fatmal

There is also the Aventura http://sea-plane.com/Aero Adventure/Home.html. I believe there is a dealer in Australia at [email protected], Dieter Stuempfl And: the SeaRay at www.searey.com.au. both look like a lot of fun. Mal.

There's also AirSports, based at Penfield (just north of Sunbury). www.goflying.com.au Phone is 03 9744 1305. Ask for Terry. Mal

If you've got pee in your bowel you've got bigger problems than upsetting CASA!

Found another Citabria for sale if you're still looking - at http://www.angelesflying.com/market.html Based in the Philippines - sounds expensive at 2,595,000, but that's only AU$57k (plus change)

I did a nav the other day, using my iPad & OzRunways in realtime, and thinking back on the flight I didn't look outside enough! I spent too much time fiddling with the technology, and not enough time enjoying the flying and looking outside for landmarks and other traffic. OzRunways is, in my (humble) opinion, fabulous for planning and as a backup to manual processes (1st), and GPS (2nd) - next nav, I'm going back to the maps, paper log and a watch!

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-fighter-jet-down-20111220,0,3566553.story Computers start shutting down systems - including the main oxygen supply. A hypoxic pilot is then expected to reach under his seat and exert a 40lb pull of a small (US Silver-dollar sized) handle while wearing cold weather gear. Sounds like a poor design to me - first shutting down the oxygen, secondly not having a better, more obvious (or even automatic) backup. You'd expect better at $412,000,000 each!

http://www.gizmag.com/flying-robots-to-build-6-meter-tower/20639/ Probably better posted on an RC forum. There must be some very smart people behind this! Could have some application for traffic separation (and removing pilots!). Mal

David, Yes, you need a class 2 medical, at least to fly solo at YPJT. It wasn't too difficult to get - even this broken-down unhealthy-living laaate 40's bloke passed (probably not with 'flying colours', but a pass is a pass!). It is also my understanding that with a PPL you could operate a suitable 24-registered aircraft in and out of CTA, i.e. the restriction is on the Pilot, not the Aircraft (I'm happy to be corrected by those more knowledgable than myself). That would be the best of both worlds - cheap flying in your RAA aircraft, and if you need more than two seats just rent something. Mal.

I have a (3 weeks old) CTA endorsement for Jandakot, from doing my RAA Nav training there with CloudDancer in their Sporty (7548), and so long as my Class 2 medical and BFR are current I can rent their plane and go for a fly! Whether I'd be able to take my own (24 registered) aircraft in there I haven't tested (yet!). On the form for the Nav endorsement my instructor also checked the 'CTA' box, and there is an entry in my logbook for CTA - limited to Jandakot only. Mal

Finished my Navs yesterday - finally! After much delay due to the weather in Victoria, including 5 aborted missions over 4 months, I was up to my solo NavEx when I got a job over in Perth and moved West. I learnt in a Texan at AirSports based at Penfield Vic, and bought an Allegro after getting my ticket. After the move to WA I first had to do a conversion to the SportStar at CloudDancer, based at Jandakot. The SportStar was very similar to the Texan, but with an even milder stall! After a couple of flights to ensure I was 'safe', and to get used to the radio and procedure overload of controlled airspace, I got sent off on a solo NavEx. Going down the coast from Jandakot to Bunbury is very simple, but heading inland there are not a whole lot of features to measure your track & time against! Anyhow, I made it back to Jandakot OK, and didn't even annoy ATC too much with my CTAF-centric radio calls! A tip - talk less and simply follow instructions! Yesterday was a great day for flying, and I was quite relaxed for the NavEx out of Jandakot. The instructor threw in an (simulated) engine failure, which I managed OK, but only on climb out from the selected paddock did I think to myself that I didn't even think about making a radio call! Guess I've still got a bit to learn! The upshot of all this, is that I am now Nav certified, and as a bonus I also have a controlled airspace endorsement for Jandakot! Pity I can't use it, as I am now about to move back to Victoria as the job hasn't worked out as planned. Next steps? After the drive back to Vic (4 or 5 days this time, rather than the 3 I did coming over), I'm going to drag the Allegro out of the hangar, charge the battery (it's going to need it!), book an instructor for a safety flight (the Allgro handles a LOT different than the SportStar and Texan!), I'm going to go for a fly somewhere over Xmas. I'll look for a new job next year! Wish me luck! HUGE thanks to Terry Otway at AirSports Penfield (YPEF) for instilling a safety-first attitude in me, and for teaching me how to deal with the unexpected, and to Adrian Van Schouwen at CloudDancer (YPJT) for smoothing things over with ATC after I busted into Class C airspace! Thanks Guys! Mal

FP, One advantage of a NZ based plane, is that it's easy/cheap to go and inspect it. Could combine it with a mountain flying course! Mal

There's one for sale in NZ. $NZ75,000, so take 20% off that. Only 60 hours since rebuild. Would have to ship it (bit too far to ferry), and import duty would probably apply www.trademe.co.nz/motors/aircraft/aircraft/auction-407446919.htm Mal.

Thomas, Thanks for that info - now I can go faster!!! mal.

Mal here, Allegro 2000 owner. There have been a few comments in this thread about the handling of the Allegro, especially regarding control-force mis-match, so I thought I'd throw in my 2cents worth. Control weights are a little mismatched - pitch control is light, roll a little heavier, and yaw heavier still. It does take some getting used to, but after a couple of hours it becomes second nature. I learnt in a Texan, and have flown the SportStar. Are they better handling aircraft - Yes. Would I want one - Absolutely. Can I afford one - Definitely Not! For about half the price of a Texan or SportStar I can cruise just as fast, land slower, fly with the doors open, and see out better (certainly down, where all the hard stuff is!). Things that struck me about the Allegro when first flying it were; Glide ratio. With such a large wing the glide is amazing - lots of options should the Rotax up front stop (not that rotaxes do that of course :big_grin:) Climb rate. I'm 90kg (hence the 'fat' in the fatmal user name), and with 55 litres of fuel onboard (full tanks - 3hrs +45min reserve, 103Kg useful left for pax & luggage) I regularly see 1200'/min climb Amount of rudder required. In the Texan, the only time I used the rudder was when taxying or sideslipping. It was a real suprise first time I turned the Allegro and the skid ball almost exited the side of the aircraft! You can tell when you've got it really wrong, when the perspex door 'pops' in! Deck angles. On climb, you cannot see over the nose - the bottom of the panel is on the horizon! Putting out 48 degrees of those big barn-door flaps also changes the deck angle considerably! Economy. Cruise (hands-off) at 90-95kts, 4400rpm, burns 12.5 litres/hour (I still plan at 15 though!). If I up the cruise to 100-105kts (4800rpm-ish), it goes to about 14.5 litres/hour. As mentioned in a previous post, you can reach VNE (118kts) in level flight - if you open the taps up! Crosswind landing. The 2000 is placarded at 10kt max crosswind, which is why the 2007 has a bigger rudder. Personally, I think that is being very conservative, and I have landed in a 10-15kt crosswind with only half rudder input. In my opinion (which is biased of course!) the Allegro is a bit of a performance bargain. For less than $60k you get a composite and metal aircraft, which is fun to fly, cheap as nuts to run, fast enough, and should last forever. Mal

Hi AJ, Yes, still training. I have my RA Cert, but not my Navs - I was up to my solo nav (after interminable weather delays in Vic) before I moved out West for work. I'm still debating whether to finish my Navs here, or take a week off work to go back East and finishing my nav ticket there. Once I've finished that, I'll bring my Allegro over, assuming I can find hangar space but that seems to be difficult in Perth! Flying over would be great consolidation of my training, and better than driving - something I always wanted to do, but once is enough! I will probably convert to a PPL, which should give me more options regarding airspace (and hangarage!). It will mean having to get used to all that radio work though! No doubt we'll bump into each other out at YPJT - not literally though I hope! Mal,

Last weekend there were a couple of firsts for me: 1) first flight in a Sportstar - I learnt in a Texan, now fly an Allegro. The Sportstar was much like the Texan, except almost impossible to stall - it just nods its nose a bit but seems to maintain altitude. I really liked the control feel of the Sportstar, with light inputs for small control movements, but firming up nicely (oh Vicar!) with larger control movements. Larger pitch changes with flap than the Texan, but much less than the Allegro! It does get warm though - just like the Texan. Overall, a great handling aircraft! 2) first flight in controlled airspace - I just moved from Melbourne to Perth for work, so flew with CloudDancer out of Jandakot. After learning in uncontrolled airspace the amount of radio work and traffic was, I'll admit, a bit overwhelming. It felt a bit like my early circuit work, with too many things to think about. I'm sure that after a while I would end up thinking 'What have I forgotten', because all of a sudden I would have all this time on my hands as it all became second nature! This weekend I'm sitting right seat of a 172, again out of Jandakot, so I will try to get a handle on the radio work required. Wish me luck! Mal.

Hi Blueshed, The June 2011 issue of Kitplanes magazine has an article (5-odd pages) about the current state of available EFIS's (EFII?). I've read the mag so PM me with your address and I'll mail it to you if it's not in your local newsagent. I'm considering the Extreme Mini also, as an artificial horizon (not that I 'should' need it!) and a backup for for my 'steam' guages. I still like to have steam gauges because I can just glance at them and know what's going on. They're like an analog watch, a glance will let you know if you're on time, whereas a digital watch you have to read and then think about what the numbers mean! As a test, if you see someone glance at their watch, ask them the time - they will likely have to look at the watch again to actually tell you. Mal.

A good reason for a STOL aircraft! http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2011/07/07/18389736.html

Hello all, been a member for a while, but finally got tired of the notice nagging me to post here I'm a low hour student (17ish hours) flying out of Penfield (Vic) in a Texan (5131 and 4523). I set myself a goal of going to Birdsville for the races in September '10, and figured that the best way of getting there would be to fly myself there! Training so far has been good, with quite a few weather delays i_dunno, I haven't scared myself or Terry (my instructor) too much (yet!). Looking forward to learning a lot from everyone here - I've certainly got a lot to learn! Mal.