cscotthendry

That is the best advice anyone can give you. Your instructor will know when you're ready to solo. He/she will set it up so that you should be ready and comfortable. They'll probably go up with you for a couple of circuitsand then get you to taxi off the runway so they can get out. They'll probably have a handheld radio so they can listen to you and talk to you if there's a problem. You will know what the conditions are because you will already have done a few circuits. As RossK said, the plane will LEAP into the air without the dead weight beside you, and it will want to float on your approach. Be prepared for that and as we said, if you're not completely happy with how the approach is going, go around. But don't worry about it. Your instructor isn't going to “Fail” you for a missed approach. In fact they'll probably compliment you on your good decision making. Also, don't get stressed if you miss a landing or two. If you're still flying, you're still in control of the airplane, so you still have choices. It all sounds dramatic and for the very first time it is, a bit dramatic … but oh so much FUN!!!

Wow! The camera mount I made is still there. Thanks for the update Mike.

Hi Mike: Safe flying and tailwinds to you and Kitty.

I'm gobsmacked how this could happen. I fly regularly in this area and everyone is on the same frequency. With two or more helicopters flying out of SeaWorld, I would have thought they would have departure/arrival procedures in place to avoid just this scenario. I know that there are procedures at Ayers Rock and Victor one and even the scenic VFR route to Surfer's Paradise itself. This area has lots of traffic, moreso in peak tourism periods. So why were there no departure / arrival procedures for the SeaWorld helipad? And if it was one chopper oveflying the helipad while another was taking off, were there radio calls made? There is a mandatory radio call for Porpoise point. Surely it would make sense to make a radio call when overflying SeaWorld helipad or a departure call from SeaWorld. Also, both choppers were painted black. I've flown over Tangalooma with the choppers flying out of there, that are also painted black. From my experience, black choppers are devilishly hard to distinguish from ground clutter. Looks like the holes in the Swiss Chees struck again.

Bob: The negative return cable from the engine and every piece of electrical equipment on board, is a MUST. If anyone wires an airplane like cars are wired (using the frame for ground returns) they WILL have starting problems as well as radio problems somewhere along the line. Every, that is every piece of electrical equipment on board an airplane, big or small, must have its own negative return wire of the correct amperage rating, to a single common ground bus point, no exceptions and no sub-bus points.

Sorry, that's news to me. I have received PMs before. I'll check my settings and report back. I had a look thru my settings and didn't see any blocks there.

You need one of these. The handle is the choke pull. The red button is the start button. Unfortunately it's a custom item made by Aeropilot, but someone could probably make something similar for you.

Can I ask why you wouldn't source these from Bert Flood imports?

Yes, hangars are generally near a runway, whether it's at an airport or on someone's farm and for the reasons you mentioned (transporting and removing wings etc) Generally removing flying surfaces for storage or transport is not a great option. It introduces lots of potential for missing something vital and having a really bad flying day when a wing folds or comes off, or a control surface ceases to function. Also, it adds a significant amount of overhead time to your actual flying hours. I used to own a trike which I used to transport on a trailer to other airfields. The setup/packup becomes a real PITA after a few goes. Also, aircraft REALLY don't like being transported by road. They are very lightly constructed and not designed for extended travel, particularly on Oz's crappy road system. The bumps and shakes bend things and loosen things and it's generally not a great solution. As others have said, if you're looking for a 4-6 place plane, you definitely won't be taking the wings off that unless you have a LAME license or similar. Also about that 4-6 seats. You probably find that unless you have an IFR license and a very well fitted out IFR aircraft, you probably do mostly recreational flying, which usually means yourself and probably one other person. If you're paying the maintenance and fuel bills to carry 4 empty seats for most flights, flying gets expensive real quick. Back to the hangar situation, I stick with my suggestions as they've worked well for me. But if your situation is such that there's not an airport near you, then someone's farm might be the solution. The potential downside is you're subject to how well the farmer maintains the runway(s) and if they run cattle or other animals on it, it can get a bit complicated. In all things flying “Simplicate and add lightness.”: R. Kelly Johnson, designer of the U2 and the SR71.

Pick someplace close to your home. The closer it is, the more flying you'll be able to do. Then go to that airfield and visit and even join the flying club. Go hang out there on weekends and start to get to know the members and get yourself known. Talk to airplane owners and prowl the hangars and ask around. Something will pop up. This is how I get hangarage and it has worked several times. Ummm, I just te-read your post. Are you looking for someone who can construct a hangar for you?

Check out the paint schemes https://yeahmotor.com/aero/aircraft-paint-jobs/

I get it from the company that used to be Archer Fuels. I can't remember their name just now but they are located on the bend of Ingleston rd in Tingalpa. It's something like Pegasus aero fuels. They have good prices too.

Went to a flyin once with my brand new lightweight plastic fantastic, with NO STEP all over the wheel spats, and guess what? Someone's rugrat decided they wanted to see into the cockpit, so stood on the wheel spat on the pilot's side. The spat is made of ONE thickness of fibreglass painted with inflexible 2 pack paint. It cracked and chipped the paint but didn't break the spat. So $200 later and a lot of sanding, I repainted the spat. Now, I have a sign on it that says NO STEP KEEP OFF and I put barrier tape around when at fly ins. A friend was at another airfield and as he was returning to his plane saw a guy open the door to the plane and start to climb in. So my friend went over to the guys car and started to open the door. Without any sense of irony, the guy yelled at him “What do you think you're doing?”. My friend just told him, “Well if you think you can just get in my plane…”

Russ: Here's how I find hangarage. Figure out where you want to hangar your plane then go to that airfield. Join the aero club there and start to hang around on weekends and start talking to the other people who hang around. Walk around to the hangars where people are working on their planes and talk to them. Attend meetings and talk to people. Get yourself known around the airfield. As you're talking to pilots and others, ask about hangarage, but don't be too pushy about it. You'll be surprised at how quickly you'll find someone who knows someone … In my experience, just putting up a notice or asking on forums online etc, (IOW trying to get something by remote contacts) NEVER works. My plane is currently hangared at Jacobs Well. Anyone will tell you that it's very difficult to get in there because of the proximity to tye GC and Bris. I got hangarage there in about two weeks by doing the above.

Mike: I have a 3D printer, but never thought of making holders for the controllers. What a cool idea. I'm in the US at the moment, but as soon as I get back, I'll get straight onto designing a holder.

I have seen videos of military aircraft with things like Garmin GPSs on top of the panel. So it wouldn't surprise me that some military pilots might also have OR going in the cockpit.

And these “corporate geniuses” reward themselves handsomely for their cleverness.

Or stand 'em up, like on busses and trains. Some airlines already charge extra for a “seat” in addition to the ticket price.

Brilliant! And they already started the policy on the Dallas-Sydney run the other day. The other pesky cost entry is maintenance. They've already off-shored it to slave wage countries. Doing away with it entirely will be simple if there are no passengers to kill when airplanes fall out of the sky.

Gary; ADELS Grove is near the border between NT and QLD up near the Gulf. We have a video on our channel

Ahh yes. The Sunday "alarm clock". I didn't know about this on our first visit. The first one went off in the middle of Matt Hall's talk. Scared the crap out of me till I saw that no one was rushing for the exits to see what went BANG and quite a few were giggling.

I hate you all who went to Old Station! Jealous as hell. I'm in the US at the moment and if I'd know OS was going to return this year I would have delayed my departure to make it to my all time fave flyin. But seriously, thanks to all who went who posted pics and stories here. Loved them all. We'll be there next year if it's on. Does anyone know what the Creed's plans are for the event? Is it going to be on every year or every two years? PS: Bennyboy, OS was the first place I ever camped underwing and I loved it. The fact that the event is so well organized and has great services like showers, food etc helps a LOT. Did they have the old periodic BANGS or has CASA managed to damp squib that.

Mike: Loved your pics! Is that Ross Millard's Lightwing? Especially loved the sunrise pic. There's got to be a photo comp somewhere for that one to win in.

Some time ago, a group of fairly highly skilled and trained aviators did an experiment on “The impossible turn” back to the runway after an EFATO. The planes they tested could do it from 500’ AGL or so, all but the Bonanza. No matter what height they tried it at with the Bonanza, it never made it even close to the runway.

I hadn't followed up on this stupid stunt by Red Bull. If as you say, one of the two planes crashed, there should be an investigation and repercussions for that as well. Deliberately leaving a functional plane without a pilot should be a criminal act. As I said before, it is little different (imo) to 9/11.