What`s Happening???

[farri]

Hi Frank - How come you did not land and get some close ups of the crocks - looks like plenty of room for the drifter to put down with your skill set as you know I know!!! Smile!Best

Hi SSCBD, Now that would have frightened them away! .

 

Couple of weeks ago, I spotted one a fair bit bigger than this one, on the sand, in the lagoon at Palmers Point, where Warren Hughs was taken a few months ago...I got down around 500` AGL and it jumped up, spun around and went into the water, like a rocket...I`ve been back 6 times since, to try and get a photo but no sight of it, I reckon it`s there, somewhere and I also reckon, it`s probably the one that got Warren.

 

When we were informed Warren was missing, my son Michael, a friend of his and myself, went searching the area, with Michaels boat, from 9pm till 2 am the next morning and with the spotlights, we picked up the eyes of a huge Croc and a smaller one, in the lagoon...The lagoon is just 50 mts from the ocean, on the other side of the beach.

 

They are scared of nothing now they don't get culled. Nev

In our area, the authorities are starting to take the situation a little more seriously...A couple of days after Warren was taken, they shot a 4 mt Croc, in the mouth of the Russell river and a couple of days ago, one was shot at the popular Ross and Lock picnic area in the Mulgrave river.

 

This is the one shot, at night, after Warren was taken. It went to the bottom and floated to the surface, the next day. A local friend of mine and I found it floating, the next day...I took the photos...It measured 4050cm

 

Franco.

 

 

 

[kevb]

Hi Guy's,

 

Had planned to take the Hornet on a trip to Adelaide River Township South of Darwin this Morning to see if I could play in the thermals and wind currents generated throughout the hills to the SW of the town. Everything looked good from the ground as I left MKT but as I climbed there was the biggest bank of fog and haze that I have seen so far up here. Visibility was still within the allowed but it still makes me nervous when big and fast bits of aluminium can pop out of the haze at speed. Decided that tomorrow is another day and returned to MKT. Hope it clears through the week, I have a paper chart nav planned next weekend as part of a camping trip away.

 

 

 

 

[farri]

Decided that tomorrow is another day and returned to MKT. Hope it clears through the week.

Goodonya Kev! Way to go.

 

Franco.

 

 

[farri]

Clement, from France, enjoying his first Ultralight flight,this morning.

 

 

 

 

 

Franco.

 

 

[kevb]

Frank, that scenery is fantastic. Love your pics as always.

 

Kev.

 

 

[farri]

Thanks Kev! Yes, it is great country to fly over! I`m not getting sick of it and people keep turning up,so.................

 

Franco.

 

 

[farri]

This is what Clement wrote on my facebook page, about his flight with me, last Friday.

 

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Clément Thiépel And what an amazing flight Franco!! First time on an ultralight, I won't forget that day! Haha!

 

 

 

It's been a pleasure : Thank you.

 

 

 

This afternoon I had the pleasure of taking Alain, Clement Thiepel`s father, for his first flight in an Ultralight...Clement`s Mum and Dad flew in to Cairns this afternoon and the first thing Alan wanted to do was come to Deeral and have a flight with me.

 

 

 

Tomorrow, Clement, his Mum and Dad and myself are going out to the reef, in one of our, Deeral locals, sailing boat, to do some snorkeling.

 

 

 

Alan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Franco.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Samuel117]

Good day to every one,

 

Always happy to see our Drifter's in action led by Franco Arri. We are trying to keep moving in Florida. Two days ago we performed our first skydiving drop from our Drifter. Jumping from 4500 feet at 55 knots. The change of CG with the jumper on the front only required some pressure on the stick but was really smooth. The effect of the skydiver leaving the airplane was surprisingly unnoticeable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kevb]

All I can say is WOW, thats awesome.

 

 

[gareth lacey]

Casa would have a heart attack , must be breaking some regs there , why jump off a perfectly safe aircraft

 

 

[farri]

Casa would have a heart attack , must be breaking some regs there

I don`t know about breaking any rules as Samuel is flying in the USA....CASA having a heart attack?....Probably! overer here! but to my knowledge they don`t have any jurisdiction, over there.

 

Franco.

 

 

[gareth lacey]

As I said Franco "would" if that happened in AUs ,dont know about the regs in USA

 

cheers Gareth

 

 

[farri]

A follow on to my post #357....Yesterday, when we got back from a great day,full of activity and some snorkeling out at the Frankland Islands`, Clement`s Mum, wanted to go flying as they were leaving for Cape York, early this morning.

 

The sailing boat we went out on, is in the gap of the trees, in the center of the photo.

 

 

Clement`s Mum, itching to go!!!

 

 

Franco,

 

Ps, Clement took there photos` and sent them to me...I took some great photos` yesterday but when we got home from the Islands, I found my Camera had died...Bummer!!!...Now I need a new Camera!

 

 

[biggles]

Currently 8C here in Southern Victoria Frank, and with the wind chill feels like 3C..... Bob

 

 

[pmccarthy]

Snow on Mount Macedon today. That is just down the road.

 

 

[sandman]

Hey Samuel, in regards to the jumper out of the drifter, maybe he shouldn't put that seatbelt on, after he takes it off looks where it is flapin around in the breeze.

 

 

[farri]

Currently 8C here in Southern Victoria Frank, and with the wind chill feels like 3C..... Bob

G`Day Bob, Getting damn cold here also!!!.......currently 22 C....

 

Franco.

 

 

[farri]

Currently 8C here in Southern Victoria Frank, and with the wind chill feels like 3C..... Bob

Bob, Forgot to add in my earlier reply! Fran and I took up gardening, as a hobby, after we retired from employment away from home... I built numerous flower garden beds and a shade house for our potted plants ....It`s show time up here so we entered some of our potted plants and cut flowers`...At the Innisfail show, we got 13 first and 10 second prizes` plus Grand Champion potted plant and cut Flower...At the Cairns show, which is on at the moment, we got Grand Champion potted plant and Grand Champion cut flower, plus, roughly the same number of first and second prizes: At the moment I`m not sure of the exact number, I`ll know tomorrow when I pick up the plants............I make up all the garden and potting mix and I`m about to go out to make another mix.

 

You can keep your 8C.., but then, you can grow what we can`t grow up here...Oh...Fran and I only started showing our plants, last year.

 

Franco.

 

 

[kevb]

Got a bit of cabin fever this weekend and decided to get away for a while. Loaded up the Hornet and went wandering around the Pine Creek area South of Darwin. Got a bit cool up here as well, I do believe that it was around the 20 degree mark when I left MKT, had to wear a jumper for the first time in a few years. Fantastic weekend for flying, can't wait to head out again.

 

 

 

 

 

[JG3]

Casa would have a heart attack , must be breaking some regs there , why jump off a perfectly safe aircraft

It used to be performed every year at the Clifton Fly-Ins.

 

 

[farri]

Got a bit cool up here as well, I do believe that it was around the 20 degree mark when I left MKT, had to wear a jumper for the first time in a few years.]

Yeah! Amazing how cold it gets in Darwin at winter time...

 

 

[gareth lacey]

Not any more , Casa would not allow this

 

 

[M61A1]

Might be OK

 

From the CASA website...

 

Until Part 105 comes into effect, Regulation 152 of CAR 1988 requires that a parachute descent must comply with CASA's written specifications, which are currently issued directly to the relevant administering organisations.

 

From the APF regs...

 

5.1.4 Recreation, Sports Aviation and Warbird Pilot Requirements Compliance Where a recreation or sports aviation aircraft or warbird is used for parachuting other than for training operations, the pilot must hold a valid licence or certificate relevant to the aircraft operated and an endorsement to carry passengers.

 

5.1.5 Jump Pilot Responsibilities Compliance All pilots flying at APF training operations must:

 

(a) carry a valid pilot licence and current medical when flying;

 

(b) be a current APF member;

 

© comply with the operating requirements and limitations contained in the aircraft flight manual;

 

(d) comply with Cloud Jump Procedures Manual (CJPM) when applicable; Operational Regulations © Australian Parachute Federation Ltd 15 May 2017 17

 

(e) comply with all pre-jump briefings;

 

(f) provide aircraft operational advice to the DZSO; and

 

(g) ensure that all parachutists are restrained in accordance with ORs 5.2.4, 7.2.2 and 11.2.8.

 

and down a bit...

 

5.2.2 Recreation and Sport Aviation Aircraft and Warbirds Compliance Notwithstanding OR 5.1.4, Recreation and Sports Aviation Aircraft and warbirds must not be used for parachute training descents.

 

5.2.4 Parachutist Restraints Safety An aircraft used for parachute operations (other than a balloon) must be:

 

(a) fitted with sufficient single point restraints manufactured to a standard approved by CASA and labelled accordingly and accessible to all parachutists aboard the aircraft, or

 

(b) fitted with sufficient aircraft seats and seatbelts; and

 

© used in accordance with ORs 7.2.2 and 11.2.8. 5.2.5 Knife in Aircraft Safety A knife, capable of cutting parachute harness webbing, must be readily available and appropriately stored in the aircraft.

 

5.2.6 Pilot’s Emergency Parachute Availability Safety A parachute that complies with APF equipment standards and training in the proper use of that parachute must be made available to pilots of aircraft used in making descents.

 

 

[farri]

I`ve had to buy a new Camera as my old one died! I`ve just been up taking photos to try and find the best way to use it...Here`s a couple of them..

 

This big bugger is just a couple of kilometers up stream from the boat ramp in the Mulgrave river, at Deeral...There`s another bigger one just a bit further up, wasn`t there today but it won`t be far away...They`ve probably seen and heard me flying over,for years...No! I wasn`t that low! I zoomed in.

 

 

 

 

Franco.

 

 

[kevb]

Hi Everyone,

 

A mornings fun at Emkaytee and surrounding area.

 

 

Cheers,

 

Kev.