Bosi72

I bought an old GA aircraft which fits within your criteria minus rotax. Consumption 34lit/hr according to POH, but when flying at lower rpm range and mixture leaned rich of peak, it drops to 23lit/hr (according to wood stick). It has Mogas stc, but I never put it in. You can expect higher cost of maintenance, but still lots of things you can DIY. Page 10 in the pdf below details what you can do with GA aircraft: https://www.casa.gov.au/files/maint-guide-owner-operatorspdf However, the biggest challenge for me is finding a reasonably priced hangar east/south east of Melbourne, which is mandatory for all aircrafts with fabrics. Luckily Cessna is made of aluminium, but still a hangar would be highly desirable.. Alternatively, buying a Kitfox (or similar) with folding wings and a trailer is very good option, but hard to find these aircrafts in our neck of the wood. Whatever you buy, either RAA or VH, you will be spending a lot of $. Regardless, taking your aircraft keys whenever you want and without asking anyone - priceless. Enjoy the hobby/sport. Cheers

I had gusty xwind landing yesterday.. As per normal, wing-down, a bit faster ~70 approach with 10deg flaps, but the gust was still strong.. All the way along the final, the aircraft was experiencing sudden drops, then flying, then drop, then on threshold engine goes idle and flaring, then (unexpected) drop and bang on the ground 🙂 Then, the aircraft still wanted to continue flying, but I managed to keep it on the ground whilst balancing by extending flaps (hand lever flaps between 10 and 40deg) and gently applying brakes whilst keeping the wing down and rudder on the centerline.. Full arms/hands/legs/feet and brain work, but that feeling after the workout - priceless 🙂 Cheers

You will most likely need to fill out an Engineering document for GA aircraft that you will be flying/tested on.. https://www.casa.gov.au/files/single-engine-piston-aeroplane-endorsement-and-questionnaire and most likely your flight test will have these components: https://www.casa.gov.au/casa-form/form-61-1486-recreational-pilot-licence-aeroplane However, the best place to ask is flying school. Cheers

It is all about "energy management". Ask instructor to demonstrate trimmed landing without touching yoke. Once trimmed and aimed at piano keys, an aircraft should land itself.. Airspeed is life. I'm always glancing ASI on approach. My safety speed is Vs0 x 1.4 (~60 in c172), however it is good to practice flapless landings with higher speeds 70-80kts, and short field landings 40-50kts with stall horn beeping..

I hope we congratulate both buyer and seller on successful business and see some test flights 🙂 Many people will say if you are buying an aircraft for any kind of business venture, then forget about profit. However if it's for hobby/pleasure, then there's no need for calculations. Enjoy your bird!

If asking instructor/flight school is not an option, you can check any aerodrome in Ersa, there is a phone number, give them a call, explain your situation and see what they suggest. Unfortunately, my first experience when calling an aerodrome with special procedures, asking for overfly, made me regret for calling them at first place. Long story short, they've apologised for their behaviour and wished me safe (over)flight. Stay professional, they are public servants here to help you/us.

I am sure someone would promptly complain about "the structure". Even portable tent would be too big and unstable in strong winds. In my opinion the way forward is full canvas cover which sells around 2.5k for c172, or around 1k for canvas fabric if you are good with sewing. The only negative is amount of work required to put the cover on and off. However I'd love to see alternatives.

Every school's aircrafts that I know of are parked outside and you rarely see heavy rust on them because they are flown regularly. Surely it is better if your aircraft is hangared, but nothing wrong if it' parked outside (preferably bitumen). Make sure you fly it at least once a week, which is good both for aircraft and a pilot..

Last time I checked, Moorabbin hangar was around 11k per year or around 8k for grass parking (access fees included). Lilydale, Tooradin, Tyabb were around 5k for hangar, outside parking around 1.5k per year. All above is subject to availability. Don't forget almost everything in aviation has +GST...

Probably cheaper on the Moon than in Victoria...

Then read the keywords from the next 3-4 paragraphs telling how they treat a pilot without a flight plan, or submitting plan via radio: "...may avoid delays... acceptance subject to ATC workload.. frequency congestion.. will not be accepted.. etc..." Basically, they're telling you - use NAIPS.

First, I suggest contacting flight school and get the instructor to demonstrate correct procedures. As a fresh PPL, I submit a Flight plan via NAIPS every time I fly outside aerodrome Training Area (e.g. over ~10nm). It is mandatory if you are flying VFR into C and D controlled airspaces (but not in E and G), for example doing City orbits (AIP ENR 1.10-4 para 2.3, 2.4). So far I had two phone calls from the Briefing office :) 1. forgetting to cancel SARTIME - local distractions even though I had reminder in phone, 2. not ticking some box in NAIPS plan, but all sorted out over the phone whilst taxiing. Many of my flights had diversions, so quick radio call to MLCEN with "flight plan amendments, no change to SARTIME" and you fly wherever you want. Regarding surveillance equipment, you can buy portable adsb-out e.g. SkyEcho2 and be seen by other aircrafts (or your family/friends on the ground). You need ICAO hex address of your aircraft. For survival equipment, I carry PLB, handheld VHF, Satphone, or marine handheld if close to water... Regardless, always Aviate-Navigate-Communicate, in that particular order. Safe landings ! Cheers

Lessons learned for the student hard way. Unfortunately, I am sad to see negativity from fellow aviators, especially from students. I am guessing some of us are born with the wings and nobody of us never made any mistake, ever. How many of us practiced e.g. flat tyre or wheel locked landings before and after the licence ? Whatever happened, he obviously applied the first rule everyone learned "If anything goes wrong - go around", however after applying full power and (premature) nose up, he got frozen. We should thank student for sharing the video so that we can learn from his mistake. Hope he recovers.

There are quite a number of properties around the island as well as on Peninsula with small airstrips. It is good to know they're there in case of no choice. A friend told me he's got a photo of someone landing on purpose in hardened mud shore North of that property. To my understanding you can land anywhere providing you have owner's permission or emergency. New aerodrome regulations are coming soon, however to my understanding that applies to certified aerodromes only. Let me know when you're in the area and want to go flying.

We all have stories to tell, some people share, some don't. Nothing to be ashamed of or whatever, it's all part of learning, and life in general. Btw, I've seen your post (several topics down about hangars/properties I think) about some property on French isl . and it came up on my mind today when I overflied it at 2500:) Is that a house in the NW corner of the island with small airstrip? Will try to take some photos next time (tomorrow maybe:) Cheers

Bose (in my experience) may help.. I've also heard good reviews from Lightspeed Zulu and some other ANR headsets. If that doesn't help, try flying in some aircraft with more power (150hp and above), then return to Jab. I've never flown Jab, but I've seen (and heard) them departing. I was surprised how quiet they are. The only downside of Bose is $ cost which is in my opinion way overpriced for headsets made in Mexico or E/SE Asia.

On my 2nd PPL navigation flight (~35hrs) to the never been before aerodrome (YOLA with narrow runway compared to YMMB) with the instructor, my landing was so bad (hard) that I offered my RPL licence back. However instructor just tapped me on shoulders, smiled and said, don't worry you'll be fine:) The landings will usually have ups and downs like a curve, however with more and more experience that curve gets flatten. Instructor was right. In my opinion a licence course should last about a year to experience all 4 weather seasons. Not sure if that's needed in e.g. dry central Australia, however in Melbourne with 4 seasons in a day, close to Bass strait and "Roaring 40ies" winds, it helps being with instructor whilst learning rather than without instructor. Keep practicing and don't give up. Safe landings !

It is similar to buying cars. You can buy a true gem which can give you many happy hours, or you can buy a lemon needing immediate big repairs. Lames are human too with different personalities, and even their tools (eg compression testers) may show different results. I decided to trust existing Lame. Test flight with owner can tell a bit too, but discussion with Lame (who is a pilot too) and hearing that his daughter flied my aircraft too was the key decision making point for me. Also part of the deal was that owner fly the aircraft to my local aerodrome. I paid for the fuel and Jetstar return ticket for the owner. I joined flight too and it was great experience. Regardless what you buy, you will be investing. However, there's no better feeling than taking your own aircraft keys whenever you want and going flying without asking anyone. (except your Mrs. or home finance minister :) Enjoy your bird!

Well done and Congrats on your wings! Cheers!

Thanks guys, all good:) I see the point especially after closure of some flying schools. Regardless, after every lesson I entered hours into my logbook, then returned it back to the shelf behind reception. I could take it home anytime, and I actually took it occasionally when doing Aeros in other school. At home, I entered receipts (and hours) into Excel. My end goal was PPL, so I wasn't chasing hours, nor career. After completing PPL, both the logbook and a little CASA booklet called licence are with me :) Cheers!

Check the weather, especially winds. 30-40kt steady wind is great, but gusting 30-40kt is not. I hunt in the Alps and it sounds scary when you hear the wind rolling over the mountains. But it is beautiful when calm. Safe landings!

sgsv-kim 2500 kim-yyn 3500 yyn-sgsv 1500 radio calls/listen

For some reason my school (assuming other schools too) keep logbooks of all students in case of Casa inspection. I've taken mine home for the first time 6 months later :)

Do whatever makes your workload easier. Regarding your actual markings, do you really want to be at A018 a couple of miles before Mt Joyce (1539)?

I remember Grade 1 instructor telling me to trust him if he tells me that I'm ready for my 1st solo. So I trusted him:) Did everything by the book, smooth landing, very happy cheered when landed.. 2nd solo I used whole 1335m runway, too soft on brakes.. 3rd solo landed on the grass, actually pushed by the xwind, but all good :) But I really got the feeling of being a Pilot after 2nd Nav, 250nm with 3 takeoffs and 3 landings to a never landed before aerodrome. Massive confidence boost and at that was the point I convinced myself that I am a Pilot :) Cheers