 16 1/4 pounds. It is 2 x 2 with walls at .180". There has been some smaller plates welded to it but this seems like overkill. What should it be?
2 X 2 x 48 long of 4130 I'm pretty sure of but what wall thickness.
Also this one had welded end caps. Needed?
Jerry <rauschgm@pwrtc.com>
- Thursday, June 07, 2001 at 06:12:24 (CDT)
Hey Bud!... Welcome to the wonderful world of the T's. Life in the fast lane will pass you buy in this world. Set back, make sure your ship in 100% correct and get ready to find the best in the world of flying. Always keep safty first and fly safe... Hey Mark, anything on the site change to CA.? Man, I need a new picture fix on the front. Put some of Joe's engine pictures on. I think Joe will be the next guru for T Birds... Move over Mike. Hey guys, be sure to check out Mikes slowflight still.. He is making great progress with his plane and site.. Fly safe everyone.
From the 110F of the SouthWest....TR
TR Arizona <N757NW@home.com>
- Wednesday, June 06, 2001 at 23:45:50 (CDT)
Hi,
I am new to this list and I live in Minnesota. While I was in Florida in April I bought a 3 year old T-Bird which I don't think had been flown. When I got it home and started going over it I found some problems with it which I am in the process of fixing. I assumed it was put together right and had a guy taxi it and that is when we discovered the problems. Apparently the guy that put it together didn't have the right prints and some of the tubes were in the wrong place. I called the company and they sent me the correct prints so now I will get it right.
A couple of questions. Is there suppose to be any dihedral in the wings and also how about washout? For the weight and balance, I hung mine at 21 inches back from the leading edge and it balanced pretty good. The factory said the CG range was 14 to 27 inches back of the leading edge and I am assuming that this is correct.
Also if Gerald Jones or Shawn Lawrance see this would you contact me off list please.
Thanks for any information.
Bud
Bud Blekeberg <budlight@lakes.com>
- Wednesday, June 06, 2001 at 22:58:49 (CDT)
We lost another T Bird pilot, friend and instructor Friday evening. His name was Paul Shevokas. He was 31 years old. He and another man were killed Friday evening, June 1st, about 4 miles south of the Golden Circle Air field in De Soto, Iowa. The wreckage and bodies were found in a corn field. Exact cause of the crash is still unknown to me but believed to be weather related. A memorial service will be held Saturday June 9th at 10am in his home town of Ames, Iowa at St Cecilia Catholic Church. Memorial contributions can be made in his name in care of River Valley Credit Union, 2811 East 13th St., Ames, Iowa 50010. Paul and I trained together to fly the T Bird at GSA. He will be missed by many.
Chuck S <cstonex1@home.com>
- Wednesday, June 06, 2001 at 18:45:51 (CDT)
Ok guys, thanks for the info. Nothing like free info. I am going to install the water pump fix for this engine from the ultralight center while it is down. Much easier....I need to buy stock in U.P.S. for all of this overnight stuff. You know how it is when the sky calls and calls and calls....LOL..
Wayne McCullough
- Wednesday, June 06, 2001 at 08:08:03 (CDT)
Wayne, I would not trust anything Beatty has to say. He thinks he knows it all in Rotax. I have a guy here that runs circles around him and trouble shooted Beatty's supposedly ready to go engine that I had to spend another 600 on. To hear Beatty say ,we were parts changers. Every part we changed on the engine we had to, even down to the rotted carb boot and rotted fan belt. I have an extra CDI box that I bought from a snowmobile place in Michigan for an extra if you need it. It works on Beatty's system. Joe
Joe Wooten <wooten@nelsondesigngroup.com>
- Tuesday, June 05, 2001 at 21:59:49 (CDT)
Wayne,
Sure do, I have met him. He lives only about 10 mins. from the house and his shop is about 20 mins. to the west.
On an airport there. Have heard good and bad things. Sorta like our buddy bob. (Can't believe Bob did not want that flying pig). Anyway yes I have met him a few times. Personaly I can't say anything other than he was friendly.
You may want to ask Joe also. Seems like he had some dealings with him at one time. ( May be mistaken ).
Still hoping Mark gets this site up and running with new pics. I go to see's Mikes progress on this new project everyday. I will be in N. CA over the next week and may contact Mike just to meet him and see his projects.
Ok, guys. The lesson for today.... You want to fly high, but never fly high while flying.. OK, so its stupid, but hey remember, At least I try to keep some humor going on..
Look beside you on your desk.. Its the energizer bunny..
like my humor, it keeps going and going and going.....
TR..... Hey Jake...
TR Arizona <N757NW@home.com>
- Tuesday, June 05, 2001 at 19:35:02 (CDT)
T.R. Do you know who Steve Beatty is out there in Arizona. I have just reinstalled his C.D.I. ignition coil in my 532. Yep, just my luck to have a bad coil. His business is Airscrew Performance.
Wayne McCullough
- Tuesday, June 05, 2001 at 16:21:59 (CDT)
I've been informed that the site will be moved to its new home Wednesday night. It currently resides in New York and the new site will be physically in California. I've been having difficulty ftp'ing and using telnet to the current location (New York). The wierd thing is that browsing and posting messages through the browser seem to work just fine, it is just the ftp and telnet processes that appear to be impacted.
So, hopefully by Thursday things will be moved and by the end of next weekend the pictures and data will have been updated.
Sorry for the delay TR.
Mark A. Carter <mark@ultrapilot.com>
- Tuesday, June 05, 2001 at 08:56:08 (CDT)
Mark, Whats the status for posting new pics.? Can you work with them as Mike posted on the message board? Its a shame to let this site die a slow death! You gotta do something.... TR
TR Arizona <N757NW@home.com>
- Monday, June 04, 2001 at 23:10:09 (CDT)
Anyone know how to contact Ultraprop?
Joe
Joe Powell <jopowell@infoave.net>
- Monday, June 04, 2001 at 08:17:41 (CDT)
Old Messages
Honesty.com.
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