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Post by Mustang51 on Sept 5, 2017 13:38:03 GMT 12
As I said, think of a number, double it, add a contingency then another, a bit of something for morning tea and Bob's your uncle. Where is Fred Dagg when you need him........ so sad he is no longer here
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Post by isc on Sept 5, 2017 14:39:09 GMT 12
Tim Tams for morning tea, when they should be having budget brand Wine biscuits. isc
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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2017 16:07:56 GMT 12
In 2007 I reserved a registration for two years and it cost $35 or so. Inflation isn't that high!
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Post by exkiwiforces on Sept 5, 2017 18:51:21 GMT 12
As I said, think of a number, double it, add a contingency then another, a bit of something for morning tea and Bob's your uncle. Where is Fred Dagg when you need him........ so sad he is no longer here Are you talking about section 44 of the Australian constitution and not someone's aircraft rego? |
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Post by Mustang51 on Sept 6, 2017 10:13:38 GMT 12
Ouch...... but back on topic and a long and painful cautionary tale for anyone purchasing an aircraft or project.
A number of years ago I applied to CASA to register the Dog.....not a problem you would think however I was very surprised to receive a letter indicating that my machine had been registered in the USA in 2004. Strange that as it had arrived in a box in Sydney in 1998 (yes I know its been a long time...). Not Happy Jan as I had expended a considerable amount on it in that intervening period.
Made appointment to see Registrar of Aircraft of CASA in Canberra together with two other supernumeries of his department to explain the facts. Drove down with all my supporting data in a number of folders. He listened but basically shrugged his shoulders and said that as "my" aircraft was registered in the USA there was nothing they could do - and by the way no offer of any support. Really pis*ed off on drive back to Sydney. When I am annoyed my worst trait is that I get angry and stubborn. Others would amplify that statement quite a bit. So, its supposed to be Registered in USA so cannot be registered in Oz? Hmmmmm. Took some time to write again this time with 23 pages of supporting documents, shipping papers, Customs documents, Sworn Statements, extracts from Minard Thompson's book, pic of the Modification Plate - there was no data plate when it was purchased, etc, etc, etc and a five page letter. Same response came back. Angry Bird. Sat and thought for a bit more then modified my letter that had been sent to CASA and addressed it to Registration Branch of FAA with the same supporting data. Answer comes back "we'll look into it" ie for that read "Not very interested old chum". At the same time I sent the letter to the FAA, I also sent a copy of the FAA letter (slightly modified to be crafted individually) to US Ambassador in Canberra requesting assistance with the FAA. Two pronged approach through FAA and also via Department of State. Hmmm email to Minard who sold the Dog to me who also works for FAA. Another letter sent to Head of Dept of Transportation in USA (after a Google search that was very fruitful), and another to Head of FAA (Google also very helpful) both with same supporting data. Hmmm, "Who runs Dept of Transportation and FAA in Congress and Senate"? Letters and data off to Senators and Congressmen as well (Google certainly helping here). Registration in USA requires submission of data and a signed statement..... a breach here is a Federal offence. Hmmmm. Letter and data off to Head of Section that looks after Federal Fraud in FBI in Washington.....(Google again very helpful). Nada back yet. Email to Minard in FAA who asks the lady tasked with investigating my original letter to FAA what's happening (this a very long time after my initial request to FAA). She throws her arms up and says it has escalated "Way above my pay grade"...All of these letters to the various individuals in USA have the benefit of a Google search to establish their bios from the US Govt websites and so each letter is crafted as personal to them with references to their background but the basics are identical. Something personalized always helps.
Why the hell not..... "Dear Mr President.....". Same supporting data but personalized from info in his bio ref his beginnings as an attorney and professor and his knowledge of the law and justice.
After such a long hiatus letters suddenly arrive back from Senator, Congressman, Dept of Transportation, FAA, FBI, US Ambassador to say things are being looked into. Hmmmm some progress....Email from FBI asking for a High Res pic of the modification plate. (Should be noted that this plate carries the Mod Status of the airframe but also has the airframe part number, Type, serial number and the Cessna Stamp etc so they wanted to do some real checking to see if it was genuine). More FBI emails. FBI visits owner of "51-4635" in USA who is a 'bit' surprised. Explanations made. Further visit to "owner" from FAA Investigator. More explanations. More emails received from FBI then FAA Investigator. Request for personal interview with CASA at Bankstown which was conducted by Registrar of Aircraft - same guy from Canberra I had seen before. Ask to see the Mod Plate and "photocopy" it. I said it was not going out of my hands but would 'accompany' them to the photocopier but why was that needed anyway as a High Res had gone to the FAA? Mutterings but reluctantly acceded.
More emails from FAA Investigator.
Through further efforts of Minard who visited the "owner" of "51-4635" in USA, the "owner" concedes and for the princely sum of $1.00 (which Minard paid) I obtain the remade Cessna Data Plate for "51-4635" and a "transfer of Ownership". Here an aside. That 'other' "51-4635" had no data plate to begin with. When it was purchased from a scrappie it was just the forward fuselage (cockpit area) and nothing else, a statement was obtained from the scrappie that it was "51-4635". On this basis the "owner" approached Cessna who immediately and without question issued a modern slim line data plate (nothing like the original) carrying the details of "51-4635". That new data plate in hand, the "owner" went to the FAA and they had no hesitation in registering the aircraft in the USA. See how easy that was and with no background checks..... had the "owner" done some research like any good historian and looked at Minard's comprehensive book on the Birdog, he would have seen in the list of Birdogs manufactured that "51-4635" had been exported to Australia. A simple further check of the publication date would have shown that this book preceded the date of registration of "51-4635" in the USA. All that the "owner" had to do to get clear was to look at the list of serials and pick one that had no further comments as to its fate after the military and he would have been home and hosed and there would not have been a problem for me. He had just plucked a number out of the air and that is what caused the entire painful process.
Finally, letter received from CASA (guessing lots of pain to the bureaucrats having to justify things in the USA and here on OZ), with copy of letter to FAA saying that "From the evidence presented from both the USA and Australia there was now no reason not to register "51-4635" as an Australian aircraft" et voila.... VH-OIA.....now registered to Peter Noel Anderson esq.
Had I not been a stubborn bast*rd and caved in to the bureaucrats I would have had a useless aircraft that could never have been registered and I would have wasted $62,000 that could never be recouped. After telling CASA that my aircraft was "51-4635" I could not suddenly come up with a data plate that had a different serial as 'due diligence' by CASA would have revealed subterfuge.
I have gone into this here ( I know it is long and boring) to show just how easy it is for identities to be muddied, changed, lost and the end result could be substantial financial loss for the unfortunate buyer. I should have registered my aircraft earlier but did not to avoid the annual fee. Penny wise but (unknowingly) pound foolish.
Hope this may in some way help anyone contemplating a project or aircraft purchase. Do your homework and possibly avoid the angst I went through.
Now hopefully after that diatribe, Craig shall post some pics of his recent progress if the lambing has been completed !
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Sept 6, 2017 13:26:19 GMT 12
Good grief! That was worthy of a thread all by itself Peter! That is very valuable (and entertaining) information - thank you.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 6, 2017 14:57:32 GMT 12
This story Pete reminds me of a couple of years ago Bill Reid said to me he was amused to see discussion on the forum here of one of his old helicopters that had supposedly been exported to the USA and subsequently crashed over there, according to the records and sources, because, he said, that helicopter never left New Zealand and was still sitting on his lawn at home. So someone in the USA had done a similar thing with a newly made dataplate as identity. I think this sort of nonsense goes on more often then people realise actually.
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Post by Mustang51 on Sept 6, 2017 15:30:47 GMT 12
Dave, you are absolutely correct and, unfortunately, sometimes it costs people a huge amount of money.... sometimes it results in the loss of the aircraft.
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Post by exkiwiforces on Sept 6, 2017 19:08:05 GMT 12
Hey Pete, love your post as it reminded me of dealing with a government department in Canberra a couple of weeks ago. Just need to replace CASA with DVA and throw in an Indian on the phone as he phoned me when I was having a really bad day. At one stage it thought this was pay back for the many pranks / gee ups I've done over the years various to people from officers to the lower ranks. But no he was for real and when the Darwin DVA found out they won't impress either and they said all further correspondence will via email from this guy.
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Post by craig on Sept 15, 2017 18:02:52 GMT 12
I have just discovered that having the rego CTX on hold entitles me to a free subscription of Aviation Trader. So that is positive and definitely offsets the rego cost
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Post by craig on Oct 9, 2017 5:51:18 GMT 12
Ya hooo. Lambing is over (except for about 80 lates). Finished the tailing (docking) yesterday. Work on Cropmaster can resume.....
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Post by Mustang51 on Oct 9, 2017 8:35:19 GMT 12
Looking forward to your next epistle !
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Post by craig on Oct 9, 2017 10:12:06 GMT 12
As many of the watchers will know I have been having problems sourcing a prop. As the restoration gets closer to completion the need becomes more urgent.
Initially I thought I was sorted as part of the Islander deal was a swap for a Cherokee 6 prop that would have been ideal. It had only done a few hrs since its last calender inspection back in 2001. So I knew it would need a new calender inspection but as it had done a few hours since the last one, hopefully it should be ok. Wrong! Seemingly back in 2001 when the last inspection was done, there was no need to measure blade width. The rules have changed and now this is a requirement and both blades are outside limits.
However there was still hope.... These were 82" blades and I knew it could be trimmed back to 76" So off to Flightline to have them properly measured. Unfortunately the damage was still inboard of the minimum length. The blades are worthless. New blades fitted is about the same price as a whole new prop ($15,000k approx.) An option I would rather avoid!
So I have posted an add in this months Aviation Trader, hoping something comes to light...
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Post by craig on Nov 1, 2017 16:33:18 GMT 12
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Post by craig on Nov 1, 2017 18:34:56 GMT 12
So the last 4 days have been taken up adjusting the air intake. The original was flat against the otherwise curved top cowl and it just looked wrong, giving the whole cowl a rather dished in appearance as the area around the air scoop was basically flat. So I removed the airbox (again) and rebuilt the mounts to a gentle curve  20171101_160749 by Craig Dowden, on Flickr |
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Post by craig on Nov 2, 2017 5:16:50 GMT 12
You may notice the air scoop is a rather unusual shape and reminds me a bit of nostrils. This is original to the Lycoming powered Cropmasters. It slides out to gain access to the air filter. The Continental powered ones had a much more conventional shape. A bit quirky but have been told it adds character....
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Post by craig on Nov 20, 2017 20:44:15 GMT 12
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Post by Mustang51 on Nov 21, 2017 7:54:45 GMT 12
Wish I was at that point with my project.....Looking Good !
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Post by baz62 on Nov 21, 2017 15:47:22 GMT 12
Yeah you and me both! Coming along nicely Craig. :-)
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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2017 15:53:39 GMT 12
And me makes three! Thanks for sharing the photo Craig.
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