boingk

Taking it right back to this post. I was also taught GA and was told the sensible line of "Keep the strip under your wing and you'll always make it back," with proper idle-power demonstrations to the satisfaction of my instructors before my first solo. If you don't stick to this simple rule you are either flying a brick or asking for trouble. One day that field won't be there when you need it and we'll be looking at another fatality printed in the back of an RAA magazine. - boingk

Thats what I was thinking, and would perhaps be the best way for me to do it provided I get an approved life vest and ELT beacon. Cheers - boingk

Not a worry shu77, so long as no-one else minds. They're a wooden-framed craft with cabled controls and a tractor engine, usually either a Continental A65 or C85. You need to be wary if a C85 is fitted as they will allow cruise speeds over max stated cruise and approaching or over the design VNE of 105 knots. Mine cruises along nicely at about 80 knots solo in calm air and climbs at around 600fpm. Performance is comparable to a Cessna 150 if two-up (ie not a rocketship) and it much prefers solo. Fuel burn is 15~16lph and is in a slab 65L tank on the firewall. Seating is roomier than a C150 and has good legroom. Headheight is marginal if you're over 6'3" - I fit fine but you wouldn't want to be taller! Landing is a doddle once you're used to it - set 1300~1500rpm and 1st stage flaps for base @ 60kt, then 50~55kt on final with 2nd stage of flap. Get the cowl level to flare for landing and set idle power. Sink to ground, roll out on those nice cushy 6.00x6.5 tyres. Stall is 36kt clean or 30kt with full flap. Only thing I'd ping it on is that mine seems to not want to start or run in ground attitude with 25 litres or less in the tank, so do not run minimum fueling and always fill to the brim. I would suggest a minimum takeoff fill of 35 litres to be on the safe side. It is also sensetive in pitch, but thats not a problem if you're aware of it or used to it. Overall I really like her, and its a shame to have to sell. Cheers - boingk

I'm flying my Minicab after learning in a C150 and Gazelle and love the difference, but also like the view you get in a highwing. I'd prefer a highwing as a taildragger, too, as you are better able to judge landings when you're on the flare. I still love my little low winger and will be sad to see her go. - boingk

Thanks guys, thats really helpful. All my flying to date has been in between 'Western' cities and towns such as Goulburn, Bathurst, Yass etc and only a few coastal ones such as Maruya and Wollongong - those coastal ones in a VH-reg C150. I would be interested in the RAA-Aus ticket for flight over built up areas as I'm looking to buy a 4-stroke 95.10 reg craft and would need it for the V1 route. Cheers - boingk

Check the maintenance and log books. First thing you should do when looking at any aircraft. - boingk

Thanks Nev, would definitely consider the Mudgee or Bathurst aerodromes as alternates as I'm familiar with the area there moreso than Sydney or Newcastle. I would probably be more comfortable with coastal up past Sydney as you described... but I do not currently have a lifejacket. Are there any that I should be aware of or just something with Australian Standard ticket on it? This would be a weather dependant flight for sure. I generally travel up that way every weekend to see my girlfriend but am considering flying to make the trip a bit more enjoyable. If the weather is bad take the car, if not go flying! Cheers - boingk

Good point Nev, did not consider that prospect. - boingk

Hey there everyone, just looking at flying from Goulburn to either Maitland or Warnervale near Newcastle and was wondering the most appropriate route. I have my World Aeronautical, Visual Navigation and Sydney Flying charts all arrayed out over the desk and have thought I could do it one of two ways: 1: Fly a relatively Northbound course from Goulburn and stay out of the whole Sydney shemozzle, then cut East to go to either Maitland or Warnervale. 2: Fly a relatively Eastbound course and cut right through Sydney, being careful to observe all NOTAMs and flight level restrictions. Navigate over the Western Sydney region and then head relavitely Northbound to get to Maitland or Warnervale. I should point out that I would be doing this in a non factory built or certified engine powered craft - ie either a 101.28 or 95.10 registered craft - and want to stay legal! Either craft have a full accompaniment of appropriate VFR instruments and radio. Cheers - boingk

Yeah but still... humans accomplish some pretty amazing things and sometimes theres that 'gray area' where you're not really sure of fact from fiction. Whats the 3deg picture demonstrating it in reference to? An iPhone? Laptop computer? - boingk

When your MTOW is 170 *tons* then it starts to look a bit p!ss weak. They are rated for a max takeoff of 2600m though, so I don't really know what the curvature of the Earth has to do with it. Fairly sure all airplanes need to be able to maintain a sustained climb of at least 3 degrees to be passed as a compliant design, anyway. - boingk

Fly commercially or hire an aircraft if you want more than two seats. I have people I know who are interested in flying, but you know how many hours of passenger time I've logged this year? Four hours. Out of over 80 hours flown. Start learning to fly first and worry about being able to take people with you later. Cheers - boingk

Same principle is being applied to cars, with tehcnology being used to adapt an autonomous 'road train' comprised of separate cars all going to a similar destination. Very interesting stuff. Of course, cyclists have been doing it for decades. - boingk

Wow, mate, some story indeed! Couldn't imagine taking off into the darkness in a microlite... let alone one I'd built and then taught myself to fly on! Must have been very rewarding. Hope to see you up in the air again soon. Cheers - boingk

No thanks on the aero club, personally - not unless its got something for me in it. I meet, know and get along with most people out at 'the field' and always have a good chat on the occasions we bump into each other. What I don't want is any more hierarchy or costs for my aviation pleasures - if there was, say, a membership cost it had better be for funding of the premises and basic rights such as landings etc only. That would be fair, but of course probably also very expensive if the membership numbers were low. Personally? Leave me to it. I'll see you either in the hangar or in the air. - boingk

...outstretched hand proceeded to entangle in their various garments! In an effort to fling them from his outstretched arm and regain control of the ute (perhaps even kindly returning the 'lost' garments to their owners ;D) he inadvertently flung them onto the windscreen...

Haha, yeah pretty much CFI & Howard. Lets close this thread before somone thinks up a 'good' idea for its use. - boingk

Advertised as 22oz cannister, means it should theoretically have 15.4 cubic feet of gas inside. They tout it as good for 120~150 'inhalations' lasting a second or so. - boingk

Here is what I am factoring in (actually paying) after purchase: Fuel: $24/hr [15L @ $1.60/L] Maintenance: $5 hour Hangerage: $50 per week Use of aerodrome/landings: $12 per week All up assuming two flying hours per week average you're looking at $6240 per year. The way I maintain my 'maintenance fund' is by actually putting $5 an hour aside in a lockbox, topped off at $500 if and when it gets there. Of course the more you fly the less the hangerage and aerodrome costs factor in, so more flying gets a cheaper effective hourly rate up to a point. It works the other way, too, being that you still have that $2600 per year hangerage cost no matter if you fly 1 hour or 1000. Cheers - boingk

Thats what I thought - and yeah I'm healthy with a max sustained heartrate off the charts and a resting pulse of 40bpm or less. Still think its interesting and have ordered one, seeing as its only $20 shipped. Probably only get used after the proverbial night out but we'll see. Cheers all - boingk

Will definitely do that for him next time haha. - boingk

I've seen it somewhere before, can't remember where. Might have been on rcgroups dot com, which I also frequent, as I'm an avid aeromodeller. Only thing I don't agree with is the videos comment toward the end that nosewheel craft do not require rudder in crosswind landings - my word they do! Try landing any nosewheeled craft in a strong (15~20kt) crosswind and tell me afterward you didn't need very fine rudder control... and lots of it! Learning to fly in Goulburn there is often a stiff crosswind and it has become second nature to fly and operate in them. My advice is fly every maneuver as though your life depends on it - because it often does! The one thing a pilot cannot afford is complacency. Cheers - boingk

Yeah I bought it a few months ago and was using it for flying time to up my hours towards the 200hr Commercial course. I'm no longer doing that (joining police force instead) and still want to fly, but can't justify the expense. I'll most likely be 'downgrading' to a 95-10 registered machine and have been looking at a few in the 8~12k range. Cheers - boingk

Just saw this on eBay during a random search for aircraft equipment: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/261100155694?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 Apparently its 95% pure oxygen in a spraycan type of arrangement, complete with facial mask on the top. Its designed for quick 'hits' of oxygen for sportspeople, for businesspeople to prevent jet lag and for those at high altitudes. Would you use this in your aircraft to ward off lethargy at the higher altitudes, of 5000 to 9500ft? - boingk

Hey there guys, though you might enjoy a few happy snaps I got while I was flying to Crookwell from Goulburn. Conditions were a tad turbulent at times but otherwise okay and I was cruising at 5,500ft between 70~80kt. This one is for you, eightyknots! Landing once home was uneventful, bit of a crosswind but nothing too severe. Thoroughly enjoyed the trip as it may be one of the last I take in this plane. Cheers - boingk