fatmal

Is it possible to take a 19-reg J230, register it GA and throw a couple of extra seats in the back, turning it into a 430? Would MTOW then go to 700Kgs? Assuming that the plane would then be VH-experimental, could the owner (not the builder) perform maintenance? mal

This looks dodgy - the potential for things going wrong is quite high I think! https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=401176083333530&set=vb.291480754303064&type=2&theater

Have ridden motorcycles since I was 6yrs old - so 43 years in total (you'd think Id be better at it by now!). Raced mud bikes for a short while, then road racing - fastest crash was 235kph when my TZ350 spat a carb and seized - walked away from that one, even though I was sore for weeks afterwards. Slowest crash, South London - hit by a car being towed - they hadn't turned the key on and the steering locked on full right lock. Broken leg, snapped Anterior Cruciate tendon and broken hip - 3 months in traction, 12 months on crutches, now with a hip replacement. Still have a F1-spec RC30 Honda (which doesn't get ridden - it's just lovely to look at!), and about to buy another Supermotard, after discovering those towards the end of my racing 'career'. Been flying for 4 years - 140-ish hours - no crashes - yet The scariest thing about flying is the drive/ride to the airfield! Mal

X51A Hypersonic final test flight - a successful Mach 5.1 test http://www.wpafb.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123346970#.UYP7MAFwlrU.facebook

Well, so far as a mid-life crisis goes, flying is cheaper than a mistress! Welcome to the forums, and hope you get your wish of many safe hours aloft!

I log RA time in Black, and GA time in Blue. If/when I get a RA Instructor rating, that'll be in green. Mal

There is also an RAA endorsement for controlled airspace. I have one for Jandakot (which is Class D), where I completed my Nav training. Once signed off by the CFI, I could fly solo in and out of Jandakot (and only Jandakot - couldn't fly into other control zones). The endorsement itself was just a handwritten entry in my logbook. From http://flysafe.raa.asn.au/regulations/regulations.html#cao "Class C and D controlled airspace is not available to recreational pilots who do not also hold a valid pilot licence that allows flight inside such airspace, a current aeroplane flight review and at least a class 2 medical certificate; except if there a legal exemption instrument in place for a particular control zone that facilitates access by the student pilot certificate holders of a particular RA-Aus resident flight school. Those student pilots must also have a valid class 2 medical certificate. For flight in Class A airspace, the pilot of a recreational aircraft must seek and receive written permission from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority for the flight. " The PDF at the 'legal exemption instrument' link didn't download, so I expect there is further digging to do. Incidentally, I find controlled airspace much easier to fly in than uncontrolled - just do what the tower tells you, and keep a good lookout. Jandakot is particularly busy in the weekends, so my eyes were on stalks and I got a sore neck from all the head swiveling! Good thing a SportStar has good vis! Mal

It's the genuine thing - came with warranty card and manual. I've also got a Bentley Breitling Navitimer, which is a copy - bought 6 years ago for approx. AU$20 from a Thai street vendor. Its still going, still accurate, but a strap pin rusted through. Mal

I just got one of these: a Seiko SSC009 at AU$265 (seen similar in Au for approx $900), including delivery from http://www.skywatches.com.sg. It took 4 days to arrive, including missing the courier yesterday. Only complaint - the E6B is a bit small for my old eyes Please note: I have no involvement with these guys, other than as a satisfied customer. Mal

Every wondered if you could fly on Saturn? Check out http://what-if.xkcd.com/30/ to see how an electric (no oxygen, so its gotta be) 172 would fly on various bodies in our solar system. Mal

A note for others about to submit their re-registration paperwork, the letter they send you asks for photo's of the placards. I was confused by that so sent photo's of the existing ones I had (X-wind, green speeds etc.) - what they are after is a panel-mounted MTOW placard, and (depending upon rego) a warning that persons fly at their own risk. For mine, a 24-reg, details at http://www.raa.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Section-7.4.3-Annex-C-Warning-Notices.pdf. All other rego types listed at http://www.raa.asn.au/safety/technical-manual/ Hopefully this will stop wasting the RA Office's time, and get your rego done faster. Mal

I think JabiruJoe has summed up the Allegro nicely. Some observations from mine (which incidentally is for sale - http://www.recreationalflying.com/threads/fantasy-air-allegro-2000.48603/) I always take the top cowl off, as the coolant bottle is hidden well out of sight of the oil hatch. For the top of the elevator inspection I just push the tail down. Agree that the ergonomics may not have been thought through completely, but I've experienced worse! Mine warms up quite quickly (5-6 min), but does have the oil thermostat. Mine runs in the bottom of the green - but I am in Victoria! I must have a coarser prop, as I generally cruise at 4400-4500 for 95knots and 13-14l/hr. I believe that the 2007 model does have more headroom (and a bigger rudder?). I'm 176cm and fit in very comfortably - if you were 190cm and up you may have an issue fitting in the 2000. Agree, that controls aren't as well balanced as some other aircraft - first few times I flew it the large convex perspex doors 'popped' in as I flew sideways everywhere! After learning in a Texan, where you only used the rudder pedals to turn while taxying, it took me a couple of hours to learn how to do a balanced turn. If you've ever flown tailwheels or gliders you'll have no problems. Stage 2 of flap turns it into a completely different aircraft! There is quite a large pitch change, and you do go very slow - useful if you share a circuit with Drifters! As above, mine is reluctantly for sale - I'm going back to school next month, and won't have a lot of time left over for going flying. Mal

I always thought that the daily pre-first-start 'gurgle' relied upon compression leaking past the rings to pressurise the crankcase, forcing any oil 'pooled' in the case to return to the catch tank - which makes the gurgle. If you remove the plugs, then no compression, and no crankcase pressure - no gurgle? Happy to be corrected - I may learn something! :-) Mal

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203937004578079391643223634.html Seems that even with 3 years notice, the US Airlines have only just realised that they're about to run out of pilots. New rules require a minimum of 1,500 hours to get into the right seat - regional airlines in the US pay US$20k as a base, and only for cabin door close to cabin door open. By the time you've got 1,500 hours you're probably $50k in debt - and they wonder why nobody seems interested!

Once for me - light variable wind, low idle speed set (I knew this, so it's entirely my fault), a little high and slow on late finals, pull the throttle waaaaay back, and MAN did it get quiet! 1,300 metres of runway in front of me, some height to increase my speed (but not enough to swap hands on the stick for a key restart), so I was halfway through thinking "Oh SH*T, what do I do now!", and my instructors voice ran through my head (like Obe Wan Kinobi) "Fly the aeroplane" - so that's what I did. Thanks Terry! I didn't have the presence of mind to determine if the glide was any different, given that I only had one (VERY achievable) option, and I knew I needed to get the nose DOWN (Thanks again Terry!). If you've ever been in what is normally a high-noise environment (computer room, manufacturing facility etc.) when it is shut down, you'll know that the quiet is a VERY SPECIAL kind of quiet! Mal

U.S. Airforce looks to save fuel with formation flying of cargo aircraft http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/air-force-lab-test-out-%E2%80%9Caircraft-surfing%E2%80%9D-technique-save-fuel An FA18 can reduce fuel burn by 29%, by flying in the vortex of a DC8 - approx 200ft separation.\\Mal

Expected to fly in 2014, CNC milled and 3D Printed! http://makerplane.org/ http://www.gizmag.com/makerplane-open-source-airplane/23903/

I've had a Rotax engine fail on me - more than once! It was an in-line twin-cylinder disk valve induction 250cc, producing approx 70bhp, so it's no wonder it melted pistons! Thankfully, it was in a motorcycle so I could just coast to a stop and wait for the crew to pick me up from the side of the racetrack. I also raced an Aprillia RSV1000, which had a Rotax-built 1,000cc V-Twin. Great motor! Reliable, fast & sounded fantastic! Nowadays, I fly behind a Rotax, and (touch-wood) have had no mechanical issues - long may it continue As for the Jab - I've never flown behind one, so I'll stay well clear of commenting!

Have just done this for one of the sites I'm responsible for at work. DNS propagation is assumed to complete itself in 24 hours, although in reality it is usually quicker. Perhaps Ian can post the IP address of the new server so that if anyone is experiencing withdrawal symptoms they could just bypass DNS altogether? Mal

Hi Ryan, I've just started the transition from RA to GA. I have had to sit the GA BAK, the Radio exam, & pre-area solo (for Moorabbin). Still to do is the final PPL exam. I'm using the Bob Tait books, which I've found to be easy to follow, and have 'refreshed' my memory. My new CFI has estimated 10 hours of GA time, including minimum of 2 hours of instrument flight. It will probably be more than that given the reality of getting in and out of controlled airspace, and the requirement for a 120(? could be 150?)nm 2-stop solo nav flight. I learnt in a Texan (ab-initio) and SportStar (bulk of my Navs) and now own an Allegro, and I've found the Warrior to be just like a big docile Texan or SportStar - doesn't really stall, control inputs a bit heavier and you need to provide input a little earlier to deal with the weight. Comparing the Allegro with the Warrior is like comparing an armchair with a unicycle! Mal

Hi Dave, AVPlan has all the Airservices charts available for download, with fewer charts for the VFR subscription (no approach plates etc.). There is also a 'MegaWAC', which shows the whole country - useful for doing meta-planning on one chart, then drilling down to VNC and VTC when/where required. Mal

Ferris, Download both from the iStore and give them a try. Both have free 30-day trials. I went with AVPlan, because at the time it seemed to have more features and was easier to use (in my opinion) - I believe that OzRunways have made quite a few improvements since then. I've used mine inflight, as a backup to paper and the GPS, and it is accurate and easy to use. Mal

An amazing aircraft the Mosquito. The attached photo shows my Father about to climb into an RNZAF 75 Squadron Mosquito to go on a photo recon mission - 1944 I think. Sadly, I didn't get to see this photo until last week, when we used it on the back of the service sheet for his funeral. I never spoke with Dad much about his service, but at the funeral were many old RNZAF personnel, who helped to fill in the gaps with some very cool stories. For me, learning to fly was tough enough without people shooting at me!

Actually, the lack of hair helps with that

I've got two sets of the Rec Flying headsets, and quality-wise (reliability & sound) they are great. The only issue I've had is the 'button' on the top of my baseball cap is pushed onto the top of my head by the headband, so gets uncomfortable after an hour or so - not an issue with the headset, but the hat. Anyone know where I can get a baseball cap without that silly button on top?