pmccarthy

Classic Wings. The way they bring those crashed warbirds back to life fascinates me. And the photography is amazing.

Thanks for this thread. I was taught more than 40 years ago to establish a positive rate of climb and then, not below 300 feet, flaps up and pump off. I have always flown low- wing. I have tended in recent years to leave the pump on a bit longer until I can see a place for a forced landing within range, so it depends on terrain and trees. It helps greatly to have a pressure gauge when you switch it off to see that the pressure is still there. In the Texan the pressure just drops about 10% but still in the middle of the gauge.

I reckon a plastic fantastic (ok, like mine) will depreciate $20,000 from new in 200 hours based on what people will pay, not what they ask in adverts. That is $100 an hour and is the biggest cost. Who is getting that money? I think it just evaporates.

Maintenance might be only $1000 per year, if you do a lot yourself, say $10 per hour. The LAME gets most of that and well deserved.

Insurance $35 per hour on the same basis. Given the number of prangs, they probably need that.

Fuel $25-30 per hour for Mogas. Other bits and pieces include maps, headsets, pies at the aero club.

Don't land at places that require landing fees.

All in all, I can't see anyone making much money out of it.

I don't understand how a file can be audited multiple times with a different omission discovered each time. Surely an audit of a file is done against a checklist of what should be in the file. I was grounded for lack of a C of A, then some months later for lack of a weight report. If I don't send in photos I will probably be grounded again. I have some experience with auditing and this shouldn't happen. It doesn't seem to be a matter of competence of the auditor, even the tea lady should be able to a check file contents against a list. Whee can I find the list that says what should be in an aircraft file? Is it a CASA list?

I have been flying for 42 years but only recently made a proper hobby of it. Flying a Fly Synthesis Texan out of Kyneton, Just did a trip to Tassie. Early years were with Broken Hill Aero Club but there would be no-one there from my time. RAA has been a great way to get involved - thanks to the Bendigo Flying Club.