kaz3g

i generally fly my cross-country trips at more than 1000' AGL...its circuits over built up areas that keep me close. Kaz

Tibooburra was windy again this morning but at least it was more or less down the runway at 19 knots gusting. Bulleah Lake near Mt Arrowsmith in the Channel Country. Climbing for an over the top departure Broken Hill. Line of Cu's with some Stratus south of BHI soon became a solid line of showers extending north-south almost to Renmark. Very bumpy and pushed down from 6500 to 3000. There's a big expanse of not much on that run including not much of anywhere for a forced landing. I was glad to reach the Murray.

The clay thrower for trap shooting is stIl set up on the side of the road opposite the pub so the shooters are aiming at the campers along the river

Noccundra Pub, Wilson River at Noccundra, entertainment palace at Tibooburra...note the projectionists booth on the pole in the foreground, Tiboonurra Main Street after the rifle shot

For those that care... Noccundra 13/31 has faded into a rather wiggly and stony taxiway so only runway usable is 04/22. Off to Tibooburra tomorrow then down to Renmark for a lovely rest. Kaz

If it was "approved" I'm sure it will be fine

I had trouble with direct connection to NAIPS on Wednesday and had to use the BOM site to get my forecast. Couldn't file a sartime via NAIPS either. Filed by radio once in the air. Kaz

That's fine Aro, but it seems that the strip used by Yenn gets quite busy and is also located near other busy ALAs so there is a safety issue. Kaz

Yenn, why don't you notify ASA you would like your airstrip noted on charts...safer for everyone? Kaz

I know the commercial students and their instructors are practising for the day they get into the right hand seat of an RPT machine, but I worry about their chances in the event of an engine failure during a wide circuit. More particularly, I worry about not being able to see them as I do the job just outside the boundary fence. Kaz

I would love an ADF so I could listen to the ABC when doing a trip...nice to be able to tune up transmitters that also assist when there is no NDB. I just hope Trump doesn't start a war with that funny tubby fella while I'm away. Kaz

How so, Turbs? Kaz

Shepparton News There is an organisation doing aero tows of hang gliders behind RA aircraft at Locksley near Mangalore. The airfield was previously a gliding strip but the gliders moved out a few years ago and some of them went to Wahring south of Shepparton. Locksley was closed Sunday afternoon because of the fatality. Particularly sad because I believe the deceased was about to be married. Kaz

Nine aircraft from Shepparton and Echuca travelled to Warracknabeal today for Lunch with the club there and a tour of the silo art at Brim and Sheep Hills. These silos are around 35 metres high and the detail included by the artists is quite phenomenal. Thank you Warracknabeal AC for great hospitality and a culture fix! Bored dog pulled the washing off the line and broke the line. Pegs everywhere! Not particularly pleased. Kaz

Point Cook Museum would undoubtedly be interested in this find. They have been restoring a Mosquito quietly for years. Kaz

US Marines launch search effort after MV-22 crash off Australia's east coast

The pilot of the Cessna will almost certainly be facing criminal charges along manslaughter lines. He allegedly chose to perform an emergency landing on the beach which was occupied by many people instead of veering away and ditching. Pilot and instructor in court in Portugal after deadly beach crash Something we all need to think about. Kaz

There is a carry through tube. But yes, most aircraft wings rely on a few little bolts to keep them where they are supposed to be.. SIDS has produced some interesting results. My AUSTER has two at the wing root..one front and one back. There are two wing struts to reduce twisting of the wing. It also has a steel tube frame which is "laddered" and gives it quite strong wing attachment points. Kaz

Well...it looks like getting harder again after the recent alleged attempted bombing of an international aircraft and the decision of the perpetrators to look at doing it to a domestic instead. Already calls for significantly increased security at regional and country airports 'We need to wake up': Calls for domestic airport security to match international Kaz

Wise words, Roundsounds. I picked up the AUSTER from Watts Bridge on 7 January nearly a decade ago. The seller gave me a few minutes at the controls in the air and that was it. My only prior experience in one of these was a couple of hours with Nick Cauldwell at Tyabb in a Gipsy powered machine so even the swing on take off was opposite. My departure takeoff could probably be described as "interesting". I had towering Cu's and isolated embedded TS down the length of the Divide. The turbulence was awful and I decided after a while that since the wings hadn't fallen off it was a strong little aeroplane. I couldn't take my eyes of the horizon and cloud base for a moment so I thanked Her for giving me the foresight to have purchased a Garmin 295. My charts were all marked off with everything I could possibly need but I'm dashed if I could get much from them while being chucked around all over the place. The magnetic compass was rotating wildly so the DG and the Garmin were life savers. I still have the Garmin and use it routinely. It's supported now with my iPad and OzRunways which replaces paper when touring around Victoria which I know pretty well. When I head Outback (I'm off to the Gulf in a couple of weeks), I prepare my paper charts, include my iPad Mini along with the other gear and make sure I cover all bases by referencing ground to paper and confirming on OzRunways. It's always good to know where you are....especially if the noise stops! Kaz

I share a hangar with a Tiger Moth that has 29 HTTSN Kaz

Went down to Transaero at YMBU yesterday to sort out a Leakey exhaust valve. Cylinder came off, valve re-faced and seat cut. Also re-shaped TW Spring which I hope will stop it shimmying on bitumen. Stayed the night at the Motel/caravan park and had seafood platter at the Golf Club. Re-assembled engine this morning and back home this arvo. Pretty wild departing YMBU with 25 KN from the ENE over the hill and trees. Came back at 1500' all the way because of 30-40 KN head wind and a lot of turbulence. Avoided the hills by heading north up to Raywood then east to Elmore and Shepparton. The ATIS said 17 KN 040 G 26 so a very interesting landing on the forgiving gravel on RWY 09 rather than risking the unforgiving bitumen on 36. Touchdown after a very bumpy approach at around 20 KN in tricky gusts but bugger all landing roll. Very glad to be home but discovered bored dog had demolished the last of the cushions from the outdoor furniture and pulled some washing off the line! Kaz

We routinely used QFE when training glider pilots a few decades ago. Kaz

When I was gliding we used a high tensile wire of about 12 gauge which I suggest would easily remove the wing of a passing aircraft given the chance. Quite a bit of strain can be imposed on the wire during a launch. Two Blaniks easily picked up the back of a Holden Statesman on a dual autotow stunt (I was flying one of them). Kaz

Looking at the position of the cable and the HG pilots legs...could have been VERY nasty! Kaz