Mazda

Here's another interesting one. My aircraft has a best glide speed clean, and a best glide speed with flap. They are 8 knots apart.

I'd say that was flying "in company" rather than formation, and using a telephoto or zoom lens. I've thought of another one. Dunwich on North Stradbroke Island has regular fly-in breakfasts held there. They also have caravans on site for people flying in and staying on the island, at very reasonable rates. The caretaker is friendly and I'm sure he'd take you to the ferry/bus stop. From there you could get the ferry across to Cleveland and walk into town (or get a bus) for restaurants etc or a train into Brisbane. There's a great restaurant and pub at Cleveland Point, right on the water, with everything from french champagne down to take away fish and chips. Or you could stay on the island and get the bus to the other side of the island, with fantastic long white sandy beaches and boardwalks where you can see the dolphins in the surf or whales offshore. Fantastic.

I thought there was guidance about ALAs in a CAAP? There could be some helpful information there.

Captain, I'm allowing plenty of time so I'm hopeful. As they say, time to spare, go by air. Otherwise I may have to land on the "mainland" somewhere. I'll probably depart on the Wednesday, and I've allowed Monday & Tuesday to get back home. If that isn't enough time I may be a bit late for work! If the weather really is forecast to be horrible for that whole time (as Phillip Island can be!!) I might even drive down. I've been way too cold and wet and plastered with mud on rides down there previously! Hopefully though, it will be one of those special PI weekends when the sun is shining and Bass Strait is gleaming.

Is anyone going to Phillip Island for the MotoGP in October? Either riding or flying? I thought I'd fly down this year (weather permitting).

I'm another one. I currently have a (slightly modified!) Yamaha TRX850. Before that I had (slightly modified!) Kawasaki Z1000 (the new one, not the old "Stone" one). Before that I had a Ducati Monster.

Matt, I've sent you a PM! There are good places at Camden but not at the airport unfortunately, so you need to get a lift into town (not far, you could walk). There are lots of cafes etc on the main street, the Della something is my choice, but it isn't open on Sundays. A bit further out of town there's a great Tudor style English pub with an open fire, lovely gardens and good food. You'd need a lift (or taxi) to get there though.

Matt, are you formation rated? It could be fun flying into places with a CT/4 and Victa.

Welcome Megavar. I'm not sure about the western side of the country. If you are staying east, I'd suggest anywhere west of the great divide would be the best bet. Somewhere like Bathurst NSW or further affield. The coastal areas are nicer but the weather is not as reliable.

Darren if you want a program I'm sure the aerobatic club would have one on the website. That will give you an idea of what is on. The sequences should be on the website too.

I've both watched it and competed in it. Personally, I believe it IS worthwhile watching. Look at the more advanced classes for the more spectacular routines, and if you want to learn volunteer to be a penciller for the judges. Temora is a fantastic place. You can look at the Museum and the people in the town are wonderful.

Thanks!! Keep them coming if you can think of more, this is great! Maitland airport has a swimming pool and a bar (well, it did last time I was there a few years ago). Obviously the bar is for people who have finished flying! If anyone is flying into Bathurst drop in to Ward Air and Salli-Ann might make you a cappuccino and give you a home baked biscuit! Anyone planning an outback trip might want to consider Arkaroola (Flinders Ranges SA). It has a strip, and the owner of the place (Doug Sprigg) has a C207 and an Auster. He loves all aviators and will look after you (including picking you up). Arkaroola has camping to motel type rooms, a pool, good restaurant, and two observatories! There's an airstrip right at the Dig Tree. If you fly to the Corner Store (corner country) you have to taxi on to the road and go to the car park! The Phillip Island airstrip is close the track if anyone is going down for the MotoGP (I probably will - probably via Merimbula).

I'd love to get a list together of good places to go for a cup of coffee, lunch, or with places of interest near the airport. If it needs a taxi to get somewhere, please say so! Does anyone have suggestions? Places like Wollongong (has a restaurant in the terminal), Moruya (right on the beach) etc.

It wouldn't surprise me as the standard tanks are quite small.

The Pups I know about in Oz are 150s. I looked at buying one of them. It had low time but needed too much work unfortunately. Lovely to fly though, with that crisp light feel lacking in so many types. That one was at Williamtown but I don't know where it was sold. There was another one owned by an English guy and pretty much abandoned in a hangar in Parkes or somewhere similar. I can't remember the other one - Victoria maybe? There was one that was operated from Bankstown and crashed in a corn field. Apparently it was a real mess, but it may have been rebuilt. If you want one maybe search the CASA register and contact the owners (but please, please, please you let me have a fly?!!) The Maule doesn't have a max demonstrated xwind, it has a published crosswind limit which is very low. I know of incidents where experienced pilots have tested that limit and come to grief. I've flown the S2A (steerable tailwheel) and S1 (Haigh) and I wouldn't even think about landing with a tailwind!!

In the case of the Maule I don't think it has much to do with the tailwheel, it is due to the lack of aileron. I wouldn't recommend landing a Maule beyond the book xwind figures by the way. A Pitts isn't really worried by crosswind on approach (during taxi it sure is though). To the best of my knowledge there are 3 Beagle Pups in the country. I wish there were more!

Understood Nev! I'm not trying to be argumentative, as I said I'm happy in high or low wings, but the crosswind generalisation is not true. There are other factors besides how high the wings are - things like the aileron effectiveness/span. If you've ever flown a Maule you would know that 5 knots of crosswind is significant, and 10 knots means you need to consider landing across the strip or going to an alternate (or make sure you've paid your insurance). The reason for this is that they have a substantial amount of flap and not a great deal of aileron. So a generalisation that high wing = more bank angle = better in a crosswind is simply not true. The max crosswind of a Beagle Pup on the other hand is something like 25 knots (I don't have the figure in front of me) and the Airtourer is 20 knots. Perhaps this is because the Airtourer has full span flaperons. There are other factors such as how long the wings are. In my experience, short stubby wings are better in a crosswind. I seem to recall from the depths of my met training that wind increases with height, so surely this means the disrupted surface wind (from ground friction) that could get under a low wing would not be a strong as the wind likely to get under a high wing. Anyway, I don't think it is possible to say one is better than the other in a crosswind. I do think pilots need to know the limit of each type that they fly - whether high or low wing.

You'll get used to it! Quite a few nosewheel aircraft are a bit clumsy to steer on the ground, which is something that makes them stable when you are rolling down the runway - they want to stay straight. Tailwheel aircraft are trying to swap ends all the time, so they are nimble to turn when taxiing but much more "exciting" when rolling down the runway. You will probably have to use differential braking to make a tight turn in your 150. For gentle turns, try to think a bit in advance because it will lag a bit. If it still doesn't turn enough you could try a little jab of differential braking if required.

I don't have those exams, but maybe you could put the full question on here and the type of piper used for the take off chart?

I started in high wing and don't really mind either way too much, but I do prefer low wing. (I've had both Fords and Holdens too). Facthunter, I think you should hunt for more facts on crosswind capability in high vs low wing. The lowest crosswind maximum aircraft I've flown was a Maule (high wing), and the highest crosswind capability aircraft I've flown were two different low wing types. Lift is produced from the bit between the wings. I'm sure Spitfires etc managed to produce sufficient lift. I know that trickle of fuel down the neck!! I also know that ungainly climb up on the strut to get fuel, trying to haul the fuel hose up there and hang on to it while dipping tanks. It's also hard to clean the top of the wing (where any spilled fuel ends up). You don't get cooked in warriors, arrows, and I don't think jet airline pax complain about being cooked. The low wings that do get hot are those with canopies - however canopies give fantastic visibility, and of course you can taxi with them open. I've been MUCH hotter taxiing a Partenavia (high wing, angled windscreen) than taxiing a low wing canopy aircraft with the canopy open. So there are good and bad points, depending on what you want. Yes, canopy aircraft can get hot in the sun. Well ventilated ones are not hot in flight (but you can get sunburnt!) But you can open the canopy during taxi (and in flight in some aircraft), you have great visibility and the sun is lovely at times. You feel more like you are flying, not sitting in a car. Yes, it is absolutely true that high wing aircraft are better on strips with long grass/uneven terrain (as long as there is prop clearance of course), for taxiing through gates etc. They make great bush aircraft! Yes, Fords and Holdens. It depends what you want.

If we copied birds our aircraft would flap their wings!!

I've been waiting for the minisat one, it seems to be much smaller than the GME. Ian, I'd love to know when it is certified. Is the 6 week figure correct do you think? Or will it be another 6 weeks after this coming 6 weeks?

Have a look at anything seriously aerobatic. It will have a clear floor. By the way, I can't think of anything seriously aerobatic with high wings. Is there anything? Whilst it may be true that we don't spend most of our time in the circuit, it IS where we are closest to the ground and where there is the most traffic. I've had time in high wing, low wing and biplanes and I'm happy in all. However the best handling machines I've flown have been either low wing or biplane. I started in high wings and never really worried about the lack of visibility in a turn (& circuit) until I spent more time in low wings ... then every high wing base & final turn became an irritation! As someone said, horses for courses. Try both and see which you prefer.

I prefer low wing in the circuit because you can see through the turn. I prefer fuelling low wings. I also think they often look better. If you have short low wings the fact you can't see straight down is lessened as you can easily turn and have a look. Give me low short wings and a canopy any day. High wings make better bush aircraft - more wing clearance, good view down (although struts can get in the way a bit). You can also throw a tarp over the wing and have an instant tent, or just stand under the wing for shade on a hot day. They may be easier for some people to get into. The high wings I've flown do seem more ungainly in handling. If you are not sure there is only one solution for you - biplanes. Yes, they are the worst of both worlds!!

Welcome! The airports around are Bankstown (horrible place - think of Archerfield), Hoxton Park (closing in 2008), Camden (my favourite), The Oaks (RA airfield, near Camden), Wedderburn (getting further away now), and if you head north to the Central Coast there is Somersby (RA - trikes?) and Warnervale (which is also closing, not sure when). Bankstown is a GAAP, parallel runways, unfriendly. Hoxton is a CTAF with one sealed runway. GA, helicopters. The Oaks is a grass RA airfield, CTAF. Camden has one sealed runway and a grass cross strip. GAAP on weekends, CTAF during the week. GA, gliders, lots of interesting aircraft, friendly and a pretty place. Somersby has a pretty awful strip. CTAF. My suggestion would be to go out and have a look around before making your decision. Look at the airports, talk to people, look at the aircraft. You could easily visit Bankstown (if you want to), Hoxton, Camden and The Oaks in a day. Sometimes I find that talking on the phone is not the same as getting a feel for the place yourself. This weekend should be a good one - why not pop out and have a look?