Zibi

Slightly off-topic question, but wouldn't it be better to position the car so that it's light were shining down the runway, rather then from the opposite end possibly blinding the pilot? I seem to remember seeing some info-graphic for providing runway lighting with car lights by positioning multiple cars on either side of the runway at about 45 deg to the runway directed so that their lights would go down along the runway. It wasn't a normal procedure in any way (I think it might have been at one of the outback police stations), for emergency situations only.

Apparently:

Again, I'm not talking about not being able to load max weight passengers, plus full fuel plus full baggage but rather this bit: J230 has a MTOW of 700 kg (VH Registration) and 600 kg (RAA Registration) (source: http://www.jabiru.net.au/aircraft-kits/j430-kit).

I know that, however I was referring to Nick's comment, which I suspect was about Jabiru (as he mentioned he flies one in some other thread) which is only fuel limited if under RAA rules, and can have much higher MTOW under GA. Thus my comment still stands, that it was the manufacturer that has designed a plane for a slightly higher category and is squeezing it into RAA (LSA) rules.

If you want to blame someone it's not RAAus but rather the manufacturer of the aircraft. They sell you an aircraft that doesn't fit within RAAus rules by making you fly with half empty tanks to squeeze it into those rules. As to As far as I know it RAAus was founded on the principle of home-built if not home designed aircraft (I might be wrong, I've only been a member for 2 years), so having a comprehensive list for all aircraft, some of which may be only one of their kind, would be a bit too complex. As to the allowance for extra weight for BRS or floats - I don't understand it either.

Well, there's not much new about the coaxial dual rotor concept. Russians have been doing it for years already: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamov_Ka-50

There's a lot more from that guy at http://www.27bslash6.com/tiiap.html

Not sure about a novel, but there was a movie called Firefox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYh9_QmNwRA And for something simpler there's a quadrocopter drone that is controlled by a virtual reality helmet, so it goes where you look: http://gizmodo.com/parrots-new-bebop-drone-wants-to-be-your-eyes-in-the-sk-1572259655

Considering that this document starts with: I guess we shouldn't be flying at all:oops:

The link for the picture is direct to google mail, so unless you want to give us your login details no one else will see it :)

I don't know about your other requirements, but there were tests with forward swept wing fighters: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_X-29 And it's not exactly what you were asking for, but there's also been tests with joined wing fighters: I've read somewhere, that some of those joined wing aircraft were going to have a movable wing (so at least half of it is forward swept and movable) No idea about how stealthy or supersonic they are or if they can land on a carrier.

Don't know about av gas. Camping at the airfield is even encouraged, there are showers and toilets at the airfield, I believe there are 3 pubs in town (about 1-2 km away).

I wouldn't take it as being more likely to die but more about the approach of the customers. When you go on a TIF you become a member of RAA (or other organization) and should be familiarized with the risks involved of taking up flying as a recreational activity. And thus it is up to you if you want to accept that risk and still go or maybe stay on the ground (just like every one of us does when we go flying on our own). When you take a joyflight (or however you want to name it) you're expecting it to be more like a tour on a bus, where you just buy a ticket and expect everything to be in top shape, and if it isn't you have every possible right to sue the person that is at fault. I don't want to talk for everyone, but if I was to pay for a joyflight I would expect there to be some sort of supervising agency (CASA) that would make sure that the plane is in good working order and so are the pilots. Whereas when I went on my RAA TIF it was explained to me what freedoms RAA alows with regards to the planes, that the aircraft isn't certified to the same level as the commercial ones, that it is maintained by the owner, etc. As to the time on controls, vs viewing the scenery - when I went on my TIF it was my first ever flight in a tirke, or any open cockpit aircraft (the smallest thing I flew before that was some 10 or 12 seater that flew between Cairns and Lockhart River) so wasn't important to me how exactly you control it, it was more about the sensation of flying (so in my book a person not focused on learning is just fine). The same goes for tourists - in many countries flying isn't as popular or as visible (or should I say accessible) to general public as it is in Australia, so if anyone wants to try it out while on holidays, to continue doing it at home - why not. Or as it was in my case - it may be a person on a temporary visa that wants to fly in Australia with a RAA certificate.

You've got at least one person that would agree: http://www.wired.com/autopia/2014/03/mh370-electrical-fire/

What facebook page? “Challenge your limits" - brings about 10 Facebook pages mostly fitness related. There are at least 20 Pieter van Jaarsvelds on Facebook. Google isn't very helpful with either of those phrases either. And it doesn't really help when searching for the youngest solo pilot to circumnavigate the world.

They've tried it once already:

Or for those that don't want to click a link...

Yes they do, at 1:55 exactly... remember, you're supposed to listen to what they're saying not just watch

Because one day you make wake up with $400k mortgage for a house worth $100k or less, which you won't be able to afford to keep paying or even sell.

The elf one looks a lot like Sapphire

My last flight has been fairly unremarkable, just like many of my previous flights accept for one small detail. I went in my trike from Caboolture towards Bribie island for a stroll along the beach and at one point flying over the southern tip of Bribie I flew right over (well maybe some 20 m away) a bird. I'm not sure what bird it was, some kind of a hawk or something, but it was one of those great feelings when you're up there and you realize that you're actually watching a flying bird from above and you're right next to it, you're almost one of them... That's what makes flying great for me...

I may be in a minority in here, or at least the quiet part of the forum, but I'll admit I'm not very good when it comes to knowledge about engines or even airframes. I bought a factory built plane and right now I maintain my own plane, I follow the manuals, ask others if I'm not sure, etc. But I often wonder how many things I might miss, just because they look ok to me, or I don't know what to look for and I appreciate a test like this as it may point me into areas where my deficiencies lie. What I would appreciate way more would be some form of training courses or seminars where I could improve my knowledge. I've tried looking for a Rotax maintenance course, but it seems that main Rotax page sends me to local distributor, and local one sends me back to main Rotax page (or didn't have anything easily visible).

I know most of Maccas customers are quite big, but you shouldn't grab them and it's really offensive to call them McWhale...

Looks like it managed to get out without booster rockets: https://www.recreationalflying.com/xf2/index.php?app=core&module=system&controller=embed&url=https://twitter.com/KWCH12/statuses/403431348116811776 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-22/giant-cargo-plane-in-unexpected-stopover-at-tiny-us-airport/5109806

If you want a proper thrust vectoring in action, check this one: It's as if laws of physics don't apply to that plane...