Ivan B

Another0.6 With Instructor, Steep turns getting better, Side slip practrice:smile:, 0.4 Solo curcuits.

ayavner I have 12.5 Dual 3.6 Solo = 16.1. Still need to learn more and get those steep turns correct every time. I'm hopping I can get it all together in the next 4 Hrs.

0.9 Today with instructor. Revision on steep turns, Stalls and Emergency procedures. Can keep the steep turn inside the 100+- feet but not every time so I will need to practice that a bit more. Stall recovery no problem, but I am at 3,000 agl. Gliding back to a runway from different locations in the curcuit and keeping the plane at the correct speed is not a problem but I am still a little to high on my approach. I need to trust the glide just a little more. Still better to be to high than to low.

The other big question is where it will be hangered, who is flying it and when. As you know weather can ruin weekends for weeks, then everyone wants to fly on the same weekend. And every hour you fly you would still be required to put somthing it the kitty. The other issue is who is going to clean the aircaft, One person my do a very good job and put in a lot of effort and another my do a crap job leaving you with a bug covered aircraft:crying:. Then who pays for upgrades when you are happy with the setup and someone else isn't. In a perfect world shares sound great. Hire is more expensive but you can usually get an aircraft when you need it, At the end of the flight you can just leave it not spending the next hr cleaning. Also when major repaire(s) are needed you don't have to have the money to fix it or worse wait for another person with a share to have the funds so you can fly your plane. I have thought about this myself and although I have very limmited flying time and time around RA. I have come to the conclusion it is either better to hire, or purchase a safe but maybe less efficiant aircraft eg slower than you would like and less fuel carry capacity (More stops and time to get to where you need to be). I'm sure other people with real experiance about this will give you their opinion.

Nice Hr Solo Today, Flying along the Illawarra coast then back for a couple of Curcuits.

ayavner I wont be doing my nav's as soon as I'm finished Area Cert as I will be on Holidays in August Sept but I do hope to have my Cert for local flying by end of June. You will have your Nav's completed before I do and I look forward to reading about it and your tail wheel experiance. Another Hour today, A Couple of firsts, The Instructor told me to check the plane and go for a fly and if I got bored I could leave the curcuit. So after a couple of touch n go's of I went for my first Solo out of the curcuit . I only fley 6-7 Miles away but I was finally Solo and out of the curcuit. And first Solo without taking the Instructor for a curcuit or two before dropping him off at the Hanger.. What a great day from removing all the covers, taking the engine cowl off, checking the engine.Checking for COWS in the fuel (I love that, COWS in the fuel it always puts a smile on my face)(Colour Odor Water Sediment) Visual fuel level check with the stick. Then all the usual air frame checks (to many to list) Then jump in and do all the run ups, radio checks ect. then fly away for an hour then come back and park the plane, All on my own and without incident or stress.

The Alpha is very nice. Bit harder to get into as I'm a bit (a lot) over weight but once in its comfortable. Controlls are lighter and more responsive than the jab. If you drop the nose just a little the speed increses much quicker than the Jab (Very Slick). Also any lift eg thermals on final and you will find your touch down point a lot further down the runway than planned. I only did 2 landings in it, first one assisted by Instructor, second one he just made sure I didn't drop the nose to early. It hangs up there much longer than the Jab. Over all you just need to be a bit lighter and more accurate with the controlls but by the end of the hour I was getting used to it. As you know I only have around 13 hours Totoal Flying time. So I think I would need a good hour or two (maybe more) of curcuits before I would be comfortable flying Solo in it. Vision to the sides is better but the front you cant see as low (If that makes sense) and it does have a little window in the roof so in steep turns when the wing blocks your view you can get a quick look to that side. The rudder is smoother (Much better) both for taxiing and in flight, I would recomend you have a go of the Alpha when you can. If you are going to do your cross country cert or just for taking friends and family for a fly this would be better than the Jab. As its, Newer, Has the more reliable Rotax Motor, Quieter, Better Side view for your passegers and faster for X country I also want to finish my training in the Jabs. Although I think The Instructor would rather me convert to the Alpha as i think he wants to retire the 170. But I can still fly the 160.

An Hour today with the Instructor in his Pipistrel Alpha (What a sleek aircraft) Leaving and Entering curcuit practice.

Another 0.3 with instructor and 0.6 Solo curcuits

Today at YWOL 0.3 with the instructor then 0.6 touch n go's Solo

Hope it went well ayavner Just got back from Wings over Illawarra, had a great day and the weather was very compliant

Passed my Human Factors Exam Yesturday (all done)

All going well I will have my cert by August. Athough I'm on no time line, thats what I'm hopping for. I will then be taking a 2 month break (Holiday) So it will be back to the Instructor for more lessons when I get back. Keep flying at YWOL when you can, from your other posts you don't seem to happy with the guys at YSBK. I know its further to travel but if your getting to fly when YOU can and getting good instruction its got to be worth the extra time and money IMO

Great stuff ayavner. I'm sure I will catch up with you one day at YWOL.

Had a good day today, Firstly I have to correct my total Hours from my previous post I had 9.3 not 8.8. Then today another 0.7 hours of emergency procedures. Then the best bit. The instuctor asked for a full stop landing got out and sent me on my FIRST SOLO Two Touch n Go's and a full stop. Great day for it, mild SE wind 4-6kts, Overcast high cloud and only a couple of other aircraft in the area. I was at 1,000 before turning downwind. I usually get to 1,000 about half way down wind in the Jab 160. First landing was a little long with the reduced weight, Corrected for my next two landings. The Instuctors where both waiting for me when I taxied to parking. Can't thank them enough for their training. I am looking forward to the rest of my training and improving my piloting skills. And thank you for the encouraging and friendly comments on this forum . PS. I have sore cheeks from smiling all afternoon.

Just booked two gold Tickets for Me and my Dad Awsome:oh yeah:

I was flying on Friday and my son had his second lesson on Saturday. It was a good day for flying but only one instrutor available so I missed out on the Saturday fly.

8.8 Hrs, Soon the instructor will ask for a full stop landing get out and not get back in. I just want a little more practace on gliding (dead stick) landings. Instructor is happy but I want to be better at it. You never know It could be that first solo that the Jab Engine decides to stop.

Another Hour today. Touch n go's in the 160.

Thnaks Phill I still have a lot to learn. Although it has been chalenging at times I have a great instructor and CFI who also make it fun. I will make a note of your book suggestion but am currently studying for the Human Factors exam and continually reviewing rules and regs, radio procedures ect... The Stalling I refered to previously where intentional training stalls and although I had read a lot on this site about yoke stall position every time we where close to stall the instructor reminded me to remember that yoke position as one of the key indicators of the plane stalling or about to stall. He also covered the high speed stalls you refer to both while we where in the air and on the ground. My instructor also spends a lot of time after lessons explaining different aspects of the flight we have just completed and what we would be covering in our next flight. (This is all unpaid as I am only paying for flying hours so I am very greatfull for all the extra time he gives me when he can ). I'm sure it will get a lot HARDER but I'm not scared yet. I'm in no rush. If it takes me 30-40 hours training just to get my license for local flying then thats what it takes. Although I think I'm on track for 20-25 hours before the big test.

0.8 hours today, Emergency procedures in curcuit and at an unfamiliar area.

Another Hour today, How much fun is stalling the plane. Stalled with no Power, Stalled with Power, Stalled with Flaps, Then some spiral dives. Then emergeny landing procedure in curcuit. Instructor pulled power on downwind runway 34 Fortunatally Wollongong has runway 26 so I headed for that, was to high so turned mid field on to runway 34 (very long runway for this type of plane) and as buy this time we where getting a bit low so it was not practical or safe to turn to steep so we landed just to the left of the runway on the grass. One of the best hours flying yet.

passed my BAK test yesturday.

Another Hour Yesturday, touch n go's revision on smoother turns and started on emergency procedures. The hour just Fly's by.

Nice Pics Adam, It realy is a beautiful area