BirdDog

Oh Dear. :( Let's hope he is OK.

I just pulled all 4 plugs on my 912ULS at the recent 100 and all were fine. I run mostly Mogas, but use avgas when I’m out and about. When you say fouled... how bad? Do you have a pic? I would firstly organize a leak down test to rule any of that out first and foremost. You don’t want to be chasing your tail. If that checks out, next step is idle mix. Check and set and rule that out. Make sure your carbs are balanced, needles all set etc, and you don’t idle below 2000 for any extended periods. That’s the process I would take. Good luck and let us know how you go. Cheers J

That’s them. Took a flight from Coota to Mudgee, via young, Cowra and Orange! Was a great couple of flights too. The Wx was awesome.

Wow! Just found this thread, and I am keen to get one of these in my bird. Had an episode on flight last week where a Chieftain crossed my track maybe 500ft - 1000ft below us. By the time Mel Cent had alerted us (I have a transponder) he was already right there. We didn't see him coming as he was moving quite fast. We would have missed, but it would have been really nice to know he was there a bit earlier. I have OzRunways up on my iPad mounted on the dash, so this is prefect. I also have a Garmin Aero on the dash, anyone know if they can work together with this Rasp Pi solution? Cheers J

So had a good fly last week and flew over a few.... Here are some for you. Number 1 Number 2 Number 3. Sorry about the glare. You can thank my Pax! Number 4

Ahh yep! Good old parachutes will also prevent you from flying over the field. Well done man! Looks like you re doing all the right things! :) How good is it aye!! :)

Yeah I hear you, but the organisation MUST have some level of positive cash flow. You never want to be scraping the bottom of the barrel. This will allow for better options for a range of activities and investments. The organisation can't grow if it stagnates. There is nothing for nothing in this world. FYI - Up to this point I have had an L2 looking after my bird, and was happy to pay that. I am taking over now more for my own interest rather than anything else, and still may get the L2 to do the 100 each year. Anyways... always good to throw these things around. :) Cheers J

Hi Mike, RAA is a great place to start man! Once you get your Nav Endorsement (not very expensive) you can pretty much fly the country (no controlled airspace). I just took the mrs up from south NSW to Mudgee and back for a quick trip! It will get you started! The birds are cheaper to hire, and the cost to get certified is lower than GA. Then, after you are happy and flying, you can then step up to either RPL or PPL with CASA etc to do more things. :) Good luck man and keep us posted. My buddy is learning to fly down your way, I will ask where he is and what his experiences are like. Cheers J

Congrats to you mate! Well done. I am relatively new to X-Endo too, so I know how you feel. My instructor did really put me through the ringer when it came to approaching an AD. He was very anal about not dropping in on the circuit. Stay high and get setup before you join. After all, if you are up high above the AD and above circuit height, you have time to reset and consider your options - Spot the windsock etc. During a training exercise I made the mistake of simply following another bird in. My instructor asked why I had chosen runway 16, and I said, "because he called it, so it must be the active". I soon found out that parachute planes like to get down quick and this guy was landing with 10-12kt tail wind. OK for him - not ok for me! :) So now I overfly every strip and spot that sock before I pick a runway. That said, I make sure I have a good knowledge of the AD I am approaching and play it out in my head before we get there. Of course the weather can swing that around should wind directions etc change. If you can get some time to do some circuits etc at a busy AD, it's really worth it. Dancing around with increased traffic gives you great experience at a familiar site. In regards to altitude/height. I, wherever possible go up! Gets me away from the swirly air, but also, gives me options should the fan stop! The higher you are, the longer you have should you need an emergency out. I just came back from a Nav to Mudgee and sat on 7500 all the way there. Clean smooth air, and the view is not bad either. :) Turbulence is never nice, and it took me a while to get use to it, and like stated earlier, accepting that it's not going to fall out of the sky or rip the wings off. It's pretty easy to descend on the dead side of the AD, and join, rather than spend 10 or 15 minutes getting belted because you dropped altitude to get setup for landing. As you fly more, your confidence will build, and you will soon be doing it like a champ. ALSO - Don't worry that you are nervous or anxious. That can be a good thing, as taking things for granted, or getting too relaxed could also be a detriment. Keep learning bro, and enjoy it! :) Cheers J

I have recently had my aircraft moved to a new hangar! (New for me) and I am renting the space. The hangar is shared between 2 birds, but both have independent access - in that - both birds can get in and out without the other being moved. I am happy to share the space, as it's clean, modern and perfect for me. The key I think is a good relationship with the owner. Communication is the key and respect the property that's not yours. I would love to say I can buy my own, but right now that is not financially viable, so I am happy to have her in a rented space. :)

I can't believe are crying over a fee increase! Surely you can't be serious! The rego on my plane and the membership to RAA are bugger all in the big scheme of things! $230 odd for me, and $165 for my bird. Seriously, if that is a problem for you, then maybe aviation is not where you should have your hobby. Think about it this way.... If not for organisations like RAA, we would all be staring down there barrel of CASA to fly, and let me tell you, the costs would be significantly more. I am new to RAA - about 18 months now, and I am happy as a pig. I own, and now maintain my own aircraft, can take it to all corners of the country (with respect to controlled airspace) and RAA will even give me some insurance too! What the heck more do you guys want for less than $400 a year! Yep... let's kick in the teeth of the very organisation that enables us to do what we do. Fairdinkum! If you think you can do better, I would prefer you get up, and go take a seat on the board, rather than sit in your corner and complain. Sorry guys, this gets my back up! Having started, and volunteered for organisations and associations, there is nothing worse than working your <mod censored> off for the betterment of the member base, only to have sideline warriors throw crap at you, but never want to give their own time to help. Anyways... rant over. EDIT - For the record, I have been in the aviation industry for 12 years! Trust me... it could be a WHOLE lot worse!

According to the radio chatter she ran out of petrol. (sic)

Wow! Awesome job!

I grew up in the shadow of Bankstown. Use to love watching the birds fly over my house. :)

Welcome aboard mate.

Hmm.. I had a look at the Wagga site just the other day but it looked like it had not been touched since 2016 so I thought the club might be gone! I am looking for a new club now that I have relocated. :)

Hi Adam. Welcome. I will be in Tassie in May. Where abouts are you exactly and what bird are you buying?

I’ve checked mine but it’s not updated yet. Thankfully I have nothing pressing as my L2 just did the 100 on my bird. Anyways. Happy Easter mate. Safe skies. ✈️✈️

A year!!! Jesus!!! i will let you know if I get a response from my last email.

:) Yeah man, I hear ya!. Would be nice to get a KDR though, so at least I know what questions I got wrong. I can't even see that! :(

Hi DU Yep. It is. :). An L2 has been looking after her and he walked me through the last one early this week. But from here on in, I will be looking after her unless something major comes up. I just think the system should not have been rolled out if it was not ready is all.

So... A few weeks later, and nothing has happened. No KDR, no acknowledgement of completion, no update in RAA. I have emailed, but no response, so will have to wait until after Easter. Does anyone know if the system is fully functioning? Or is it still in trail phase etc?

HOW COOL! I would love to build an aircraft! Time, sadly for me, would be the killer.

Oh man! Another one. :( RIP old mate! :(

Bit of a long trip to get that baby from New Mexico to here!! WOW!