Methusala

Cliff was living at Wedderburn some years ago as was Steve Cohen. Perhaps someone from the forum also resides there.

Perhaps "Nobody's " comment closer to the (fairly obvious) truth than "harsh"?

I have been teaching construction industry participants for the past 10 yrs (just retired). This has left me with an enduring conviction that a life lost is a terrible burden for survivors to bear. I am 100% with Nev on this one. The risks are too great, the unknowable factors too many. The human brain has trouble prioritising tasks when under severe stress. We can take a lesson surely from the almost incredible accident on the Hawksbury occurring in almost perfect conditions with a highly respected and experienced pilot.

Coincidence is unpredictable (by definition). Ever come to an intersection on a slow day when roads are all but deserted? Suddenly there are two cars approaching from opposite directions and a couple of bike riders as well. As you drive away the roads are again deserted. Funny thing, the law of (im)probability.

Should be written SFA.

Just seen a photo of the pilot. He was our pilot when we flew 2 1/2 years ago. So sad...

Placing bets on Joyce showing courage in an area so mired in conservatism is a "brave position to take, Minister!"

Delicious irony is that, judging from the crop of current press photos, Joyce is most likely going to re-introduce free beer on domestic flights.

I consider myself, along with most of us, an aficionado of all things with wings. I don't have formal aeronautical qualifications, apart from my experience flying many types of mostly ultralight aircraft. I am posting here so as not to directly divert from the feelings of grief in another thread. I read a lot of aero related stuff and recall a pilot report some years ago in the British magazine Pilot featuring the Beaver. I have loved the Beaver since the 1950's when the Snowy Mountains Authority flew a fleet of 6 from Polo Flat in Cooma. I flew as a passenger in VH-NOO a couple of years ago doing 3 landings including one on the Hawksbury River. Back to the pilot report. This stated that the aircraft was, because of the long and narrow chord wing, prone to savage wing drop at the stall. A local accident cost the agricultural pilot a leg and lucky to get away with his life, when it stalled and crashed while dropping super out of Tralee Station south of Canberra. It is important not to allow our love for a particular type to cloud our perceptions. A friend of mine was waxing lyrical about the Dromedary to its pilot on a visit to Forbes. The pilot responded quickly saying that it was just another aircraft and could kill you in an eye-blink. High aspect ratio wings cause gliders to have fairly aggressive wing drop in stalls. Try it in a Blanik.

Beavers have a reasonably high aspect ratio wing which makes a sudden wing drop in a stall common.

Tyres probably Nitrogen, not air! Hehehe...Don

I naturally drift towards suspicion when confronted with desires to make something appear "as clean as new". Fuels contain a varied cocktail of ingredients, some of which will act as natural dyes. Good quality high volume filters, monitored regularly and changed as required should keep the fuel flowing with minimal chance of contamination downstream of the filters.

I've just seen some new Airbusses and the upper and lower red flashing beacons are apparently leds. They really are a big improvement on strobes. wonder if this development will happen for us soon at a reasonable price?

I believe that Dave Cuthill is a great choice. Flys Thrusters so you know you will be able to handle anything capably. My 2 bobs worth.

Does anyone know what has happened to Tony Hayes' molds for the Thruster pods? I would like to track a "Swift" pod if possible. Don

Holbrook

Done a 582 but not a 503...sorry

"To forget is human. To forgive is NOT library policy!"

This is not true with peak demand for energy falling around 6pm. Solar pv is a definite daylight hours source but SA is committed to solar thermal in a small way. Wind is more comprehensive in its hours of supply. Modern computer driven demand management is a great tool not yet entered into the mix. Batteries and pumped hydro are expensive but essential in moderating demand fluctuations. The largest solar array is the recently opened Nyngan plant (102m/W).

Thermal generators are quickly reaching the end of their life and so some capital investment is required to replace it. Being no expert in the economics of energy I have to believe the commonly quoted statement that renewables are less costly than replacement by new coal. There is a lot that can be done through demand management so pumped hydro becomes a moderating factor in supply. The T3 equipment is probably already committed but smaller units can be built in optimum locations.

Pumped hydro (Snowy Mk.2) will never become a reality. As mentioned before, the head at 750+m is not within the working range of hydro generation. Then there is the problem of managing a column of water 15m dia x 55 km in length. The civil cost of construction would be horrendous. Pumped storage is also in use at Waste Pt where water is pumped from Jindabyne (Snowy R) to Island Bend and hence to Murray or Tumut sides of the scheme. There is also a question in my mind as to whether Jounama Pondage could cope with the output of the theoretical Tantangara-Talbingo scheme. Pumped hydro could work well in many smaller sized systems which are not located in a semi-wilderness. PV installations are becoming very cheap to install and could be dedicated to pumped storage.

I learned to fly with the Canberra Gliding Club. I agree with the points made by Mike Borgelt. Taking off and flying the aircraft was learned fairly quickly. Landings require so much judgement and experience that the student is challenged to absorb with (obviously) only one per flight. I never soloed in the Blanik but instead in the Pteradactyl ultralight that I was building at the time. I think that for most people, calm conditions in the early morning are best for initial training.

Drage airworld became a facility for restoration of historic and vintage a/c. Saw some fascinating stuff including a scavenged P38 - Lightning.

I beg your pardon contributors,but... I am no closer to understanding what Kaz meant by her cryptic post. Can't believe that we are running a secret society here.

I share a hangar with a Tiger Moth that has 29 HTTSN Excuse me but...I don't understand this cryptic post. Regards Don