FlyingVizsla

Hey Dad,

 

The Come And Get It Trophy - hubby & I have talked about snatching it just for the fun of flying. For people who don't know - the AUF now RAA, or more correctly a member, started the CAGIT with the idea that its location is posted on the RAA site and aviators then Come and Get It and move it to a new location, usually their home base and get their name engraved on it. Kind of like a slow moving geocache travel bug.

 

Sue - One day we'll do it.

 

 

Our town (Springsure) is presently cut off from everywhere else but there's no flooding in town (roads closed but no buildings affected). There are choppers coming and going as the next town, Rolleston pop 80 is being evacuated. Husband can't get to work where they are screaming for men to move pumps & equipment to higher ground - there's no airstrip and they were relying on helicopters, but the choppers are all away saving people. Our town airstrips are all on high ground on the edge of towns, and it is dawning on people that they are our lifeline. Now all we have to do is get that concept through to Council bureaucrats who every so often moot the idea of moving the town airstrip "over the river" so the existing strip can be turned into a residential development.

 

On the brighter side it has turned into a great social occasion. Knowing it is going to be weeks before they could get out, farming families (usually mum & kids) have come to town to stay with rellies. There's only one supermarket in town and it closed on Friday evening, not to open again until 8:30am Wed. With so many people coming in they announced they would open (today Tues) at 2pm for 2 hours. The family that ran the shop got there at 9am to find crowds so they put out a sign saying open from Noon, then just could not hold off there were so many people - some needing to get a few weeks provisions because they were going back to the property to be stuck there indefinately and needed to get going ASAP - so they opened at 10am and were doing a roaring trade. People volunteered to stock, serve, help pack & carry (staff in this shop usually pack your goods and then carry out to your car, they will also pick and pack if you provide them with a list - really good country service) and we experienced a queue more than 2 long at the checkout for the first time in the 5 years I have been here. It was a great social occasion. Plenty of planes coming in too with a 1km walk to the shop and any number of volunteers to drive them back up the hill to the strip.

 

The rain stopped overnight with only 15 dry days out of the last 50 but the rivers and creeks are still rising and will do for some time to come. We are so glad we own a plane.

 

Sue

 

 

One day an old German Shepherd starts chasing rabbits and before long,

 

discovers that he's lost. Wandering about, he notices a panther heading

 

rapidly in his direction with the intention of having lunch.

 

The old German Shepherd thinks, "Oh, oh! I'm in deep s*** now!"

 

Noticing some bones on the ground close by, he immediately settles down

 

to chew on the bones with his back to the approaching cat. Just as the

 

panther is about to leap, the old German Shepherd exclaims loudly,

 

"Boy, that was one delicious panther! I wonder, if there are any more

 

around here?"

 

Hearing this, the young panther halts his attack in mid-strike, a look

 

of terror comes over him and he slinks away into the trees.

 

"Whew!," says the panther, "That was close! That old German Shepherd

 

nearly had me!"

 

Meanwhile, a squirrel who had been watching the whole scene from a

 

nearby tree, figures he can put this knowledge to good use and trade it

 

for protection from the panther. So, off he goes.

 

The squirrel soon catches up with the panther, spills the beans and

 

strikes a deal for himself with the panther.

 

The young panther is furious at being made a fool of and says, "Here,

 

squirrel, hop on my back and see what's going to happen to that

 

conniving canine!"

 

Now, the old German Shepherd sees the panther coming with the squirrel

 

on his back and thinks, "What am I going to do now?," but instead of

 

running, the dog sits down with his back to his attackers, pretending

 

he hasn't seen them yet, and just when they get close enough to hear,

 

the old German Shepherd says...

 

"Where's that squirrel? I sent him off an hour ago to bring me another

 

panther!"

 

Moral of this story...

 

Don't mess with the old dogs... Age and skill will always overcome

 

youth and treachery!

 

 

We (the Springsure Scouts) go geocaching. There is only one in the area so I am working on a project to establish more - then it started to rain ..... I could do some within walking distance of our airstrips to give aviators a reason to land and look at our towns.

 

It is like a treasure hunt. The GPS gets you within 10m of the cache and you then search high and low. Keeps the little fellas entertained for a while. The web sites usually give you an indication of the difficulty involved. I know one that you have to abseil down a cliff to locate and others that you can just walk up to, so obvious that you miss them. They are in rural locations (usually chosen for what else you can see there - view, tourist spot, historic monument etc) and urban (just for the fun of it). Can be quite challenging - Youth group searched in Rocky & were stumped until someone pointed out they had been walking round & round the fountain (it was in there!) so much fun was had getting feet wet. There's two in Fairbairn dam - hire a canoe and paddle out.

 

The boxes (water tight) have a log book where you can record that you found it and often have trinkets that you can exchange. There are tokens that are destined to move to specific types of locations eg the cemetery token (you find it in a box at a cemetery, take it out and keep it until you find another box at a cemetery and leave it there). We could start an Airstrip token. Anybody can start anything really... There are items that request to travel east to get to "town" and their progress is logged on the website. Owners watch their "thing" getting closer to home having circumnavigated the globe. Others have a specific intent - sending a deceased Scout Leader's woggle on a journey back to Gilwell Park UK (home of Scouting). The USA site sells "boxes" that don't look out of place - a large magnetic bolt (so it can sit on a girder or something) hollow - you screw the top off. I am doing a fake old book to sit in an historic school house. The other sites are out bush and I teach the kids navigation skills and map reading. You can just about drive to them, but I start them off where they have to make hiking decisions (there's an obstacle in the way of a straight line.

 

It is really infectious - we get tourists who planned their trip around finding geocaches. Kids love it and it makes the destination and the journey all that much fun. Our Scouts are hooked.

 

Sue (CSL ASL)

 

 

Bones,

 

Is this a mature aged student? I train, and do training, and noticed that learning and retention of memory & processes are influenced by stress levels in life. An engineer acquaintence thought he was losing his memory but after talks to specialists it was simply he was hands on managing about 20 civil construction projects, keeping up with kids & various activities and trying to study part time at Uni. When he trimmed life back he found he could remember the concepts he was learning.

 

Laying down recent memory into long term memory usually requires reinforcing of the short term memory. Perhaps in this case, if there is a gap between lessons, give him some homework - to sit with a picture of a cockpit and talk himself through the process of landing etc. Aviation requires some actions to be drilled into a student so they become automatic in the event of a problem - to do this we repeat often until recall happens without us having to dig too hard.

 

The other, less likely, but more serious is the student may be having tiny neurological episodes or blood flow issues. The brain is a complex organ influenced by many environmental, social, dietary & genetic factors. I flew with a heavy smoker who routinely would fall asleep over 5,000 ft, the autopilot and I would make sure he was around for the landing. His lungs couldn't absorb oxygen efficiently so the higher we went the drowsier he got. He lost his commercial licence and hasn't flown for about 10 years but still smokes.

 

I would suggest the homework and before flying, run through all the processes to get the routine working well before the stress of actually flying the aircraft.

 

And don't worry, training is full of peaks & troughs. The worst student I know was an accountant who did the books for a LAME in return for free lessons. I can't remember how many hours he did (over 100 towards his PPL), but his instructor went grey trying to get him up to standard and he tried hard to grasp the processes. The LAME retired before he finished and I don't know that he ever did.

 

So, take heart, it will all come together.

 

Sue:)

 

 

djpacro.Good to see you have a high opinion of Uni graduates. I worked for two consulting engineering forms doing civil engineering and my opinion of them is they are very cariable. One Uni in Brisbane has never produced a graduate that impressed me and one in Rocky seems to have a high proportion of competent engineers. Some of the overseas graduates, even with masters degrees have no idea what they are doing.

I'm a product of the one in Toowoomba, however I was a mature aged distance ed, part timer already employed in the industry, so it was just putting the theory along side the practical. The CQU has a Co-op course where students can get credit for an industry placement for 6 months (or a year?) so the young graduates have a taste of real life and something on their resume. USQ is starting to institute that idea too.

 

I would agree with the sentiments about overseas imports. I worked with several from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh & 3rd world countries. Firm I worked for employed one with "17 years road building experience" and over the next few months I had grave doubts he had seen a road, let alone built one - no idea of gravel, compaction, bitumen. Another with a degree conducted in English and 3 year Masters in Aust was so hopeless, he remembered nothing from either degree and any job I gave him he handed off to someone else. He went to a consulting firm who showed him the door pretty quickly. The Consulting firms head hunt the best because their reputation and their on-going profitability relies on it. I have done some stints with them on local projects and it is certainly more full on than Council or Govt, with a lot more accountability.

 

All that said, there are some brilliant people who have enquiring minds and broaden their knowledge without a university - these guys could (and do) design their own aircraft, engines and other things. A degree just says you managed to show off the required knowledge - that's why universities confer "Honorary Degrees" to people outstanding in their field.

 

I wish some of these brilliant people would stop thinking about themselves as somehow inferior to those of us who spent their evenings studying barely useful subjects. It annoys me when someone totally incapable gets the job because the capable shied away because it said "degree".

 

My rant for the day.

 

Sue

 

 

Id apply, but i dont have the Degree in engineering...

Don't be put off by the lack of a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. The advert says "or equivalent" which could mean a trade qual, Assoc Dip in Design, lots of experience, or anything else that takes their fancy.

 

I worked for a Council that routinely specified "A Degree, 5 years senior management experience ... or equivalent" and they filled the positions with someone with none of that. For example the person who filled the $105K Airport Manager position was an admin assistant returning to the workforce after 15 years off, no tertiary quals, no management experience and no aviation knowledge. This happens because people don't give it a go and some organisations advertise once, interview what they've got and appoint. The job usually comes up again soon when the appointee either gets a better job on the strength of this one, or gets out of their depth and gives up.

 

Sue

 

(More degrees than a thermometer)

 

 

Browsing the jobs and noticed this:-

 

Jabiru Aircraft P/L are seeking a design engineer to be based in Bundaberg, Queensland. The successful applicant will have:

 

- A flexible, can-do attitude

 

- A Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering or equivalent

 

- A Working knowledge of Strand Finite Element Software

 

- Good hands-on skills

 

- Strong general knowledge, particularly in areas such as engine operation, maintenance and electrical wiring.

 

- A pilot’s licence, the ability to use Autodesk Inventor software, skills and experience relating to digital data collection hardware & software also an advantage.

 

 

 

Responsibilities of the role will include:

 

- Design and compliance certification of aircraft, engines & associated equipment

 

- Overseeing flight testing, structural testing

 

- Weight and balance control for production aircraft

 

- Assisting in production overview and Quality Assurance.

 

You can apply through SEEK - Australia's no. 1 jobs, employment, career and recruitment site. I would give it a go but my better half would never forgive me - he isn't a fan of the marque. Besides that, I have enough to do now.

 

Sue

 

 

On the news tonight - George Creed passed away. He was well know for the Raglan fly-in

 

Former Gladstone mayor dies in hospital - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

 

Sue

 

 

Good on you Tomo & David,

 

It is the chance of a lifetime, before you get older and too committed to go. I knew a lot of MAF and YWAM people (Youth With A Mission, but were better know as Youth Without Any Money and various other unofficial titles). I "dated" a bloke who worked as an accountant in Tari in the early 1980's. He remembered me from the residential college we both lived at in the 1970's as the only female shorter than him (and the only one to get out of there still single) so he contacted me through the Old Students Association.

 

His employer treated married staff a lot better than the single men, so he thought he would find a wife and thereby secure decent housing. Lots of letters & tapes later he had a barney with the company and resigned, moved to Melbourne (and then o/s) and I lost touch. Tari was such a beautiful place. Life would have taken quite a different tack if I had taken up the offer. Being able to really make a difference in people's lives and having a life mission is a fantastic recipe for happiness.

 

So go and enjoy yourself!

 

Sue

 

 

Scott,

 

Thanks for the video! More like that and hoards of people will want a trike! Seriously, it did me a power of good, the car's in the panel beaters, the plane is in pieces and I'm in the middle of exams - and this one really lifted my spirits.

 

Thanks mate

 

Sue

 

 

David,

 

We looked in on Aircraft Bolt Suppies when we were last at Narromine - they are from Gatton Qld. I can't remember if these were the people we got our camlocs and Southco fasteners from - too long ago. If Old Man Emu has them, that's a pretty good service "by smoko Monday"!

 

Sue :thumb_up:

 

 

Welcome David,

 

I used to go to Warwick for Christmas every year to visit a family who used to be my next door neighbours in Winton and co-incidentally ended up working with them in Barcaldine and Emerald before he moved to Warwick to become the Shire Engineer. I remember landing on the grass strip into the strongest headwind I had ever experienced and stopped on a sixpence. I hear the strip has been upgraded since then.

 

The beauty of this site is the way it caters to everyone - so you'll find lots about the Jabiru, flying training and flight sims, as well as the wicked humour and serious topics. Enjoy your stay!

 

 

Sue

 

 

Hey Mike,

 

Way to go! working & flying! I bet you have a ball in the Pits & the Citarbria. Do you do aerobatics? Love to hear all about it. I'm grounded until I finish updating the interior and put the seats back in, so I am jealous.

 

Sue

 

 

 

Welcome along!

 

My family - husband and 2 sons - have been into aeromodelling for years at the Maryborough Qld club. The eldest lad builds and repairs models, the youngest works at a mine and has squillions to spend on jets and compete overseas. I married into the family about 2 years ago and despite 15 years flying the full scale things I have not been brave enough to try breaking their R/Cs.

 

I have yet to try a Foxbat but would love to one day. Keep us up to date, and don't be afraid to ask anything.

 

Sue

 

 

Husband & I have been members - me since 1994 and him from 1995. The organisation has been fraught with infighting but the skills they learn from posturing against each other work magnificently when it comes to fighting for the membership. I have literature on file from the "Vegemite" fuel contamination affair with a fighting fund, lobbying, support for affected members - and they did have some good wins and gave the govt some pause for thought before trying heavy handed "ground everything ASAP" type reactions again. That's only one campaign. They email around any big issues, magazine is good too.

 

They individually support people facing CASA prosecution and lobby, raise awareness and generally promulgate issues with regard to legislation and treatment of the flying community. Majority of members don't see all the work they do, but when you need them they are worth the subscription. RAAus is a social club against this lot. We are members of both because aviation in Australia needs both.

 

Sue

 

 

Unfortunately we are dealing with the Bureaucracy who have decided if you want a hangar then you had better build half the airport. Councillors don't get a look in. So long as the Bureaucracy is within Policy Guidelines then it is OK to do so. It is all about protecting Council's assets etc. Usually get a consultant to report so it looks to be "arms length". Any non aviation councillors will figure it makes sense.

 

Same sad amalgamated council appointed an airport co-ordinator who had no aviation experience who then had to appoint a consultant to report on the airstrips. They compared our ALAs to a RPT & high capacity charter standard that CASA no longer recognised as a standard and recommended about $3mil work at each ALA to bring it up to a "safe" standard or close it. If I had not been persistant there would have been a gross waste of money or no airports and I made no friends in the Bureaucracy in doing so. They wanted me to shut up about it. Worries me greatly when the person in charge of all airports in the Council asks "What's CASA got to do with it?" in relation to airport standards. Said consultants were re-engaged to do more reports because no one knows anything (including them).

 

I'm staying right out of politics for fear of being tarred with the broad brush.

 

Sue

 

 

Good on you Noel, for keeping the history alive. :big_grin:

 

 

Gosh! I am nearly inspired to take a spanner to my C152.

 

Regarding discussions about weight etc. I looked up my 152 book. Empty weight is 1112 lb or 504kg. Then you can start tossing out one seat 11 pounds, harness 1.6, control wheel 4.1, wheel spats & fairings 17, landing light 1.8, (we're down to 488kg) and still not get enough to allow for a pilot, oil and fuel. Ditch the 246 pound Lycoming for a 140 lb Rotax and we have 442kg. I might need a severe diet. But it would be lovely if I could make the transition.

 

Sue

 

 

Found a picture of the same plane from a different angle at Aeroplane Images - Festival of Flight 2010/19-7055

 

Supposed to be from the Festival of Flight 2010. There are 115 other images of various aircraft. There is on C150M on the RAA register under 24-7267.

 

Interesting. 7055 looks like it has 2 seats - I thought RAA C150's could only have one.

 

Sue

 

 

I had experience with an unlicenced airfield I looked after and an adjoining owner (retired grazier) who owned 5 planes. Small council was fine with the idea of him building a hangar on his own land and accessing through the fence (3 strand barb wire). Then the State in their wisdom amalgamated us with 3 other Councils and the one who took us over got paranoid about the implications. 1. he had to cross a 20m strip of unused Crown land between his boundary and the fence, 2. "Terrorists" could get airside by getting climbing his 1m arc mesh fence, enter his hangar, un lock it and enter the strip (which they could do much easier anywhere around the perimeter, particularly at the gate which is only a gap in the fence where the road goes in).

 

So they determined he had to erect a hangar behind his house on the airstrip (and travel around to the main entrance and walk back around to behind his place - no cockies gate in the fence!). 20 page contract of conditions which included 4 pages on alcohol licencing, requirements to connect to water, sewer, power (all about 500m away and not needed), construct sealed taxiways, drainage systems etc. Madness.

 

Same small Council gave my husband permission to build a hangar on land we had surveyed on the ALA, then large Council reduced the lease and insisted on lots of capital works at our expense and the hangar reverted to their ownership after 20 years. We enquired about a block on the airport boundary but were told they would not approve a shed large enough to put a plane in (we just mentioned the size of shed before bidding at auction). Even buying 2 blocks (about an acre) we could not get permission to build a shed. There being no other land adjoining that was freehold we gave up. Planes are now sitting in the weather.

 

At another unlicenced airstrip with a co-operative Council a land holder who lives across the road got Council permission to taxi across. The road is a local Council road and has very little traffic (aerodrome road). So it can be done...... Until the Feds decide that ALAs are the weak link in the chain. Afterall, said neighbour could load up his drifter with TNT, taxi across the road, fly to a bigger airstrip, light the fuse and go "boom". Wonder how long it will take to realise airparks are a haven for terrorists? I shouldn't be giving them ideas.

 

Sue

 

 

Last real news we had was in a USA magazine (Kit Planes?) that listed engines and noted that it was due for release April 2011. We had rung months ago and were told that it was in endurance testing. We had put a deposit on one, well knowing that it might varpourise with the whole concept, but at least it will help build the knowledge to ultimately get one to market. All the news on the web is old stuff. I guess the GFC knocked them around as they are UK and USA based. Heard a rumour that Powerplant Developments had been sold, but couldn't find anything. We have phone numbers for the major players, but figured we would not hassle them until nearer to April.

 

Sue

 

 

I couldn't see it - I squinted and tried hard and eventually I saw it. He saw it first up - but then he has 40 years more experience than me - so maybe it is true?! He made me post it ....

 

 

Japanese Eye Test

 

If you cannot decipher anything, then try pulling the

 

corner of your eyes as if you were Japanese.

 

Keep squinting...It works.

 

(Don't blame me - I'm only passing it on)

 

PS - you have to open it to get the full idea - unfortunately the thumbnail gives it away!!

 

 

 

I might be able to help. I too, was top of my class in maths then something happened (I think it is called old age) and I lose the plot from time to time and the numbers no longer dance like they used to. That wonderful man I married a couple of years ago thinks nothing of sitting back and reading Mechanics Data Sheets, Machinery's Handbook, Aerodynamic Systems etc like I would read a novel. So if I can't help he probably has the formula that I could check. There are similarities between Fluid Mechanics and Aerodynamics.

 

Sue