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billwoodmason

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Everything posted by billwoodmason

  1. billwoodmason
    Hey Peter, whats this about a quick liift Jack. (Please explain) Sounds like somthing I should have in my tool kit for my J230.
  2. billwoodmason
    Congrats Peter on a well written account what must have been great trip. You may remember we spoke at Cobden Airfield some months ago when you flew in with your grandson. Cheers.
  3. billwoodmason
    CASA not the only culprits in the wrong done to Jabiru. Our own CEO and a board member (deceased) were outspoken in the media with obvious bias ( inciting a lot of vitriol on this site ). Rumour is that the CEO (Linke) wrote to CASA asking them to intervene, (shafting 30% of RAA registered aircraft) which the two RAA defectors (to CASA) were only too happy to run with. One question remains however - what was the Tech Managers input to either save or sink Jabiru? given that from the list of mods and improvements it was clear to any fair minded person that issues were being addressed responsibly. Its way past time that this was put right!.
  4. billwoodmason
    What I am interested in knowing is how many RAA aircraft flew in and how many RAA members attended ?. My take on fly-ins for RAA pilots and members is that they just want an old fashioned get together ie no airshow, but I do understand that there has to be an attraction for the general puplic to help bankroll the whole thing. This current style of program holds little or no interest to me because you can see it at all major airshows.
  5. billwoodmason
    Hi Ross, welcome to the forum - where are you flying from?. Don't forget to enjoy every moment.
  6. billwoodmason
    I supppose you voted for the new constitutioal changes as well. Of course you did!.
  7. billwoodmason
    BFR 's used to be an opportunity for pilots to refresh (review) an aspect of flying they felt they could benefit from - not testing every aspect of handling and cct proceedure as was the case with my last one. (Seemed like a money making exercise to me) - cost $140 in my aircraft to boot. Flying was not a mandatory requirement previously. Not sure when cross country hours increased - was recently mentioned on here.
  8. billwoodmason
    Airventure is about starting the conversation of the amalgamation of all recreational flying being under one banner. Why else would RAA need a weight increase and access to controlled airfields along with more stringent maintenance requirements, exams for Level 1 maintainers, BFR's that resemble a license fight test, increased hours to complete a cross country endosement and the list goes on. I don't like any of the two Mike's recent moves regarding RAA's future. We will end up with an organisation that none of us will want to be part of. RAA is not a members organisation any more they are a dictatorship enforcing a CASA wishlist. CASA are the last organisation that should be charged with the future of aviation. They stuff everything the touch.
  9. billwoodmason
    Welcome Curly1, you'll love flying the J160. When you complete your Certificate there is a few Jabs who fly out of Cobden (Vic). We'd love to see you. I bought my first Jab from Latrobe. Its only a short hop across the Heads then 30 min to Cobden. BBQ lunch provided. There's lots of good info on here - look forward to your inputs. Cheers.
  10. billwoodmason
    It's called evolution - they have been diligently working on improving their products for twenty years despite the contrary opinions of the Jab haters on here and other forums and the wankers who defected to CASA to push their own careers at Jabirus expense. The long list of mods and improvements is testiment to what I am saying.
  11. billwoodmason
    It sucks when youre charged to fly in to a fly-in. Good luck selling that to RAA members!. Possibly doomed before it starts. The numbers were poor regardless of the spin put on it by our CEO in the past. Now they think it will be successful by charging for the privilege. They have lost touch with why AUF/RAA was formed in the first place. The push to be GA Mk2 needs to be stopped. There is a bad odour about what the two Micks are doing to what was a good thing.
  12. billwoodmason
    Very sad to hear Aub's passed away - I've done a few biannuals with Aub while he was at Barwon Heads. He was always easy to get on with - never got stressed and a pleasure to fly with. He had flown something like 140 different types during his flying career. Condolences to Barb, family and friends. RIP.
  13. billwoodmason
    The average RAA member was happy with a low key get together amongst its peers without the bells and whistles air shows or CASA doing ramp checks just to show you what you're doing wrong. Ramp checks at a flyin are about as popular or welcome as a pimple on your a--e. Any wonder they are universally disliked. CASA would be better served by simply having a site to promote what they do for recreational aviation. (probably an oximoron statement). This joint effort encompassing RAA and SAAA is trying to promote the idea of one overarching body for all rec flying up to 1500 kgs. Beware SAAA. The RAA chairman is a vulture wanting to empire build at your expense.
  14. billwoodmason
    If ever Turbs, there is an apathy amongst a major portion of RAA's membership that is mind numbing !. Mike M is counting on this to achieve his agenda. (Another 3 year term should just about do it.)
  15. billwoodmason
    We are being sold out to a CASA wishlist by our own Chairman. With the new board set up no discussion entered into just full steam ahead for increased fees, more stringent maintenance requirement. Possibly requiring a professional to perform even simple maintenance tasks. ie L1 qualification taken away requiring sitting an exam to be legally able to do tasks we used to be allowed to do. (God help you if you own a Jabiru.) We will loose our "point of difference" if increased weight limits (up to 1500kgs) come into being. Why is Mike M pushing for access to controlled airspace for us - if you want to do this go GA. RAA was about low cost, minimum regulation for maximum fun we are literally going to end up "GA mk2" costing as much as our GA cousins are paying now. CASA has ruined GA and if allowed to continue their influence on our leadership they will do the same to us.
  16. billwoodmason
    There used to be one hangared at Lethbridge Airpark, it may well be the one in the Avalon photo above. The Grey Mongrel refers to the owner. A search of Raa registrations would find him.
  17. billwoodmason
    There are a few around. A phone call to Jabiru would put you in touch with some builders who have gone this route.
  18. billwoodmason
    He obviously has vested interest. Gandolph who are you. The thing with anonymity on forums such as this is people can push any barrow they wish with impunity.
  19. billwoodmason
    Storchy, I must have missed something you've posted along the way but why can't you repair your aircraft and put it back on the register?. Has the Tech manager refused to register it or similar?.
  20. billwoodmason
    Back to the tread topic, why on earth would you learn to fly in a high performance aircraft like a Sling?. Much better in my opinion to train in something more robust and forgiving and accordingly cheaper.
  21. billwoodmason
    The two Mikes are ushering in a massive cultural change to the members of RAA largely by stealth. Increases in maintenance requirements ( read " governance "), never ending price increases to all areas of services they provide will eventually chase away the older members who joined RAA initially to enjoy cheap, affordable minimum regulation flying promising "maximum fun". They increasingly will see the whole thing too hard. The two Mikes see the introduction of increased weight limits as being the catalyst to bringing in new members who already are used to paying through the nose for their flying. The future of RAA is as plain as the nose on your face. I am genuinely concerned.
  22. billwoodmason
    Yes Turbs, without doubt CASA's blueprint for RAA combined with RAA's Chairman and CEO (the two Mikes) penchant for following blindly along with CASA's Wishlist we will go the way of GA. RAA will outprice its members and be faced with a declining membership they hope will be propped up by GA pilots joining RAA.
  23. billwoodmason
    I haven't read Sport Pilot since I didn't take up the option with the membership increase. Having just received the issue with the voting details for the up coming election my first reaction to reading the mag is that is more like the old CASA crash comic than ever before. It appears we are paying to be preached to - at the end of the day I guess that there may be a lesson for all of us in these anecdotal tales of other pilots misfortune, just a pity we are paying for this even if we haven't taken up the option.
  24. billwoodmason
    I think the L1 exam requirement has met with some resistance from members, I believe only a small percentage of the expected 1200 - 1500 members expected to apply have done so to this stage. Can it be deduced from this that people are still conducting their own L1 maintenance without RAA's authority?. I think the requirement to do an exam for L1 privileges is to make someone's CV look good.
  25. billwoodmason
    It seems to me reading all the candidates statements that the transformation of RAA to GA mk2 is a feat a compli. All seem be reading from the same hymnal - are these candidates hand picked and asked to apply?. It all worries me. I hope there is a cat among the pigeons and Mike M misses out.
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