2tonne

I approach at 500 ft above circuit height and then descend to join crosswind over the threshold. It was what I was taught to do, and it gives you a good view of what is happening with traffic. Haven't given much thought to it otherwise.

Air crash investigators is just about my favourite show! And it was the book QF32 that got me interested in taking up flying lessons in the first place.

I did my early training in a J160 and soloed in it. Can't say I suffered from pucker value to a high level. Doesn't matter what engine I am flying behind I keep in mind that it might stop and fly accordingly.

I understand your reason for changing schools. When I was in Melbourne I was training at Lilydale. While the school and my instructor were great, it was almost an hour travel each way to get there. So, I tried a couple of GA lessons at Essendon which was closer. Decided that was too expensive (and didn't really click with the instructor) and kept travelling to Lilydale. I found it beneficial to train in different aircraft with different instructors, although it almost certainly cost me a few more hours to get the certificate. Each instructor has a different background and teaching style and get you get a broader range of views and practical experience compared to just having the one instructor. I have been lucky as my instructor at Lilydale (Bob) and Mahl and Wayne at Fly-Now are all excellent instructors and it has been a pleasure learning to fly with them.

I agree. I moved to Brisbane in January and continued my training with Mahl and Wayne. I have really enjoyed flying with them and completed my certificate in September. Next step will be pax and then Nav endorsements in either the Tecnam or CTMC.

Yes, that is the one.

Hi Nightmare, glad to hear the training is progressing well. With first solo approaching it is exciting times. I just went 'solo' in the CTMC on the weekend, so got signed-off on the aircraft with adjustable prop endorsement. Was exciting to fly solo in a new aircraft, but nowhere near the buzz of the "first" solo! Cheers, 2tonne

I have just had a quick look at the new site and it looks good, a big improvement. I found it straightforward to navigate and find useful information.

Geoff, I reckon the Goldwing is the most stylin' bike out there.

Sorry Ian, I recently started a thread about over regulation by bureaucrats thinking it might generate some discussion of the regulation of aviation...it has somehow morphed into a discussion of religion and evolution

Where to start... I agree that DNA and RNA are pretty amazing and that the life is complex. But, when it comes to 'atrophy of this chemical coding' I have no idea what you are talking about. DNA and RNA genomes accrue mutations through the process of molecular evolution. This can be slow, eg by accruing single point mutations over long periods of time, or it can be fast, eg by horizontal gene transfer (especially think of microorganism here). Any mutation may be neutral (no effect on phenotypic trait), positive (gives some selection advantage) or negative (is deleterious). The study of population genetics is basically the mathematical study (probabilities) than any given genotype will persist in a population and become either more or less prevalent within the population, causing genetic drift over time (usually very long periods of time, but as mentioned before, you can get a relatively rapid change in some circumstances such as through horizontal transfer or a mutation of larger size, eg Deletion of a gene function, or substantial modification of protein function). I think part of your problem is trying to draw a line between natural selection and this so called macro evolution. What you don't seem to appreciate is that within the scientific community, it is not always clear what distinguishes one species from another. For example, one definition is that different species cannot interbreed. But this does not always hold true, look for example at the wolf and domestic dog. They were once considered different species, but now the domestic dog is considered a subspecies of the wolf (Canis lupus familiaris) and genetic studies indicate that the domestic dog diverged from the wolf around 30,000 to 40,000 years ago. Think also of the mule. Taxonomists are often arguing about whether a particular organism is a certain species, or if it should be allocated a new species. Hence, I don't understand what the 'transitionals' are supposed to be. Maybe the 'fronkey'?, the famed half frog half monkey that is supposedly missing from the fossil record. Essentially, genetic evolution is a function of biochemistry, which in turn is driven by physical processes (the physicists say that everything comes down to physics) over time. Intelligent design to me is a way of saying "I don't understand these processes, they are too complex, therefore someone smarter than us must have done this". Bit of a cop out and not what science is all about.

Having studied molecular genetics and molecular evolution (and natural selection) as part of a biological science degree (then followed by a PhD in molecular biology) I find some pretty rare theories being put forward here...

The inbound 10nm or earlier call doesn't apply when two CTAFs are located close together, such as with Redcliffe and Caboolture. In that case the accepted procedure is to make an inbound call at Beachmere which is roughly half way between the two airfields (~4.5 nm).

I came across this website by Philip O'Carroll (cobbers.org.au) and thought it might be of interest to a few people on here. Philip describes the growing menace of bureaucracy in Australia and the resulting restriction of freedoms. I think most of the posts are a few years old now, but reading through it almost seems as though he had CASA in mind. This page is particularly relevant to CASA... http://cobbers.org.au/other-issues.html ("The false god of safety") I know Philip because our kids went to the school that he founded back in 1976 (I believe he was a bit of a 'hippy' in his day) and I have had some interesting discussions with him in the last couple of years. He still has some really refreshing views on how we should be able to live our lives free of restrictions that are put in place in an attempt to minimise small risks of harm.

Shine lawyers are already thinking about it https://www.shine.com.au/operating-limitations-on-aircraft-with-jabiru-engines/

Shine lawyers are already thinking about it https://www.shine.com.au/operating-limitations-on-aircraft-with-jabiru-engines/

Yes Nightmare, she certainly is. Took a few hours to convert from the J160, but once I could remember where all the switches were it was all good.

Yes Nightmare, she certainly is. Took a few hours to convert from the J160, but once I could remember where all the switches were it was all good.

I have been caught out even when paying by paypal. I lodged a dispute with paypal after an order through an Australian website didn't show after two weeks and I could get no response from the website's owner. Paypal apparently queried him and he replied to say that the items had been sent and produced a tracking order (placed after I had lodged the dispute). The order turned up a few days later but was missing most of what I ordered and the other stuff was not what I had ordered. At that point paypal said the dispute was closed because the order had shipped. Complete waste of time and I lost about $80 to a dodgy QLD business.

I have been caught out even when paying by paypal. I lodged a dispute with paypal after an order through an Australian website didn't show after two weeks and I could get no response from the website's owner. Paypal apparently queried him and he replied to say that the items had been sent and produced a tracking order (placed after I had lodged the dispute). The order turned up a few days later but was missing most of what I ordered and the other stuff was not what I had ordered. At that point paypal said the dispute was closed because the order had shipped. Complete waste of time and I lost about $80 to a dodgy QLD business.

When the pilot first posted a video of low level flying, I commented to my wife that it was risky and that pilots that engage in those risks are the ones that end up in the statistics. I now feel that I should have directed those comments at the pilot. May not have made a difference, but by not condemning it at the time, are we somehow giving implied acceptance of these activities?

That's the way I read it as well.

Yesterday afternoon I had a couple of circuits in 7600 at Redcliffe. Then Mahl stepped out and I went out for a fly by myself up around Bribie, practising a few turns trimmed at different speeds. It was smooth air and really enjoyed it. Returned to Redcliffe in time to see the de Havilland Dove doing a few circuits. Can't think of a better way to spend a lazy Sunday arvo.

Some more on kale shakes http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/northern-beaches/avalon-stripped-back-or-should-that-be-striped-parody-pokes-fun-at-suburban-middle-class/story-fngr8hax-1227249463838

The outlaw's shed is pretty much like that one, although he has enclosed one end.