DarkSarcasm

Yeah, a taildragger endorsement is on the list for the future. :big_grin: I swear, when I started to fly I wanted a basic sort of licence. Now there's stacks of endorsements I want to get.....luckily for me my bank balance is (currently) in ok health. I think I'll be asking for flight hours for christmas though!

yessssssssssssssssssssss I am! Had two lessons booked this week and both cancelled. The weather here in Vic has been crazy recently. I'm REALLY hoping for good weather on Wednesday morning. I'm rather excited about doing my first take off/landing too (not sure if my instructor agrees...hehe) :)

Thanks qwerty, that's very helpful :) I think that one of the advantages of learning on a grass strip is the lack of a centreline..you get better at judging where the line should be which must help when actually having a centreline. Does anyone agree? Does pavement make you 'bounce' more because it doesn't grip as well as grass or does it not make any difference? The ground roll must be a bit smoother though... That gravel strip in Tassie sounds rather fun....

Thanks Tomo :) I know I'll eventually learn this when I start doing x-country flights (one day...), I've just become curious now because I'm learning on a grass strip rather than asphalt and I'm just wondering what difference it makes... I'm keen to learn all I can :) I can see what you mean about the vision during flare. Asphalt may well make that easier since it's easier to differentiate the runway from the rest of the ground (if that makes sense). Having a painted centreline must make things easier too! :P Do you need to flare earlier/later (highler/lower) to get a smooth/soft/normal/insert appropriate adjective here landing on as asphalt/gravel strip?

Hey all, I have a (possibly stupid) question. Just before anyone says that I should be asking my instructor this, I will ask him next lesson but looking at the crazy Victorian weather, I may well have forgotten my question before I see him next! (two lessons cancelled this week, not pleased:sad:) So, my question. Does the runway surface make any difference to landing technique? I know that the different surfaces (paved, grass etc) make a difference in how long the landing roll is etc, but do you need to change your landing technique when landing on different surfaces? Like, flare earlier for example? This is purely out of curiosity. I was just wondering if, after learning on a grass strip, you'd need to change something when landing on an asphalt strip. Thanks!

Part 1

Thanks :)

Oh gosh, this is high praise Thanks for the kind words Tomo - Darky:cool:

Sneaky :thumb_up: I may well take you up on your offer! :) First just have to organise if and when I'll actually be getting to Canberra. Also, since you fly out of Goulburn, do you know of any schools there that I could book a lesson at if I get to Canberra?

I didn't want to be too hopeful about my chances... I also wasn't sure about the legalities of a student flying with someone who isn't an instructor (unless Slarti is an instructor in which case I humbly apologise)

Ooooh they look like fun :big_grin:

Hey Slarti, That's really helpful. I was looking at the list of RA schools in NSW but didn't have a clue if they were near Canberra or half a state away! Excuse my ignorance, but is a Cheetah a 3-axis? - Darky:cool:

Hey all, I'm probably going to be spending 2-4 weeks in Canberra over the summer. I'd like to fly on weekends over that time if possible. Are there any RA airports in/close to Canberra city with a flying school where I could book a few lessons (just circuits or whatever)? I'd just like to be able to fly if possible :) This is probably a silly question, but are there any issues with just having a few lessons at a different school to usual? Are there any issues with training records or logbooks or anything? Any help would be great. - Darky:cool:

aha, sorry Ahlocks :big_grin:

I think the Zulus are still fairly new so that's why all the instructors seem to have Bose... maybe you could ask at the school or something to see if they'd keep an eye out for anyone with a Zulu and see if you could have a try? And thanks for the compliment :) I get all my diagrams from Google pictures (I figure I may as well let other people do the hard work for me!) :big_grin:

I think my instructor is planning on trying mine when I get it. He has a Bose, maybe I can convert him to a Zulu (bwahahaha)

I nearly fell into the same trap with the overseas thing, until I came on here and asked the helpful people :D

I saw those, but don't forget you have to pay customs fees for purchases worth over $1000AU. I did a calculation and it came to about $200 in fees and there was lots of fuss with sending forms into customs etc. It didn't seem worth doing just to save $90-$100. There's more about that in the thread I started, Headset from Overseas Hope I've helped a little :) - Darky:cool:

I'll just have to carry spares. I'm thinking of buying those fancy lithium AA batteries that you're meant to put in digital cameras...figured they may last a little longer... I gave in today and ordered a set of Zulus from a shop in QLD - with $15 overnight (apparantly, i'll tell you tomorrow if it's true) shipping, it came to $1265. :) Totally excited and can't wait to see if they arrive tomorrow!

Can't help you with Adelaide, but I have been on a headset hunt in Melbourne recently... In Melbourne at Moorabbin Airport there are two shops about 5 mins away from each other, one with the Zulu and one with the Bose. Skylines Aviation has the Bose (guy there was very helpful) and Moorabbin Pilot Shop has the Zulu (MPS is a little room in Tristar aviation, if you think you're in the wrong place, you're actually not I found). If it helps at all, I thought that they were about the same weight/clamping-pressure and the ANR on both seemed quite good. When I tried on the Bose he had a recording of engine noise that he played to demonstrate the ANR, and all I can say is that my reaction was "WOW" (that was the first time I'd ever tried an ANR headset). At the Zulu shop, they didn't have a recording or anything so it was harder to tell but it seemed the same or at least close to the Bose ANR level (not that I'm an expert, haven't used ANR before). The main reason I've decided to get a Zulu rather than the Bose was partly the price ($1300 rather than $1500) and it comes with music/bluetooth. I figure that if I fly with it for a bit and hate it I can sell it on eBay and buy a Bose. So the decision is reversible :) EDIT: I just ordered a Zulu from Sky Shop (http://www.sky shop.com.au/ - take out the space in between sky and shop, if I leave it in it turns into XXXXXXX, not sure why) in QLD - $1250, plus $15 shipping (overnight apparantly). Many places seemed to have the set at $1290, so it seems I did ok price-wise. I hope this helps - Darky:cool:

Just my monthly quota

Luckily, since I've done all my poisoning for this month, I have lots of money to spend on headsets. (thanks for your input, it's all very helpful)

Yes, weight is one of the important issues for me too. I have a scar on the top of my head (right where the headband goes unfortunately) that hurts like crazy if too much pressure is placed on it, so one of the main considerations for me was weight and clamping pressure. That's another reason why I'm going to pay for a good ANR set, the weight is just so much less :)

Hey Walter, yeah I agree with what you mean about the expense. I figure that I've only got one set of ears so I may as well protect them the best I can! Right now I'm just waiting to hear how Ian is doing because I'd like to support this site if possible :)