DAVID SEE

Anyone else noticed that the amount of posts seems to have dropped a fair bit lately? I pressume with nice spring weather folk are doing more flying than talking about flying.......Andy

It's a while since I posted anything on here, and it's a while since I've done anything worth mentioning, until Thursday just gone.

 

I had arranged to do a few circuits with our local CFI at Balantree aviation, which is in the Wowan area just on 60nm north of here, as I felt some of my landings were not up to what they should be, I hear things like "that's normal in those old tail draggers", and I:chuffed: think 'yeah right, but not four landings off the one approach'.

 

Anyway, blasted off from home about 0550, over to the mates place 4nm to the east, picked him up and on our way, David is his name, and he flies a trike and is starting on three axis, so he's coming up to get some time in too. Pushed a fairly stiff headwind all the way, 70min. later we were on the ground with Myles on his way down from the house, first on the list was the standard cup of coffee, then time to get serious. Myles took Dave up first while the air was reasonable (blowing about 12 / 15kt but expected to worsen later) I sat in his hanger and read the rest of my mag. (sport pilot). They returned after an hour or so then it was debrief followed up with smoko. Sitting at his kitchen table looking out the window at the trees rocking and rolling I was thinking 'maybe I could come back at the weekend and do this' anyway we soldiered on.... back at the hanger, Myles suggested we start on my low level endorsement along with advanced flying techniques. Enjoyed the low level although you really got to be on the ball when you are only a couple of feet off the ground things happen pretty fast. But that's nothing compared to flying from the right seat for the first time. Sure we've all flown from the right seat at some time, but it's usually in someone else's plane and it's no problem because you're up there flying straight or just cruising around, but try flying a circuit and landing....bloody hell that's different....absolutely no problem getting four or maybe even five landings off the one approach then, I didn't count them, I was too busy sweating and trying not to fill my jocks, and doing it in a reasonable cross wind too. In the left seat it's no problem, you just go in and land with one wing low and keeping things straight with your feet, so before we took off I thought 'no big deal, just left hand on the stick instead of the right, boy was I wrong thinking that'. I know probably lots of you out there fly a Lightwing then jump into a Gazelle and it's no different for you, but it sure got my adrenaline pumping. Looked in the logbook and I'm just turning over 500hrs. and it's all been with left throttle and right stick. But now I've had a day to settle my old nerves and I can't wait to get back up there and do it again.

 

Cheers Davo.

 

 

Mine came in thisarvo. Our great Australia Post managed to send it from the Rockhampton Mail mail center out to Longreach for a trip around before sending it back to Rockhampton so it could be sorted and sent out here to Theodore, aren't they a clever mob.

 

Cheers Davo.

 

 

Still waiting up here........read the Sept. one three times now!!!!!!

 

 

Congratulations W68, and thanks for sharing with us all.

 

Cheers Davo:thumb_up:

 

 

 

Hello All,I fly my wire braced around most weekends and get around 60 hrs a year up in small flights. Land at Bundy for a coffee and chat a lot of weekends and show the flag around the metal and plastic. Keep the beast in the backyard so it is easy to go for a quick blast is you get the itch.

Anyone passing Bundy is welcome to drop in for a coffee/tea, just let me know and I'll give you details.

Hi Freddy.

 

Thanks for the invite, I just might take you up on that. My wife's sister and her husband have a block on aidies road out from the Isis mill, and I go into Childers to visit them. next time I'm going over that way I'll let you know.

 

Cheers Davo.:big_grin:

 

 

Dunno if this has been on here before, but could probably stand a little more exposure. Couched in humorous terms but the underlying messages are valid.10. Often shalt thou confirm thine airspeed on final lest the earth rise up and smite thee.

I fly into and out of (naturally) a lot of private country strips, and you all know how the bum drops out of it when there's a power line to cross on final. Cheers Davo.

 

 

500 hours x $20 per hour . . . . . $10,000[less some $$$ spent along the way?]

That's right BR it goes pretty close to buying a replacement engine when its due, and that's even after dipping into it to pay for all the other things along the way, like tyres, sparkplugs, filters etc.

 

 

Thanks guys. Glad I'm not the only one!:throw pc:The real thing is the only way to go!

I was fortunate enough to have had about 40mins. in the FA18 sim at Williamstown many years ago. Man that was like real stuff.

 

 

The comments on the article are interesting reading. So many people don't quite know what they're talking about.

You're right there. It's a wonder they didn't call it a 'cessna ultralight'

 

 

Could someone point me in the direction of where I may find info on Jabiru J160 annual costs.I'm giving thought to buying one and I want to know the real cost of ownership.

I did think there was a download section with info there, but I couldn't find that.

 

Thank you....

When I was doing my training some years ago, my instructor told me that if I was to put $20 aside for every hour I flew then I would always have money there for all the running costs. Things have gone up heaps in price since then, but if you do that it goes a long way towards covering the expenses.

 

i.e.- if you fly three hours over the weekend then put $60 aside....when you've done 500hrs. you will have $5000 sitting there, sure makes it easier

 

Cheers Davo.

 

 

EXCLUSIVE SUPPLIER

 

Hi OME.

 

Looking around the threads here I can't find the one I'm after. I saw you had a dvd. called the 'mechanics toolbox' or something similar, if that's correct I'd like one please. can payment be done by credit card? Also chasing a couple of the old style bonnet locks/clips, the ones you push straight in to lock and turn a quarter turn to release.

 

Cheers Davo:help:

 

 

Does anyone know of anywhere around Melbourne that trains with Drifters?

 

Hi Darks.

 

Like Tomo says 'just do it'. You've never known a side-slip until you've done one in a drifter, you'll be rapt.

 

Cheers Davo.

 

 

Where abouts is Coominya in relation to Toowoomba,

 

Hi Louis, And welcome from me too. Coominya is down the range, past Gatton, past the BP with McDonalds, a couple of miles up you cross a bridge, turn left there. I did my training there, and can't recommend him highly enough. John Walmsley at Coominya Flight Training 0413452547 54264614. Give him a call and say hi.

 

Cheers Davo.

 

PS what Motel? when my wife and I go to Bris. or Gold coast we usually stop for the night in Toowoomba on the way home.

 

 

I'm a blacksmith by trade, then started repairing busted earthmoving equipment in the mines back in about 1970, started driving a grader cleaning up around the work area, boss said 'good job, stay on it'. After about 3 or 4 yrs on them I eventually got good enough to be known as a 'grader operator' and have been on them since, most of it was final-trim on freeways, subdivisions, canal estates etc. now semi retired working in the Dawson Mine, still on the graders.

 

Cheers Davo.

 

 

has anyone out there any idea where to get a radiator for my 618 just had it tested for leaks and found it is stuffed ?????cheers gary s townswbd

Hi Gary, I've had mine to a radiator shop to have the in and out pipes altered to suit the new angle I've set the radiator at. The man told me he had made a few for the 582's that operate out western qld. way and were getting hot when mustering. He made them a little bigger and seemed to solve the problem. he quoted me around $580 to build a new one for me, that might be the way to go, take your old one to a radiator shop and get a price, you may be surprised, it could even be cheaper for you to go that way.

 

Cheers Davo:wave:

 

 

Hi Motz. I was at the Maryborough Wings and wheels fly-in a few weeks ago and was talking to a chap (didn't get his name or title) who spent quite some time searching documents through the 'freedom of the press' or what ever its called, and came up with the legal documents that said the airports after being handed from state to council had to be maintained as such for the duration. Don't take this as word perfect, but the gentleman did say that he got the documents into the council or courthouse? only about two or three days before they were going to close the strip, they where not happy but had to abide by the law, and Maryborough is still alive today because of that little epasode.

 

Might be worth a phone call to YMYB that's the QLD. Maryborough.

 

Hope this can help. Cheers Davo.

 

 

What do you do to promote recreational aviation, or light end GA?I wondered to myself, " It would be a great way to promote recreational aviation if I dropped off my RAA magazine, and other aviation mags to the barber when I had finished with them."

 

Hi OME My Daughter has the bakery in town here, a lot of the locals and travelers often spend a bit of time flicking through old mags. while drinking their coffee etc. I did just that, I dropped off three or four RAA mags and a couple of Pacific Flyer as well, my daughter said the coffee sales have been up a bit since then.

 

Cheers Davo.

If ya have a spare 2 minutes, please fill out the form.

 

Thanx guys....

 

http://scrfc.com.au/save-jaspers-brush-airfield-petition/

 

Hi Motz. I put it out among the members of the Calide Dawson Flying Group Inc. so should get some feed back from them.

 

Cheers Davo.

 

Secretary C.D.F.G.Inc.:big_grin:

 

 

Hi Everyone,Well, I've done it. I've decided to bite the bullet and plan my first big flying expedition!

Good on you PF.

 

Just go and do it, the first real trip away I did was a 6.5 hr. run with a fuel stop after 3hrs. Mate i packed the plane then re-packed and then did it again because I was sure I had forgot something, I took my 'Mr. funnel', 2ltr. hyper2 penrite oil (for the 582) set of 'screw in tiedowns' and ropes, (I have tent springs spliced into my ropes), leather brief case used as flight bag with ersa, wacs, vnc and vtc wizz wheel and nav plotter, spare batteries for gps. and phone charger, made all necessary ph. calls then did final check on airservices site for weather and notams, then blasted off. Good trip to fuel point, next leg a bit more interesting when crossing the range between Glenn Innes and Sth. Grafton, was the strongest cross-wind I had ever experienced at the Sth. Grafton strip but all finished well.

 

Mate the only way to learn is to go and do it, listen to the radio and don't be afraid to use it, and don't go anywhere you haven't thought about first, mark out check points on the map and check your times as you go.

 

There are others out there who can give you the sort of info. your looking for, that's just my experience from my first cross country, I have done several since and every one is easier but still requires prior planning.

 

When I got to Grafton I had to buy shaving gear, jocks and socks.....had shirts and jeans in ok. so I did forget something after all.

 

Cheers Davo.

 

 

The Recreational Flying 5" GPS unit

 

Hi Ian.

 

You can put me down for one of these 5" units please, along with the 'vertical card compass' as well, thanks mate

 

Cheers Davo.

 

 

A friend of mine has a very nice drifter for sale.Hi Yenn.

 

What is the power plant he's running 582 or 503?

 

Have a friend who is looking along the lines of a drifter, I told him he can't go wrong with one of them.

 

It was a good weekend at Old Station too, after I got home I heard that your door latch or something was damaged,

 

did I hear right or was it the coil problem? Hope all is well

 

Cheers Davo

Ignition...there are around 20,000 products and at around 15mins per product to add into the shop properly I would need a full time assistant as the site comes first...just ring me on 03 9444-8025 or PM me anything that you need if it isn't listed in the shop

Hi Ian,

 

Just got in late thisarvo. from the OLD STATION fly-in. Another great weekend, and planning is on already for another one next year.

 

Mate can you give me some info. on flat card compass to fit to the old lightwing please, the only ones I've found so far are marine ones

 

Cheers Davo.

 

PS. It's to replace one of the old instruments, and also a analogue clock for the panel. thanks mate:big_grin:

 

 

Yes it is definitely on. I have just got back from a meeting there and it is all under control. Major, Old Station os West of Gladstone, although being nearer rocky it seems to be North. There will be no flying display, but we can provide our own without having to stop for the heavy metal. They are talking in the thousands for the steaks required, so we need a good roll up to ensure nothing gets wasted. The weather should be good and it may be a bit cool at night, but not as cold as Monto was.See you there.

Hi Ian. I was over at Balantree Aviation today, and was going to go on over to Old Station but it was blowing a pretty stiff easterly and would of taken me 1/2hr. to do the 20nm. so headed back home while I had a good tail wind. I heard you call from Old Station to say you were heading home, but I was getting towards Banana at that time I'll probably go over on Friday arvo. and try to get sorted with the aircraft parking bit. Mate, I'd like to talk to you as you have experience from previous times. My No. is 0414 832946 if you don't mind could you give me a quick buzz and I'll ring you back.

 

Cheers Davo.

 

 

 

Hi Richard and Jenny, I was going to send a email over when I got back from Maryborough but got busy doing other catch up work around the place here along with being back on shift at work.

 

Anyway, to bring you up to date with things over this side of the hill. Tomorrow (Sun.22) we are having a pancake breakfast at Miles place near Wowan, expect about 5 or 6 aircraft in so looking forward to a good morning. What we aim to do here in the C.D.F.G.Inc. is to have a get together every month at a different strip for morning tea, maybe a fly around the area or something similar, a barby lunch then head home, it doesn't matter whether two or twenty two planes fly in. The area we cover is from Old Station in the north, Baralaba in the west and down to Rockybar just below Cracow in the south.

 

We are 10nm. north of Theodore, the property is called Frogs Hollow and its on Lonesome Ck. you can see our strip on Google Earth S24*49.355 E150*08.396 we closed the cross strips as we never use them, although we do keep a track mowed for emergencies.

 

Will see you next week at Old Station.

 

Cheers Davo.

 

Dave and Liz See

 

 

Great stuff Ian. I'll take a 5" one when there a goer.

 

Ian I want a flat card compass also, can you give me some info. on them please.

 

Cheers Davo.