G'Day from Canada

[Guest Guest]

Hi all,

 

I am a new member to this Forum, and here is a little info about me.

 

For starters, I am now retired and working really hard at it. I have had my PP license since the mid 70's, and was the ground school instructor at the local flying school for 3 1/2 years. Sadly, business and family issues did not permit me any recreational flying, after having logged only 200 hours in my logbook. These hours were done in the Cessna's and Piper aircraft that are normally seen at most of the flying schools.

 

Although I have recently offically passed my gouvernement mandated medical, recent by-pass surgery forces me to take an assortement of pills, and this makes my PP license invalid, forcing me to apply for a Recreational Flying permit. The only issue with this permit is no night flying ( I wasen't planning on doing so anyway ) and restricting the number of passengers to two.

 

My hobby over the past 30 years was not aviation oriented, but rather has been spent restoring 1963 to 1967 Corvettes. ( you may visit my humble website at the following http://www.cafe.rapidus.net/rpelland/index.html ). However the aviation bug that had originally bit me, was never very far from my mind, and as soon as my old age pension check's started coming in, I realized that if I was ever to fly again, I had to get myself a pair of wings.

 

This lead to the purchase of a set of plans from Zenith Aircraft Co. for their ever popular CH-701. My present interest, and actually the only thing that turns me on is to do some " Recreational Flying, as we say, and fly " Low and Slow " so that I can enjoy the scenery cruising bearly over the tree tops.

 

Since I started building the 701, the Zenith people introduced their new CH-750, so without hesitation, I also ordered a set of plans ( I was actually the very firsts retail customer to do so ) for the 750, and I am presently in the process of building simultainlesly both aircraft. For those of you who think this might be a bit too much, please note that I am also restoring two Corvettes ( a 1963 split window coupe, and a 1964 Grand Sport replica ) along with an original 1944 WWII jeep that saw action on the European front during the last great war.

 

My Grand Pa always told me that it was not the old age that will do us in, but rather idle hands, so I am doing everything I can to keep busy.

 

Sorry for going on for so long, but as you can see, I have a lot to say. In closing, I noticed that at the left of the screen there is no " Sections " from Canada, so G'day from Canada, and greetings to all.

 

Live every day, as if it were your last

 

Robert Pelland

 

the 701 & 750 Scratch builder

 

 

[Yenn]

g'day Robert.

 

Not much chance of idle hands in your case, but you are so right. I have seen plenty pf people retire with nothing to do and die soon after. Corvettes are rare here, but we do see the occasional jeep and they are just about indestructible.

 

Good luck with the builing.

 

 

[bushcaddy105]

Also G'day, Robert

 

I have recently returned from a visit to your great country, and would have driven somewhere close to you while passing through Quebec. I built and fly a BushCaddy, from just West of Montreal (Vaudreil, in fact), and visited the company while there. Great people: great aircraft. I'm a bit like you - my grandparents motto was "We'll wear out, not rust out", and that served them well until 91 and 98 yrs. I have adopted the same family motto.

 

My motoring fetish is Haflingers, a bit unusual for Australia, and head-turners whenever driven. I couldn't find any in Canada (and I looked!) Do you know of any?

 

 

[Guest Guest]

I might John, if I only knew what Haflingers were.

 

BTW, while in Vaudreil, you were only 90 minutes from my place.

 

Robert

 

 

[Guest watto]

Good on you Robert, you certainly make even some of the young whipper snappers I've met over the years look idle!

 

I am planning on getting to Canada in the next couple of years I hear the flying scenery there is spectacular.

 

 

[Deskpilot]

G'day Robert, Rob or Bob, what's your preference? Well you sure are a busy man, especially after a by-pass op. Had a quad myself a few years back. I tried to view your site but the address seems to be incomplete and Firefox couldn't open it. Is there something missing at the end of the address? Like a server name?

 

Are you running a blog page on your builds, if so, care to share?

 

Anyway, to the forum, please keep in touch.

 

 

[GraemeK]

I tried to view your site but the address seems to be incomplete and Firefox couldn't open it.

Here it is - AutoRetro.

 

 

[Admin]

Link in the first post has now been fixed

 

 

[Guest Guest]

G'day Robert, Rob or Bob, what's your preference? Well you sure are a busy man, especially after a by-pass op. Had a quad myself a few years back. I tried to view your site but the address seems to be incomplete and Firefox couldn't open it. Is there something missing at the end of the address? Like a server name?Are you running a blog page on your builds, if so, care to share?

 

Anyway, to the forum, please keep in touch.

Deskpilot, Robert is the official name, but I do prefer Bob. The only people who call me Robert, are my pastor, my wife's lawyer, and the cop's. As for a blog, sadely I don't have enough spare time to set one up, and contribute anything intellegent.

 

Maby when I get old I'll have some spare time on my hands, and then I might got a blog going.

 

BTW, for those of you who think I have a large work load, I forgot to mention in my initial post, that I was also in the process ( during the past four months, expect to finish around Xmas time ) of completely rebuilding my house, after having suffered a partial roof colaspe, due to an over abundance of snow during last Winter. Anybody interested in seeing some photo's of the re-construction, ( natually I am doing everything myself ) please e-me off line at the following, [email protected] and I will get some pictures out to you.

 

Fly safe

 

" Live every day as if it was your last "

 

 

[Guest Guest]

Good on you Robert, you certainly make even some of the young whipper snappers I've met over the years look idle!I am planning on getting to Canada in the next couple of years I hear the flying scenery there is spectacular.

Watto, you are correct, the scenery is fantastic. The minute you get away from the metro area's, and into the bush, you would think you are still in the 20's.

 

My 750 will definately be mounted to a set of amphibious floats, making the whole country a landing strip.

 

Look me up when you get to Canada. An off Forum e-mail, will get you my phone number.

 

Fly safe

 

Bob

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Good onya Bob, I've been to BC and it was lovely, if a little cooler than here down under. One of my uncles trained in Canada as a pilot on Cessna Bamboo bombers during WW2. Unfortunatly he must have reckoned he had it by the balls, and did a low beat-up down the runway, so they busted him and turned him into a navigator.

 

He ended up doing 55 night missions in Lancasters over Europe, and survived to train navigators in England after the war.

 

He's still alive, and I reckon that's why you can't lose me in a plane, and why I occasionally don't mind a low run along a beach...............................................

 

 

[Guest ozzie]

G'day Bob i'll throw a warm welcome in here for you as well. I hope to make it into Canada after next years Airventure. I have a few cyber friends in Canada, Lazair freaks,and i am waiting to hear about the annual fly in that was held last weekend. I am a Lazair owner pilot and and they are celebrating the 30th birthday of them at the show. Great ultralight and still a lot of them flying there. Looking forward to visiting your country.

 

I better get off my butt you make me look lazy.

 

Ozzie

 

 

[Guest watto]

Look you up I will

 

Watto, you are correct, the scenery is fantastic. The minute you get away from the metro area's, and into the bush, you would think you are still in the 20's.My 750 will definately be mounted to a set of amphibious floats, making the whole country a landing strip.

 

Look me up when you get to Canada. An off Forum e-mail, will get you my phone number.

 

Fly safe

 

Bob

Bob, I am off to Canada middle of July on business at the Bushcaddy factory and may well have the oportunity to say gidday in person, if you can pm me a contact phone number I will give you a call.