Whack777

Thanks Ross...

How long is it taking to get an ASIC card? I just posted off my application yesterday to RAAus. Does anyone know roughly how long it is taking for them to be processed and returned at the moment? Regards Wayne

Hey Ross, Well done... You're making us all relive the memories of our first solos.... Mine was 32 years ago in a Cessna 150 and it seems like yesterday.... knocked the electric flaps up accidently on final without realising and went around when I had this funny sinking feeling... next approach was fine. It's a magic day isn't it... as the others have said, you'll remember it forever like it was yesterday! Regards Wayne

How do you make the pictures appear larger and not as thumbnails? Regards Wayne

Thanks guys! Thanks guys, Flying is just such a fantastic adventure isn't it. Even a circuit is an adventure and it's wonderful for us to be able to share our experiences through Ian's fantastic website. I think the recreational aviation community is damn lucky to have such a clever and dedicated fellow making this facility available. I'll post the 2nd part of the trip when I get a chance. It was great fun as well... I have a new prop on the aircraft now and it's performance is just sensational. Looking forward to reading about all your adventures too. Best Regards Wayne

I would always use a VTC as well. Being double the scale of the VNC, they contain a lot more information which makes it much easier to check your navigation when close to controlled airspace, restricted areas and in VFR lanes. You should always use the latest ones. There is also a handy chart called an "AUS PCA" (Planning Chart Australia). It contains Area Forecast Areas/Area QNH Zones, WAC coverage, Locations and communications coverage. Regards Wayne

Hi There. Looks like you had a fantastic day! Great report and photos. Regards Wayne Hack

Bringing Home 55-1837 Launceston to The Oaks (Sydney) Stage 1 – Launceston to Coldstream 25/2/2007 Boarding a Virgin flight from Melbourne to Launceston I was full of anticipation and excitement for what the day would bring. I was to be met at the airport and then driven to a private property 10 miles south of Launceston where my new little aircraft had been sitting in a hanger patiently waiting for me to pick it up since being purchased almost 2 months earlier. The time lag was due to a combination of weather, work commitments and me not having completed my cross country rating. I had just commenced flying again after a break of nearly 20 years and there was quite a bit of revision to be done. [ATTACH]1780[/ATTACH] Boarding a Flight from Melbourne to Launceston I looked out of the window of the B737 as we crossed Bass Straight and couldn’t help but think about the huge expanse of water beneath us. I turned on my Garmin GPSmap 296 and it indicated a ground speed of 405kts, maintaining FL400 and that we would be arriving at Launceston on time (yes a GPS does work in a commercial airliner if you sit next to a window). The previous owner had the little Jabiru LSA55 gleaming as we drove up to the hanger. A check of the weather on the internet and a final briefing on some of the aircrafts finer points and I was ready to go. The plan was to depart to the North and fly around the Launceston control zone and then track almost direct to Cape Portland on the NE tip of Tassie before heading for Lady Barron on Flinders Island to land and refuel. I chose Lady Barron (gravel) as I didn’t have an ASIC card and did not want to run the risk of an $800.00 fine. [ATTACH]1785[/ATTACH] About to depart All looked good with the run up and I opened the throttle to takeoff. RPM at full power and airspeed increasing the aircraft shot down the runway, just lifting the nose and suddenly the airspeed indicator went no further, the aircraft continued to accelerate and became airborne but the airspeed indicator had obviously failed. So the choice was to land back on the short private strip or continue onto Flinders Island where the runway was long and I could approach at any speed and be able to hold off with plenty of margin for error. I decided to continue onto Flinders Island. Approaching the island I descended below some cloud which was sitting over the western side with a base of 3000ft. The landing at Lady Barron was uneventful, perhaps just slightly faster than normal. Only one stage of flap was selected as I couldn’t be sure I was not going to slightly exceed my Flap Extension speed. The pilot of a Cessna Caravan arrived from Tooradin and I was pleased to find out that the cloud only extended to the Northern tip of Flinders Island and from there I should be able to climb to a higher level for the longer over water leg with no further cloud until Wilsons Promontory. [ATTACH]1782[/ATTACH] On the ground at Flinders Island (Lady Barron Gravel) After topping up the tank (20 odd litres) and a cup of coffee, I attempted to clear the pitot and the airspeed indicator appeared to be working. Soon airborne and underway, however, once again erratic behaviour of the airspeed indicator preceded no airspeed indication at all. Climbing out of Lady Baron, the course was set for Kilecranckie on the northern tip of Flinders Island. A slight diversion was required around a shower as I knew the wooden prop of the Jabiru does not like rain. Bound for Coldstream near Melbourne the planned flight time was 2.5 hours. Engine temperatures and oil pressure were all good and the little aircraft was flying beautifully. I was falling in love and had no reservations about the over water leg ahead. Sure enough the cloud stopped at the northern end of Flinders Island. A call was made to Melbourne Centre to initiate a Search and Rescue watch based on scheduled calls every 15 minutes. A climb to 8,500 feet meant that I would always be within gliding distance of an island or at least a rock which, at worst case, I could ditch beside. [ATTACH]1786[/ATTACH] Northern tip of Deal Island Sitting in a tiny plane alone, surrounded by ocean, is a funny feeling, I just wondered how Michael Collins must have felt in his capsule alone on the other side of the moon while Armstrong and Aldrin were making history. For me, it invoked quite a special feeling. I felt free and good to be alive. [ATTACH]1783[/ATTACH] A lot of ocean ahead (Clouds indicate Wilsons Promontory) “Jabiru 1837, this is Melbourne, confirm operations normal?†More than 15 minutes had passed and I was suddenly reminded that I was not truly alone and someone was keeping an eye on me. Looking ahead I could see cloud toward the horizon. Based on what the Caravan pilot had told me at Lady Barron, this was probably Wilsons Promontory. [ATTACH]1781[/ATTACH] Wilsons Promotory (Oberon Bay) Approaching Wilson’s Prom I commenced a descent to below 5000ft. Some scattered cloud just added to the scenery. I tracked via Tidal River, where the cloud finished, to Leongatha and then direct to Coldstream. It was a magnificent afternoon and I just sat back and watched the scenery pass below. Some birds (no idea what they were) started diving from above and passing very close to the aircraft. This continued for about a minute. They dived past at such a high speed that there was no way I could do anything to avoid them and so I just maintained my track and hoped one didn’t end up through the windscreen. I tuned into the Moorabbin ATIS to see what the wind was doing there and then passed behind the Dandenong ranges to overfly Coldstream and join the circuit for Runway 17. Once again only 1 stage of flap used for the landing without the airspeed indicator. What a great sense of joy to land and be unexpectedly greeted by some Melbourne friends for champagne and nibblies at the airport. [ATTACH]1784[/ATTACH] Tucked into bed with the big planes at Coldstream A great days flying and Jabiru 55-1837 was halfway home.

While flying up from Melborne a couple of weeks ago I noticed a nice looking strip at Jugiong on the banks of the Murrumbidgee. Does anyone know the owner or have flown in there? Looks like a great spot. It's on the WAC and VNC charts. Regards Wayne

Hi Sunny, Just found your post. I had a wander around 'Bird" while I was out at the Oaks a couple of weeks ago and thought it would be good to have a chat with you. I've just started flying again and the path you've taken is pretty much where I see myself going... anyway I've put a post on the Drifter Users Group section which pretty much shows where I'm at right now. Looking forward to meeting you on the field one day. Regards Wayne Hack

Hi There Again, Micgrace and Freddy......Thanks for your feedback! This is the sort ofthing I am looking for. Every piece of information is like a piece in a jigsaw and will come together to give me a good overall picture before I commit to a type. For someone who has been out of the flying scene for a long time (but never lost the passion) the planning is as exciting as the flying itself (well perhaps not quite,but it fuels the dream which will give me the ability to confidently move forward and make the best decisions to turn that dream into reality). Just getting up in the air again in a Jabiru is fantastic. Freddy... I started in GA ages ago ... no ultralights around then and had a lot of fun in the 70's and 80's. Then of course it was time to buy a house and raise a family so flying was put on the backburner. It's great that you have gone down the GA path and can share it with your family. So thank you both again for your feedback. .... and if anyone else is able to give me a few more pieces for the jigsaw, I would really appreciate it. I guess my aim is to mainly do short flights locally but perhaps the odd epic... and that poses another question. With the extremes of weather we seem to be getting, how hardy is a drifter if left out in the open? How best could you protect it when away from home at some remote location and sitting out a storm? Anyway... l'm looking forward to some more feedback. Everything and anything will be appreciated. Ian thanks for this forum. It is terrific and provides an opportunity for like minded communication we couldn't even dream of years ago. Regards Wayne Hack

Hi There! This is my first post... and I'm looking for some advice! I've just started flying again after a 19 year break... and it's exciting... the bug is biting hard and I'm very much looking forward to the world of ultralights. After looking at specs and photo's and imagining what each type offers, I find I'mbeing drawntowards a Drifter. It would need to be certified as I'd like some flexibility to use it wherever possible. So here's where I'd like some advice. I'd like to do cross countries, but speed is not an issue, it's taking in the flying and the world around me that will be important. From what I've read, the drifter seems to be that type of aircraft. So what would be your recommendations for someone without any taildragger experience,.... and does anyone know of a certified aircraft for sale? Look forward to some feedback. (I've startedflying at The Oaks in Sydney and currently flying a Jabiru just to get back in the air again) It's great to be back in the air again! Wayne Hack Sydney