nomadpete

You are "normal' then. Grumpy is not interchangeable with cynical, nor would it be the only manifestation of cynicism. Nev

Now you're really splitting hairs. Or am I just being Cynical?

 

 

If you are not cynical with some advancing age you must have spent most of your life on another planet. Nev

That is what makes a true 'grumpy old man'

Well, it worked for me.

 

 

If turning back, do you turn into the wind (assuming there's a degree of crosswind)?

In GLIDING (please take this in the context of glider activities) -

Murphy's law dictates that there will seldom be an ideal wind blowing straight down a strip. So, PRIOR to take off, you check the wind sock and predetermine which way the cross wind component is. Then you say to yourself, "In the event of rope break at (X height) I will pull the cable release, lower the nose and turn downwind, then turn back". All in the one movement. That way, the downwind part of the turn (away from the strip) is made with the greatest glider speed added to the crosswind speed, and the last part of the U- turn is made after speed has bled off, allowing the cross wind to drift you back onto line with the runway. After that you still have to deal with a downwind landing. The goal is to avoid a 'S' turn onto final at low air speed and height.

 

Of course, this practice would only translate to noisy aeroplanes at a much greater height. Generally a glider is being towed with an airspeed that is gives a higher margin before stall speed, than can be expected with a powered aircraft set up for climb. Combine that with a much nicer sink rate, and the manoever becomes a practical emergency procedure for a glider whilst still being very risky for a powered aircraft.

 

The decision to turn a glider back MUST be made automatically and instantly, whilst airspeed is still high. That is why it must be rehearsed in the mind as part of each pre takeoff checklist. The height at which it is a safe option will depend on all variables such as obstacles, wind speed, lack of safe ground ahead, aircraft performance.

 

 

Kaz,

 

Can I conclude you are of the same Gurney family?

 

Peter

 

 

Well, that argument spiralled down into a depressing hole

 

 

My point is this -

 

If things are as bad as all the suggestions imply, the sooner official action takes place, the sooner we can get on the road to recovering our flying privileges.

 

Waiting will only make the end worse.

 

 

Maybe the first step forward is to clear the air of any possible legal repurcussions.

 

That requires outside intervention.

 

So who should bring the possibly criminal transgessions to the attention of the authorities?

 

Which authorities could be able to (and be encouraged to) investigate?

 

Which actual suspected incidents should be investigated by the authorities?

 

 

There are only two times when you won't understand your woman - before the wedding, and after the wedding........

 

 

There is a Moral to this story -

 

"Be very careful who you trust"

 

 

It shows how jittery and skeptical we all are. Still half expecting skeletons to come out of our RAAus closet.

 

I just re-read the HGFA President's well articulated report of December 2009. Published in Soaring Australia. It seems that they have been through it all before we did. Their "Special General Meeting" resulted in the removal of five Members of the Board (out of nine). They got themselves a new President who assured members that "the assumption drawn here is that members were not only voting to arrest the direction of the board..... but were also sending a message that the style of the board was not supported" and "I have yet to see any evidence that additional layers of bureaucracy.... help in getting services to pilots.." I like his style shown in the report.

 

He also intimated that there was a need to bring together the two groups - the disgruntled reformists and the 'happy as we are' members in order to unite members. Which is another thing that we need to work on.

 

All stuff that RAAus has so recently been through. Their revolution was more thorough than ours has been, and seemed more effective for that.

 

Perhaps we were too gentle in our approach. Luckily there are a few new people who are starting to open the doors of communication a little. "Thank you" to those people. But by comparison we still seem to have a dinosoar of a board, appearing to be acting like all is well. No signs of real changes yet !

 

 

So, apart from Andy having a bad day, it looks like nothing actually happening.

 

 

Dammit....I hate suspense.....

But suspenders can keep the interest up !

 

 

Andy, I really hope that you are just having a down moment.

 

 

You might have some moments when you think that flying is all fading out of your life, BUT once you've been bitten by the bug - sooner or later you'll find yourself back around aircraft. From time to time I have been away from flying and yes, I lost some skills during each absence. Then I enjoyed the challenge of brushing off the cobwebs and renewing the joy. However, enjoy and foster your relationship first and foremost. Your flying is not damaged by having an on-and-off relationship, but your personal relationship needs constant care. Congratulations on your coming wedding.

 

 

 

Woman Stops Grizzly Attack With 25 Cal Pistol

 

 

This is a story of self control and marksmanship with an itsy-bitsy shooter by a woman against a fierce predator.

 

 

What is the smallest calibre you trust to protect yourself?

 

The Beretta Jetfire:

 

While out hiking in Alberta Canada with my boyfriend we were surprised by a huge grizzly bear charging at us from out of nowhere. She must have been protecting her cubs because she was extremely aggressive.

 

 

If I had not had my little Beretta Jetfire with me I would not be here today!

 

Just one shot to my boyfriend's knee cap was all it took and I was able to escape by just walking away at a brisk pace.

 

 

It's one of the best pistols in my collection.

 

 

 

Instructors and CFIs as cops? No way, brothers!We are teachers, mentors and sounding boards. If we were cops, members would loose the ability to approach us for friendly advise.

But who else has the respect of the scurvey crew? Surely a rebuke from me would not be taken as seriously as a comment from my respected instructor or mentor? There has to be some form of acceptable correction for those of us (well, not ME of course) who do things that are to risky to keep doing?

 

 

Doesn't store security come and put the skids under you for using it? I was reading the box on a terrabyte disk at big-W one-day, next thing I heard "security to section 5" on the PA, and before I knew it I had a frumpy shop assistant, still puffing, asking me if she could help me with anything.

Maybe you should stop wearing that hoodie when you go shopping !

 

 

Ultimate pilot incapacitation - Waiting for aircraft registration to happen !

 

 

Arrrrgh !

 

What have I started?

 

 

OK, not really important I suppose. Just that a plastic pilot certificate card looks quite readable after it goes through the wash. Not so, a piece of paper !

 

Never mind 'peak oil'. Have we reached 'peak plastic cards' ?

 

 

Anyone else find that their pilot certificate renewal card didn't arrive?

 

My renewal was a paper copy only. There was a polite accompanying letter saying that 'due to unforseen circumstances, there is a shortage of plastic cards' and to use the paper renewal until the cards become available.

 

Peter

 

 

Just love that little chuckle as he rolls up to his hangar.

 

 

Mine seems to have developed hearing problems.... al I got was "WHAT DID YOU SAY?"

Translation - "What did you say" really means "You got three seconds to take that back, smartass"

 

 

As mentioned above, You don't get to go solo on a glider in Australia until you have demonstrated a 180 degree turnback at low altitude. Note that this must be done in the context of the performance of the particular glider, your instructor is right behind you, and the whole decision making process is as important as the actual maneuver. By the way it gets the adrenalin pumping when you do it. Part of the preflight checks include listing your rope break options (as dodo said). I would hope that we all recite our options for EFATO just before each flight. That way the correct action comes naturally when stuff goes pear shaped.

 

 

During a lady's medical examination, the doctor says:-

 

"Your heart, lungs, pulse and blood pressure are all fine. Now let me see the bit that gets you ladies into all kinds of trouble."

 

 

 

The lady starts taking off her underwear but is interrupted by the doctor.

 

 

 

"No! No! Don't take off your clothes...

 

Just stick out your tongue!"