Flytec
Wills Wing

Oz Report

Volume 7, Number 258
9 am, Thursday, October 2 2003

https://OzReport.com
"Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."
Thu, Oct 2 2003, 4:00:01 am EDT

to Table of Contentsto next topic Canungra Classic

Attila Bertok|Conrad Loten|Rohan Holtkamp|Rohan Taylor|Steve Chesters

Yes, the flying season has started in Australia.  I sure wish I was there.  The Canugra Classic is held in the south eastern part of Queensland whish is tropical in the north.  I read today in the NY Times that the drought from last year continues, so maybe it is still bone dry there.

Steve Chesters «thechesters» writes:

Day one of the Classic was blown out.  We had three scorable days in a row, but today it is raining.  Here's a link to the cumulative scores so far.  http://www.triptera.com.au/canungra/classic2003/compm.html

After three days:

 

Name

Glider

Total

1

DURAND, Jon Jnr, 1

Moyes Litespeed 4

2700

2

BERTOK, Attila, 413

Moyes Litespeed 5

2665

3

MOYES, Steve, 3

Moyes Litespeed 4

2403

4

HOLTKAMP, Rohan

Airborne Climax 14

2325

5

PRITCHARD, Phil, 4

Moyes Litespeed 4

2301

6

LOTEN, Conrad, 6

  

2084

7

DURAND, Jon Snr

Moyes Litespeed 5

2000

8

WYNNE, Bruce, 10

Moyes Litespeed 4

1984

9

COOMBS, Geoff

Moyes Litespeed 5

1952

10

STEVENS, Dave

Moyes Litespeed 4

1885

Good to see Snr.  Doing so well at his own site, along with Jnr.  Of course.  Atilla is hot on Jnr.’s tail.  I wonder why Conrad can’t manage to name his glider.  Rohan won the last day.  Steve is doing great.  These guys just had a lot of practice in Brazil.

The full results for the seventy three pilots can be found at the URL above.  Count ‘em – seventy three pilots.  Competition is hot, hot, hot.

Discuss "Canungra Classic" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Thu, Oct 2 2003, 4:00:02 am EDT

to Table of Contentsto next topic USHGA BOD - live

Bill Bolosky|USHGA|USHGA BOD

It’s about to begin.  I hope to be in the executive committee meetings on Thursday morning.

Bill Bolosky has cautioned that I might be raising expectations too high with this stab at doing the USHGA BOD meeting live. I don’t even know if we really will have a wireless connection.  I sure hope so.

You’ll my scribblings and perhaps others at: forum/viewforum.php?f=6

Discuss "USHGA BOD - live" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Thu, Oct 2 2003, 4:00:03 am EDT

to Table of Contentsto next topic IQ Compeo and 5030

Brauniger Team «info» writes:

The new software update (2.14 ) will also offer the possibility to have a new additional screen for the vario and speed indication.  It can be changed by set mode.  Here the new designed screen:

 

I’ve been using this dial screen on a beta version of the software for a couple of weeks now.  I love it. I always disliked the bars and it is great to have the new dial.  It isn’t fully functional yet, but it is working pretty well.

The beta software also has the ability to show four big user-selected variables in the bottom half of the screen instead of six small and hard to read ones.  I love the big numbers.  I want more of them.  I want the programmers to add Air Speed, STF Air Speed, Best Glide Speed, Twenty Second Average Rate of Climb, Average Thermal Climb Rate (historical), and McCready indicator (projected rate of climb corresponding to current air speed)  to the list of user-selectable variables.  I want the variables around the dial to be user-selectable also.

I also want to get rid of the air speed bar on the right and make the smaller variables around the dial larger.  These updates would allow the user to really determine what they want in the user-interface.

The IQ-Compeo and the 5030 are incredible instruments.  It looks to me like I might have a chance to get the user interface to be close to what I loved about the Ball Comp.

Discuss "IQ Compeo and 5030" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Thu, Oct 2 2003, 4:00:04 am EDT

to Table of Contentsto next topic Cloud Cuckoo Land

Steve Varden

www.Cloud-Cuckoo-Land.info

S J Varden «SteveVarden» sends:

 

‘CLOUD CUCKOO LAND’ takes Special Jury Award at EUROPACINEMA Film Festival

Independent British feature film 'Cloud Cuckoo Land’ was awarded the Special Jury Award at the EuropaCinema Film Festival closing ceremonies on Saturday 27th September in Viareggio, Italy.

An emotional five-minute standing ovation followed the film at its World Premiere, held in the packed out 800-seat Politeama Cinema.  The film is a first feature film credit for director Matt Dickinson.

The film stars disabled actor Steve Varden as cerebral palsy victim Sandy Kenyon, in his first cinema role.  Varden, 37, who trained at the Coventry School of Performing Arts, flies his own stunts in the film which tracks the journey of a severely disabled care home resident as he attempts to follow his dream to fly.  Supporting cast are Derek Jacobi in the role of Victor, and Boo Pearce as Lucy (her first feature role.) Steve Varden also co-wrote the screenplay with director Matt Dickinson.

Francesco Maselli, President of the Europa Cinema jury, said the following in the concluding press conference of the festival: ‘The jury makes specific reference to the difficult and complex leading role interpreted by Steve Varden and performed with a realism and a depth which are unique in the history of cinema.’

Director Matt Dickinson: ‘This film has taken us seven years to make, mainly because no-one wanted to back us if Steve was in the lead role.  Everyone loved our script but only if an able-bodied (and name) actor took the lead.  The jury reaction has backed what we always knew - that Steve Varden is an actor of extraordinary courage and talent.’

Producer Chris Bradley: ‘We’ve always believed the film could be popular with audiences worldwide, and the response at Europa Cinema is an excellent start.  Now we will be starting our campaign to promote the film in the UK and USA.’

For more details contact: Chris Bradley (44) 7879 696579 «cloudcuckooland»

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Thu, Oct 2 2003, 4:00:05 am EDT

to Table of Contentsto next topic Dragonfly – the big engines

Bill Moyes|Dragonfly|Kenny Brown|Quest Air|Tracy Tillman

Bill Moyes|Bobby Bailey|Dragonfly|Kenny Brown|Quest Air|Tracy Tillman

Tracy Tillman DraachenFliegen Soaring Club «Cloud9SA» writes:

Also, please post the attached picture of an aileron horn failure that recently occurred on our 912 rotax-powered Dragonfly at 250 hours.  It should be noted that the failure occurred in a welded area, but in a different place than where the other reported failure occurred.  We preflight thoroughly, but were not able to see any crack developing in that area prior to the failure.

Apparently, the other failure occurred with a stock Moyes aileron horn; whereas in our case, it was not a stock Moyes horn, but an all-stainless aftermarket horn that came with the (most excellent) 4-stroke aftermarket engine mount.  If others are using this non-Moyes type of horn, they need to be aware of this failure and probably replace it with a stock Moyes aileron horn, incorporating any additional fixes that Moyes may recommend.

Our other tug has a Rotax 914, and has stock Moyes aileron horns.  With 950 hours on them, they still seem OK. If Moyes came out with aileron horns that had beefier material and welds, we'd get them and replace the ones we currently have on our tugs.  If not, I'll beef ours up on my own.

Fortunately for us, the failure occurred during a landing after a tow.  As it was, the experience was way too interesting, as I nearly ground looped.  I'm sooooo lucky that I had just touched down.  I had some serious eebie-jeebies for the rest of the day, towing with the other tug.

The Dragonfly is a great Ultralight tug, and (in my opinion) far better than anything else currently available.  They do hard duty.  Everyone should remember that certificated aircraft get AD's and improvements incorporated into them all the time, as a result of lessons learned over time.

Kenny Brown «flyamoyes» writes:

Attention All Dragonfly Owners with 4 Stroke Engines:

Bill Moyes and Bobby Bailey have investigated the parts and circumstances surrounding the latest incident and report the following.

Bobby had two parts that were in a fatigued state and he had recently assembled Jim's plane in Texas following a landing incident.  After a study of the failed parts Bobby's conclusion is that the stainless steel has work hardened.  Both parts were from a Quest Air Dragonfly fitted with a 914 Rotax.  The elevator horn was mounted on the engine frame on both planes.  A thorough investigation revealed that the stainless steel showed clear crystalline structure through the broken surface.  This is typical of work hardening.

 

Stainless steel work hardens at approximately 3 million cycles.  An engine running at 5000 rpm delivers a shock load at that rate.  It is possible that the part experiencing these shock loads could be fatigued in as little as 10 hours of operation.  This would depend on how the fittings are tightened to the engine mount.

There are 78 Dragonfly in service with Rotax two stroke engines that have shown no evidence of failure in the last 12 years.

Bobby has developed a temporary quick fix.  It does not stop the work hardening but it will hold the part together in the case of a failure and thus avoid grounding all affected Dragonfly's.

The quick fix involves replacing the AN4-5a bolt that connects the Aileron crank horn to the welded fitting that inserts into the aileron torque tube with an AN 43-5a. The AN3-14a must pass through the eye of the eye bolt.

Owners of Drangonflys with two stroke engines whose confidence has been shaken by the report should exchange the AN4-5a bolt with the AN43-5a bolt.

Discuss "Dragonfly – the big engines" at the Oz Report forum   link»

to Table of Contentsto next topic Bailey Moyes Dragonfly C model

Thu, Oct 2 2003, 4:00:06 am EDT
Dragonflies

Adam Elchin|Dragonfly|Kenny Brown

Kenny Brown «flyamoyes» writes:

DHV certification The German HG ASS (DHV) have recognized the value of the Dragonfly in growing hang gliding in the USA and took it on to certify it to DHV standards.  With a few modifications to the structure and configuration the Dragonfly C-Model has passed the DHV tests and will be submitted for approval in the next few weeks.

Dragonfly C-Model The first order for the Dragonfly C-Model was placed last Monday by non-other than Adam Elchin of Highland Aerosports.  This winter project will have Highland ready to tow when the sun comes out in the spring of 2004.

Discuss "Bailey Moyes Dragonfly C model" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Thu, Oct 2 2003, 4:00:07 am EDT

to Table of Contentsto next topic Another light sailplane

sailplane

Mart «hmmb» writes:

I saw the Aeros glider in the Oz Report, maybe you will like this one to www.revilo-france.fr a glide of 31 and a minimum sink of 0.42 m/s sounds pretty good.

Discuss "Another light sailplane" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Thu, Oct 2 2003, 4:00:08 am EDT

to Table of Contentsto next topic Burning Man

Florida|record|Wallaby Ranch

Ralf at Wallaby Ranch «fly» writes:

A large organized group of Florida aficionados of the famous ‘Burning Man’ festival in Nevada (www.burningman.com) is joining Wallaby Ranch to put a different spin on our 10th annual Halloween party.  From Oct.  31 through Nov.  2, join the ‘burners’ and Wallaby regulars and enjoy kooky art, crazy costumes, huge bonfires, and the famously unique atmosphere of the Ranch (live music Saturday night). We’ve had some crazy parties before, but this one might set new records.

To cap off our busiest summer ever, our core group of locals and regulars DONATED a ‘real’ reinforced concrete swimming pool (25,000 gallons, 7 foot deep) to replace our aging vinyl liner pool – quite a gesture, and we can’t thank them enough!

Discuss "Burning Man" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Thu, Oct 2 2003, 4:00:09 am EDT

to Table of Contentsto next topic Starbucks “Cold” Spot

calendar|Davis Straub|record

We walked into a Starbucks today in Raleigh, North Carolina.  On the door it identified the Starbucks as a T-Mobile hot spot.  There was a brochure on the rack next to the front door with the instructions for how to get connected to Starbucks.

I opened up my laptop, hooked up my USB wireless adapter and got a strong wireless signal.  Unfortunately I couldn’t continue with the session as it wouldn’t let me on to the signup web site.  The site came up automatically once I opened up a web page, but when I tried to sign up it wouldn’t let me. There was a coupon in the brochure for a free day, but no luck.

I asked the guys behind the counter.  One said, nope, you apparently can’t sign up at the Starbucks (even though their brochure shows you how to do it, and the free day would only work if you were in fact signing up in a Starbucks.)

I had no problem doing this at the Flying J. You’d think that T-Mobile (Deutchetelephone) and Starbucks would know how to get this right. 

Write and tell me your experiences with Starbucks and hot spots in general.

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The Oz Report, a near-daily, world wide hang gliding news ezine, with reports on competitions, pilot rankings, political issues, fly-ins, the latest technology, ultralight sailplanes, reader feedback and anything else from within the global HG community worthy of coverage. Hang gliding, paragliding, hang gliders, paragliders, aerotowing, hang glide, paraglide, platform towing, competitions, fly-ins. Hang gliding and paragliding news from around the world, by Davis Straub.

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