Incidentally, AN Bolts are actually softer than Grade 8.8 and other commercially available fasteners. I'm pretty sure that a professional aircraft manufacturer would not be sending their driver out to the local hardware store to randomly select some bolts that could potentially kill someone. The pr...

Using standard hardware store bolts to hold a wing together is completely suicidal and is a well-known structural risk. The aircraft in question was bought brand new from the local manufacturer. When quizzed after the incident by my AP, their CEO's reply was that the aircraft is not a certified air...

So an Aquilla wing does not have aircraft AN parts bolts to begin with?? This is exactly the question I raised with the factory soon after my incident and was advised that "standard hardware store bolts were used". Being concerned that a hardware store type bolt has it's thread "cut" versus an AN b...

One of our instructors at FABA is a walking miracle. He survived a spreader bar cable failure! Very very lucky guys! (-) Wing started folding up in flight!...just as you describe above! (**) He's not the only one - As explained earlier, I also had a wing failure and partial collapse. As CFI of our ...

i understand about pilot error :) i was just also wondering if the actual wings could fail My biggest concern with anything that I fly is structural failure. The way I see it, there are two boxes of parameters under my control. The first is my personal limitation and that will vary depending on my ...

I had the displeasure of a wing structural failure in an Aquilla trike several years ago. Shortly after take off (and fortunately on a very calm day), the main bolt that connects the flying wires to the triangular plate on the spreader bar snapped. the triangular plate turned and allowed the wing to...

(**) So according to this thread it comes down to this... MISASA vs Aero Club African Pilot vs SA Flyer Microlighters vs Avcom ($$) What's next, bliks vs samoosas? ## Last time I checked, we all share the same sky :roll: I'm done with this....it's time to check the weather and fly! (!!) You forgot ...

I really don't think having a debate over the merits of lost communication will be of any benefit to either of us, or the microlighter community. The fact remains that for some or other reason, I never received or read the message you refer to. (My Microlighter's PM box only has a dozen or so messag...

bryan wrote:Misinformation, Clinton never built Savannahs he built Skyrangers and Delta trikes.

Bryan,
Clinton did build one Savannah.....ZU-ELO - It was for Willie who sold it to Piet after sometime....I did the test flying once the build was complete.....

Steve i have pm 'd you a few times to ask how Clinton was and no reply. Difficult to get the facts straight when the people in the know like you dont reply. Graham Mac, I've looked through my PM's Inbox which are all still listed way back to November 2007. I have ZERO pm's from you and the last PM ...

After many attempts to try and find out how a Dear Friend Clinton was doing after having a severe stroke. I have just learned that he has passed on. Very sad that a Man of his knowledge and skill in aircraft engines and flying is not even worthy of a mention here by any of his so called "Friends" t...

cornell wrote: I enjoy both forums and hate the two to be against each other.

Clinton was sent home Tuesday afternoon. He has starting to walk slowly with the aid of one crutch and some assistance. Still no speech except for "Ya" now and again. He will still need constant care and supervision. Some things he seems to remember and other things not at this stage - from a physic...

I got a chance to visit him this afternoon and there are definite signs of improvement. We managed to pick him up and place him in a wheel chair and take him to the hospital veranda for some fresh air - he is a lot more responsive, although seems to get very frustrated that he can't speak. I took a ...

I visited him again on Sunday - Initially (last Sunday) when the Stroke occurred to Friday, there was very little improvement with him remaining asleep most of the time with him infrequently opening his eyes and closing them and the odd squeeze from his left hand (His entire right side is paralyzed)...