Freizeitpilot

When things were looking good, my father would say “it is not a good wheat crop until it is over the weigh bridge”. He was an optimist, but also a realist.

He stole a fair bit of food, clothes and weapons from farmhouses etc, and that’s ultimately how he was tracked down. Some anecdotes suggest he was almost relieved to be captured - he’d had enough of living rough and being on the run for 7 years. Still, I wouldn’t want to spend too much time there without shelter, particularly over winter - it snows .

I believe there are a total of six aircraft ‘parked’ on the Barrington Tops (so far) including VH-MDX. When I last visited hiking about 6 months ago, it was a lovely clear day in nearby Scone, but howling horizontal rain, freezing cold and zero visibility on the Tops. Those that may recall the lengthy manhunt for the fugitive Malcolm Naden and know the area will understand why it took so long to nab him. Awesome area, but smart to fly around rather than over.

I hope Thruster’s wheat crop dries out fast and doesn’t suffer the dreaded ‘shot and sprung’. Cowra is on my (repeat) visit list for early next year. On my last visit (to the Japanese Gardens), the circuit was busy as heck with warbirds practicing formation. Nice part of the world.

Ahhh yes - lawyers. I particularly liked the requirement for a retained fuel sample in the event you cook a piston and want to make a claim. How many operators would duck down to the servo after the engine strip, fill up a jar and then announce “here’s one I prepared earlier !”

Wings out West at Dubbo, operates a Legend Cub tailwheel based flying school.

SB-912-079.pdf In the latest broad ranging Service Bulletin from Rotax, they make a strong case to preference 98 octane fuel to minimise the risk of piston damage. This has particular relevance to CSU operators and the need to manage MAP vs fuel type. Interesting reading.

Global Helium demand regularly exceeds supply. If we were a little smarter in Oz, we would separate, recover and sell the Helium that is currently vented to the atmosphere from our LNG plants.

Naturally occurring Uranium decays to Thorium and Helium. Helium being very light and inert, migrates through the Earth’s crust, and is commonly associated with natural gas when it similarly becomes trapped in reservoirs. Does that help?

A bit of thread drift here, but we should be a little more stringent with how Helium is utilised. It is a finite non-recoverable and non-renewable resource. Once released into the atmosphere, it keeps going and ultimately ends up in space. Once we use up what’s left on Earth, which may occur in less than the next 100 years, it’s gone.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-12/3g-shutdown-connectivity-complaints-from-wa-farmers/104585296 Hmmmmmm. Have we been conned by the telcos ?

Maybe a little drift from the thread, but here is the anticipated change in fuel quality for Australia. Of course Australia now imports the majority of our finished fuels which may or may not exceed this standard already. Federal Register of Legislation - Fuel Quality Standards (Petrol) Determination 2024.pdf

“all our Mogas fuels have too much sulphur” Hopefully that will change on December 15 this year.

Yeah, I had a go with glue and tape, but sadly it didn’t last long. I’ve got a really tight hose clamp over the crack now, but that probably just hides it.😏

I have one of these if that helps, but it is constructed of aluminium, not steel…….and it has a crack on the bend of the handle. It appears this point is where all of the ‘flex’ force becomes focussed when the wheel attachment points are opened out, and ultimately fails. It’s a pity - the lightweight is great, but trying to repair thin aluminium tubing is a tad tricky.