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Methusala

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Everything posted by Methusala

  1. Methusala
    Hongie stole a Zenith 601 Zodiac. Don:roflmao:
  2. Methusala
    The hyphen, as a safety device has a lot to recommend it. Not too sure about a serif! Just sayin'. Don
  3. Methusala
    If they can stop the registration process because of a missing hyphen in the fuselage rego nos then they would probably hang you if you were found aviating without a stall warning thingy! Don
  4. Methusala
    I was flying my Volksplane back from Tumut some years back when I noticed that the round pill in a plastic bubble started to turn black. I had climbed about 3000ft out of the valley and so did not want to return particularly. It was about 70 nm to my base which normally would take a little over an hour to go. However I encountered a stiff breeze on the nose which slowed progress to barely 40kts. I spent the next hour doing mental arithmetic, touching the end of my nose, feeling my fingertips for any numbness and hoping that the forest in the distance which marked home base would hurry up and arrive, When I landed I found that the sharp 180 deg bends on the exhaust headers had corroded through. This is the only time that I have had a CO scare, but the cheap chemical indicator worked a treat. Don
  5. Methusala
    http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/19/pilots-death-fire-service-to-investigate-claims-of-intimidation Just saw this news article on the Guardian, Don
  6. Methusala
    Good news Ross. Best of luck, Don
  7. Methusala

    Lismore RV-12

    Methusala replied to rgmwa's topic in Vans/RV

    I don't think that anything can be learnt from this accident (Tragic accident). My personal opinion (I know every one has one...) and I was thinking about it today would lean towards pilot incapacitation. I did not know Wayne but I did deal with him buying new skins for the Thruster. He treated me very well and this high opinion of him is general among forum members. We lose some very great friends in our valiant struggle against the law of gravity. Don
  8. Methusala
    Its often said that one "Lives to Fly". But it would be even greater if we heard "Fly to Live" as a good sense motto. Honestly I don't think that I am of the Wrapped in cotton wool mob. But life is the most valuable asset of all and if I considered flying over more water than I could swim out of, I would plan very carefully and take every precaution. I walked with my wife to a scenic spot in the Bridabellas the other month. From a high vantage we could see stretched out before us unbroken forest. Would I feel comfortable flying over that in the Kitfox? No way! I just think that the tragedy of lost life in an aircraft crash is the saddest thing. A moment before people in the best of health in a perfectly good plane and then...disaster. Sorry for being maudlin but its the way I feel. Don
  9. Methusala
    Don't accuse me of acting out of ignorance and don't speculate about what's going on in my mind,please! I did not speculate, I merely offered my opinion about an action which appears to be reckless and foolhardy. Regards, Don
  10. Methusala
    I find it extremely foolhardy to attempt what these two did. And Eugene Reid was apparently there to wave them off! (Shaking his head in disbelief) Regards, Don
  11. Methusala
    It is neither possible nor prudent to make an argument against one who advocates a 'belt and braces' solution. In my work I have ben asked whether the householder should turn the isolating valve to a dishwasher off when not in use. No win really so I say yes on the small possibility that the inlet system could fail and flood the house. Don
  12. Methusala
    Hi Kaz, I agree with you very strongly. This RPL is a great deal for PPL's who have or are afraid of losing their medicals. Also for PPL's who don't want to front a DAME every 2 years (or whatever it is). This is the same old game of divide and rule that CASA and it's forbears have played forever. Remember when they mooted all aircraft to carry transponders, they got the GFA to support them by creating an exemption for gliders. If it walks and smells like a rat ....guess what! The largest contingent of recent converts to RAA have been such people (PPL's) along with those who considered GA but saw the lower level of restriction in recreational as a benefit. I don't want to create a division between members of the forum. Just to warn members that there just could be (more likely than not) a big, fat conspiracy that we have seen ample warning signs of. Don
  13. Methusala
    IGNORE TROLLS!!!
  14. Methusala
    Maj, I think that these people who want to excuse Big Brother are trolls. They have, most likely, some personal reason for boosting the regulator and confusing those whose interests are being attacked. Like the members of RAA who just want to fly reponsibly without all of the crap (such as, "Oh, I don't like the fact that your numbers don't have a HYPHEN between the type number and the identifier!" If wishing to be SO pedantic, why not require the implied O before 393? NO, it is all petty games indulged by a regulator who plainly doesn't like us. They probably in private discuss us as some toy train mob. Don't be distracted by their trollish arguments, I think what you say makes a lot of sense. Don
  15. Methusala
    ....and the new recreational licence is not a stalking horse for a take over of what will qualify for possible transfer to VH registration and if we continue to jump through hoops and if people who are frustrated with the plane in their shed being unusable and maybe get caught flying it illegally. Then CASA may have a dirty dossier to take to the minister's office, throw their hands up in the air and bleat, "Honestly minister, what can we do with these pests?". Call me cynical or delusional, the proof will play out in its own time. Don
  16. Methusala
    I think that those on the forum who repeat the mantra, "Yep, we got it wrong. Its all our own fault so shut up and take the punishment. " ( as I am hearing it) are conveniently disregarding the strong evidence that CASA has developed a dislike for us. When the nitpicking descends to matters such as missing hyphens (for god's sake!) on a recreational a/c or the fact that your passenger warning card mentions 95:10 on a 19 series plane... how does this add up when CASA ignored airframe weaknesses on Nomads for years and the same with exploding fuel tanks on helicopters. I recall the ominous words of the then new head of CASA ,"I'm a regulator". I also recall a publication about safety in airspace featuring the image of a Drifter in a not so subtle context. (These things are the problem... I simply am more convinced by Maj's argument than any other that our recreational pastime will become far less fun and far more sweat inn future. Yes this is a rant but I'm over the whole thing. Might just as well play with r/c models..
  17. Methusala
    G'day Maj, was in at RAAus yesterday re-registering her for another year. Best wishes from us Canberra mob, Don
  18. Methusala
    According to a mate, ATC in Canberra has no difficulty in picking up a Sapphire at 30+nm.
  19. Methusala
    I am gratified that my original post has excited so much interest and thoughtful comment. There is food for thought as to our responsibilities as owners and operators of aircraft. I always feel that it is a great privilege to be able to fly. And I am reminded that you can rue the day that small details ceased to be important. There is still a distinction between those that matter and those that are mere distractions. Don
  20. Methusala
    "SAFE SKIES FOR ALL" It seems to me that a few of us on this site have fallen for the "big lie" strategy. The motto quoted above is from the home page of CASA's web site. I would love somebody to explain to me how including an hyphen in vertically arranged ID numbers (BTW this is the accepted manner of displaying when the fuselage is a 150mmm round tube), how this is going to contribute to flight safety. My point is that we are being led around like a pack of dumb sheep AND LOVING IT! Don
  21. Methusala
    To Neil - (yes that is an hyphen!) I think that when replying to posts on this site you could show some manners and keep the provocative language for the pub. Some members should learn the art of nuance and reflect on exactly what is being highlighted in these events. Thank you, Don
  22. Methusala
    I think that respect for regulation is engendered by regulation being appropriate and proportional to the expected outcome. Some wish to operate in a framework where all discretion is absent and so, "just follow the rule and you'll be safe!" is their mantra. I hope that we can have the self discipline to act safely and operate with some independence. By the way, I never implied that the workers at RAA in any way are at fault. Don
  23. Methusala
    I suppose that in responding positively to pettifogging behaviour we may ignore far more serious issues such as Gazelles being left inefficient and under performing by the requirement to only use the original specified propeller. This undoubtedly helps keep the fleet and those who fly in them safe! Why are we required to affix in a prominent positition a label stating that the aircraft does not conform to airworthiness standards when we are, in fact, over regulated by dolts? Don
  24. Methusala
    No spring on the aileron circuit of our Kitfox! I would be surprised if there was. The rudder springs only keep the pedals upright. I don't think the springs exert any force on the rudder. Don
  25. Methusala
    Yesterday I visited RAA Headquarters to hand over photographs of the panels of 2 aircraft displaying the yellow warning stickers attached. I was astonished when it was pointed out that the one on the 19 registered aircraft had CAR 95-10 printed in small type. This apparently made the aircraft unable to be registered until the sticker was exchanged for a generic type! Then when the file for my 25 registered Thruster was examined, it was pointed out that the large rego numbers arranged vertically down the rudder were missing a hyphen which again made that aircraft non-compliant. How do we win against such pettifogging nonsense? I can only wonder at the mind numbing pettiness of bureaucracy. Don
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