dunlopdangler

I bet you meant "CTAF®" cfi:stirring pot:

I am with Stanz...most likely a gypsy queen mark 2 engine.by the look of it...powered the Percival Prentice (is that what it is attached to?) As well as the heron..I think

Well said Ross, we have certainly lost one of natures gentlemen...and he will be missed.

I would just keep on phoning a member (same one all the time) of the group to come out and move the offending aircraft everytime you want to fly...or worse phone them after you have moved the aircraft outside and tell them you can't move it by yourself since it has a flat tyre...they will soon fix it... and careful if you intend to tamper with the aircraft....federal JAILABLE offence if proven

these days it is good to see young people doing worthwhile things and good on you Tom. In case I dont catch up with you prior to your departure, have a safe trip and enjoy the experience.

on the light side reminds me of this old yarn:big_grin: Hi Mate, > > I am writing to you because I need your help to get me bloody > pilot's license back. You keep telling me you got all the right > contacts. Well now's your chance to make something happen for me > because, mate, I'm bloody desperate. But first, I'd better tell you > what happened during my last flight review with the CASA Examiner. > > On the phone, Ron (that's the CASA shxxhead), seemed a reasonable sort > of a bloke. He politely reminded me of the need to do a flight > review every two years. He even offered to drive out, have a look > over my property and let me operate from my own strip. Naturally I > agreed to that. > > Anyway, Ron turned up last Wednesday. First up, he said he was a bit > surprised to see the plane on a small strip outside my homestead, > because the "ALA"(Authorized Landing Area), is about a mile away. I > explained that because this strip was so close to the homestead, it > was more convenient than the "ALA," and despite the power lines > crossing about midway down the strip, it's really not a problem to > land and take-off, because at the halfway point down the strip > you're usually still on the ground. > > For some reason Ron, seemed nervous. So, although I had done the pre- > flight inspection only four days earlier, I decided to do it all > over again. Because the ***** was watching me carefully, I walked > around the plane three times instead of my usual two. > > My effort was rewarded because the colour finally returned to Ron's > cheeks. In fact, they went a bright red. In view of Ron's obviously > better mood, I told him I was going to combine the test flight with > some farm work, as I had to deliver three "poddy calves" from the home > paddock to the main herd. After a bit of a chase I finally caught > the calves and threw them into the back of the ol' Cessna 172. We > climbed aboard but Ron, started getting onto me about weight and > balance calculations and all that crap. Of course I knew that sort > of thing was a waste of time because calves, like to move around a > bit particularly when they see themselves 500-feet off the ground! > So, it's bloody pointless trying to secure them as you know. > However, I did tell Ron that he shouldn't worry as I always keep the > trim wheel set on neutral to ensure we remain pretty stable at all > stages throughout the flight. > > Anyway, I started the engine and cleverly minimized the warm-up time > by tramping hard on the brakes and gunning her to 2,500 RPM. I then > discovered that Ron has very acute hearing, even though he was > wearing a bloody headset. Through all that noise he detected a > metallic rattle and demanded I account for it. Actually it began > about a month ago and was caused by a screwdriver that fell down a > hole in the floor and lodged in the fuel selector mechanism. The > selector can't be moved now, but it doesn't matter because it's > jammed on " Both tanks," so I suppose that's Okay. > > However, as Ron was obviously a nit-picker, I blamed the noise on > vibration from a stainless steel thermos flask which I keep in a > beaut little possie between the windshield and the magnetic compass. > My explanation seemed to relax Ron, because he slumped back in the > seat and kept looking up at the cockpit roof. I released the brakes > to taxi out, but unfortunately the plane gave a leap and spun to the > right. "Hell" I thought, "not the starboard wheel chock again." > > The bump jolted Ron back to full alertness. He looked around just in > time to see a rock thrown by the prop-wash disappear completely > through the windscreen of his brand new Commodore. "Now I'm really > in trouble," I thought... > > While Ron was busy ranting about his car, I ignored his requirement > that we taxi to the "ALA," and instead took off under the power lines. > Ron didn't say a word, at least not until the engine started > coughing right at the lift off point, and then he bloody screamed > his head off. "Oh God! Oh God! Oh God!" > > "Now take it easy Ron," I told him firmly. "That often happens on > take-off and there is a good reason for it." I explained patiently > that I usually run the plane on standard MOGAS, but one day I > accidentally put in a gallon or two of kerosene. To compensate for > the low octane of the kerosene, I siphoned in a few gallons of super > MOGAS and shook the wings up and down a few times to mix it up. > Since then, the engine has been coughing a bit but in general it > works just fine, if you know how to coax it properly. > > Anyway, at this stage Ron seemed to lose all interest in my test > flight. He pulled out some rosary beads, closed his eyes and became > lost in prayer(I didn't think anyone was a Catholic these days). I > selected some nice music on the ADF radio to help him relax. > Meanwhile, I climbed to my normal cruising altitude of 10,500-feet. > I don't normally put in a flight plan or get the weather because, as > you know getting FAX access out here is a friggin' joke and the > weather is always "8/8 blue" anyway. But since I had that near miss > with a Saab 340, I might have to change me thinking on that. > > Anyhow, on leveling out, I noticed some wild camels heading into my > improved pasture. I hate bloody camels, and always carry a loaded > 303, clipped inside the door of the Cessna just in case I see any of > the bastards. > > We were too high to hit them, but as a matter of principle, I > decided to have a go through the open window. Mate, when I pulled > the bloody rifle out, the effect on Ron, was friggin' electric. As I > fired the first shot his neck lengthened by about six inches and his > eyes bulged like a rabbit with myxo. He really looked as if he had > been jabbed with an electric cattle prod on full power. In fact, > Ron's reaction was so distracting that I lost concentration for a > second and the next shot went straight through the port tyre. Ron > was a bit upset about the shooting (probably one of those pinko > animal lovers I guess) so I decided not to tell him about our little > problem with the tyre. > > Shortly afterwards I located the main herd and decided to do my > fighter pilot trick. Ron had gone back to praying when, in one > smooth sequence, I pulled on full flaps, cut the power and started a > sideslip from 10,500-feet down to 500-feet at 130, knots indicated > (the last time I looked anyway) and the little needle rushed up to > the red area on me ASI. What a buzz, mate! About half way through > the descent I looked back in the cabin to see the calves gracefully > suspended in mid air and mooing like crazy. I was going to comment to > Ron on this unusual sight, but he looked a bit green and had rolled > himself into the fetal position and was screamin' his freakin' head > off. Mate, talk about being in a bloody zoo. You should've been > there, it was so bloody funny! > > At about 500-feet I leveled out, but for some reason we kept > sinking. When we reached 50-feet, I applied full power but nothin' > happened. No noise no nothin'. Then, luckily, I heard me > instructor's voice in me head saying "carb heat, carb heat." So I > pulled carb heat on and that helped quite a lot, with the engine > finally regaining full power. Whew, that was really close, let me > tell you! > > Then mate, you'll never guess what happened next! As luck would have > it, at that height we flew into a massive dust cloud caused by the > cattle and suddenly went I.F. bloody R, mate. BJ, you would have > been really proud of me as I didn't panic once, not once, but I did > make a mental note to consider an instrument rating as soon as me > gyro is repaired (something I've been meaning to do for a while > (now). Suddenly Ron's elongated neck and bulging eyes reappeared. His > Mouth opened wide, very wide, but no sound emerged. "Take it easy," > I told him, "we'll be out of this in a minute." Sure enough, about a > minute later we emerged, still straight and level and still at > 50-feet. > > Admittedly I was surprised to notice that we were upside down, and I > kept thinking to myself, "I hope Ron didn't notice that I had > forgotten to set the QNH when we were taxiing." This minor > tribulation forced me to fly to a nearby valley in which I had to do > a half roll to get upright again. > > By now the main herd had divided into two groups leaving a narrow > strip between them. "Ah!" I thought, "there's an omen. We'll land > right there." Knowing that the tyre problem demanded a slow > approach, I flew a couple of steep turns with full flap. Soon the > stall warning horn was blaring so loud in me ear that I cut it's > circuit breaker to shut it up, but by then I knew we were slow > enough anyway. I turned steeply onto a 75-foot final and put her > down with a real thud. Strangely enough, I had always thought you > could only ground loop in a tail dragger but, as usual, I was proved > wrong again! > > Halfway through our third loop, Ron at last recovered his sense of > humor. Talk about laugh. I've never seen the likes of it. He > couldn't stop. We finally rolled to a halt and I released the > calves who bolted out of the aircraft like there was no tomorrow. > > I then began picking clumps of dry grass. Between gut wrenching fits > of laughter, Ron asked what I was doing. I explained that we had to > stuff the port tyre with grass so we could fly back to the > homestead. It was then that Ron, really lost the plot and started > running away from the aircraft. Can you believe it? The last time I > saw him he was off into the distance, arms flailing in the air and > still shrieking with laughter. I later heard that he had been > confined to a psychiatric institution - poor bugger! > > Anyhow mate, that's enough about Ron. The problem is I got this > letter from CASA withdrawing, as they put it, my privileges to fly; > until I have undergone a complete pilot training course again and > undertaken another flight proficiency test. > > Now I admit that I made a mistake in taxiing over the wheel chock > and not setting the QNH using strip elevation, but I can't see what > else I did that was a so bloody bad that they have to withdraw me > flamin' license. Can you?

Motz, these guys aren't indictive of any mindset out there in ga ga land...as others have posted, they would get sorted out at many establishments where professionalism is a given. I have flown into Albion Park and I now must say this would not be an isolated incident as I witnessed some fairly ordinary airmanship as well on my visit there...didn't say anything at the time because everyone can make a mistake and seems that it may be a reflection on the school there. With attitudes like these guys are displaying, they will probably not get into the pointy end of the big silver thingies as they will more than likely fail the physc test..

great pics, takes me back to when I was a resident of WA and flying the mooneys...got a video somewhere of doing formation flying with similar shots:big_grin:

Phone Sunland Aviation, they are the school that Mazda was suggesting, get Adam's contact number (Cirrus Sales Manager) or Steve Malby (owner Cirrus Australia/Sunland) ask who has them for hire in the Sydney basin area..and as Mazda has commented, will need to meet all the regulatory requirements.....there are a few schools with both SR20 and SR22 in their fleets but I couldn't tell you which ones.

at 185cm, you will fit without too much problem...cabin width isn't bad neither. Dan Denny originally designed before branching out with Kitfox..( which he sold some time ago) not sure if he still has something to do with Avid.

I would call it an expensive landing:black_eye:

Note to self....pack tent, knock-down surf fishing rods, swimmers, shark repellant, $20..:big_grin:

Then there is always Dalby aerodrome...has a camping area (no showers unfortunately) get to meet up with some characters (including Tomo) though...:big_grin:

same plane was at Dalby during recent gliding championships and I watched it get fueled up at the avgas bowser..

Mayor of the Lockyer Valley Regional Council (Gatton) is also pushing for another major airport in the region...and talking about airparks, Gatton Airpark has released another section of house blocks, I called in there the other day and I must congratulate those involved.

mmmm...I wonder if the guys at Archerfield, Parafield, Morrabin and Jandakot are privy to Bankstown's inititivei_dunno

Michael, a lot of r&d has gone into aircraft engine development here in australia and overseas, most have all hit the wall financially or been stifled by regulation. Probably the most promising overall at the time (mid 90s) was the german Zoche which was a light weight 2 stroke diesel which I have not heard too much about lately, last I heard was that they were having certification issues. With a pending (eventually) shortage of fossil fuels...most new r&d is being carried out with electric and hybrid systems. As Burbles has stated, there is a phetora of engines on the current market already with Lycoming even identifying the growing recreational market. By all means don't let my comments dissuade you from having a go, Rotax and Jab do have a market fitting a niche. good luck with your endeavours.

Did ya mum get her phone back tomo? nice photos by the way:laugh:

was sent this link to a commercial operator and found it interesting, so thought you lot might find the same....:big_grin: FLOOD WATER UPDATES

We have our planes fully insured...that is hull insurance, public liability and seat cover, therefore, pilot and passengers (and those on the ground) are covered providing we don't do anything illegal, and in the case of flying in one of the planes that can do aeros, we are also covered in case things go pear shaped...As with personal life insurance, you will find plenty of exclusions so check the small print and shop around for the best coverage to suit you.......and darky, don't go doing any aeros in that warrior, things will get ugly real quick

looks like mine as well Farri...:gerg:

Well, Barn and I got there in the 52 as we didn't have a seal fixed on the prop of the 55 in time to take both over. The NOTAM out suggested limited parking due to soft-wet-surface and it was indeed a tad damp underfoot. I was impressed with the organisation of the event and felt their pain (as with Dalby in August....bloody rain!!) if the weather gods are smiling we might head back over in both tomorrow...bumped into Tomo as we were leaving..here are some pics

try ebay thomas....

....and I was stuck in bloody brisbane!!

I'd have to agree with you Bill...and I would suspect they were a little early going three dimensional..judging by the wing drop..hope they got out OK