planedriver

A policeman was patrolling a local parking spot overlooking a golf course. He drove by a car and saw a couple inside with the dome light on. There was a young man in the driver's seat reading a flying magazine and a young lady in the back seat knitting. He stopped to investigate. He walked up to the driver's window and knocked. The young man looked up, cranked the window down, and said, "Yes Officer?"

"What are you doing?" the policeman asked.

"What does it look like?" answered the young man. "I'm reading my flying magazine and checking out the classifieds."

Pointing towards the young lady in the back seat, the officer then asked, "And what is she doing?"

The young man looked over his shoulder and replied, "What does it look like? She's knitting."

"And how old are you?" the officer then asked the young man.

"I'm nineteen," he replied.

"And how old is she?" asked the officer.

The young man looked at his watch and said, "Well, in about twelve more minutes she'll be eighteen."

Brillant stuff!

We've all got to be grateful to guys like those.

Hi Doug ..... whilst it certainly was not said by the US governtment, it was pretty well understood by me as a student at the time. The yanks lobbied the Au govt VERY hard to get them to buy the F111 and NOT the TSR2. That decision gave the Stupid pommie pollies the excuse they needed to cancel what was beginning to be a very succesfull looking design. They made the excuse of cost overuns, but they had been caused by constant specification changes from the government, including the ability to lift a heavy nuclear weapon off a ploughed field landing ground (DUH). It cast more to cancel the contract than it would have done to proceed with it. Despite requests by BAC to keep the two completed and flying prototypes airworthy for testing the new frontiers that the a/c was capable of exploring, the pollies insisted that they and the jigs were broken up so that the project could never be resurected. Am I bitter ... yes ... still (although perhaps not quite so passionately as back then!). The decision to go with the F111 cost this country and the UK big time in money, jobs, and defence capability (then and in the future) ......all to the benefit of the US arms industry ......Ah well, it'll all be tghe same in 100 years!

Cheers

 

RD

If The Yanks had designed it, it would have been the best thing since the introduction of sliced bread. (The Faulklands war proved that)

So many brilliant pommie designs over the years have been shelved by the pollies for B.S.reasons, including the Bristol Brabazon, etc, etc, etc.

Gives one the S.H.1.T's to even think about it

Thats funny Tommo:giggle:

Must have been made from a home-build kit with the assemby instrucions still attached.

Didn't even know they were available, but as they say, "we learn something new every day".

Kind Regards

Planey

That is a sad story.I wonder how or why they did not pay him.Doesn't sound fair.

Thanks for those links, well written articles; actually the most sensible thing I've ever read in The Canberra Times (AKA The Communist Times) I think. It's a shame there is no suitable airfield for RAA / GA in the area or even just over the border in NSW.

He'd have shopping centre car parks made into landing strips, and Kmarts changed to "Clear-Prop" outlets.

Whhoooo Hooo!

Happy VD to you.

If you're genuinely busy building, then any hanger rash you sustain, whilst undesireable, is acceptable to most of us on here.

Great photos Frank you spoilt bugger, the sceenery looks incredible around your patch.

John, I loved your shots too.

Brought back many memories.

Geez thats a tall monstrosity being built just S/W of Tower Bridge, at least you are flying above that smog.

Beware of my nephew when operating out of Redhill, he flys model helis and probably also his 200MPH+ jet model not far from the airfield.

Kind Regards

Planey

Yep, I've never stopped learning but I wish I could never stop FORGETTING.Alan.

Kind Rgds

Alan (TheWomble, if I remember right)

If you go to 'Forums and then Morgan Aeroworks you will find many posts pertaining to the Morgan Aircraft.Alan.

This is ours which was factory built.

I've seen Slarti's close-up and they look great.

Take care of it, and have fun.

Kind Regards

Planey

BRIAN I'm married to his effing widow."

in ever decreasing circles around those looking for gas around Cecil's planes

A slow job normally takes a long time Kyle

Hope your aplication did'nt arrive on a Friday afternoon before the long weekend.

Sounds like you'll soon be up and away and loving it.

My heart-felt feelings go out to all concerned at Jaspers over this sad situation, over which, it was not humanly possible for those closeby, to have more control over the situation.

Sadly, even had essential services been close to hand, the outcome may have not been much different.

To Andy and the others who did all that it was possible for them to do, try to sleep with the knowledge that you did just that, and no one could ask for more.

My thoughts have also been with friends who departed just prior to this catastrophe, who must have been in shock on hearing the very sad news minutes later, but having lost their phone numbers, have not been able to contact them to offer a little support for he shock that they must have endured on hearing this tragic news.

Very interesting John, hope everyone on here takes the time to read it.

I'm considering Dave's flying school.I have done two trial flights - one with Basair and one with Sydney Microlight centre (airborne Microlight)

Having been a visitor to The Oaks for many years, and flown with Dave a few times, I have always found both Dave, John and everyone i've met there, very friendly. Apart from the fact that it is cheaper than training at Bankstown, you don't have to waste sometimes 10 minutes or so of every hour taxying and getting clearance.

Good luch with your training, wherever you decide to go.

ha, ha, tried it too in an A30

You're not alone there, so did I , hence I still have the crook back.

Started teaching my wife how to steer, from London to Brighton and back with me operating the A30 pedals fromthe l/h seat.

Finshed the diff off while teaching skid control techniques at a skid pan at Biggin Hill, and there endeth my 19 pound car (5 for the car and 14 for the oustanding rego.

Thats enough of my memories, now back to topic.

Good post Ian, any post that may possibly save someone from potential grief, has to be a good one in my eyes.

I'm sure you will get responses from others after they've checked their aircraft.

Kind Regards

Planey

G'day Gareth and .

This is a great place to mel out and get the good oil from those that are more expierienced than us.

Sounds like we are are of similar vintage.

Good luck and keep us posted with your progress.

Kind Regards

Planey

Nothing wrong with that video clip in my eyes, well done!

Hey Tomo, I promise not to tell anyone that you're becoming a "back seat driver"

Kind regards

Planey

Thoroughly enjoyed that. It brought back many memories for me.

Thanks for posting.

The unique structure called the Wing House, has been built on the top of a mountain in Malibu, US, using a commercial Boeing 747-200 jet.

 

Read more:

 

 

 

http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/house-the-ultimate-crash-pad/story-e6frfq80-1226063253701#ixzz1OnGlpLCT

Hopefully, when the the Rump-Capacity frames are introduced, like those checking the size of carry-on baggage, the mother-in law can be tagged and travel in the baggage hold so I dont have to try and eat as if my both my elbows were cable-tied together.

I was sent this email ages ago and only just got around to reading it ...However, I thought i'd post it for the benefit of those that haven't seen it, as some may feel it's worthy of additional discussion.

portrayed in the media.

The media is being

manipulated to achieve their ultimate goal.

Senator XENOPHON (South Australia) (19:37):

. The Senator says it all.

then split and sell-off the separate divisions.

I rise to speak tonight on an issue that is close to the hearts of many Australians, and that is the future of our national carrier, Qantas. At 90, Qantas is the world's oldest continuously running airline. It is an iconic Australian company. Its story is woven into the story of Australia and Australians have long taken pride in the service and safety standards provided by our national carrier. Who didn't feel a little proud when

Dustin Hoffman uttered the immortal line in Rain Man, 'Qantas never crashed'?

While it is true that Qantas never crashes, the sad reality is that Qantas is being deliberately trashed by management in the pursuit of short-term profits and at the expense of its workers and passengers. For a long time, Qantas management has been pushing the line that Qantas international is losing money and that Jetstar is profitable. Tonight, it is imperative to expose those claims for the misinformation they are. The reality is that Qantas has long been used to subsidise Jetstar in order to make Jetstar look profitable and Qantas look like a burden. In a moment, I will provide detailed allegations of cost-shifting that I have sourced from within the Qantas Group, and when you know the facts you quickly see a pattern. When there is a cost to be paid, Qantas pays it, and when there is a profit to be made, Jetstar makes it.

But first we need to ask ourselves: why? Why would management want Qantas to look unprofitable? Why would they want to hide the cost of a competing brand within their group, namely Jetstar, in amongst the costs faced by Qantas?

To understand that, you need to go back to the days when Qantas was being privatised. When Qantas was privatised the Qantas Sale Act 1992 imposed a number of conditions, which in turn created a number of problems for any management group that wanted to flog off parts of the business. Basically, Qantas has to maintain its principal place of operations here in Australia, but that does not stop management selling any subsidiaries, which brings us to Jetstar.

Qantas has systematically built up the low-cost carrier at the expense of the parent company. I have been provided with a significant number of examples where costs which should have been billed back to Jetstar have in fact been paid for by Qantas. These are practices that I believe Qantas and Jetstar management need to explain. For example, when Jetstar took over the Cairns-Darwin-Singapore route, replacing Qantas flights, a deal was struck that required Qantas to provide Jetstar with $6 million a year in revenue. Why? Why would one part of the business give up a profitable route like that and then be asked to pay for the privilege? Then there are other subsidies when it comes to freight. On every sector Jetstar operates an A330, Qantas pays $6,200 to $6,400 for freight space regardless of actual uplift. When you do the calculations, this turns out to be a small fortune. Based on 82 departures a week, that is nearly half-a-million dollars a week or $25½ million a year.

Then there are the arrangements within the airport gates. In Melbourne, for example, my information from inside the Qantas group is that Jetstar does not pay for any gates, but instead Qantas domestic is charged for the gates. My question for Qantas management is simple: are these arrangements replicated right around Australia and why is Qantas paying Jetstar's bills? Why does Qantas lease five check-in counters at Sydney Terminal 2, only to let Jetstar use one for free? It has been reported to me that there are other areas where Jetstar's costs magically become Qantas's costs. For example, Jetstar does not have a treasury department and has only one person in government affairs. I am told Qantas's legal department also does free work for Jetstar.

Then there is the area of disruption handling where flights are cancelled and people need to be rebooked. Here, insiders tell me, Qantas handles all rebookings and the traffic is all one way. It is extremely rare for a Qantas passenger to be rebooked on a Jetstar flight, but Jetstar passengers are regularly rebooked onto Qantas flights. I am informed that Jetstar never pays Qantas for the cost of those rebooked passengers and yet Jetstar gets to keep the revenue from the original bookings. This, I am told, is worth millions of dollars every year. So Jetstar gets the profit while Qantas bears the costs of carriage. It has also been reported to me that when Qantas provides an aircraft to Jetstar to cover an unserviceable plane, Jetstar does not pay for the use of this plane.

Yet another example relates to the Qantas Club. Jetstar passengers can and do use the Qantas Club but Jetstar does not pay for the cost of any of this. So is Qantas really losing money? Or is it profitable but simply losing money on paper because it is carrying so many costs incurred by Jetstar? We have been told by Qantas management that the changes that will effectively gut Qantas are necessary because Qantas international is losing money but, given the inside information I have just detailed, I would argue those claims need to be reassessed.

Indeed, given these extensive allegations of hidden costs, it would be foolish to take management's word that Qantas international is losing money. So why would Qantas want to make it look like Qantas international is losing money? Remember the failed 2007 private equity bid by the Allco Finance Group. It was rejected by shareholders, and thank goodness it was, for I am told that what we are seeing now is effectively a strategy of private equity sell-off by stealth.

Here is how it works. You have to keep Qantas flying to avoid breaching the Qantas Sale Act but that does not stop you from moving assets out of Qantas and putting them into an airline that you own but that is not controlled by the Qantas Sale Act. Then you work the figures to make it appear as though the international arm of Qantas is losing money. You use this to justify the slashing of jobs, maintenance standards and employment of foreign crews and, ultimately, the creation of an entirely new airlines to be based in Asia and which will not be called Qantas. The end result? Technically Qantas would still exist but it would end up a shell of its former self and the Qantas Group would end up with all these subsidiaries it can base overseas using poorly paid foreign crews with engineering and safety standards that do not match Australian standards. In time, if the Qantas Group wants to make a buck, they can flog these subsidiaries off for a tidy profit. Qantas management could pay the National Boys Choir and the Australian Girls Choir to run to the desert and sing about still calling Australia home, but people would not buy it. It is not just about feeling good about our national carrier-in times of trouble our national carrier plays a key strategic role. In an international emergency, in a time of war, a national carrier is required to freight resources and people around the country and around the world. Qantas also operates Qantas Defence Services, which conducts work for the RAAF. If Qantas is allowed to wither, who will meet these strategic needs?

I pay tribute to the 35,000 employees of the Qantas Group. At the forefront of the fight against the strategy of Qantas management have been the Qantas pilots, to whom millions of Australians have literally entrusted their lives. The Australian and International Pilots Association sees Qantas management strategy as a race to the bottom when it comes to service and safety. On 8 November last year (2010), QF032 experienced a serious malfunction with the explosion of an engine on an A380-800 aircraft. In the wrong hands, that plane could have crashed. But it did not, in large part because the Qantas flight crew had been trained to exemplary world-class standards and knew how to cope with such a terrifying reality. I am deeply concerned that what is being pursued may well cause training levels to fall and that as a result safety standards in the Qantas Group may fall as well. AIPA pilots and the licensed aircraft engineers are not fighting for themselves; they are fighting for the Australian public. That is why I am deeply concerned about any action Qantas management may be considering taking against pilots who speak out in the public interest.

A lot of claims have been made about the financial state of Qantas international but given the information I have presented tonight, which has come from within the Qantas Group, I believe these claims by management are crying out for further serious forensic investigation. Qantas should not be allowed to face death by a thousand cuts-job cuts, route cuts, quality cuts, engineering cuts, wage cuts. None of this is acceptable and it must all be resisted for the sake of the pilots, the crews, the passengers and ultimately the future of our national carrier.

A woman asks her husband at breakfast time, "Would you like some bacon and eggs, a slice of toast, and maybe some grapefruit juice and coffee?"

He declines. "Thanks for asking, but I'm not hungry right now. It's this Viagra," he says. "It's really taken the edge off my appetite."

At lunchtime, she asked him if he would like something. "How about a bowl of soup, homemade muffins or a cheese sandwich?"

He declines. "The Viagra," he says, "Its really spoiled my need for food."

Come dinnertime, she asks if he wants anything to eat. "Would you like a juicy rib eye steak and some scrumptious apple pie? Or maybe a rotisserie chicken or tasty stir fry?"

He declines again. "No," he says, "it's got to be the Viagra. I'm still not hungry."

"Well," she says, "Would you mind getting off me? I'm bloody starving."