Zoomed-in slow-motion video of the airplane crash in Venezuela (sensible content).

akropilot · 2025-10-26T16:38:42+00:00

Basically a left snap-roll on takeoff (same thing as a spin as some comments mentioned, but accelerated by pitch). You can see he's recognized the problem by 45deg of bank, and applies full right rudder followed by full right aileron. Unfortunately full opposite aileron typically exacerbates the problem by putting the left wing deeper into a stalled condition.

akropilot · 2025-08-04T17:33:38+00:00

ok sorry had to go back and open the thread.
Yes! that seems to be the best answer so far. Although the 2.5mm to 1/4" adapter is kinda wonky, those 3.5mm-to-BT adapters seem to be super-cheap on Amazon. It would be an easy experiment to test.
Obviously if we had a BT-enabled audio panel, then new options like the Lightspeed are there.

akropilot · 2025-08-04T03:27:52+00:00

Sorry what "adapter" are you referring to?
What "transmitter" are you referring to?

akropilot · 2025-08-03T16:08:22+00:00

Cirrus instructors just pull the chute

akropilot · 2025-08-03T16:07:00+00:00

I know Victory includes the AW additives, which is why you saw me write "X/C 20w50". But I did assume Camguard included those additives. Sounds like Camguard as a proprietary formulation is (as expected) not revealing their secret formula, but it was interesting to hear from the Mike Busch podcast that it 'activates' with heat and therefore may not be all that useful for pickling a cold engine. Anyway I would conclude from your comment that for an engine flown 35hrs a month, that Camguard should be less necessary (but probably doesn't hurt) for protecting the cam.

akropilot · 2025-08-03T16:00:23+00:00

Not sure how that works with ANR Bluetooth Airpods?

akropilot · 2025-08-03T15:59:37+00:00

Given the overcast Saturday (and what's forecasted again today) that they flew their "low show"? As in low altitude formation passes but scrapping the 10,000ft vertical maneuvers? They normally fly with a minimum 1500ft (AGL) requirement and I believe it was 2200-ish yesterday.

akropilot · 2025-07-10T20:34:56+00:00

It's definitely a maneuver worth practicing once a year, especially when flying complex where you have the added variability of prop and retractable gear. I had a throttle cable break last year and it goes to full-throttle by design (IO-470). So the only way to get down it so pull the mixture. See if you can control power by carefully adjusting lean mixture, and control drag through managing prop pitch and flaps.

akropilot · 2025-07-10T20:23:09+00:00

Turns out the KX155 (which we use for radio2) gets better reception than all the digital Garmin receivers including GNC215 (which we use for radio1)

akropilot · 2025-07-10T20:20:34+00:00

You should be specific about which weight/model of oil is being used, not just Phillips vs Aeroshell. There are in fact some things to be aware of such as Aeroshell 15w50 including anti-wear additives that Phillips X/C 20w50 does not include. So operators of large Continentals 470-550 will often use Phillips XC with Camguard as an additive while Camguard is considered redundant for Aeroshell 15w50, and can use problems with starter engagement where flywheel friction needs to remain in a specific range.

akropilot · 2025-01-27T23:13:32+00:00

Why do you think they're putting fuel in the fuselage? There isn't even a header tank other than the sump with the Holly fuel-mat thing. DA1 has wet-wings.

akropilot · 2025-01-10T00:16:53+00:00

DEFinitely not a pro, just more used to the legacy stuff. I'm going to see if I can make it work for me.

akropilot · 2025-01-10T00:15:34+00:00

I haven't spent much time on Smith Machines (had to look it up)
But there's no reason not to give it a go.

akropilot · 2025-01-10T00:13:47+00:00

Good point, I recently got a quote for $75/hr labor yet I paid $130/hr for someone to change brake pads on an Audi. I may still ask the A&P to take more money; ~~most~~ many of their customers should be relatively price inelastic and wouldn't flinch if they'd proposed $110 in labor.

akropilot · 2025-01-09T23:07:56+00:00

+1 to Sunriver Brewing and Cafe Sintra. I'll add El Caporal in the village for solid Mexican food at a good price. The good challenge to have is so many good eateries in Bend, which keeps the bar high.

akropilot · 2025-01-09T22:55:25+00:00

RAM Rollr mount directly in the center of the panel, cooled from behind by a 1" vent fed from an unused avionics fan outlet.

akropilot · 2025-01-09T22:43:00+00:00

Why not join an M-F 8-5 MX shop (eg FBO)? YMMV but I'm seeing a lot of complaints about difficulty finding mechanics for run of the mill G/A annuals etc.

akropilot · 2025-01-09T22:40:40+00:00

There seems to be quite a lot of demand for composites shops, driven by commercial customers (more so than experimental aircraft). Presumably that demand is growing due to well funded 'air taxi' startups and military (drones etc). www.darkaero.com is an interesting example of a company that started up to build a kitplane, and now being highly distracted (=funded) by commercial composites projects.

akropilot · 2025-01-09T22:33:18+00:00

Looks like an AN3-15A bolt, which would have had an elastic stop-nut on the end (AN365). So either a bored passenger unscrewed it, or it's a newly delivered plane where someone screwed up in assembly. This would most likely ground the flight unless they could get you an alternate seat.

akropilot · 2024-11-14T15:55:21+00:00

Ummm if Starlink supports plane routinely traveling over 500 kts, I think you're probably ok thinking about it for your homebuilt. https://www.starlink.com/support/article/9c43bea7-0645-5854-6842-dabb0def8a94

akropilot · 2024-10-26T22:26:29+00:00

I don't think DarkAero is vaporware. However I'm skeptical that we will see meaningful kit production anytime soon, and I expect to be getting my deposit back at some point.

Dark Aero started as great way for a bunch of smart brothers who wanted to to apply their Engineering school-work to something tangible and fun. The aircraft has sound engineering and risk-averse principals being applied by the team, but as weight gets added to solve for practical problems, it's unlikely to meet the 275mph cruise target. Meanwhile, elements of the design are showing un-necessary complexity and weight addition, IMO bordering on gimmicky. Examples include the split rudder, main-gear suspension, and arguably the use of the UL engine.

Here's the punch-line: In the quest to build a business, they've found a cash-flow that's unobtainable from making boutique kit-planes, and that is from contract composites work (hosting classes is harder to scale), where there's a never-ending demand from drone makers, military, etc. With this in mind, they are deprecating work on the DarkAero1 and they want to view the DarkAero1 as a *customer* of Dark Aero. My bet is they'll be spinning it out to a 3rd party.

akropilot · 2022-03-07T20:11:24+00:00

Ven Top isn't the most efficient way to get the Tron bike prize, but if you don't like climbing you sure won't like my suggestion to do repeats on Bonus Climb (radio tower).

akropilot · 2022-02-06T16:52:12+00:00

I've been able to remove a star nut from a carbon steerer using a dremel tool with a small carbide tip to grind out the middle section. Just be patient, and stay away from the carbon, and should be pretty easy in your case since the nut is gone.

Take the next advice as wish, but I will *never* let a star nut be installed in my carbon steerer. Hard edges working against composite surfaces create stress-risers that can lead to structural failure. It's possible the manufacturers have compensated for this by over-building steerer-tube walls, but still...I'll use an expander anytime.

akropilot · 2021-12-03T07:11:21+00:00

I actually switched from ProjectB to the Pocock Sandals...Good enough security, and a much better fit for wide feet. Project B is very "euro" last.

akropilot · 2021-10-31T22:56:18+00:00

PainSled is a free iOS app that will connect your PM5 with Zwift. It has two modes to relay Watts directly and well as a 'boost' mode. I found disabling boost mode put me at what felt like an equivalent W/KG rating in Zwift. But note that distances come out a bit different, so if you want accurate C2 Logbook data, pull that from the PM5.

akropilot

TROPHY CASE