Robin R2160
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Join Date: May 2006
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Robin R2160
I've asked this on the instructors forum so now I'm trying it here..
Does anyone know where I could try out a Robin R2160, at a school, in the South of England?
The only suggestion so far has been Wellsbourne (the midlands) which is way too far away for a trial lesson with the vagaries of British winter weather..
Alternatively... Does anyone have one..... and would like to take me for a flight??... I'm more than happy to contribute all allowable costs.
Thanks
MG
Does anyone know where I could try out a Robin R2160, at a school, in the South of England?
The only suggestion so far has been Wellsbourne (the midlands) which is way too far away for a trial lesson with the vagaries of British winter weather..
Alternatively... Does anyone have one..... and would like to take me for a flight??... I'm more than happy to contribute all allowable costs.
Thanks
MG
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I'm sorry that I can't point you in the right direction, Mad Girl.
But, when looking at trainers when I was involved in that sort of thing I flew one to test out its potential. All I can say is that the club didn't buy any, it was many years ago and I'm happy to report I've managed not to have been carried aloft in one since.
I agree they look cool; the one I flew was in JPS Gold 'n Black but what a puddin'
Just my ten penny worth, no offence.
Sir George Cayley
But, when looking at trainers when I was involved in that sort of thing I flew one to test out its potential. All I can say is that the club didn't buy any, it was many years ago and I'm happy to report I've managed not to have been carried aloft in one since.
I agree they look cool; the one I flew was in JPS Gold 'n Black but what a puddin'
Just my ten penny worth, no offence.
Sir George Cayley
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2160 in the south
MG there is a 'closed' company flying group with a Robin 2160 based at Goodwood. Unfortunately I do not have any contact info, but if Gwd is close enough to be of interest to you let me know and I will find out more.
Slip
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Well, if you'd like to pop over to Melbourne, I'll be happy to take you for a play - we've got one online as an aeros trainer - personally I think it's a pleasant change from the usual piper/cessna fare, and quite a bundle of fun. If you have any questions I'm happy to assist if I can.
SGC, no offense taken, however, perhaps you could be more specific in your criticism than 'pudding'? The one I fly is remarkably un-pudding like, but it's also rather shiny new and has 160hp up front (don't know if they all do)... however, I'm sure there's more to the story.
SGC, no offense taken, however, perhaps you could be more specific in your criticism than 'pudding'? The one I fly is remarkably un-pudding like, but it's also rather shiny new and has 160hp up front (don't know if they all do)... however, I'm sure there's more to the story.
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Any particular reason you want to fly the R2160?
The Robin is cheaper to run (160hp + fixed prop), spares are more readily available, so it could be done initially with two of us and we could take it out to a bigger group later, when the credit crunch has gone..
I'd be happy to take you up in our clubs R2160 but I'm afraid you'd have to come to Rotterdam for that
Well, if you'd like to pop over to Melbourne, I'll be happy to take you for a play
SlipSlider
MG there is a 'closed' company flying group with a Robin 2160 based at Goodwood. Unfortunately I do not have any contact info, but if Gwd is close enough to be of interest to you let me know and I will find out more.
Goodwood is closer than Wellsbourne. Do you think they would they let me fly it - with an instructor of course?
Any help to get a contact would be most welcome.
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Ow, come on. Rotterdam is less than two hours by private airplane from SE England. No need to get onto a 'bus for that.
If you decide to fly to Rotterdam, I'll make sure that handling is done by our club for free. That just leaves a rather modest landing fee. Or we can agree to meet up at Midden-Zeeland (EHMZ).
Edited: MG, have you checked G-INFO? There seem to be a dozen or so registered in the UK. If you click on the registration you can see the owner details including address.
GINFO Search Results Summary | Aircraft Register | Safety Regulation
If you decide to fly to Rotterdam, I'll make sure that handling is done by our club for free. That just leaves a rather modest landing fee. Or we can agree to meet up at Midden-Zeeland (EHMZ).
Edited: MG, have you checked G-INFO? There seem to be a dozen or so registered in the UK. If you click on the registration you can see the owner details including address.
GINFO Search Results Summary | Aircraft Register | Safety Regulation
Last edited by BackPacker; 11th Nov 2008 at 10:30.
Robin is cheaper to run (160hp + fixed prop), spares are more readily available
Spares are easy to get for the Decathlon and the Super D is still in production.
Some-one in the other thread mentioned corrosion problems in Robins - an old Decathlon can have problems which are just as expensive.
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Hi
Well there is a 2160 and 2160i both are available to hire at Wellesbourne you can find details here Wellesbourne Airfield Official Homepage
Billredshoes
Well there is a 2160 and 2160i both are available to hire at Wellesbourne you can find details here Wellesbourne Airfield Official Homepage
Billredshoes
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MG, something you might want to consider and research further, if you intend to buy one:
The reason our club bought the R2160 instead of the R2160i (with inverted fuel/oil) is that, apparently, any aircraft with an inverted flight system needs a far more extensive (read: expensive) maintenance regime than one without.
In hindsight, if you consider the amount of aerobatics that's being flown with our R2160 vs. straight and level/basic PPL training, it may have been the wrong decision. On the other hand, even without the inverted flight system we can fly inverted for up to 20 seconds, although the engine won't develop any power anymore after about two seconds. But that's good enough for Standard class aerobatics, and I doubt whether the R2160i would be good enough for Intermediate anyway.
I also found the UK distributor for Alpha Aviation NZ for you: Mistral Aviation - UK Distributor for Sales of Light Aircraft from Apex Aircraft and Alpha Aviation. You might be able to do a test flight through them as well.
The reason our club bought the R2160 instead of the R2160i (with inverted fuel/oil) is that, apparently, any aircraft with an inverted flight system needs a far more extensive (read: expensive) maintenance regime than one without.
In hindsight, if you consider the amount of aerobatics that's being flown with our R2160 vs. straight and level/basic PPL training, it may have been the wrong decision. On the other hand, even without the inverted flight system we can fly inverted for up to 20 seconds, although the engine won't develop any power anymore after about two seconds. But that's good enough for Standard class aerobatics, and I doubt whether the R2160i would be good enough for Intermediate anyway.
I also found the UK distributor for Alpha Aviation NZ for you: Mistral Aviation - UK Distributor for Sales of Light Aircraft from Apex Aircraft and Alpha Aviation. You might be able to do a test flight through them as well.
Last edited by BackPacker; 11th Nov 2008 at 22:19.
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The Robin is cheaper to run (160hp + fixed prop), spares are more readily available, so it could be done initially with two of us and we could take it out to a bigger group later, when the credit crunch has gone..
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Apex have recently had financial problems and have been in the hands of the receiver. They do say that they are hoping to continue to supply spares though.
Alpha Aviation also has had financial difficulties, but it is a completely separate and different company.
http://www.apex-aircraft.com/fic-com...2004-10-08.pdf
Last edited by BackPacker; 12th Nov 2008 at 08:21.
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Mad girl, I did all my basic aeros training in an R2160. Not a bad mount, if a little quirky in some respects.
One word of warning though - go the the gym and do some work on your arm-strength before you fly one - they are not exactly light in pitch. From memory, sustained 2g turns require both hands on the stick!
One word of warning though - go the the gym and do some work on your arm-strength before you fly one - they are not exactly light in pitch. From memory, sustained 2g turns require both hands on the stick!
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Backpacker - You are correct about the R2s being sold to the NZ company. I should have known as I saw them at a flying school in Invergargill last year. I wonder who is the design authority for them now? I guess this would endorse my remark about the spares situation etc..
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From memory, sustained 2g turns require both hands on the stick!
I wonder who is the design authority for them now?
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Cotswold Aero Club operate a R2112 for Aerobatics out of EGBJ near Cheltenham, but I'm guessing that's not as powerful as you'd like.
All, I'm looking at taking a fork in my flying training towards Aerobatics and would appreciate any advice on how to get into it. I've just done my PPL, have some UAS experience and at 25, can't see myself being in the right age/wealth envelope to stand a realistic chance of becoming an Airline Pilot.
So, I'm thinking of doing the flying I love instead of bankrupting myself for a job that is probably out of reach.
Any advice? I'd love to think I'd be competing one day, is it a realistic dream?
All, I'm looking at taking a fork in my flying training towards Aerobatics and would appreciate any advice on how to get into it. I've just done my PPL, have some UAS experience and at 25, can't see myself being in the right age/wealth envelope to stand a realistic chance of becoming an Airline Pilot.
So, I'm thinking of doing the flying I love instead of bankrupting myself for a job that is probably out of reach.
Any advice? I'd love to think I'd be competing one day, is it a realistic dream?
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James, I flew our clubs R2160 in the Basic class at the Dutch Open this summer and ended first out of five with a 74% average. I obtained my PPL three years ago and I have something like 130 hours PIC in total now. 10 of those were aeros training before the club allowed me to fly solo aerobatics, and about 20 were just for fun and for training for competition aerobatics.
So, yes, competition aerobatics, at least on the Basic level, are very much in reach of a low-time pilot with limited time and means. I may be able to tell you about Standard level next year!
I've never flown the R2112, just the R2160 but I don't think the difference is as big as you fear it is for competition aerobatics. Yes, additional power never hurts, but competition aerobatics is mostly about sharp flying and energy management. You have a box which is 2000' high (1500' to 3500') and that altitude budget, if used efficiently, is more important than raw engine power. Plus, in Basic (and to an extent, in Standard too) you get one or more free "breaks" to climb back to altitude if you need to.
So, yes, competition aerobatics, at least on the Basic level, are very much in reach of a low-time pilot with limited time and means. I may be able to tell you about Standard level next year!
I've never flown the R2112, just the R2160 but I don't think the difference is as big as you fear it is for competition aerobatics. Yes, additional power never hurts, but competition aerobatics is mostly about sharp flying and energy management. You have a box which is 2000' high (1500' to 3500') and that altitude budget, if used efficiently, is more important than raw engine power. Plus, in Basic (and to an extent, in Standard too) you get one or more free "breaks" to climb back to altitude if you need to.