The drifters i flew were amazing strong versitile aircraft. The 503 built in Australia being the stand out machine.Spectrum aviation is still manufacturing these in kit form plus more.The drifter in this video looks like one of there's.For wind in your hair seat of the pants flying you cant beat it.
Holy shit! I had no idea the Drifter is such an able aircraft.
I have in the last week decided to get my RA-Aus Pilot Certificate in a Drifter, as it is the most similar aircraft to the two J-2's I'm building in my garage.
Your camera guy, has made a fun, all though cheezy, vid... I was most amused. I make this remark, only because I'm a television content producer.
Your life, and those who love you, is too precious to trust to what someone has told you. Believe only what you read in an independent engineers report from an FAA approved testing facility. These planes are inexpensive planes for a reason. They have not had to go through all the testing and certification process. I would like to see my grandchildren walk down the Aisle, from the isle, and not from above.
@Skyking5884 Drifters have been widely used in a number of roles, including recreational flying, agricultural spraying, aerial photography, flight training and banner towing, during which many Drifters have accumulated high numbers of flying hours, leading one reviewer to note: "its long track record has revealed no weakness in the Drifter. A number of Lockwood XP503s have been reported to have exceeded 3000 hours and one Drifter used for banner towing exceeded 10,000 flight hours." (ck Wiki)
The problem with this design is that there are too many failure points that are un-accessible to inspection. The main boom has no inspection points that can be opened up and an internal inspection done to check for corrosion to improperly swaged flying wing wires. I was told that the wings had been stress tested to + or – 6g’s. After my accident, upon investigation, no such actual stress test’s had been done.
@Skyking5884 - Drifters are not a death trap they are just as safe/dangerous as any other aircraft, it comes down to whether they are maintained to a standard and flown within their parameters.
I test flew the last 503 that was produced at the Maxair plant in Valdosta Ga. i was on final approach when the wings failed and I went in from 300 ft. i am a 20 yr pilot with over 3,000 hrs. of time in everything from Piper Cubs to Cheiftans. I went through 9 diferent surgery's and years of recovery. The plane was a blast to fly. I never felt as free. This was a factory new plane and the wings still failed, It is a death trap that will bite you given enough time. Steve Pate
@Skyking5884 sorry to hear about your story thats really sad.I to at one stage was flying a drifter one things for sure i would only fly in a drifter made at the first company here in Australia to produce them out at Boonah also i would never step into an aircraft that hasn't been properly maintained.Unfortunately the company in Boonah is no longer in business,i haven't heard of one single airframe made by them failing in the Air.But the drifters design is certainly a tired and tested1
But pilots who regularly fly the type of ultralight that crashed in a paddock at Tatham have defended the aircraft, saying they are tougher than certified aerobatic aircraft.
Local flying instructor Neville Biencke said he regularly instructed in factory-built Max Air Drifters and said they were rated to take plus six to minus four gravities.
It didn't have to end, that's the whole point. He ended his own life and another innocent passengers, by thinking he didn't have to obey any laws or regulations, particularly those ones dealing with sensible aircraft treatment. You cain't fix stoopid.
@D375 hey mate maybe we should keep our comments to ourselves as he is not here to defend himself the people who are left behind are the ones who will suffer with harsh words.
especially his wife and close friends.
we all know what happened its a tragedy and now his family and the passengers family need support ,so please leave any bad comments off thankyou
The drifters i flew were amazing strong versitile aircraft. The 503 built in Australia being the stand out machine.Spectrum aviation is still manufacturing these in kit form plus more.The drifter in this video looks like one of there's.For wind in your hair seat of the pants flying you cant beat it.
147onyx 1 month ago
How much are these sold for around?
laptoprepairdublin 5 months ago
How many killer wasps is the engine?
callmeshane303 8 months ago
Holy shit! I had no idea the Drifter is such an able aircraft.
I have in the last week decided to get my RA-Aus Pilot Certificate in a Drifter, as it is the most similar aircraft to the two J-2's I'm building in my garage.
Your camera guy, has made a fun, all though cheezy, vid... I was most amused. I make this remark, only because I'm a television content producer.
Regards,
James.
TheJamesMeister 1 year ago
Your life, and those who love you, is too precious to trust to what someone has told you. Believe only what you read in an independent engineers report from an FAA approved testing facility. These planes are inexpensive planes for a reason. They have not had to go through all the testing and certification process. I would like to see my grandchildren walk down the Aisle, from the isle, and not from above.
Skyking5884 1 year ago
Comment removed
AHGlasher 7 months ago
@Skyking5884 Drifters have been widely used in a number of roles, including recreational flying, agricultural spraying, aerial photography, flight training and banner towing, during which many Drifters have accumulated high numbers of flying hours, leading one reviewer to note: "its long track record has revealed no weakness in the Drifter. A number of Lockwood XP503s have been reported to have exceeded 3000 hours and one Drifter used for banner towing exceeded 10,000 flight hours." (ck Wiki)
AHGlasher 7 months ago
The problem with this design is that there are too many failure points that are un-accessible to inspection. The main boom has no inspection points that can be opened up and an internal inspection done to check for corrosion to improperly swaged flying wing wires. I was told that the wings had been stress tested to + or – 6g’s. After my accident, upon investigation, no such actual stress test’s had been done.
Skyking5884 1 year ago
@Skyking5884 - Well Duh...
When mine went all floppy - I waited till it got to 3 feet from the ground and then applied the air brakes.
I thought, "Splendid - I can jump from here".
callmeshane303 8 months ago
@Skyking5884 - Drifters are not a death trap they are just as safe/dangerous as any other aircraft, it comes down to whether they are maintained to a standard and flown within their parameters.
flyawaydavid 1 year ago
July 10th 1991
I test flew the last 503 that was produced at the Maxair plant in Valdosta Ga. i was on final approach when the wings failed and I went in from 300 ft. i am a 20 yr pilot with over 3,000 hrs. of time in everything from Piper Cubs to Cheiftans. I went through 9 diferent surgery's and years of recovery. The plane was a blast to fly. I never felt as free. This was a factory new plane and the wings still failed, It is a death trap that will bite you given enough time. Steve Pate
Skyking5884 1 year ago
@Skyking5884 That's why they call it "test flight". Sorry for your experience.
mryellow123 1 year ago
@Skyking5884 sorry to hear about your story thats really sad.I to at one stage was flying a drifter one things for sure i would only fly in a drifter made at the first company here in Australia to produce them out at Boonah also i would never step into an aircraft that hasn't been properly maintained.Unfortunately the company in Boonah is no longer in business,i haven't heard of one single airframe made by them failing in the Air.But the drifters design is certainly a tired and tested1
ccc771 1 year ago
But pilots who regularly fly the type of ultralight that crashed in a paddock at Tatham have defended the aircraft, saying they are tougher than certified aerobatic aircraft.
Local flying instructor Neville Biencke said he regularly instructed in factory-built Max Air Drifters and said they were rated to take plus six to minus four gravities.
soulmate122 1 year ago
The left wing folded up upon itself and the plane spiraled hard into the ground. It was equipment failure, not pilot error.
MindTrip888 1 year ago
woops :P
glegmo 1 year ago
It didn't have to end, that's the whole point. He ended his own life and another innocent passengers, by thinking he didn't have to obey any laws or regulations, particularly those ones dealing with sensible aircraft treatment. You cain't fix stoopid.
D375 1 year ago 2
@D375 hey mate maybe we should keep our comments to ourselves as he is not here to defend himself the people who are left behind are the ones who will suffer with harsh words.
especially his wife and close friends.
we all know what happened its a tragedy and now his family and the passengers family need support ,so please leave any bad comments off thankyou
MrMambara2 1 year ago
I bet you guys loved it till the end. Rest in peace friends.
cleatus02 1 year ago
Extremely sad to hear of his death, looks like it was just an accident waiting to happen unfortunately.
TonyDog360 1 year ago
7/5/2010, RIP, my beloved nephew and his best friend died on impact.
sackcloth777 1 year ago
Now let's see you roll the plane while pouring a glass of tea, like tha master Bob Hoover
Brough1111 2 years ago
price?
xXBlackCloudzXx 2 years ago
awesome music choices as always.. great scenery.. cant beat the props of nature ..hey.. great filming..
and great you could land if you only had 1 wheel..
although ive seen you do more... im sure biggus.. appreciates keeping his breakfast away from the video lens....
i'll never forget it though..
awesome....take care..peace
soulmate122 3 years ago
i meant... doing areobatics... re breakfast...
soulmate122 3 years ago
I see why he's behind the camera. Nice flying, chief.
Mosef001 3 years ago