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Recent Posts

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11
Airframe Systems and Components / Annoying Gear Waring Horn on T.O. Garmin G3X
« Last post by SHB716 on January 10, 2026, 11:01:27 am »
The Stream POH calls to establish a 70IAS climb to retract the gear, then transition to 78IAS and retract flaps above 150'.

In doing so you get the annoying gear warning horn during the approximate 20 second gear retraction on T.O. and until the flaps are up since the gear warning is based on flap position. Any flap position will trigger the gear warning if the gear is not down.

I find this very annoying especially during a critical phase of flight. My solution is to use the Garmin G3X to provide this warning based on 70 KIAS.

I programmed the G3X per the manual to provide the warning but no success.  After consulting with Garmin I learned there has to be a low power setting sensed (RPM below 3800) in order to trigger the warning.  With the Rotax (or Edge Performance) engines having high RPM's even at low MP during approach, it isn't triggering the warning. This is based on the configuration and engine data I supplied to Garmin and after Garmin engineering looked into it.  Hopefully Garmin will facilitate the Rotax series engines on retractable airframes and provide an update.

In the interim it is the airframe supplied gear warning.

Steve B.
12
Airframe Systems and Components / Gear retract safety speed
« Last post by SHB716 on January 10, 2026, 09:49:00 am »
This was not initially clear to me and this is my understanding of the system, so I thought I might share for Sparker and Stream operators.

The gear system is set up to inhibit gear retraction until a certain pressure (airspeed) is sensed (this is set by the factory and rumor has it set around 60-65KIAS range). Obviously the gear would retract on the ground if the battery is turned on with the gear switch inadvertently in the down position. First item on my before start flow is gear switch down.....

The situation I ran into was a failure of the gear to retract. This occurred while practicing short field take-offs.  I apparently raised the gear before meeting the airspeed threshold and the gear failed to retract. Subsequently lowered the gear without incident and landed. We  jacked up the aircraft for inspection and ops check and everything checked good. Shout out to Trey and Zach for the quick drop in to help investigate the matter!  No more issues after a better understanding of the system.

I tested this safety system on my conditional inspections and it worked as advertised, not retracting with 0 airspeed. In the mx mode the gear operated normally.


Hope this helps!
Steve B
13
Operating and Flying / Gear Rertract Safety Speed
« Last post by SHB716 on January 10, 2026, 09:00:40 am »
This was not initially clear to me and this is my understanding of the system, so I thought I might share for Sparker and Stream operators.

The gear system is set up to inhibit gear retraction until a certain pressure (airspeed) is sensed (this is set by the factory and rumor has it set around 65KIAS +/-). Obviously the gear would retract on the ground if the battery is turned on with the gear switch inadvertently in the down position. First item on my before start flow is gear switch down.....

The situation I ran into was a failure of the gear to retract.  This occurred while practicing short field take-offs.  I apparently raised the gear before meeting the airspeed threshold and the gear failed to retract. Subsequently lowered the gear without incident and landed. We  jacked up the aircraft for inspection and ops check and everything checked good. Shout out to Trey and Zach for the quick drop in to help investigate the matter!  No more issues after a better understanding of the system.

I tested this safety system on my conditional inspections and it worked as advertised, not retracting with 0 airspeed. In the mx mode the gear operated normally.


Hope this helps!
Steve B

14
Owner Inputs / First 50 Hours
« Last post by tlsportadmin on January 08, 2026, 10:06:29 pm »
This board is for discussion about the first 50 hours of flying your TL Aircraft.
15
General Comments / Re: Deposit for a Sparker
« Last post by 1dullgeek on January 08, 2026, 06:29:14 pm »
A Few Questions:
When you went over to Hradec Kralove, where did you stay?

How did you get around? Did you rent a car? Did you use public transportation?

Any suggestions on for the trip?
16
General Comments / Re: Deposit for a Sparker
« Last post by 1dullgeek on January 07, 2026, 04:18:22 pm »
BTW, I really appreciated your article about working with the company. That helped confirm what I saw from ForFunFlyer when he did a factory tour.

Also, are you free to share the tail # of the airplane in eastern TN?
17
Airframe Systems and Components / Center Tank Fuel Drain Mod - Stream Airframe
« Last post by SHB716 on January 07, 2026, 07:59:34 am »
Removing the center fuel tank cover to sump the tank was a bit cumbersome and inefficient for me. 

I ordered an additional cover from TL, drilled the same attachment holes using the original as a template, then installed it and took my best guess and marked a spot directly below the sump and drilled a 1/4" hole (with the cover off the plane obviously).

I can now drain the sump without removing the cover.  It works pretty well, but if the pushrod contacts the cover while draining, fuel will leach onto the outside of the cover and might drip so I carry a rag with me just in case.  May or may not be applicable to the Sparker. My aircraft is in the experimental category.

Hope this helps,

Steve B
18
Airframe Systems and Components / Stinger (Tail) Light - Intermittent/Replacement/Difficult to Replace
« Last post by SHB716 on January 07, 2026, 07:05:53 am »
The intermittent stinger light was traced back to the plug.  (accessible through my rear inspection plate) At first glance I thought the connector was a splice until I pulled on one and it unplugged. I cut the blue insulation back; it was too long and allowed only a shallow connection.  I seated the plugs and put some shrink wrap to hold them in place. Pretty sure it was the reliance on the tie wraps that were used to hold them closed that was causing the issue.
The main issue is the new and brighter bulbs (one with more LED’s) have teeth grips at the 12 and 6 o’clock position which makes the bulb out of round.  I carefully squeezed on those two points to bring it into round.  Bulb now easily inserts into the socket and is no longer difficult to remove.
The initial difficulty in getting a bulb in or out of the socket was a result of the socket hole being too small and ever so slightly out of round. I used a Dremel with a chainsaw sharping file to round out and ever so slightly enlarge the opening and solved this quickly. Inserted the bulb backwards to gauge the progress. 
For those of us with this lighting system, I hope this helps.  Rumor has it Whelen Lighting systems might be on the way.

Steve B
19
General Comments / Re: Deposit for a Sparker
« Last post by SHB716 on January 07, 2026, 06:40:04 am »
Hey Mark,

Great to have you.  Three in the Carolinas and one over in TN fore the East coasters! Hopefully we can compile the corporate knowledge and lessons learned to benefit everyone.

Steve B
20
Airframe Systems and Components / Re: Loose Canopy Latches
« Last post by SHB716 on January 07, 2026, 06:25:36 am »
Did not remove the spring, just let the adhesive Velcro do its thing
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