Bigglesworth

Thats a re phrasing of the laws of thermodynamics, now thats depressing.....

No, I don't really think that. Fly safely, and learn a lot. But not from me :)

What about us homebuilt pilots? We start with a blank (ish) book. So do we just keep trying harder until something breaks? Or take a safe path and never know. But what if you have an option to land in a 17kt x-wind or go somewhere else? I know the Cheetah can handle a lot more because I have done it. (On a sparsely tree lined strip, she earned her oats that day :) It comes back to what HPD said: Where do we stop? All knowledge leads to safety. If you had a medical degree, you would be a safer pilot with HF. A computing degree might save your life if your GPS played up and you han't been paying attention to the flight plan. Mechanical experience, aerodynamics degree, ad infinitum..... (even latin helps :) So where do we stop? I think you pick your point and I'll pick mine, and we'll meet in our next life and compare results....

If you haven't read The Flying Doctor by Clyde Fenton, you should. I love that book, he's number 4 on my list of heros :) (True story of a flying doctor in NT before the RFDS got there. Very funny, and a lot of making fun of CASA in between doing very serious important work. Lots of crazy flying things there too) And of course the complete Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy :thumb_up::thumb_up::thumb_up:

I do not miss the point. I COULD pass without study. So what was the point of the exam?I am fully in agreeance with the what everyone is saying: continuous learning is what we need. BUT, not everyone can do it/enjoys it. And in that is the distinction between professionals and weekenders. Some of us want to be able to fly in minimal conditions, and know our limits exactly, but a lot of pilots only want to fly on a CAVOK calm day. And as such can get away with a lot less knowledge. Notwithstanding that, the exam is a piece of "rubbish" in my opinion. It doesn't help when it can be passed with no study by someone with a knack of passing exams, but an experienced pilot (lots better/safer pilot than me) might have difficulty just because of the ridiculous Titles Of Conditions, and irrelevent(IMO) questions. Moderated under rule 2.9 - Admin

You may remember that earlier I was all for the idea of a HF exam. Now that I have passed it a few weeks ago (with no study) I am opposed to what they have. I can't give away the questions, but 'Concept Models'? For Recreational pilots? I mean, sure teach them what can go wrong, but the very title is enough to make people ignore it as officialize. And instead of asking "what should we do now" it asks "what category of mistake was this?"....... Is that going to help Fred the pilot? It is a good idea to learn all the stuff about HF, and I'm glad I did when I did my PPL theory. But the exam itself is easier to pass from book knowledge than by real knowledge. I agree entirely with Motzart.... We now do about the same as a GA private pilot, shouldn't we have to know just as much? When I did a review with a GA instructor (prior to test-flying my plane) he said I was a very different pilot from most Recreational pilots he had flown with, and I think it was to do with the fact that I have covered the GA theory. If you want to be ignorant, then you will have to be controlled by those who know what's good for you, If you want freedom (Gimme a "Hell Yeah") you have to know what you are doing, and know it well.

Wild pigs aren't much good eating, a haunch of venison or kangaroo should be bled and gets hung underneath. Tow bar? I dunno, with utes its so we can help all those rich blokes in their useless Porsches who get bogged. Somehow I can't see a drifter pulling a Cirrus out of a ditch........

As a self confessed Redneck pilot, lets see... No stall warning, but I did want to fit a dixie air horn anyway, Who would taxi around drinking when you could take off? (no, I haven't) Who bothers with CG? The mud will be right, its evenly spread Meant to put a gun rack in, a bit ilegal, but....I just don't want forced landing at a major airport with a .222 in the back. Bumper stickers are still to be fitted, so far I'm planning a few RM horns and Ned Kelly silouettes on the tail fin. If an ADF could pick up coutry stations, I'd get one. As it is pre-flight includes make sure stack of country CDs are within reach. I have chased sheep and cows off the strip, but this is a major strip (Frog's Hollow) How about including: You have tried fitting a bull-bar, aerials, lights, exhaust system, etc. I thought about gettign a drifter/bantam type and really BnSing it up. Barb wire stickers wrapped around the prop (wait, I'll do that to the Cheetah) bull bar, with 100w spotties, and imagine flying it at night with lights INSIDE the fabric wings/body....really cool. And open cabin...to throw the empties overboard, see whos place you can hit:loopy:.... And to think you're sharing the sky with me......

Just being optimistic, maybe an old one. But I think when they go, they go down in flames, not repairable

1.Cheetah built on a shoestring 2.Cheetah with a more extras 3.Cheetah with all the frills and building help 4.Extra 300

Does this mean we now have 2 threads dedicated to debating whether Holden is capable of being compared to the mighty Ford? That bumper sticker is just a cheap imitation, the real deal has the positions in their proper place, and Holden is a turd on wheels. Which is the way God meant it, all this talk of equality... why can't these Holden people just accept that they were created the weaker species? :hittinghead::pig:

Alright, I give up, I'm talking to a lot of Holden drivers and Gazelle pilots. You win the argument; we won Bathurst, and whatever can be won in a plane :) Just do yourself a favour one day: drive an xr6turbo on a speedway (I haven't got to yet, had a BA xr8 on the highway once....) and fly something where you can get into a lot of trouble quickly, and get out just as fast. I'm talking FUN factor.......

Who won Bathurst? Ford country here, on a quiet day you can hear the Holden's rusting:laugh: I agree totally, each plane has its good points, bad points, and individualities. I was just hoping to be back with an old friend, only to find she wasn't what I remembered at all, outclassed in about everything that I find important. (handling, manouverability at all speeds, climb, speed, even visibility...) I'll have to take you for a fly someday, and we'll see. And maybe I'll fly a Jab someday, there must be something good about them.....

50Kts, I wasn't looking too hard, yeah it would have been 55-60 approach, then a bit of flare to 50, and "Dude, where's my input?" I used to fly them, so once upon a time I was happy with them. And they are still a good plane, I was just commenting on how the Cheetah has such a wide speed range, and the Gazelle... 45 degree turn and cards? I'll try it next time, but I think I can, in one direction anyway:) I will admit that it is a bit uneven, I don't know if it is prop wash, or my build, but turns are more stable to the left than right. Not much, but one way needs/wants rudder to get out. As for Jabs, if you say they are good, I won't say any different since I haven't flown one. I will have to soon, I do want to know what they are like. And it may well take me 2 hours to flare it properly, but doesn't that just mean they are a harder plane to fly? I'll find out someday. BTW, I could probably humble a few racing car drivers with my ute on the dirt, it still doesn't mean it is a sports car.:pig:

As I said, I still hold a Gazelle in high esteem, And as yet I haven't taken passengers in the Cheetah because I haven't wanted to/haven't even got some upholstery. So I did it in the club plane. Besides, how would I have got the Cheetah to the club, its at Frogs Hollow and my license ran out a while back. I'm not ranting about a dud plane, a Gazelle is an excellent plane, and it sure has its place, but I think Ian's must have a better prop, or something. I was just so surprised in the difference that I had to comment on it. And really, I do think a lot of pilots would benefit from being flying a range of aircraft and knowing what they are like. Peace

Oh well, its equal then, but its still a lame duck. To think I used to be in love with the one I learnt in. Definately an ex now....:)

I just did my BFR in a Gazelle (and passed) Now, I was trained and got my license on a gazelle, and I used to love them, and thought they had good handling compared to a C150. But since then it has been all the Cheetah, and before that, a bit of a Sportstar, and a GA Grumman Tiger. For starters, where the h**l does the power go? Thats a 100HP motor isn't it? It doesn't climb, it doesn't cruise, it does't accelerate down the runway...... It was hard to get 500fpm with 30L fuel and 2 light built people, the Cheetah gets over 1000fpm with one and full fuel. And thats averaged over 2 minutes, with a timer and altimeter. And 1000 is conservative. As for going somewhere...... I mean, at the moment the Cheetah has a climb prop which slows it down a bit, but 90+ indicated at 5000ft isn't too bad, and that means in 5 minutes, at 2750 rpm, the speed did not go below 90. It went up to 95 or higher, but I say 90 because I am honest. But the Gazelle..... is it moving? it needs to be pushed to get over 60 IAS. at 3000ft I mean it does it, but doesn't like it. And then descent... like a rock, we did a glide in approach, into wind. And I must admit I stuffed up bad, we wouldn't have made it. Instructor went to show me how to do it, he did it, but aiming to 1/3 and hitting the start.... I got it eventually, but I swear the Cheetah would have overshot totally... And landing, set at 50kts, and no manouverability (not that there ever is much) and it hits the ground. No amount of rounding will help, and it needs like full power to smooth it out. Cheetah, it needs holding off from 50 back to 30kts, and is responsive the whole time. I can fly it at 35 straight and level, could go slower, but then it is climbing. Now before you:ban me please:, I don't have a financial interest in selling Cheetahs, and have always loved Gazelles. I just was amazed how much of a non-performer it is. I think everyone who has learnt on a Gazelle (and is a Jab similar? I guess it would be, but haven't flown one) should go out and clock up a couple of hours in a REAL plane. A sportstar or similar would do. But do yourself a real treat, find a Cheetah and get a flight in that:). They're a bit harder to fly in some ways (not many), but it is soooooo worth it. I have registered for Avalon as a special interest aircraft, she really is...:heart::heart::heart:

I told you so, quality will out. Long live the Falcon.... Just imagine if they let them take the Falcon XR6Turbo into it, it would be 10/10, and half the fuel. My next ute if I can afford it.

Might be stupid, but it sounds fun..... How about an endorsement for any doing anything which is stupid but fun? Where do I apply.... As for Quidditch, Who wants to invent a game similar which can be played in rec planes and we can try it. Use helium balloons for balls, and to catch the snitch you run into it. etc. Also who's for a game of tag:ban me please:

We've all seen the talk about higher MTOW and aerobatics, and I was thinking: you can't please some people..... So just for fun, how about we try to find the best/funniest suggestion for what other endorsements we could get. Sort of like those internet top5 lists. I'll start with: An endorsement to allow you to fly magic carpets/broomsticks (symbol on license '13') An endorsement to allow circling over open-air drivein movies/concerts (symbol 'tix') An endorsement to allow low flying to check out good looking humans down below ('x') I'll let you continue...

I have an Xcom in my cheetah, seems to work fine except for one thing: the AFRU at Moruya never recognises it. It has a Comant 121 aerial with professionally terminated couble shielded wire. Everyone else seems to hear it, and well enough I supposes, no-one has mentioned it being faint, and I can hear others clear enough, but the AFRU which works for everyone else all the time never hears me. Any ideas? I haven't tried any other airport with an AFRU, so I can't tell if they all do the same....

My BFR is fast approaching (when the instructor gets time, he's taking his own sweet time about it too) So I might be the author in a time warp....... Wouldn't surprise anyone...

Many a true word spoken in jest they say........ nah, I don't blame them, I just happened to rub the Raa the wrong way a while back, and now my instructor knows he has to cover his back and his work must be 100% above critisism. As for Human factors, it does get a bit above common sense, I learnt a bit about it in my PPL theory. Take the causes of disorientation for instance. Common sense say we can balance; but we all know that in cloud, VFR pilots get hurt. And it is only when we know the theory that we know where the limits are and why. I am all for knowing as much theory as possible, knowing your limits exactly, and then flying at the edge. Safely. Not to mention the part which goes like: "come on, Fred, take us for a fly, you're not that tired, it was only a small party" and then Fred has to able to say "It seems like it, but we were taught in flying school that the rarified air up there can exacerbate the situation, not no mention sitting still in a plane, can cause someone who is a little worn out to make big mistakes" So go for it, just make the theory available online, it makes it easier....

Good timing, I have to do my BFR very soon (hopefully the w/e) and it includes this test, so I'm brushing up on all I know. I passed the PPL test, so I should know enough, or is this different structure? I noticed in the new manual the syllabus includes reference to a few names of models/theories which are new to me, but the rest is pretty standard.... I'll just read my stack of flight safety mags. And to top it off, a little bird told me that the instructor has reason to believe that I am too crazy to have a pilots license (or something like that) so they'll be hitting me with a fine tooth comb....... Goes back to studying hard, hard, harder.....

He was drinking beer at the time, we can hardly expect him to act reasonably can we?