Patrick Normoyle

Registration and dinner Sun Breakie paid for. See you there.

JabPhil, what are the costs to over night under the aircraft and for the Sat dinner and Sunday Breakie. I'll be there in the Fisher Mk 1.

HITC, thanks for that, there was one Drifter and My Fisher Mk 1 up and we had a great fly in perfect weather, in true Wayne style, we had a ball, went in search of a hot cuppa and someone to share a war story r two, went to a new strip and made a new friend. Glad the Fisher crew showed their true colours, respect and admiration for Wayne's family. We were there in spirit with you.

Well, thanks once again Wayne, one of your aircraft filled the sky today with grace and elegance, accompanied by a Strut Braced Drifter, we were celebrating your life and love of Drifters. We went in search of fellow aviators, to chat and drink tea with, our first stop was a beautiful spot ( Hunt Field ) but no tea and biscuits were to be had. So in line with all good Drifter pilots, we went searching, our next stop was a lofty farm strip at Mount Compass, new to us, a low pass to check the strip and awaken the locals. With our aircraft nestled on the ground a cuppa was offered and great fully accepted. Lots of stories and memories were shared. Thanks Wayne, your were a pioneer, an adventurer and a kindred spirit to us all, your wisdom and calm nature were always at hand when repairs were needed to be auctioned and your love of family and flying were always evident. Thanks.

Time now to meet at Aldinga is 9am, at least 2 drifters / Fisher Mk1 s, the weather is looking perfect for the day.

Save the sacrifice till Saturday, goat on the spit roast, I'll eat that.

Like hope to be up there Saturday and then off to the Barossa show Sunday, Drifter weather required.

David, that's a big call, to say that certified aircraft are safer than non certified ! Any facts to back this up or just an opinion ?

Yes, and anyone else wishing to come along, Rankamature.

I thought the iPhone was deemed too small to be used as a primary, secondary or tertiary device. Plus you have the use of phones in aircraft issue to contend with ?

Thanks Maj.

As we can't get to Lismore for the 5th April for the memorial flight for Wayne Fisher, a Drifter and a Fisher Mk 1 will be making a morning flight up the coast of Adelaide from Aldinga on the 5th. I'd like to invite any other rag and tube aircraft or anyone with an aircraft that would like to participate to mark the passing of a legend. A rough plan at this point is to depart from Aldinga in the early morning, open formation ( not a true formation as per the rules), fly the coast to Noarlunga, with a landing at Hunt Field for a cuppa and some cake ( donations for te family will be collected in leiu of flowers ) and a chat, then return to Aldinga for a quiet beer at the hanger. Any out of towers wanting to overnight, accommodation for people and parking for aircraft can be organised. Please come and help us remember Wayne as the true spirit and legend of Ultralight Aviation from its grass roots.

Very well said and sounds like great AIRMANSHIP, well done to you all, it goes both ways. Where do you fly from ? I was there 2.5 years ago as an ATC and had my Drifter up in Lakeside. I really miss that place and the people there.

Nev, IFR RPT aircraft don't need too and almost never carry VFR type maps, they will have ERC's but no visual type maps, use a bearing and a distance from the common fix ( airport or MAJOR town ) airport is best or if you see them, use a clock reference, "I'm you 2 o'clock low at 2nm, purple and yellow high wing ultralight ", who gives a rats rear end who is in he right or wrong here folks, the wake turbulance alone from a Q400 will flip you, separate your tail from the rest of the aircraft. So see and avoid your aircraft to safety, they are flying a bus load of passengers you are out having fun, unless you need the priority and have declared so, why not give them a bit of space, we are at max just two people per aircraft. There is a training benefit here too, take out the fear and surprise a student might get in the circuit with a B737 or DH8D and brief them on holding, orbiting on downwind or any other safe manoeuvre available to them. The worst case scenario here after being killed in a mid air or getting turned inside out from wake turbulance will be when places like Port Mcquarie and Harvey Bay get a control tower and class D airspace all because some of US out there can't realise we are not the centre of the universe. What does another 4 minutes to you matter, a student can learn some more, a joy flight just goes a bit longer and the passenger gets a real cool experience seeing the other traffic, you help to bolster our image a professional pilots and if your on your own, just enjoy your passion a wee bit longer. I even give priority to the fly school aircraft here at Aldinga, I'm out there having fun and they are tring to teach and keep their business going. As far as the go around, AIP states arriving aircraft have priority for use of the runway over departing aircraft, it also states operations to and from the duty or into wind runway have priority over non-duty or x/wind downwind operations. If we can, we should try and give the RPT types a measure of respect and do OUR best to minimise their delays due to our operations where safe to do so. All the opinions expressed above are those solely my own.

Andy so true, my take is a little different, the knowledge aspect slips a little each year unless you regularly refresh the books, the skill level is only maintained with regular use, so if Doug Mc ( for example ) has his 320 hours over 20 years, then you are definitely a low time pilot, I have nearly 3000 hours, mixed types and in various conditions, I still think I'm a low time pilot when operating a new type or in unfamiliar circumstances, but I have 350 hours on my own aircraft, so there I am a high time pilot, but put me in aBE58 doing a VOR / DME arrival and I'm sure as S..T, I'll be a very low time pilot. However for Doug, I think 320 hours in the past 5 - 10 years is of a medium amount, if it is all on much the same aircraft even better, if you go out in less than perfect conditions and hone your skills with x-wind landings and short field approaches, challenge yourself and your decision making processes, you'll know what you can do and what you shouldn't attempt. A regular ride with an instructor with the purpose of testing your knowledge level and skill base is always a good thing, it is mandated that we do it every two years, but if you feel it is prudent for you, do it every year. I'm sure for the price of a coffee and a piece of cake at the airfield cafe, any decent instructor with time to burn between students would be happy to chat about anything.

I have four flights planned for tomorrow, from a 15 year old to an 89 year old, I will take a moment to enjoy the gift that Wayne helped to nurture and develop, real stick and rudder flying. Thanks Wayne, always thinking of you.

Well said David, and I'm sure we are all here for you in what ever way we can to help. RIP Wayne.

Peter I'd love a photo of the attachment points if you can. Pat

If I was in the area, then sure I'd love to help out, but not this year, good luck though.

Oh very nice, it looks neglected.

What is that in the back right corner, looks very interesting.

I'm looking to hang a Chinook single seat, weight about 128kg, I was hoping for something more conclusive, I might try a dolly frame with two pulleys and static climbing ropes.

I'm interested to know if anyone has suspended an ultralight from their hanger ceiling ? What set-up did you use, did you use a dolly frame above, what cables or pulleys did you use. I'm looking to suspend an aircraft of about 130kg total.

Have a thumb ? Hitch ! I'm sure you'll find someone going that way. It's just a shame your not 6foot, blonde and have a great body ! Or do you ?

Awesome, my old stomping ground, haven't flown there in more than 10 years and still looks the same. Thanks for the nostalgia !