https://rotorwayforums.com/ Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:19:01 +0000 MyBB https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-159.html Mon, 27 Jul 2026 08:32:16 -0500 Orv Neisingh]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-159.html
Here are before and after pictures of the installation.


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Here are before and after pictures of the installation.


]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-158.html Thu, 23 Jul 2026 09:19:39 -0500 Homer Bell]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-158.html https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-156.html Mon, 20 Jul 2026 16:49:52 -0500 Shane Sr]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-156.html Slightly off-topic but figured someone here might have been through similar looking for advice on importing a UK-registered vehicle to Ireland for utility use (mainly hangar runs and towing a small trailer for the A600 build parts).
Context: my old Nissan Navara is on its last legs and the UK market has better deals on light diesels than the Irish market right now (post-Brexit pricing and fleet turnover). I’m looking at a 2021 Ford Ranger from a UK dealer, around £18k.
I’m trying to get a realistic picture of total import cost. From what I understand, the main items are:
- VRT, based on OMSP and vehicle category
-VAT and possibly customs duty for GB imports
-NOx levy for diesel vehicles
On VRT specifically, I initially thought a pickup registered as N1 might qualify for a low flat rate, but it looks like most light commercial vehicles are actually taxed as a percentage of OMSP unless they meet stricter criteria. So the final amount may be significantly higher depending on how Revenue classifies the vehicle.
I know the official figure only comes after inspection, so any estimates should be taken cautiously.
Questions for anyone who's imported a UK vehicle to Ireland (or elsewhere in the EU):

1. Did you use a customs broker or handle it yourself? The post-Brexit paperwork looks like the main complexity.
   
2. How long did it take to get a VRT inspection appointment?
   
3. Any pitfalls with getting (or keeping) N1 classification on a pickup like a Ranger? Does Revenue scrutinise seating/configuration closely?
   

Appreciate any real-world feedback. I’ll document the process if I go ahead.]]> Slightly off-topic but figured someone here might have been through similar looking for advice on importing a UK-registered vehicle to Ireland for utility use (mainly hangar runs and towing a small trailer for the A600 build parts).
Context: my old Nissan Navara is on its last legs and the UK market has better deals on light diesels than the Irish market right now (post-Brexit pricing and fleet turnover). I’m looking at a 2021 Ford Ranger from a UK dealer, around £18k.
I’m trying to get a realistic picture of total import cost. From what I understand, the main items are:
- VRT, based on OMSP and vehicle category
-VAT and possibly customs duty for GB imports
-NOx levy for diesel vehicles
On VRT specifically, I initially thought a pickup registered as N1 might qualify for a low flat rate, but it looks like most light commercial vehicles are actually taxed as a percentage of OMSP unless they meet stricter criteria. So the final amount may be significantly higher depending on how Revenue classifies the vehicle.
I know the official figure only comes after inspection, so any estimates should be taken cautiously.
Questions for anyone who's imported a UK vehicle to Ireland (or elsewhere in the EU):

1. Did you use a customs broker or handle it yourself? The post-Brexit paperwork looks like the main complexity.
   
2. How long did it take to get a VRT inspection appointment?
   
3. Any pitfalls with getting (or keeping) N1 classification on a pickup like a Ranger? Does Revenue scrutinise seating/configuration closely?
   

Appreciate any real-world feedback. I’ll document the process if I go ahead.]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-155.html Fri, 17 Jul 2026 22:53:13 -0500 Orv Neisingh]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-155.html




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]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-154.html Fri, 17 Jul 2026 22:40:56 -0500 Orv Neisingh]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-154.html


Here is a photo of John, Tony and Dave at John’s meet many years after their flight training by me in Rhode Island.
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Here is a photo of John, Tony and Dave at John’s meet many years after their flight training by me in Rhode Island.
]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-153.html Fri, 17 Jul 2026 22:37:22 -0500 Orv Neisingh]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-153.html

This year we were all 4 of us in North Carolina; John Garabedian with his Bell 47, Tony Evans in his 162f and Dave Armando in his R44.




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This year we were all 4 of us in North Carolina; John Garabedian with his Bell 47, Tony Evans in his 162f and Dave Armando in his R44.




]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-151.html Wed, 15 Jul 2026 18:09:52 -0500 Orv Neisingh]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-151.html



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]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-150.html Wed, 15 Jul 2026 16:23:28 -0500 Orv Neisingh]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-150.html

Notice the dirt and sod in the top of the rotor hub.

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Notice the dirt and sod in the top of the rotor hub.

]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-149.html Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:26:41 -0500 Orv Neisingh]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-149.html
I measured the distance between the bottom slider rails to be just over 4” so I used a 4” hole saw and installed an access hole between the slider rails on the bottom of the tail boom. This mod has worked out great for me and I have trailered my ship to many meets over thousands of miles of bumpy roads with absolutely no issues. I am not recommending this for you, I am just telling you what I did and would do again.
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I measured the distance between the bottom slider rails to be just over 4” so I used a 4” hole saw and installed an access hole between the slider rails on the bottom of the tail boom. This mod has worked out great for me and I have trailered my ship to many meets over thousands of miles of bumpy roads with absolutely no issues. I am not recommending this for you, I am just telling you what I did and would do again.
]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-148.html Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:15:37 -0500 Orv Neisingh]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-148.html


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]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-147.html Mon, 13 Jul 2026 22:13:20 -0500 Homer Bell]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-147.html Another suggestion is to recess all the switches in the over head switch panel. Get them up where they can’t cut your head. First Scorpion I crashed had the screws in the top windows come across the top of my helmet. Some nice deep scratches there . Glad I was wearing a helmet that day. That’s been over 50 years ago. How time flies.]]> Another suggestion is to recess all the switches in the over head switch panel. Get them up where they can’t cut your head. First Scorpion I crashed had the screws in the top windows come across the top of my helmet. Some nice deep scratches there . Glad I was wearing a helmet that day. That’s been over 50 years ago. How time flies.]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-146.html Mon, 13 Jul 2026 20:10:07 -0500 Nick Bachert]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-146.html
Nick]]>
Nick]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-145.html Mon, 13 Jul 2026 16:14:21 -0500 Orv Neisingh]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-145.html
What do you do now? You could elect to continue flying home with the very real possibility that the hot exhaust could burn through your plastic fuel tank.. not a good choice. You need to fix it before flying but where are you going to buy that exhaust gasket and the needed bolts before some cow in the pasture you landed in rubs your helicopter into the dirt.

Here is the simple solution that I came up with and it has worked out very well with no blown exhaust gaskets or lost bolts encountered since we started installing this simple modification. I ordered new drilled head exhaust bolts from the company listed on the package and replaced the old style bolts with the drilled head bolts. After the new bolts are torqued to spec, run a piece of safety wire through the drilled head of each of the 3 bolts on each manifold. Run the wire in such a manner that the bolt cannot back out, the wire keeps it from unscrewing at all.

The two bolts that this may not work on are on the inside corner under the top manifold bend where sometimes there is not enough room to get that new bolt started. If that is the case you can loop the safety wire over that one torx head bolt on each side to keep it from backing out and the same wire runs through the heads of the other two bolts on that manifold. You may wish to try this mod, you will be happy that you did. The bolts shown are a tad bit longer that the original bolts so I added two or three washers under the head of each bolt to prevent them from bottoming out in the threaded hole.



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What do you do now? You could elect to continue flying home with the very real possibility that the hot exhaust could burn through your plastic fuel tank.. not a good choice. You need to fix it before flying but where are you going to buy that exhaust gasket and the needed bolts before some cow in the pasture you landed in rubs your helicopter into the dirt.

Here is the simple solution that I came up with and it has worked out very well with no blown exhaust gaskets or lost bolts encountered since we started installing this simple modification. I ordered new drilled head exhaust bolts from the company listed on the package and replaced the old style bolts with the drilled head bolts. After the new bolts are torqued to spec, run a piece of safety wire through the drilled head of each of the 3 bolts on each manifold. Run the wire in such a manner that the bolt cannot back out, the wire keeps it from unscrewing at all.

The two bolts that this may not work on are on the inside corner under the top manifold bend where sometimes there is not enough room to get that new bolt started. If that is the case you can loop the safety wire over that one torx head bolt on each side to keep it from backing out and the same wire runs through the heads of the other two bolts on that manifold. You may wish to try this mod, you will be happy that you did. The bolts shown are a tad bit longer that the original bolts so I added two or three washers under the head of each bolt to prevent them from bottoming out in the threaded hole.



]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-144.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 09:36:44 -0500 Orv Neisingh]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-144.html
Here is another example.

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Here is another example.

]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-143.html Sat, 11 Jul 2026 09:29:50 -0500 Orv Neisingh]]> https://rotorwayforums.com/thread-143.html
This is the stock cap with vent holes around the bottom.


Here are several examples of vent caps with removable oil level dip sticks that are installed on the helicopters in my hangar.








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This is the stock cap with vent holes around the bottom.


Here are several examples of vent caps with removable oil level dip sticks that are installed on the helicopters in my hangar.








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