FlyingVizsla

That lovely boy died a few years ago. Would love another, but my husband won't let me. His first wife came home with a stray and told him it was staying, however he could leave if he didn't like it. A few years later she died and he was terribly cut up when the dog died a couple of years after. He couldn't handle another. I am very used to the cycle of farm life with dogs coming and going, that's life, and I get over it fairly quickly. If you have any unwanted Hungarian Vizslak - I'll take one - idyllic farm life, cosy house, human to cling to - they are not called the "Velcro Dog" for nothing as you would know. When I was at Longreach I was often mistaken for the Flying Nun. There's probably a few holiday snaps with me notated as Sister Ann-Marie. Guess they looked at me, the only woman, alone, near a plane, small, slight, long hair, in a dress and decided I had to be a Catholic nun.

Hi Gary, Welcome to the mad house! What did you build & how did it go? I am a member of EAA and take an interest in the Home Builder side of things. My husband has also built. Very satisfying, if not frustrating at times, but a great thing to do. Sue

Hi Paul - Welcome! I had a quick look at the BK Sports plan Specs - my first thoughts are that the pilot weight isn't much - 113kg (fully clothed + gadgets etc) isn't much for what is now becoming the "average" Aussie male. I would avoid the hand-start option - dangerous and you need two people - one to swing and the other for brakes and throttle - bit of a downer if it is a single seat and he can't come with you. Check with RAA to see if it has been accepted. My husband built a RANS and finished just before we married - I was intending to build a plane myself, once I got settled - I had one of those jobs that took me all over the place - 10 years later he still thinks it's the best. Not saying you should go that way, but the RANS S7 was easy to put together (like a big mechano set he said) and avoids the pitfalls of plans build, where you have to source materials, cut and construct (been there ... amazing the mistakes on some plans ... ) Engine reliability and life are also considerations. If you just want to do cheap local flights for fun, then the single seat Karasport is his choice. Ours can be dismantled (needs two people) and kept in an enclosed trailer. Your best option is to talk to as many people and try as many aircraft as you can. Hope you find your dream bird. Sue

Welcome Mike, Do you fly? Interested in any particular type of aviation? Sue

Got our magazines today. The voting process (opening, closing, method of voting etc) is rather vague. From the Constitution of RAA Ltd:- 34.4 ..... Any voting method employed for the purpose of electing Directors shall be consistent with those methods accepted by the Australian Electoral Commission or an equivalent body. The AEC does not have any guidelines on their website, so there's no indication of the "accepted" methods. As for "conflict of interest" - the early Board members were almost all men who ran Flying Schools. The 5 candidates have statements regarding their business interests in aviation:- It appears only 2 derive income from aviation businesses - NEEL KHOKHANI as CEO of Soar Aviation/Soar Advanced Flight Training, and ALAN MIDDLETON as the Chairperson of Directors at Bluewater Airport in Townsville and an active RAAus flying instructor. They are 5 good candidates. It makes the decision harder.

From his blog:- Weʼre raising funds to help pay for Colin’s medical expenses in Japan Update 14th July You will have heard about the tragic fate of Colin’s aircraft, Itzy. Very sadly for Colin Itzy suffered engine failure and he had to make a forced landing on a golf course in Aioi, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Colin was extremely fortunate to walk away from the accident, but has since discovered he has broken his back in three places. He was air-lifted from the scene and is now in the emergency ward of the hospital. He is not allowed to move from the bed as there is a risk that he could damage his spinal nerve, until he has surgery. He faces a very large medical bill, and at first was refusing treatment as he doesn’t have the money. His friends and family have made sure surgery will go ahead in Japan. There is no price for a life. The bill will likely be around $30,000, so I am hoping that between us we can raise a little something to help his family with this expense. I know many of you will have been lucky enough to have met Colin during his round the world trip. He rarely asks for help and is fiercely independent and proud. I know many have wanted to help him before now with the journey and he never accepts, but I think this time he is in need of the help of all those wonderful friends he has made around the world. Click here to donate and support Colin: Help raise £20000 to Help pay for Colin's medical expenses in Japan __________________________ Update Wow! We have smashed the Just Giving target in less than a day, we are so eternally grateful to everyone's kind words and donations. Let's keep going! I have just spoken to Colin (he wasn't too angry with me) and he has said that any extra raised that he doesn't need will go to charity. This is very typical of Colin, always thinking of others. He will also thank each and every one of you when he is recovered. He is being well looked after, but is in a lot of pain and understandably is feeling very emotional. He has one cracked vertebrae, one damaged and one lumbar vertebrae split in two. He will be having surgery next week, but in the meantime he is in a body cast and is in the emergency ward, unable to move very much. Thanks, Zanna McKail __________________________ This accident was just after waiting 7 months for approvals for forward flight through Japan and Asia. Perhaps the engine was sitting for too long? Also had atrocious weather while waiting - massive rain.

For my plane, I do mine through a LAME as part of my maintenance - I'm NVFR etc. RAA outside CTA, I suspect pilots do check their airspeed & altitude against their GPS, but don't put it in their aircraft log books. A manometer is easy to construct and the maths just a little more complicated. A reminder to write it in the log book.

There's three weight increases with CASA. RAA have been promised 750kg, ELAAA have asked for 760kg and 1,500kg is the ultimate (for now). RAA are putting 1,500kg on the back burner because of the huge questions on maintenance, registration etc (and I'm not sure they really want it) and going for CTA first. For ELAAA it will bring them a larger clientele in fixed wing and non commercial helicopters. I suspect CASA would love to shuffle the responsibility for RPL aircraft to someone else and pay them minimal compensation.

Welcome aboard Ash, What sort of aviation are you interested in? Sue

I have known FIFO/DIDO miners who wanted to commute in their own aircraft and land at the Mine's private strip. Most Mines said No, on the basis of either security (not having to go through the gate house - drug & alcohol testing), liability (uncontrolled private ops on their strip), fatigue (you can sleep on the bus, at the camp or at the terminal, but not piloting a plane), beyond imagination (just didn't understand - so better to say NO). There was a guy who crashed just out of Roma flying his aircraft to work at a northern mine, weather related, if I remember. Commuting like this has an element of "Push-on-itis" and "I've done this a hundred times ..." and "this weather usually clears ... " Because of the speed of flying, Plan B (the car) is usually not a comparable option, so the prudent pilot is left to ring with apologies that he's going to be 4 hrs late, won't be home tonight etc.

In the lower latitudes you need a Night licence for the shorter days - take off before dawn and return after dark. Also handy to have a car at each end. Particularly if there is a problem and you need to drive home or to work. Plan B! If you think it is going to work out, then see if the Council / Airstrip operator offers an annual landing charge, rather than a per use basis; saves paying Avdata every month. I would be making a contribution if there was no landing fee; if I was landing on a regular basis, particularly as I would not be a rate payer or Aero Club member, hangar owner etc. Keeps everything sweet. I did a short commute at my expense for a short term assignment in a remote area, but I had camp accommodation when ever I wanted it and the strips were less than a 1km from each, but my NVFR was essential for morning & evening flights - we worked 12 hours - so you must watch fatigue. I wouldn't have relied on it for a longer period or for longer distance.

Investigation started Investigation: AO-2017-062 - Collision with terrain involving a FU24 Stallion, VH-EUO, Upper Turon NSW, on 16 June 2017 FU24 Stallion, VH-EUO, Upper Turon NSW, on 16 June 2017

True Constitution RAA Issue 12 Sept 2012. 15. Treasurer. ... (iv) The Treasurer shall produce a financial statement of accounts twice yearly and publish to the membership, the first occasion being not more than 30 days after the end of financial year, thereafter 6 months later. Constitution of RAA Ltd (published 27/7/2016) 20.3 Before or at the Annual General Meeting, the Directors must, in accordance with law, make available information to the Members on the Company’s activities and finances during the period since the last Annual General Meeting. Prior to July 2016, members were to get 6 monthly statements, after July 2016 it was Annual only. However, that 6 monthly was pretty hit or miss, depending on who was Treasurer. RAA had one Treasurer who didn't know the difference between profit / loss and was described as "staring like a rabbit in the headlights" when asked questions at the AGM. Large cash reserves were earning peanuts. Questions like "how much does the magazine cost" were a bridge too far. Income & expenditure was poorly dissected. Like him or loath him, a certain President who resigned and tried to come back, did push better recording of finances. The stand out Treasurer, for me, was Jim Tatlock. He came on board during a period of crisis - he settled the recording of finances into better categories to answer the questions of "how much did x cost, earn" and published profit & loss MONTHLY until things settled down. I only wished he could have continued, but he had more pressing issues and he had done the lion's share and put RAA on a good footing and given the membership better data to work with. He is a champion in my books. One day I hope to meet him, as I only know him by reputation. Waiting 12 months is a bit long, but looking at the size of the Annual Report (against previous), it is worth it. Takes you 12 months to read ... Sue

In reply to most of the questions - log into your RAA member portal. It tells me today there are:- 9625 members 3256 aircraft Go to Governance - Meetings A list of all resolutions - who voted for/against/abstained (you can use that info when deciding who to vote for .... ) Minutes of the most recent AGM Go to Governance - Reports The last Annual Report (includes the financial statement) The Annual Financial statement The Annual Report is a good read (but it's 12MB). There's a lot of statistics. Women are still only 3% or so of members (there's an opportunity!), the number of new Certificates issued is impressive, the average age of Pilots is coming down (older ones retiring, new ones starting earlier?). There's pages of reports. The year ends 30 June, so there will be another round of Annual Reports due soon. Financials - This shows good reserves, however the cost each year of running the show exceeds the revenue coming in. Either the revenue increases to cover it, or some functions / services are cut; or they continue to eat into the Reserves until there's nothing left. I support the increase, because the big expenditure item - the printed magazine - is obviously wanted by a proportion of members. Insurances went up 13%. That about accounts for the deficit. Happy to answer any questions from the Annual Financial Report, for those who are confused by Financial Statements, however I don't have any inside information. Sue

ATSB preliminary report Investigation: AO-2017-061 - Collision with terrain involving Cessna 172, VH-FYN, 12 km WNW of Ballina, NSW, on 16 June 2017 Collision with terrain involving Cessna 172, VH-FYN, 12 km WNW of Ballina, NSW, on 16 June 2017 Early news reports said it was a helicopter - perhaps this picture lent credence to that assumption?

There's an option to do 2 years membership at the old price - just did that - so the price rise won't affect us until 2019. I guess insurance (included in pilot membership) is rising faster than inflation. The single seat fleet is about 250 (out of 3,500) and been on the register for ages, so at half the 2 seater ($25 increase = $12.50/pa) that equates to about $3,000 they have foregone, but very few of them need "looking at" compared with new 2 seater models & kits coming into Australia. Compare that with car rego - mine went up over 10% in 4 years - $50 in one year.

Radio Navigation Chart

The owner of the Auster is a tall man, now over 70yrs, he's starting to have difficulty climbing in to the Auster and plans to trade it for a more accessible plane, and he no longer needs the speed and endurance, now he's not flying great distances. It has a 180hp, but between us we can't remember if it was Continental or Lycoming. I know of another Auster with a Gypsy in the Childers area. You'll get a seat, maybe even a fly. Hungarian Vizsla - the Velcro Dog - loved them, but I married 9 years ago, the dogs all died and the Boss said "no animals" I pointed out we had possums in the roof & packing shed, assorted snakes, an 8' Carpet python, goannas, the neighbour's cattle, spiny ant eaters, pheasants, birds, bandicoots; what's wrong with one more? I'll have to swap him for a Viz. Sue

Hi Heath, There's an Auster for sale at Childers Qld. I could put you in touch with the owner, but he won't be back there till July. Caboolture is another place where there are a lot of historic aircraft. Could be worth a visit and chat to people who own and operate them. Downside with 'historic' is also 'expensive'. Sue

Try this link to an earlier discussion. Can dogs fly???

:welcome:Welcome Low Flyer - Now you'll have to tell us about your snake story ...... And the US/Canada ... in more detail. Sue

Welcome Everett. Bull - a user on this forum would be able to help you with those, having owned, maintained & flown in North Queensland Australia. If he hasn't responded here, I suggest giving him a PM - look him up on the Members list. You could also search for him and those planes on the forum - he did explain a bit. Hope we can help you out. Sue

Well, he's done it. Teen pilot becomes youngest person to fly solo around Australia Tasmanian teenager Oliver O'Halloran now holds a flying record. The 17-year-old has become the youngest person to fly solo and unassisted around Australia. He returned to Hobart today after a 20-day trip flying 15,000 kilometres circumnavigating the country in a single-engine aircraft, in a record attempt dubbed Solo17.

Unfortunately not, but we are getting our flying fix with the RANS and working on the other planes. There comes a point where you spend more time working on planes that doesn't leave you with much time for enjoying them. Presently working on the fabric covering on the Lightwing. Do you have a strip on the station?

Hi Kirby, We are from Springsure, although we spend most of our time elsewhere. Are you town or surrounds? My C152 is still based there. Sue