Wow,long time since I posted that one !
Am now well established in the N.T and set up in business for myself. (its good to be the king.) The finish kit is on the way, but in the meantime, I have bought a flying -4 to set up my business. It is a bit on the rough side, but solid and reliable, ( the 'plane, not the business!) (the business is solid and reliabe also, not rough.) and I dont get too teary if I scratch it loading tools and equipment into it. Have done about 150 hours since I picked it up in July last year, and am starting to move towards geting it based on my block. In the meantime I have been operating out of a few local small strips. MKT and batchelor.
Things I have learnt from this one that I will incorporate in the next : electric flaps, good. electric trim, bad. O320 and wood prop, no way. O320 and sensy metal prop, O.K, but would like to try O360 and C/S on the new one. Fuel is adequate, I usually carry some gerry cans of fuel with me and that is my reserve. Will fit 5 point harnes front and back on both. what I realy love about the one I am flying is the painted canopy, from the point of the rear to about the top third at the front. picture takeing the canopy, turning it upside down and dipping it in a big bowl of paint. The shade is bliss. Might reduce your visability if you do a lot of aero/ formation, But if you take off, fly 2.5, spend 2 hours in the sun fixing something, then fly 2.5 home, it is magic.
Love the movie of the crts Steve, and yes, I was pushing on the non existant brake pedalls under my computer as the trees got bigger.
Mark, the DC3 lives on in Darwin still. As far as I know, the last time it flew was to comemorate the bombing of Darwin on the 19 Feb.
We have started a chapter of the SAAA up here, and I am hopeing to become the T.C for the area. Anyone up/down this way is more than welcome to drop in for a catch up, or ,if you break down anywhere in the top end, I will be very happy to come and fix you (Hey ,my kids need educateing to!)
Thanks to all that have helped me thus far, and for all the help I know is still out there.
Cheers,
Bill Markey.
A Wing and Repair.
Remote Area Repair Rectification and Recovery.
Acacia Hills,
Northern Territory
Australia.
VH-DAX RV-4 flying
4434 "Hector" building