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JG3

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  1. JG3
    Here's a wind/weather map that I find really fascinating and useful. Check different altitudes for head/tail winds. Different overlays for cloud, rain, even snow, etc. https://www.windyty.com/?950h,-25.760,129.902,4 Particularly useful is the forecast section. Just type a location in the search box and it gives a 5 day forecast. Particularly interesting is the cloud graphic. This is the forecast for Old Station this weekend..... https://www.windyty.com/spot/location/-23.843/151.256/name/Gladstone?950h,-23.842,152.272,9 Note the 15-20kt SE on Sunday...... JG
  2. JG3
    The article in the last mag, 'Seeing the USA from Above', missed including a link to the blog with the photos and the full story. And there are some pretty good photos of that spectacular scenery over there.... Come along for the ride at http://jgflyingroadtrip2014.blogspot.com.au/ JG
  3. JG3
    This is how I made a sun visor for my Savannah. Works really well, and wouldn't do without it. http://www.stolspeed.com/savannah-visor
  4. JG3
    I wonder how they cool that rotor with the hot exhaust gas flowing through it.....
  5. JG3
    The advantage of carrying a SPOT as well as an EPIRB is that there is provision in the SPOT for three levels of urgency. I have mine set up with the lowest level message as "All OK" for marking my position when all is well but I just want to notify of my present position to selected friends. The second level message is "Stranded but uninjured" for when I have landed out and damaged the gear such that I can't take off again. That message only goes to selected persons who I trust to organize local assistance. The third level message is "Injured need urgent assistance". That message goes to the selected friends as well as to SPOT headquarters who organize formal emergency response. I sure like to have those options so don't have to trigger the EPIRB and call in the cavalry for a non-injured stranding. There is also an option, at extra subscription cost, to automatically leave a 'breadcrumb' track of positions every few minutes. SPOT does work in OZ. A fella at our airfield accidentally pushed the emergency button when he just wanted to send the OK message to his wife. Within an hour the police arrived! SPOT uses a different satellite system than the EPIRB so not the same coverage, but it's good to have both options. JG
  6. JG3
    Don't count on it..... Busy airspace on weekends..... Keep your eyes open and use your radio..... JG
  7. JG3
    Narromine Phoenix Easter Fly-In The Narromine Fly-Ins of old were the best by far that I have ever attended, so sure would like to see them grow again... A lot of fond memories of times at Narromine..... Narromine is such a great place, and has an excellent local supportive atmosphere...... Midway between Brisbane and Melbourne, so is the preferred overnight stop when we fly that route..... Convenient accommodation right at the field, and a short walk to the pubs in town unless the aero club is open... Sure hoping that enough flyers will turn up to make it a growing success once again..... I was really looking forward to going this year to help support that effort, but serious family matters have taken priority... And unfortunately two mates from SE Qld who were also planning to go have encountered family and medical priorities.... Bummer...... JG
  8. JG3
    Does Coober Pedy have a taxi now?? Didn't when I was there last time, long way to town. Interesting underground motels. Famous pizza restaurant. Curtain Springs is an ideal base for the 'Rock'. Right price, friendly atmosphere, not so upmarket as Uluru, near enough but not too near... JG
  9. JG3
  10. JG3
    I remember reading a tourist guide about the 'Lake', saying that an aircraft got stuck there in the 60's, and is now "...a small salt-encrusted island.." Anyone tempted to try a landing out there needs to remember that image. I once watched a STOL aircraft try a touch and go on the surface, but broke through and started making deep tracks as the mud got hold. Fortunately he had enough power 100hp Rotax and a good high lift wing (Zenith 701) and a light load, but just barely managed to pull free......... It was a very close call, and a very tense time, with probably just as much of a mess in his shorts as the mud below.... Actually, I have landed out in the middle of Lake Eyre in a Beaver ultralight many years ago. But that was only after first walking out 4 hours under a full moon, and identifying a solid hard salt pan and marking it with my GPS. That spot was just as hard a concrete, as I found when I slept out there the rest of the night without a mattress.... Had to skirt around lots of soft muddy spots that looked just the same from the air but would have been traps for the unwary. Flew out the next morning and landed on that absolutely smooth surface, Waa-Hoo! JG
  11. JG3
    Exactly! JG
  12. JG3
    The Wright Flyer wasn't a realistic product at the time of it's first flight..... Standby to watch developments....
  13. JG3
    Oh dear, that might put the earth out of balance and into a wobble.......
  14. JG3
    The 747 at Longreach didn't look mouldy the last time I saw it several years ago. Maybe exterior paint will suffer in the tropical sun, but it's a really interesting display to get up close to and inside. I found that crawling around inside and getting a close look at all the control cables and wiring and complexity was really interesting. More so than the museum which is just like any other museum with 'no-touch' objects on display.... JG
  15. JG3
    But the fact is that the Fly-Ins at Narromine were very successful and popular, 200+ aircraft attending. When it moved to Temora it declined until failing completely.....
  16. JG3
  17. JG3
    So, anyone else planning on Narromine at Easter?? JG
  18. JG3
    [quote= (Moruya is an interesting airfield as regards to security. JG Correction. That should have been Merimbula.... JG
  19. JG3
    This raises an issue that I've been wondering about.... Who has the authority to insist upon checking your ASIC card?? I suppose the airport manager for one, and maybe a security guard assigned to the airfield, but who else?? The only time that I was thoroughly checked was at Moruya, NSW. I had the card hanging from a lanyard around my neck, and the manager approached me an showed his ID and requested to have a closer look. I held it out so he could get a good look but didn't let it go. He checked that the photo matched and carefully checked the expiry date, no problems. But if the fuel man or someone else wants to be the policeman, seems to me he should have to first show an ID issued by the airfield management.... But whatever you do don't hand over your ASIC or your pilot's certificate. Let them have a look but don't let go.... (Moruya is an interesting airfield as regards to security. It's surrounded by both a double electric fence and an infra-red light beam, I've never seen that security anywhere else..... I wonder what it is that needs such protection?? I was camped there and did note that after dark there were a lot of light twins coming and going..... Probably just couriers, but a conspiracy freak could make a story out of it.....) JG
  20. JG3
    The original axle wasn't good design - not enough meat where needed, and machining stress risers at just the wrong places... When it fails it breaks completely and drops the nose fork on the ground, causing a prop strike and if enough speed possibly digging in and flipping the aircraft on its back.... The through bolt bends but holds it all together.
  21. JG3
    You can really see it on this real time wind graphic. Click anywhere to see temp and wind speed. http://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/surface/level/overlay=temp/orthographic=-225.63,-24.46,790
  22. JG3
    Fly-In to Narromine Aerodrome Start:Thu 02 Apr 2015 End:Sun 05 Apr 2015 Description:Fly-In to Narromine Aerodrome at Easter 2015 Dates are April 2 to April 5. Nav and observation exercise, accommodation options include on-field camping, caravan park, local accommodation, farm stay or billets, entertainment, meals, tours to local sights, etc. Other attractions to be advised. Organised by Flying Sub-committee of Narromine Aero Club and supported by Narromine Shire. I'm definitely going to be there. Hoping we can bring back some of the good times that we used to have at Narromine. JG
  23. JG3
    So, who else is interested in going to Narromine??? Those of us who went in the early days remember those as the best fly-ins ever! Then it went downhill as it got more organized and commercial. I reckon we could do it again, just needs keen fliers to show up. They've always been welcoming, and all we need is already there, without a big deal organization and sponsorship.... JG
  24. JG3
    Yeh, I did a search as well but couldn't find it......
  25. JG3
    There was mention awhile ago of a Narromine Homecoming Fly-In planned for Easter..... I'd be keen to go. How many others?? JG
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