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I came out to Australia in 1963 with my wife and three young daughters. We have had a pretty good life for most of the times since. I came here to join what was then Trans Australia Airlines, or TAA as it was colloquially Known and having gone through a couple of name changes is now Qantas.. I became an airworthiness surveyor, later changed to Senior Airworthiness Inspector, with our Department of Civil Aviation, and retired in 1994. My speciality area whilst so employed was amateur built aeroplanes and ex military and historic aircraft. I used to consider it the best job in Australia, but of course all good things must come to an end and the amateur builts were handed over to the Sport Aircraft Association of Australia, or SAAA for short. I suppose they would be the equivalent of the PFA. |
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In the last two years, we have adopted the Experimental Category, as has New Zealand, and this has cut out an awful lot of annoyances, if that is the right word. What it means is that if my next door neighbour wants to build a 747 in his garage he can do so, without having to seek any approvals or inspections. On completion he must take it away from populous areas and fly it for forty hours. If it doesn't kill him, he is then given an experimental Certificate and away he goes. Put like that it sounds horrendous, but strangely enough it works very very well in practice, as indeed it does in the USA. |
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Engine: Subaru EA81 engine. A, because I have one which is to all intents and purposes brand new. B, whilst I have three Model A's, two of which have cracked blocks anyway, it will cost me about A$5000 to overhaul one, which as I say will only give me marginal performance. The Subaru, which is a beautiful little engine, develops 85 HP at 4800 rpm, and mine is fitted with a 2.6:1 belt driven reduction gear. I have yet to work out a revised position for it in order to give me the right CG. The Ford weighs 244 lbs+ whilst the Subaru will weigh 170 complete with starter, alternator and radiator. |
