Guest Flygirltake2 Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 Hi fellow aviators I grew up with an aeroengineer as a grandfather and spent many hours as a child at the Royal Jersey Aero Club in the Channel Islands and on flyaways to other Channel Islands or to France. My Grandfather owned a Chipmunk and took aircadets flying and teaching them aerobatics. I was a keen plain spotter from the age of 9 but for some reason did not develop a desire to fly until my mid 20's, after my Grandfather had retired. On a whim I threw in my day job in the finance industry in Jersey and travelled to Sebastian, Florida where I spent the next 3 months learning to fly. I had a blast meeting people from around the world hour building or obtaining their ppl and flying on a daily basis to the Florida Keys, Bahamas and all around Florida. Fast track to 2008... 2 children, debt and 20 years later... I find my son invited to a Young Eagles day at Moorabin, Victoria and being the more interested party in attending!! Currently I am in the process of converting my US license to an Ozzie one. All my previous hours and experience count. I stumbled across this community and found lots of of very dedicated experienced individuals who are happy to share their experiences. I hope you all don't mind if I ask really stupid questions as I re-equip myself with some of the essentials I have forgotten. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slartibartfast Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 Welcome to the site. Feel free to ask questions, just don't listen to anything I say. Except what I just said. You must have some great photos of your travels too. Please post a few here and there. Enjoy, Ross Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Flygirltake2 Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 Hi Ross Thank you! I now have one person to ask questions!! Don't don't know if I can post pictures of me 20 years ago.... :-) Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelorus32 Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 Hi Karen, welcome. This place is full of "second time around" pilots. Once you are hooked you seem to stay hooked. For me the gap was a mere 30 years. But it's like riding a bike: some of the details might fade but you still know how to stay upright. Great to have your company. regards Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Flygirltake2 Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 Thanks Mike!!! I don't know about the riding the bike bit tho' ..... Self preservation seems a lot higher on my list of priorities than it used to be and my confidence levels have decreased inversley proportional to my age :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueshed Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 Hi Karen Welcome from central Oz, Jamestown SA couple hundred k's north of Adelaide. Flew into Essendon the other week, first time in Radar control in 20 years! You'll be right, you can do it! Cheers and have fun, Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Flygirltake2 Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 Hi KarenWelcome from central Oz, Jamestown SA couple hundred k's north of Adelaide. Flew into Essendon the other week, first time in Radar control in 20 years! You'll be right, you can do it! Cheers and have fun, Guy Hi Guy I originally learned to fly in Florida which is mostly uncontrolled airspace (apart from Miami or Space Centre) so I know what you mean. I am currently re-learning at Moorabbin with GAAP procedures which can be busy and scarey at times. Haven't visited Essendon yet. Thank you for taking the time to welcome me. Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djpacro Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 Young Eagles day at Moorabbin I missed that as my car broke down on the way. So missed meeting you too, I guess. I speak American as well, so ... Howdy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueshed Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 Hi Karen how is the conversion going, is there alot of stuff to go through or is it relatively simple? We have a flyin and hangar dinner in April if you need a bit of a nav http://www.jamestownairshow.com/ the link at the top of the page is for the current flyin! Will be a good night and weekend! Cheers Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Longden Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 Hi Karen, When you feel you want to escape the confines of Moorabin.. plonk Shepparton and Echuca on the list for a quick weekend getaway. Shepp has saturday lunches ($6) from 12.30 and would welcome you and the family to visit. Cheers, Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Flygirltake2 Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Hi Karen, When you feel you want to escape the confines of Moorabin.. plonk Shepparton and Echuca on the list for a quick weekend getaway. Shepp has saturday lunches ($6) from 12.30 and would welcome you and the family to visit. Cheers, Ben Hi Ben I've been to both although visit to Shep was a "flying" one... pardon pun!!! First stupid question - is this a private "thread" of conversation or not? Kaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest munch Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 No Kaz, it's open for all to see :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Flygirltake2 Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Thanks Munchkin!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Flygirltake2 Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 I missed that as my car broke down on the way.So missed meeting you too, I guess. I speak American as well, so ... Howdy. Howdy to you too!!!!! Did you learn to fly in Florida too???? Kaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slartibartfast Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 I started years (decades) earlier, but my first powered microlight flight was on the Florida Keys. I was driving to Key West and lamenting the fact that I couldn't really get a feel for the scenery from the road, when I saw a sign advertising floatplane rides. It turned out to be a Quicksilver with floats. Awesome way to see the keys. I got to fly too - because of all my hang-glider experience (such gullible people). We even found some people 500 yards off-shore playing volleyball and BBQing knee-deep. Funny because that was just after we passed some sharks. Those crazy Americans. South Americans, Central Americans, Canadians and indigenous peoples excluded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Flygirltake2 Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 Hi Guy Re the conversion, basically I had to have a medical, ASIC security check, pass an air-law exam (which I did) and convince an examiner I can fly. It's been very hard as obviously I don't have to start from square one, all my hours from 20 years ago count and I don't have to do all the BAK and other exams. I found that most instructors know how to take you fram A to Z but couldn't cope with my unsusal circumstance. I finally found a very experienced instructor who is easily able to hone in on my areas of deficiency. I am progressing nicely now and have my first Nav in 20 years coming up this Saturday YMMB/YIVE/YLYV/YMMB. Re the event in April do send me a flier (parden pun) as the fly-away co-ordinater at RVAC is always looking for new places to visit...... Regards Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Flygirltake2 Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 Hi Slartibartfast Your thread took me back in time. I had such a blast learning to fly in Florida I flew to Key West on numerous occasions and have some great shots. Stillstville (why would you build houses on stilts in water off Miami in a Cyclone prone area), 7 mile bridge from the air (very impressive - tho' I'd rather fly that distance over water than drive!! - I'm sure greater structures can brag better in the last 20 years!) The best was meeting an hour building pilot whose day job was playing war games with the British Navy in fighter jets. He flew 10 feet off the water following the contours around Bimini (Bahamas) below the level of palm trees. Spookily, we had problems with the radio coming back through the southernmost tip of the Bermuda Triangle that caused all sorts of problems when we arrived back on the mainland...... Cheers Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farri Posted February 27, 2008 Share Posted February 27, 2008 Hi Flygirltake2, Just ask the questions, you never know we just might have the answers. All the best to you. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Flygirltake2 Posted February 27, 2008 Share Posted February 27, 2008 Hi Farri I asked one today and no-one has replied as yet. It really confuses me why we avoid clouds vertically in feet and horizontally in metres...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Flygirltake2 Posted February 27, 2008 Share Posted February 27, 2008 I've posted a picture of the Alpha... What do you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farri Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Flygirltake2, That`s an easy one. It because the people who make the rules want to confuse us so we keep asking silly questions. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Flygirltake2 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Hi Farri I prefer the KIS method. Keep It Simple. Complicating it by having metric/imperial is bound to confuse and therefore the margin for error (and god forbid accidents) is greater. Cheers Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farri Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Flygirltake2, I agree with the KIS principal however I know from experience that the aviation system in this country is not easy to change. Cloud seperation is "estimated" by the pilot and therefore will not be acurate,regardles. I don`t think it realy matters for cloud seperation,however I see no reason why verticle distance should be measured in feet now that we`ve gone metric,other than, at present, it quickly allows us to differentiate between verticle and horizontal. Maybe they won`t change it because there would be too many altimetres to replace???. (Joking). Regards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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