FlyingVizsla

We couldn't make Natfly (we are both working) so I was keen to see what was happening on the busiest day - nothing. Webcam, despite assurances after last year that there will be multiple views, is still not working. The Natfly web site didn't have much leading up to the event, particularly the "News" pages. The exhibitor listing does show 22 of 90 sites vacant (25%) and I didn't get a sense of rising excitement. RecFly is a bit quiet too - in prior years there was a constant flow of photos and commentary. Where's young Tommo when we need him? Keen to know what I am missing out on to make me more annoyed about not being there. Sue

.... turned his celebrated rump for the check .... this explains the deserted scene on the Ratfly webcam and the title: Natfly Temora Airport 2012 Looking to the North

Recently received some advertising for this product - MXO-AV Aviation Fuel and Performance Enhancer - saying it has been around since 1940's - promises to solve fuel problems related to the use of low or unleaded fuel. It mentions Ethanol issues, but does not say it addresses them. Glowing reference from Gilgandra Aero Club and a Gyro & Sky Fox owner. Anyone have any further experiences with this? Sue

I am still GA - C152 - but it is in bits getting a very sloooowww refurbishment & SIDS inspection, but also RAA. We have a very basic Wheeler Scout (wing needs recovering) which my husband is now too heavy to get off the ground, so it is all mine ... and a Lightwing (with an instructor), a home built RANS S7 Courier and a home built Karasport which is over 20 years old and RAAus has only just asked for plans and data set, so it is sitting there waiting for us to draw & calculate. There's a point where too many aircraft means more time spent working on them and less time flying. Right now the balance has swung to nil flying to 100% working. That's probably the down side of RAA and being able to build and do your own maintenance; its a temptation to fiddle around endlessly. Our aim is to actually fly in to a fly-in, something we have not managed for a few years. How about you - what is your chariot of choice? Sue

Kanga, We are also from the Central & Southern end of Qld. What sort of flying are you into? Sue

The AOPA has announced their next safety seminar - in Queensland. The seminar will feature speakers from a broad sector of the industry, including CASA, Airservices and the ATSB. WHERE: Royal Queensland Aero Club, Archerfield, Queensland WHEN: Saturday 24th May from 9am – 5pm PRESENTERS INCLUDE: CASA ATSB Oz Runways Airservices TECNAM Virgin Airlines AVMED RAAF & More This event is open to all pilots and aviation enthusiasts and is not restricted to AOPA members. Lunch is Included As seats are strictly limited, please RSVP to: [email protected] or phone 0417 292 209 by 20th May 2014.

A man has been injured in a skydiving accident near Goondiwindi on Queensland's southern border. It is the second incident in the area in as many days. Yesterday, a 25-year-old man suffered neck injuries after a hard landing. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-09/skydiver-injured-in-fall-in-southern-queensland/5377592

Royal Aero Club of Western Australia Each Winter RACWA holds a trilogy of Night Competitions at Jandakot. See the beautiful city of Perth at night with the benefit of a safety pilot. No need for a night rating or currency we provide Instructors for all competitors. A great opportunity to get some night flying experience. Dinner available from 17:00. Briefing 18:00. More information, including contacts and score sheets - www.royalaeroclubwa.com.au/events/details/id/118/

Aerobatic Championships - Qld 25-27 July 2014

Food – Drinks – Stalls – Children’s Entertainment – Joy Flights – Trial Introductory Flights Come and experience the joys of Flying in the Dry Tropics where Visual Flight is possible most days. Glorious Scenery, massive river system, great Fishing/Crabbing and Good Fellowship Flyers Camping or Courtesy Bus to Brandon, Ayr or Home Hill. More than five pilot friendly Strips nearby.

Balloon Challenge program - Canowindra. events-program.pdf events-program.pdf events-program.pdf

Monday 21 April to Sunday 27 April 2014 - International balloon competitions & events for the whole family - meet the balloonists, bowls, golf, art, cars, bikes, entertainment, food, cellar door & tours. www.canowindrachallenge.org.au

They're on the Rec Fly site under Pilot Tools -> Tutorials http://www.recreationalflying.com/tutorials/ I remember Ian saying there are more here than what the RAA site has. Also noticed the old AUF site is now owned by someone else. Sue

Qld Air Museum - Caloundra Qld Aero Engine Run Day Saturday 12 April 2014 10.00am until 4.00pm The Queensland Air Museum presents its collection of historic operational aircraft engines in a special display of aviation horsepower. The awesome sight and sound of a 1500 horsepower 14 cylinder radial engine powering up is an unforgettable experience and one that you wouldn't want to miss. The museum's operational engines and aircraft cover a range of engine designs dating from the 1940s. Visitors are encouraged to inspect the engines between runs and talk to the volunteers who restored them. THE ENGINES AND AIRCRAFT The museum's Operational Engine and Aircraft Collection consists of engines ranging from 40 hp up to 1,500 hp and dating from 1930. It includes a fully operational CAC Wirraway aircraft. A selection of the Collection will feature in each run-up display to provide a good cross section of aero engine types. The Collection is steadily growing in number and types and as new restorations are completed they will be added to the display. THE DISPLAY Each engine will be run a number of times throughout the day. Scheduled Run Times: 11:00am 12:30pm 2:00pm ADMISSION CHARGES Adult $15.00 Concession $10.00 Child $8.00 Family (2 adults, 3 children) $35.00 Price includes regular museum display.

Near two years ago I did my Class 2. It can't all be done in-house so I was referred to another 2 clinics for hearing & eye tests. My medical was also conducted over 2 appointments (due to waiting for pathology results & other two clinics). 4 trips of 150km each, fortunately I didn't have to take time off work as I worked it around my shifts. Costs for DAME $135.00, $356.50, hearing $60.00, eye sight $55.40, pathology $184.15, 600km ~ $120, CASA $75 = approx $1,000. Expensive, but as I only see a Doc for a medical every 2 years it is good to do a thorough once over. I do question CASA Medical (and so does my DAME) with some issues they raised in the past. My optometrist said my eyesight was fine, but, probably based purely on my age, as I could read the finest print without hesitation, CASA mandated reading glasses. A couple medicals before that they assessed me against the ATPL eyesight standard and I ended up taking a week off to fly to Brisbane from far Western Qld to a CASA nominated specialist who told them it was overkill. 4 Months later I had my Class 2 medical back. Then they decided I had to be on Lipitor and I have had a fight with my GP ever since because he says I am not medically indicated to take the stuff. That's an extra cost $70 to take blood for pathology $203.60, $75 for another appointment for results and the argument about being on it every 6 months plus scripts & repeats ~ another $1,400 over 2 years. Pathology has to be no more than a fortnight old and one medical took me three goes to get everything from a remote area down to them. Now I am getting old .. sheesh ... I really do need reading glasses and my cholesterol is over 4.5 - but my last two medicals went seamlessly. Now there is something to query, no one is interested. Sue

CASA have announced the venues for upcoming AvSafety Seminars. No date changes this time. I have updated each listing in the EVENTS Calendar. Go to the Events tab, then Weekly or Monthly view. TBA = venue to be announced. Aero Clubs are encouraged to host a Seminar. Aldinga SA May 6, 2014 The Aldinga Aero Club Alice Springs NT May 14, 2014 TBA Archerfield QLD May 6, 2014 Royal Queensland Aero Club Armidale NSW Apr 30, 2014 The Armidale Aero Club Ayers Rock NT May 15, 2014 Airport Terminal Training Rooms Bairnsdale VIC Jun 19, 2014 TBA Bankstown NSW Apr 16, 2014 Bankstown District Sports Club Bundaberg QLD Apr 10, 2014 Bundaberg Aero Club Caboolture QLD Jun 10, 2014 TBA Cairns QLD Jun 18, 2014 TBA Camden NSW Apr 15, 2014 Camden Valley Inn Cessnock NSW May 29, 2014 Hunters Recreational Flying Club Cowra NSW Jun 19, 2014 TBA Darwin NT Jun 24, 2014 TBA Dubbo NSW May 20, 2014 Dubbo Aero Club Geraldton WA May 28, 2014 Ocean Centre Hotel Gold Coast QLD May 7, 2014 Tugan Lifesaving Club Goolwa SA May 29, 2014 Goolwa Airport Club Rooms Griffith NSW Jun 11, 2014 TBA Gympie QLD May 28, 2014 Gympie Aero Club Hervey Bay QLD Apr 9, 2014 Hervey Bay Aero Club Hobart TAS May 14, 2014 Best Western Hobart Horn Island QLD Jun 19, 2014 TBA Jandakot WA Apr 9, 2014 Royal Aero Club of WA Kalgoorlie WA May 9, 2014 TBA Karratha WA Jun 18, 2014 TBA Kununurra WA Jun 25, 2014 TBA Latrobe Valley VIC Jun 18, 2014 TBA Launceston TAS May 12, 2014 Best Western Launceston Lilydale VIC Apr 23, 2014 York on Lilydale Mackay QLD Jun 24, 2014 TBA Maryborough QLD Apr 8, 2014 Maryborough Aero Club Merimbula NSW Apr 23, 2014 Club Sapphire Mildura VIC Jun 18, 2014 TBA Moorabbin VIC Apr 10, 2014 Dingley International Hotel Moruya NSW Apr 22, 2014 Moruya Aero Club Mudgee NSW Apr 10, 2014 Mudgee Aero Club Parafield SA May 8, 2014 Mawson Lakes Hotel Parkes NSW Jun 18, 2014 TBA Redcliffe QLD May 8, 2014 TBA Richmond NSW Apr 29, 2014 The Richmond Club Scone NSW May 28, 2014 TBA Shepparton VIC May 29, 2014 The Carrington Best Western Tamworth NSW Apr 29, 2014 Tamworth Aero Club Toowoomba QLD Jun 11, 2014 TBA Tyabb VIC May 1, 2014 The Pennisula Aero Club Wagga NSW Jun 12, 2014 TBA Warrnambool VIC Jun 26, 2014 TBA Wollongong NSW May 13, 2014 Best Western City Sands

Hi Keith, You must have access to more data than I have. From the RAA Profit & Loss statement June 2013 NORRA-AUS (Monto fly-in) income was $9,000 expenditure was $25,600 making a loss of $16,600 (figures rounded). This would not include staff wages & salaries, but we expect them to be there selling merchandise, processing memberships & registrations, answering questions and generally running the event. RAA employees are not volunteers and I don't begrudge them some compensation for giving up their long weekend, being away from home, travelling etc. As for the other events - Natfly made $4,000 Avalon broke even Westfly (no income) lost $7,000 Other Fly-ins lost $4,000 Note that staff allowances for Natfly = $178.88 and Avalon = $150. These are hardly breaking the bank. The two events that lost money are new events. Natfly is profitable because it has a reputation and can therefore attract sponsors and crowds. It stays at a venue for years so the local Council and other organisations can see the benefits and upgrade services and facilities. Monto was a camp under the wing, because it clashed with another long established event in the town so the accommodation was booked out. Westfly was run by another entity, hence no income for RAA. Sue

The Easter fly in is on at Starke Airfield. People are free to fly in at any time. Most people fly in on Friday and leave Monday. A band will be playing on Saturday night. A few fuel runs to town will be available if required. We will prepack and sell Barbeque packs for a BBQ on Saturday night and breakfast at $5 per head (sausage, egg and toast). Please let us know food requirements so we can stock up. Accommodation is either under the stars or caravans can be brought into the camp site at $5/night. Showers and toilet facilities are available. For more information on facilities & strip - http://www.ace-aviation.com.au Best Regards Robert MacKenzie Director: ACE Aviation and Engineering Phone 07 47788872 Mobile 0410 655159

The Mudgee Aero Club presents Wings Wheels & Wine on Sunday 27th April 2014 For more information email us at: [email protected] Wings Wheels & Wine is a great family day out and will feature*: RAAF Roulettes L39 Albatross Jet Aerobatic Pilot Rod Hall Pitts Special Pilot Paul Bennet Wirraway Display Avenger Handling display Yak52 Aerobatic display pilot Tim Windsor The Russian Roollettes Hang Glider tow and release Challenge race between Pitts Special and cars and bikes Special appearance Clown Car and Plane Helicopter Joy flights all day Wine Tasting and Sales Jumping Castle and Merry go round for the kids Car displays Stalls Catering by local community groups Full Program here http://www.wingswheelsandwine.com.au/program.html Adult $20 Children $10 Family $45 2 Adults 2 Children * The Mudgee Aero Club reserves the right to alter the programme without notice subject to last minute aircraft changes and or availability.

Royal Aero Club of WA www.royalaeroclubwa.com.au Jandakot Right Hand Seat Circuit Fly the circuit from a different perspective. Its a bigger difference than you might realise flying from the right hand seat. Not only have the Instruments all been moved but the throttle and yoke are in the wrong hands as well. Registration 1345. Briefing 1400. Fee $75.