RansMail # 029  July 2004

a)    Good news that Vince is back home & grumbling that he's got to mend a bit before squeezing his legs past the Rans door frame.

b)    A friend of Brian McCartan, Engineer George Adams with loads of Rotax know-how has agreed to join in our e-mail group, he is based in Co. Tyrone.

c)    When asking around about the Rotax 447 hesitation, at the strip fly-in recently, a visiting BMAA/PFA inspector suggested the small end Needle rollers cage could be breaking up !! These were fitted to earlier engines instead of the later but interchangeable crowded needle arrangement. I was mighty relieved to solve the problem by cleaning off the discovered deposit off the carb's needle centre portion. On Tuesday morning she gave me a very nice 3/4 hour to the South Downs, return, in nice flying conditions.

d)    Another pundit discovered the choke cable arrangement not to his liking. again it appears to have been set up still as the original plans with a manual lever on the carb. being pulled on by the cockpit lever and cable but returned by a short bungee. Apparently a direct operating cable is de rigeur and I must look at another 447 to see if it's a reasonable mod. My problem is does one stick with the tried and tested old system and incur the wrath of  the Inspector at the next Annual when he discovers you've not changed things ?

e)    Tyres & pressures ?, I inherited triple ribbed tyres and wonder what pressures other use. I found they are quite stiff walled and don't look too bad on 15 psi but 20 works as well. Is there any guidance, data, or what do you other find works ?

f)     As per Vince's recommendation, I bought some Nylon cord and took a few turns alongside & tied them off to supplement the bungees as a shock stop. This feels better on landing and seems to stop that excess stretch movement of the u/c beyond the reasonable mechanical limits. Inspection underneath the U.V. covers shows no ill effects.

g)    At the mentioned flex wing fly-in I was impressed with the speed of one called a Quick but noted that it has an expensive 4 stroke Rotax powerful enough for a normal light a/c and is pretty heavy to move around too. Moreover the proud owner said despite its vne of 115 mph, cruising above 70 was really uncomfortable due to buffeting.

I was also struck by the amount of gear the flex wingers need to wear even mid summer & they still grumble about the cold and shoulder ache & how gloved hands make radio work tricky.   

The S4 can be flown in every day clothes ( but am still working on how to pack a tent and bed roll behind the seat safely away from the cable runs).

Mike.