Just Landed

[Guest Redair]

Good morning all, I'm Redair, and I have not so much "Just Landed" as had to make a "Forced Landing"! Forced by my wife that is... to go and talk to people who know what they are on about, and to stop asking her advice on how best to get my flying dreams turned into reallity!

 

So, with that in mind, you can all expect me to be asking lots of odd questions, and be seeking advice on everything. In return I will of course be offering something.... my thanks! And, perhaps the odd joke or two to your "Laughter Forum".

 

That is all, Redair.

 

 

[Guest David C]

Redair ,

 

Welcome to our flying fold . You can ask as many "odd " questions and seek advise as much as you like , there will always be a friendly reply and a welcome from us . Thanks for joining us .

 

Dave

 

 

[Guest danda]

Welcome redair this is the place to be if you need advice this forum has a great bunch of people only to willing to help you with their years of experience i for hope that soon your dream can be realised its great.

 

All the best and I look forward to seeing your posts.

 

Don

 

 

[Guest Redair]

Thanks for the welcomes, I've always avoided forums in the past, but after reading through some of the postings, I think this one is populated by real people, and better than that, people with a decent interest, (Flying!).

 

Now to my first question... where is the "Where the Bl**dy H*ll do I start" thread? As I need to ask all those daft questions like,

 

which comes first, training or choice of aircraft?

 

should I train by the hour or try a block course?

 

can I fly from my garden?

 

how do I pick a good aircraft from a lemon?

 

will anyone buy my motorbike?

 

All those sorts of things.

 

Anyway,I look forward to your guidence.

 

Many thanks, Redair.

 

 

[Guest Vigilant]

Welcome to the forum Redair, have fun and look forward to the jokes.

 

 

[Guest pelorus32]

[snip]

Now to my first question... where is the "Where the Bl**dy H*ll do I start" thread? As I need to ask all those daft questions like,

 

which comes first, training or choice of aircraft?

 

should I train by the hour or try a block course?

 

can I fly from my garden?

 

how do I pick a good aircraft from a lemon?

 

will anyone buy my motorbike?

 

All those sorts of things.

 

Anyway,I look forward to your guidence.

 

Many thanks, Redair.

Hi Redair,

 

I've just been through this recently. The answer to all the above is that you have to take the first step :big_grin:

 

....and the first step is to suss out a school and take a TIF (Trial Instructional Flight). And if you don't feel comfortable with the instructor then do another TIF until you find the right instructor for you.

 

You will also want to find a Flight Training Facility that has an active community of ultralight pilots - it's not just the instructor(s). Then, along with the forum, you'll start to get your other questions answered.

 

The key to doing the TIF and then going through the pilot certificate process is that each day you will discover more things that you don't know aanything about!!

 

If you haven't already you should check out the learn to fly guide on the RAA website. Those pages together with the learning to fly theory pages on the RAA site are a great start. They'll also tell you about RAA membership and a Student Pilot Certificate.

 

The guys from SA on this forum should be able to point you at a school near you.

 

Have fun. It's a great sport.

 

Regards

 

Mike

 

 

[pylon500]

G'Day Redair,

 

Just so you have a variety of answers to help you start, I shall add.......

 

Now to my first question... where is the "Where the Bl**dy H*ll do I start" thread?

 

You can continue in the Just Landed thread if you want, we'll still help. ;)

 

Or you could go to the Training & Student Pilots thread, I don't think it's just for instructors.

 

As I need to ask all those daft questions.

 

There are no daft questions, just daft answers by those that don't know, but you won't find too many here! :;)3:

 

Which comes first, training or choice of aircraft?

 

To go sideways a bit, you first need to think what part of flying apeals to you?

 

ie Just flying around the local area in your OWN plane?

 

Just flying around the local area in a hired or club plane?

 

Flying across Australia?

 

Just to say you can fly?

 

An unstoppable urge to want to build your own plane?

 

To fly around your property and check on stock, fences, dams, etc?

 

These questions will aim you towards the type of aircraft to start in.

 

Should I train by the hour or try a block course?

 

How much money, time or urgency do you have?

 

This could also be dictated by where you are realative to a training facility.

 

Can I fly from my garden?

 

How big is your garden! ? :;)2:

 

How do I pick a good aircraft from a lemon?

 

Ask as many people you can in the area the aircraft comes from, look for detailed log books and why are they selling it?

 

Will anyone buy my motorbike?

 

Not likely from the ultralight people, we've already sold ours to by planes! ;)

 

To look for clubs in your area, try the Recreational Aviation Australia (RA Aus) website, and to find out what's needed check the Student page.

 

I hope this gives you some ideas.

 

Arthur.

 

 

[Yenn]

Welcome Redair.

 

When you pick an instructor or school you still won't know how good they are. I suggest you try to talk to other students for their input.

 

Look for a professional approach, and especially their attitude to timekeeping. My biggest gripe with ultralight instructors was that they could not be depended upon, they did not consider a booked time for training was anything more than a rough guide, and I found that their time attitude was also a guide to their instructional ability.

 

If you find a good instructor cherish him and ask all the questions you can think of.

 

 

[Guest Redair]

To go sideways a bit, you first need to think what part of flying apeals to you?ie Just flying around the local area in your OWN plane?

Just flying around the local area in a hired or club plane?

 

Flying across Australia?

 

Just to say you can fly?

 

An unstoppable urge to want to build your own plane?

 

To fly around your property and check on stock, fences, dams, etc?

 

These questions will aim you towards the type of aircraft to start in.

 

Can I fly from my garden?

 

How big is your garden! ? :;)2:

 

Arthur.

Hi Arthur, a few answers to your questions, firstly the bits that appeal are, local area in own plane. To fly around checking stock and fences at work. An interest in building my own plane if that were a way to get what I wanted at a price I could afford. Some cross country, but maybe not right across Oz. Photography and videoing. Just to be able to fly with friends and family.

 

As for garden size, that seems to be causing much debate. If I am able to reshape the garden, (or part of it) and purchase/lease a small area of the adjoining farmland, I would be looking at approx 230m of free space, although one end is bounded by trees, so it would be a one way deal unless I could be sure of a very short take-off aircraft with a good climb rate. No one seems to agree on this one.

 

Training, well I have the money to go either way, but if I have to travel too far then I would be more inclined to go for block course.

 

Regards, Redair.