Hi All - I'm New Here

[Wodin]

Hi All,

 

I'm new to the forum. I've been flying since I was a wee tacker, GA, Gliders, Ultralights, Microlights, Hang Gliders, RC, paper planes....pretty much anything that will fly (except helicopters). I'm just getting back into GA after a 20 year hiatus that was filled in with all the other stuff.

 

Hopefully we'll catch up on the hill, field or strip at some stage.

 

Wodin

 

 

 

[pudestcon]

G'day Wodin and welcome,

 

You'll have fun here, especially working out some of the quirky ol' geezers that frequent these pages!!

 

Pud

 

 

[Spin]

Wodin, - funny old infection that flying bug, it never completely leaves you. Where are you based and what are you looking to fly?

[Wodin]

Thanks for the welcome Spin and pudestcon. Yep, you're spot on with the infection, I just can't seem to get rid of it (as if I really want to!). It's been there for as long as I can remember, the only thing that changes is the mode of expression. The "Grand Plan" is to re-activate my non-current PPL, then get a tail dragger endorsement, then convert the whole lot over to an RA Cert, so I can get an endorsement for a Moyes-Bailey Dragonfly, so I can get a Tugmaster Endorsement, so I can aerotow my Hang Gliding mates - whew! Oh yeah, and have a bunch of fun along the way flying GA again.

 

 

[Tomo]

Welcome Wodin!

 

Where abouts do you fly, or are based?

 

 

[Wodin]

Hi Tomo,

 

Thanks for the welcome :thumb_up: I'm flying out of Tyabb at present - how about you?

 

 

[Tomo]

No worries! Hope you enjoy it here as much as I do :big_grin:

 

I fly up here in Queensland primarily, fly from Dalby mostly, but also farm strip next to our property.

 

Don't hang glide myself, but have helped with the hang gliders in Dalby when there are comps etc... we use the Dragonfly aircraft for towing also. What aircraft are you using to get back up to speed for your PPL?

 

 

[Wodin]

Nice! I have a mate who flies an RV6 and a Skywalker out of Gatton - Martin Hone.

 

At the moment I'm rewiring the flying muscles on a little C152, but I have hours on C172, C172 (STOL equipped), PA-28, PA-28R & PA-32. The little 152 is a sweet natured little thing, perfect for a rusty crusty.

 

 

[Tomo]

If you can find yourself a Drifter, that will be a great aircraft to get your feet working again! And the switch over later to Dragonflies isn't as drastic either. :big_grin:

 

 

[farri]

G`Day Wodin and !

 

Frank.

 

 

[Wodin]

Thanks Frank!

 

 

[Ballpoint 246niner]

Hi All,I'm new to the forum. I've been flying since I was a wee tacker, GA, Gliders, Ultralights, Microlights, Hang Gliders, RC, paper planes....pretty much anything that will fly (except helicopters). I'm just getting back into GA after a 20 year hiatus that was filled in with all the other stuff.

 

Hopefully we'll catch up on the hill, field or strip at some stage.

 

Wodin

 

Sounds like we had similiar paths Wodin, 25 yrs in GFA, TASSA-TAHGA-HGFA, then merged to AUF now RA Aus. Look forward to your input and this is one site where there are no stupid questions only good learning. Welcome!!

 

 

[Jeff Gordon]

Welcome Wodin, don't be flyin in the MB training area tomorrow morning, I'll be practicing stalls and recovery from unusual attitudes, I may fall on you!

 

 

[eightyknots]

Welcome, Wodin!

[Ronin]

Welcome along Wodin, it's a bit of fun...Eric

 

 

[Wodin]

Thanks for all of the lovely welcome messages.

 

Progress and observations to date:

 

• Old planes still smell funny: a combination of decaying vinyl, mould, damp, sweat and oil with just a touch of stale vomit.
   
   
  
• Tyabb ONLY has crosswinds and they're usually right on the margin of demonstrated maximum for whatever type you're flying.
   
   
  
• All crosswinds at Tyabb are violent, switchy bastards.
   
   
  
• After flying hang gliders and microlights for years one forgets how use one's feet to steer.
   
   
  
• C152's are gentle, forgiving, robust, gutless little aeroplanes.
   
   
  
• Instructors have the patience of a saint (Nick Caulwell & Barry Tate)
   
   
  

 

 

It's all finally starting to come back to life in my head and my muscles are remembering what to do. With a bit of luck I'll be signed off as "safe to fly" within a week. I'm looking forward to catching up with as many of you as possible either in person or online.

 

Cheers,

 

Wodin

 

 

[Guest davidh10]

Welcome, Wodin. Not sure I would want to fly a plane that smelled of stale vomit. Oh the advantages of an open cockpit

 

 

[facthunter]

Aeroplanes DO have smells. Stale vomit would be preferable to the fresh variety. An open cockpit doesn't always save the day either. You seem suitably motivated Wodin. ( I don't fly helecopters either). Welcome to this group. You don't need a GA TW endo and the rec ones are harder to fly anyhow so just start with them as you wouldn't just jump into them without tuition anyhow. ( although you had to do things differently before about 1986 when dual training in ultralights started in Oz). Nev

 

 

[Guernsey]

Welcome, Wodin. Not sure I would want to fly a plane that smelled of stale vomit. Oh the advantages of an open cockpit

Have you tried smelling your Tail Feathers recently:roflmao:

Alan.

 

 

[Wodin]

Thanks facthunter. The plan at this stage is to do the TW endorsement on an RAA registered Cessna 120 - that will cover me for both in one go. The Moyes-Bailey Dragonfly that I'll be using for towing the hang-gliders is a special beastie and will require extra training anyway.

 

 

[Wodin]

Have you tried smelling your Tail Feathers recently:roflmao:Alan.

Have you been downwind from me lately?? :yuk:

 

 

[Guest rocketdriver]

Hi Wodin and welcome ... nice to see another hopeless case of aviationitus, known more commonly as "zero - altitude sickness". Apparently in severe cases like yours and mine, ZAS lasts a lifetime and, whilst you might be in remission for a while, just one visit to an airfield on a beautiful day and watching just one perfect touchdown will reignite the flame that never quite died ....

 

When were / are you hang gliding? I was in the TAHGA/ HGFA era (was founding treasurer of HGHFA) and used to fly coastal at Flinders, London Bridge and the west coast too as well as Buffaloe, Porepunkah and other inland sites (early thermal and xc flying). As others on the forum, I've also been into gliding (BGA and GFA), GA and AUF/RAA. In fact can't shake the flying bug either. Been at it for most of my adult life, and dreaming of it since my earliest memories!

 

cheers

 

RD

 

 

[Wodin]

Hi RD,

 

It's sad isn't it, regardless of how hard you try to ignore it, sooner or later it gets you again. It all began for me when I first flew a glider at 14yo and did my first solo after 8 flights (yeah, I know, not legal) at Forbes.

 

I started hang gliding in 1975 in Coffs Harbour with a blokes old 17ft Moyes standard. Then when I came to Melbourne to study I joined up with the guys from Wings Hang Gliders and ended up being part of the design process. I flew everywhere we could then, Flinders, Portsea, Eumeralla, Spion Kop, Buffalo (in a standard rogallo with 4 battens per side, in thermic conditions, no 'chute, no radio, no idea), The Paps.

 

Then came careers and kids. After a while they grew up and I was able to go back to it, and haven't stopped. I still fly all the same places but adding in Mt Emu, Ben Nevis, ground towing and aero towing at Locksley. I just love it!

 

In the meantime I went into GA, gaining a PPL and flying out of Moorabbin in C172, PA-28, PA-28R, PA-32Rs. When my PPL was up for a BFR I was also in the midst of writing a thesis so it fell by the wayside. It's only now that I have the time, freedom and support of my lovely wife that I can get back to GA.

 

Along the way I also gained my Weightshift Microlight Licence along the way, training with Steve Ruffels at Porepunkah.

 

Oh yeah, and then there's the RCs.

 

Damn, when I read that back it's obvious that I'm a chronic case.

 

Cheers,

 

Wodin

 

 

[Jeff Gordon]

Saw a VH reg Foxbat today at Moorabbin. White, roomy with heaps of clear perspex and vision. Very nice looking plane that took off before the keys on 35L.

 

 

[Guest rocketdriver]

Arrr ...Wings ...... my first glider was a wings Ranger ...... 6:1 claimed glide ratio ... Flew it off Buffaloe one day, heading for Porepunkah and figuring I wouldn't quite make it based on the glide ratio ..... And landed in a field one hedge row short of the runway!

 

I think we probably know each other ..... I used to be known as Treetops due to an incident at Flinders .... Then I fractured my spine at the Monument and she who must be obeyed said "NO MORE!" so I started my GA experience which led to glider towing (and glider flying once more), warbirds, formation, aerobatics, antiques ... Perhaps I was in heaven? .. actually, I was!

 

Re Buffalo, memories of "buffalo belly" and the consequent heavy use of the nearby toilet block by pilots about to launch ..... flying a friend's Lynx down to Rollasons ..... another friend (we still fly together) crashing his ef5 on take off and ending up clinging to a shrub at the very edge of the take off rock with one wing flapping over the abyss ...... and after a pregnant pause, another pilot (not flying that day due to a broken arm in a cast and sling) calling out for the spectator's benefit "Clear the ramp ..... NEXT" ... hillarious at the time, but ....

 

PM me and perhaps we could have a beer some time ....

 

cheers

 

RD