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nomadpete

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Everything posted by nomadpete

  1. nomadpete
    Congratulations! Great, isn't it? Make the most of our peaceful skies (on the rare occasions they come during winter).
  2. nomadpete
    Welcome (back) Do you frequent Clifton? Going to the Fly-in next month?
  3. nomadpete
    The very fact that 'off topic' threads are so popular could mean that to banish them might mean that you are also banishing that extra amount of interested parties. Although we are all interested in aviation, we are also interested in all other things about life on earth, including 'other topics'. I enjoy the occasional diversion into 'off topic' land. And, unlike the television comparisons being made by others, I think that the forum thread structure does not allow derailling of all forumite's aviation thoughts. After all one must decide to select an 'off topic' thread before being exposed to its heretical content. In the end, Ian, I am happy to go with whatever you decide. Thanks for asking. Peter T
  4. nomadpete
    Welcome back to the forum . We missed you. Please restore some decorum to us!
  5. nomadpete
    Welcome to the Procrastinator's forum. Looks like you'll fit in just fine....
  6. nomadpete
    Last flight. Not my last flight (I hope), but my most recent flight. After recent sad loss of yet another valued person who was persuing their passion for flight, I had been questioning whether to give it all up and take up knitting. Yesterday, I went out to the gliding club (still pondering). The sun was out, the air was clear, there was a comfortable 10kts blowing straight down the strip. The tug pilot led me to a nice thermal and I bunged off tow early, into good lift which took me to cloud base. I sat quietly for a while at 8000' under the cool whisps of cloud. I did not feel alone. Maybe Maj would approve. Maybe his spirit was soaring with me. Then I also thought of all the people who miss out on this spiritual joy of flight, they have never felt it, and I realised how much it has enriched my life. No, this will not be my Last Flight.
  7. nomadpete
    "Drifting off topic" ? Understatement of the millennium methinks! Typical of Maj...... I had a brilliant flight yesterday. My thoughts dwelt on Maj, with sadness. But the joy of flight brought balance and understanding to me. He would have loved the view as much as I did.
  8. nomadpete
    My sincerest sympathies go out to Ross's family. For they are the ones most devastated by Ross's passing. Like the long list of others who have added to this sad thread, I am deeply affected. I too have been questioning whether to hang up my headset. But then I remind myself that for all of us, life on Earth is filled with risk. That applies whether we take part in adventurous activities or not. We all do our best to mitigate risk. But we cannot tell when our time will come, so I believe we should embrace life and our passions as Ross has done. Otherwise we are wasting the gift of life. I know that next time I watch the ground dropping away as I rise into the air, I will be very much feeling connected with Ross and thinking of him. I will not give up flying nor motorcycling. Nor any other adventuring. Like all of us, including Ross, I will be trying to keep the holes from lining up in my 'Swiss cheese' Thank you Ross, for all that you have enriched our lives with, even though I didn't get to meet you in person. Peter
  9. nomadpete
    Welcome to the forum. What are you flying?
  10. nomadpete
    G'day brother. You must be really special - after I joined I only got a couple of reminders to post an intro, then fortunately the system gave up on me! Nomadpete
  11. nomadpete
    Hi Debra, Welcome to the forum. There is a lot of good information here, I have learnt a lot from experienced pilots who contribute. Well, there is, once you have fitted your manure filters for some of those less qualified contributors! Most of all though, it's great to see another Tassie pilot joining us. Pete
  12. nomadpete
    Welcome Now we have two Tommo's to watch out for. And I'm sure that by providing your strip location, passing pilots will improve safety (as an emergency alternative) when flying around all those mountains.
  13. nomadpete
    Welcome Mick. What part of SEQ? The forum is a great resource and can be quite entertaining. Beware, it does represent the full spectrum of humanity! Well, the flying addicted ones anyway.
  14. nomadpete
    Once upon a time, in a galaxy far away........ No, this is a true story. A young woman who worked in our office was undergoing IVF. (Yeah, I know, there's enough humans on this planet already). Her gyno was seeing more of her (literally) than her husband. Each week we would get a morning tea update on her progress. One morning she said that she wanted to brighten her doctor's day, so got a felt pen and wrote a big "W" on the inside of each thigh. Well, we all had blank looks until she enlightened us ...... When she took up her position in the stirrups, The doc said "That's the first time I've been WOWed by one!"
  15. nomadpete
    Oh noo.... Don't bring religion into it please!
  16. nomadpete
    Yeah, the 2016 ones are there - can't you see the shadow? These days a 5 o'clock shadow replaces last year's dental floss thong.
  17. nomadpete
    In answer to the question, in my opinion, Jabiru make an excellent ultralight aircraft. A good performer and generally represent good value for what they offer. They are used extensively in Australia for training. The airframes have proven to be sturdy. Yes, I have had some limited experience with them. Never actually owned one although our club has quite a few. As far as the engine debate goes, well, I can only say that my observations bring me to the conclusion that most owners get good results as long as the operator pays close attention to the correct 'care and feeding' of it (particularly temps and cooling). After all, do you really expect to get the same ultimate product reliability as a Lycoming or Continental for a small fraction of their cost? Jabiru can sell me a complete aircraft for the price of a Lycoming engine.
  18. nomadpete
    Although it is most certainly important to identify the age spread of current participants, I think that knowing the age when the bug first bit and the age when the victim first did something about it, is knowledge that would help RAAus stay in business. :-)
  19. nomadpete
    Thanks Sue. Rather than cases of "following mum/dad's footsteps" I would be expecting a stronger correlation with the interests a grandparent. It's just an unsubstantiated suspicion though. None of my family had any flying connection. There were a couple of adventurous men 2generations before me. Maybe that had some influence. I like to think that I 'discovered' aviation all by myself. Models during childhood, a little flying in teen years, 30 yr family gap, then gliding and ultralights.
  20. nomadpete
    An interesting list of confessions here.... Most of us seem to have begun our obsession in early childhood...... Maybe the key is to get flying into the minds of small children. Bit of a long lead time before we would see the results though! :)
  21. nomadpete
    It is useful to get a honest perspective on our collective backgrounds. It helps us identify needs and opportunities. All part of identifying our present direction and our desired direction, and how to meet the needs of RAAus members.
  22. nomadpete
    Going back to before all this intellectually stimulating debate about green oranges, and water borne modes of transport that cannot even FLY, I just HAD to find that Stephen Fry interview (thank you Mr Goggle). Priceless! Especially the expression on the interviewer's face.
  23. nomadpete
    Jabs are great trainers. Enjoy!
  24. nomadpete
    Fishla and Tasmag, what are you flying? Tassie is a picturesque place - I guess Midlands is more flying friendly than all the tiger country. When I move to Tas I'll be visiting the gliding club to get my fix. Peter
  25. nomadpete
    Still in process of wing covering here in Twba. But things are achangin and I will be finishing soon & moving down about xmas time. Maybe catch up with you then? Would like to see your project
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