Aviation In Thailand

[T_Dog]

I see that there are a number of sporting and special interest groups under Community Forums, but no "Aviation in Thailand" forum. It seems that there a lot of pilots, ex-pilots, aviation enthusiasts, and radio control modelers in Thailand that might be able to support a new forum like this. If so, please reply and maybe the moderators at the support desk will set one up for us if enough respond.

[yorkman]

I see that there are a number of sporting and special interest groups under Community Forums, but no "Aviation in Thailand" forum. It seems that there a lot of pilots, ex-pilots, aviation enthusiasts, and radio control modelers in Thailand that might be able to support a new forum like this. If so, please reply and maybe the moderators at the support desk will set one up for us if enough respond.

I fear it might be a bit specialised, and a lot of stuff that really relates to travel would end up being posted there

[cgjtt]

It would be an interesting forum, if it kept to an aviation topic. There's not much flying in Thailand ( about 100 registered airplanes ) But I think what we'd get back would be worth trying it.

[yorkman]

There's not much flying in Thailand ( about 100 registered airplanes )

Is that so? I don't doubt you, but the dozen or so light aircraft/helicopters based in Udon would have made me think the numbers were higher.

However there are also a fairly large number of ultralight/microlight aircraft around here, plus even a fledgling (very!!) gliding (sailplane to the US cousins) club.

Plus, as was said loads of radio modellers and other enthusiasts. And this is Issan

[T_Dog]

There's not much flying in Thailand ( about 100 registered airplanes )

Is that so? I don't doubt you, but the dozen or so light aircraft/helicopters based in Udon would have made me think the numbers were higher.

However there are also a fairly large number of ultralight/microlight aircraft around here, plus even a fledgling (very!!) gliding (sailplane to the US cousins) club.

Plus, as was said loads of radio modellers and other enthusiasts. And this is Issan

It is good to hear there is a flying community in Issan! Does Udon have RC Shops and the like? Also wondering if there are any established ultralight airports or does everyone fly on their own.

[yorkman]

It is good to hear there is a flying community in Issan! Does Udon have RC Shops and the like? Also wondering if there are any established ultralight airports or does everyone fly on their own.

There are no specialist radio control shops, that I have seen anyway, although the aircraft, mainly ready to fly types, are available in lots of places.

I have taken a nephew up to the sino market in Nongkai where they are available very cheaply. In the evening in decent weather there are a number of semi organised (just for frequency control really) gatherings of friends around the town where they are flown.

There is a microlight club on the northern side of town, mainly flexwing types, that operates frequently on calm days

[cgjtt]

I just got a Thai validation for my licence and I'm told that there is about 100 civil registered aircraft in Thailand. The department of civil aviation has a web site at http://www.aviation.go.th/ and if someone can check out the stats ( they are in Thai ) maybe you can prove me wrong ( hope I'm wrong and their are a lot more planes out there ). Also good info on this site including approach plates and aerodrome information.

I believe there is only 1 registered glider and it's in ChiangMai. If you know of an other one, and who and what airplane is doing the towing ,please let me know.

Keep in mind that the Thai goverment has a lot of light aircraft in it's fleet. As for ultralights, are they registered ? If not, maybe this is why we are seeing low numbers in civil aircrafts.

[yorkman]

The only stats I see on there are movements/tonnages/passenger numbers etc.

As I said, I have no reason to doubt your number as I simply do not know. By government aircraft do you mean the RTAF CT/4s? The rest would be on the civil register surely? Anyways...

The only registered glider that is actually flying that I know of is the Blanik near Chiangmai. The fledging club that I mentioned is really rather less than that. There is a derigged unregistered Twin Astir in one of the hangers in Udon that I saw on an open day. On enquiry it is a thai at the base trying to get something going. I really can't see them allowing it there...but....

The flexwings do not appear to be carrying registrations. They do not seem to be exempt from the Air Navigation Act however. Ohh and less I forget, there was a paramotor buzzing about last year. Where that comes from I have no idea

[T_Dog]

The only stats I see on there are movements/tonnages/passenger numbers etc.

As I said, I have no reason to doubt your number as I simply do not know. By government aircraft do you mean the RTAF CT/4s? The rest would be on the civil register surely? Anyways...

The only registered glider that is actually flying that I know of is the Blanik near Chiangmai. The fledging club that I mentioned is really rather less than that. There is a derigged unregistered Twin Astir in one of the hangers in Udon that I saw on an open day. On enquiry it is a thai at the base trying to get something going. I really can't see them allowing it there...but....

The flexwings do not appear to be carrying registrations. They do not seem to be exempt from the Air Navigation Act however. Ohh and less I forget, there was a paramotor buzzing about last year. Where that comes from I have no idea

Hey, this is a great thread so far! Can you tell me how to contact the glider club in Chiang Mai? I have a little glider time and might want to get back into it at some point. That Blanik was flying over CMU last week on Children's day and I wondered where it came from.

There are quite a few Para Motor Flyers around. I met one fellow who is a housing development manager up in Mae Rim.

The Tango Flying Club at CNX sponsored by the Kingdom of Thailand is also worth a visit for those that have not been there.

[yorkman]

Can you tell me how to contact the glider club in Chiang Mai? I have a little glider time and might want to get back into it at some point. That Blanik was flying over CMU last week on Children's day and I wondered where it came from.

http://www.nokaviation.com/gliding.htm

[T_Dog]

Anybody know what the Twin Turbo Prop flying out of Chiang Mai is. It is light grey and looks like an OV-10 (twin tail), but the fuselage is fatter and more elliptical. I don't have my Jane's guide with me and am puzzled as to what it is. I've seen it a number of times over the past week climbing out, but never really close enough to get a good look at it.

[Totster]

I don't see the need for a specialised forum for this at present.

This topic (as it has evolved into a different discussion) is best placed in the Sports, Hobbies & Activities forum, where I will move it to now.

Totster

[T_Dog]

I don't see the need for a specialised forum for this at present.

This topic (as it has evolved into a different discussion) is best placed in the Sports, Hobbies & Activities forum, where I will move it to now.

Totster

I agree! There hasn't exactly been a flood of interest. Sounds like the right place to move it to. Thanks.

[jumnien]

I own a Zenair CH701 that I fly out of a small grass strip north of Chaam. I've flown from Chiang Rai to Krabi and Sakhon Nakhon and many airports throughout the Kingdom. It is registered as an airplane, HS-; flexwings and ultralights are registed as U-. I've been flying in Thailand for 4 years now and I'd agree that there are about 100 planes in the country for general aviation. If you are interested the www.thaiflyingclub(dot)com is a good place for info.

[yorkman]

I own a Zenair CH701 that I fly out of a small grass strip north of Chaam.

Did you build it yourself Sunrise?? Any problems getting that onto the Thai register?

[jumnien]

I own a Zenair CH701 that I fly out of a small grass strip north of Chaam.

Did you build it yourself Sunrise?? Any problems getting that onto the Thai register?

No, I imported it ready to fly from the Czech Republic. It was no problem registering it here in Thailand. Just took a couple months before I could fly. I love the plane and flying in Thailand!

[thaiclan]

I'm 25 hours into my PPL, and like the OP I wondered why there wasn't a topic in the sports/hobbies forum. So I'm very glad to read all these related posts

[Thanyaburi Mac]

It would be an interesting forum, if it kept to an aviation topic. There's not much flying in Thailand ( about 100 registered airplanes ) But I think what we'd get back would be worth trying it.

Take a look at:  http://thai-aviation.net/

Steve Darke's www site is contunually updated with input by lots of people watching flyi

ng 

machines milling around the skies here.

Check out the civil registration page for a whole bunch of such machines.

Mac 

[yorkman]

I love the plane and flying in Thailand!

I am not surprised! It looks like the ideal little aircraft for Thailand given its amazing capabilities. Not the sort of thing if you are in a hurry to get somewhere, but then why would you be?

By coincidence quite a few years ago I helped a friend build a CH601 kit, and that flew really well.

[jumnien]

I love the plane and flying in Thailand!

I am not surprised! It looks like the ideal little aircraft for Thailand given its amazing capabilities. Not the sort of thing if you are in a hurry to get somewhere, but then why would you be?

By coincidence quite a few years ago I helped a friend build a CH601 kit, and that flew really well.

Yeah it's slow all right; I cruise at 95mph with the doors on and about 85mph with the doors off (much more fun). I usually fly about 500 feet above the ground. My favorite place locally is back in the mountains of Kaeng Krachan National Park.

[yorkman]

Anybody know what the Twin Turbo Prop flying out of Chiang Mai is. It is light grey and looks like an OV-10 (twin tail), but the fuselage is fatter and more elliptical. I don't have my Jane's guide with me and am puzzled as to what it is. I've seen it a number of times over the past week climbing out, but never really close enough to get a good look at it.

That had me puzzled too for a bit. The OV10 layout is unusual. Maybe from your description this?

AN IAI 101, 201 or 202?

[T_Dog]

Anybody know what the Twin Turbo Prop flying out of Chiang Mai is. It is light grey and looks like an OV-10 (twin tail), but the fuselage is fatter and more elliptical. I don't have my Jane's guide with me and am puzzled as to what it is. I've seen it a number of times over the past week climbing out, but never really close enough to get a good look at it.

That had me puzzled too for a bit. The OV10 layout is unusual. Maybe from your description this?

AN IAI 101, 201 or 202?

Yorkman, you rock! Look's like it would have about the same performance as a DHC-6 Twin Otter which I've had a chance to fly. Thanks for the help!

Found out more info on the ship at http://1000aircraftphotos.com/HistoryBriefs/IAI-Arava.htm

[yorkman]

Yeah it's slow all right; I cruise at 95mph with the doors on and about 85mph with the doors off (much more fun). I usually fly about 500 feet above the ground. My favorite place locally is back in the mountains of Kaeng Krachan National Park.

I really need to look into this.

Having taken a look at the register that somebody posted a link to earlier, I noticed quite a few, presumably, kit builds that have got on there. Your aircraft was not kit built, as you said, but 2 months is very quick for an unapproved (was it?) design compared with the bureaucratic nightmare in most western countries.

I built a couple in the UK under the auspices of the PFA. A WAR Focke Wolfe 190, quickly sold as rather impractical and "slightly" twitchy, and a Kitfox, that had rather similar characteristics to yours. Not quite as STOL but a bit speedier.

So, I am wondering, what are the practicalities of building and registering a Vans RV8 in Thailand? Rough field capable and speedy too

Edited January 25, 2008 by yorkman

[jumnien]

Yeah it's slow all right; I cruise at 95mph with the doors on and about 85mph with the doors off (much more fun). I usually fly about 500 feet above the ground. My favorite place locally is back in the mountains of Kaeng Krachan National Park.

I really need to look into this.

Having taken a look at the register that somebody posted a link to earlier, I noticed quite a few, presumably, kit builds that have got on there. Your aircraft was not kit built, as you said, but 2 months is very quick for an unapproved (was it?) design compared with the bureaucratic nightmare in most western countries.

I built a couple in the UK under the auspices of the PFA. A WAR Focke Wolfe 190, quickly sold as rather impractical and "slightly" twitchy, and a Kitfox, that had rather similar characteristics to yours. Not quite as STOL but a bit speedier.

So, I am wondering, what are the practicalities of building and registering a Vans RV8 in Thailand? Rough field capable and speedy too

Should be no problem building here in Thailand, the RV8 that is. I'd much prefer to fly a Rotax powered plane here though. Auto fuel is half the price and far more available. The Zenair is also an experimental airplane and is not certified, same ast the RV; but not a problem to register and insure as such. It might be cheapest to bring over a kitplane already built overseas if you find a good one at a low price.

[yorkman]

Yeah it's slow all right; I cruise at 95mph with the doors on and about 85mph with the doors off (much more fun). I usually fly about 500 feet above the ground. My favorite place locally is back in the mountains of Kaeng Krachan National Park.

I really need to look into this.

Having taken a look at the register that somebody posted a link to earlier, I noticed quite a few, presumably, kit builds that have got on there. Your aircraft was not kit built, as you said, but 2 months is very quick for an unapproved (was it?) design compared with the bureaucratic nightmare in most western countries.

I built a couple in the UK under the auspices of the PFA. A WAR Focke Wolfe 190, quickly sold as rather impractical and "slightly" twitchy, and a Kitfox, that had rather similar characteristics to yours. Not quite as STOL but a bit speedier.

So, I am wondering, what are the practicalities of building and registering a Vans RV8 in Thailand? Rough field capable and speedy too

Should be no problem building here in Thailand, the RV8 that is. I'd much prefer to fly a Rotax powered plane here though. Auto fuel is half the price and far more available. The Zenair is also an experimental airplane and is not certified, same ast the RV; but not a problem to register and insure as such. It might be cheapest to bring over a kitplane already built overseas if you find a good one at a low price.

I understand exactly where you are coming from regarding a Rotax as opposed to a traditional basically 1940's technology traditional aircraft engine. However the Avgas/Mogas thing is a fallacy. Lycomings or whatever run perfectly well on auto fuel, and you can get an exemption to do this legally in most western countries. There are just some restrictions about operating heights due to vapour rates of the fuel and possible airlocks.

In Thailand I guess its just dont tell and put it in

I will look into the ready built kitplane option. Was yours already on the Czech register when you bought it? That may have simpified it rather than starting from scratch.

[jumnien]

No, the plane was not on the Czech register. It was sold brand new, ready to fly, and registered here as experimental following the path paved by a handful of other Zenairs here before it.

[cgjtt]

When I bought my Cub lookalike 15 years ago, it was running on mogas and was fine and dandy ,but the logistics of getting the stuff at destination airports and hauling it to the airplane was a bit of a pain. After the engine overhaul (0-320 e2d) it was suggested that I run it on 100LL due to a higher compression ratio 160hp.

As someone suggested, the main fear of mogas is vapor lock. When converting an aircraft to mogas, one must insure that there is adequate protection for fuel line to insure they don't get heated up. Conversion to mogas requires an supplementary type certificate. I understand that vapor lock in high wing airplanes doesn't happen due to positive pressure from the tanks. All in all, mogas does give an good altenate to the expensive 100LL AVGAS but take care.

As for the CH-701, its got to be one of the best airplane for bush country Thailand. I'm thinking of shipping my Cub lookalike to Thailand and re-registering it. It's performance are about the same as the CH-701 but I can carry 600 lbs and have a 7 hour endurance. Can anyone tell me what is the payload of the CH-701 ?

[jumnien]

When I bought my Cub lookalike 15 years ago, it was running on mogas and was fine and dandy ,but the logistics of getting the stuff at destination airports and hauling it to the airplane was a bit of a pain. After the engine overhaul (0-320 e2d) it was suggested that I run it on 100LL due to a higher compression ratio 160hp.

As someone suggested, the main fear of mogas is vapor lock. When converting an aircraft to mogas, one must insure that there is adequate protection for fuel line to insure they don't get heated up. Conversion to mogas requires an supplementary type certificate. I understand that vapor lock in high wing airplanes doesn't happen due to positive pressure from the tanks. All in all, mogas does give an good altenate to the expensive 100LL AVGAS but take care.

As for the CH-701, its got to be one of the best airplane for bush country Thailand. I'm thinking of shipping my Cub lookalike to Thailand and re-registering it. It's performance are about the same as the CH-701 but I can carry 600 lbs and have a 7 hour endurance. Can anyone tell me what is the payload of the CH-701 ?

The CH-701 has a 100hp Rotax engine which is designed to run on autogas. You can in an emergency use aviation fuel (100LL), but the engine prefers autogas. I believe the payload of my 701 is about 500 lbs and the endurance is about 4.5 hours. It can be a bit of a hassle to bring autogas to the airport. On the other hand its nice when going to all the farm strips about the Kingdom. Avgas is very difficult to find in Thailand and is sold at very few and is about twice the price of autofuel.

[cgjtt]

Has anyone shipped an airplane from the states via shipping container. What would be the required procedures with the department of aviation to register it. I know of a few people that have done it, but I'm trying to get a concensus.

[monty]

For all aviation enthusiasts, check out following site:

http://www.thaiflyingclub.com/

It's the site of the Thai Flying club in Sri Racha (Eastern Seaboard), but it has loads of general info, including links to pretty much every airfield and flying club in Thailand, both GA and ultralight!

The site is maintained by Tom Claytor, a very experienced American bush pilot in the process of flying his own plane around the world, but kind of stuck in Thailand the last few years. You can see him in lots of National Geographic documentaries, with the one I liked most where he is zooming through the Grand Canyon!

He is also starring in the Thai movie "first flight" due to be shown in Thai theaters nationwide starting today!

http://www.firstflightmovie.com/

Also all info on acquiring a Thai license, or validating your foreign one.

For cgjtt,

http://www.thaiflyingclub.com/linkdcadocum...rtaircraft.html

a list of all documents needed to import an airplane, along with the e-mail of Khun Kriangsak, the official at the DCA (Department of civil aviation) responsible for getting your plane in and registered!