Runway16

The POH for the C177RG says that 2200 rpm and 21 mp you are pulling 57 % a TAS of 153 mph and a range of 1095 s/miles. D.

Apollo Bay. Always an interesting land up the hill. Beware of the narrow strip. Already a Cessna 182RG ended up in a ditch there and overturned. The take-off - I always make a RIGHT hand turn after take-off. First I announce on the radio that I intend to make a right turn. The reason is that a left turn after T/O puts you well off-shore. An engine failure there and no life jackets being worn will leave you with more problems than you can dream about. The RIGHT hand turn and an engine failure will allow you to put down on or close to the beach line. Sometime you have to make a command decision that is common sense. In this case a RIGHT turn (that is allowed) but make sure that you make that radio call first. Now I await the negative comment. R16.

If you intend to do circuits at Moorabbin then before start up call ground and ask for a start clearance advising that you wish to conduct circuits. That allows MB ground to regulate circuit traffic. If you are starting for a departure then you do not need to contact ground until you have done your run up while you are still in the run up bay (north or south). You would then say words to the effect 'Moorabbin ground, A-B-C is for XX location with information YYY, request taxi for runway 17 left, . You read back what they tell you and use your taxi map if need be to take you to the holding point. At that location you then transfer to the Tower and advise ready. Hint. Do not use the Northern run up bay when runway 31 or 13 is in use as that bay is effectively under the path of aircraft taking Off or landing. R16

Metal man, the PPLR is like the GFPT but still has the area limits but allows the holder to do a daily inspection and sign off. A PPLR holder has to do a flight review every two years. There are a lot of PPLRs still around but they decrease by a few each year as the holders cease flying. The holders of all flying lincese, PPLR & GFPT alike have to be mindful that they don't exceed the privileges of the licence in that they observe the limits of distance and what they can and cannot do with the said licence. R16

Strobes. CASA, the FAA, Piper and Cessna all recomend that Strobes be turned ON just before entering the runway and turned OFF exiting the runway. The airlines do the same. Anyone who has been taught otherwise received poor quality instruction from an instructor who also received poor quality instruction and has never considered his actions nor read up on the subject. It is good airmenship to leave the beacon light switch on at all times. When the master switch goes on for the start the beacon is already operating, warning those looking that an engine start is about to happen. At the end of the flight, if the master is accidently left on, the beacon light still operating will give a pilot the clue that he needs to go back to the aircraft and turn the master off, or be prepared for a flat battery the next day. Do not forget to give a very loud pre-start call 'Stand Clear, Starting. That is a better call than 'Clear Plop'. The Turkey of the year award :hittinghead: goes to those pilots who taxy out with their aircraft lit up like a Xmas tree with position lights, beacon, strobes and landing lights blazying - even in the middle of the day. At night - well who cares about any other pilots night vision! For those who drive Piper retracts having the position lights on helps to dim right down those pesky gear down lights. R16

It has been reported that a Piper Pawnee two-seat glider tug was badly damaged at Benalla, Vic. yesterday. Two POB badly injured. Any intel on what happened?

Tie downs Having walked around Avalon I can say that I saw more than one aircraft, no doubt someone's joy, tied down with plastic tent pegs and bootlace lines. A good 12-18" of star picket with 8mm boating line and a two pound mash mallet is what I have found the best to secure my aircraft with over the years. All on a 45 degree angle to the aircraft and the ground. That combo has allowed me to sleep well in the motel when the wind is wiping around the eves. I have never had my aircraft move yet when I have used the above combo. :thumb_up:

OK, enough time has passed. What acrtually happened. A lot of people know so please share your knowledge.

No GA VH training at Coldy until further notice! What happened to Bob Boyd? I thought that Dicky Gower was also doing GA training at Coldy? Who knows what?

Reports have it that RVAC had a SportStar damaged at Moorabbin a week or so ago. Anyone have any detail on the event? Rego? Damage? The SportStar appears to be a popular little machine and economical too.

A question for you Gyro enthusiasts. Back in the days of the Wangaratta Air World Air Museum there was a Gyro that was suspended from the roof (as I recall). Who can tell what model of Gyro it was and what happened to it when the museum closed and the aircraft sold off. I am curious.