cazza

Bent airplanes are sad stories. How many of the cat's 9 lives do you reckon you used in this one? CAZZA

Yes, I get the idea of your post now. However, the example you chose is one that causes much consternation amongst the organisations and the troops. CASA is a regulatory body and has to have its rules and consequences in a row. RAAUS is an administering body and historically, I think the managers try to deal with problems in a more mentoring and educational way, rather than jumping straight into punishment. Does punishment act as a deterrent? Check out all the repeat offenders in jail if you want some statistics on that. Bascially research shows that people will do what they want, regardless of rules, if it is worth the effort and the chance of getting caught is slim. Now that you have raised this issue of a formal discipline structure, I think the RA-Aus Board should take it up. Nothing irritates members more than getting a different punishment than someone else who did the same thing. As we grow, we should try to be consistent in dealing with infringements of rules and in a way that will help pilots to see the sense in following them because punishments can result in worse behavior - depending on the personality type. CAZZA

"I’ll set the scene here on something that I think is *wrong* with RA-Aus" This is a very interesting way to shift the blame onto an organisation when in fact the actions and consequences lie squarely with the pilot. The situation is not about an organisation and punishment, it is about the mindset of pilots who deliberately put your and my loved ones in danger by making a decision to go into controlled airspace and not tell ATC they are there or ask for assistance. SAFETY is the #1 consideration, for the thruster pilot and everyone in CTA. So there is only one decision, and that is to contact ATC, tell them your position, your track, your altitude and ask for airways clearance. My bet is that they will grant it, assist you, and ask you to report at a certain place so they know you are clear of it. No worries. EVERYONE is safe, then and it is a responsible thing to do. BY accident, I strayed into controlled airspace and because I had my transponder on, I got nabbed and a big lecture from ATC. I copped it sweet, but my mates told me I should not have identified myself, turned off my transponder and snuck away. NO way. I am not putting me and or an innocent family out on a flying outing at risk. So I'll probably get some kind of punishment when the paperwork catches up with RA-Aus, and that's ok with me. I did the wrong thing but I won't make that mistake again when flying close to CTA. cazza

Hello David and welcome. Good luck with your training on the AVID. They have been around for a while (according to our history), so they've past the test of time. I am a bit long in the tooth myself, but enjoying flying my jabiru. CAZZA

Hi Pete, Welcome to the forum. What are you building and what are you flying? I learned on a Gazelle, had a Gazelle for a while (I loved that plane), then sold her and bought a J160. I have had her for one year, put 190 hours on her and just arrived home after a trip to the Gulf of Carpentaria in it. Am having a great time flying. CAZZA

Hey Steve, welcome to the forum. I can't comment on the J170. I have a J160C, and love the space in the Cabin and the fact that I can cruise at 100 TAS, and if I fly by myself, take a fair bit of gear. I have flown the J230, the cabin is squeezier, but it is heavier, more stable, take more gear, goes faster. So, you got to weigh up what you think is most important for you. Good luck. Cazza

welcome Swede. I know nothing about big block chev engines, sorry. I fly a jabiru out of Temora.Good luck learning to fly. Aeropup? Does it go fast? Cazza

Welcome Donmellow, Where is Lynfield? I got my Ra-Aus ticket in 2003 and my ppl in 2007. I don't like flying Cessna's too much. I have a j160, very slick and lots of work. Keeps me busy, I like that. Cazza

Welcome ghing, Find an airfield and hang around the hangar. You'll learn a lot there too. Welcome Cazza

I wish I'd seen Nong's posting before I bought 2 cases of 15W50 GRRRRRRR! CAZZA

Hi Darren, welcome to the forum. You are practically in the neighborhood. I live on the airpark in Temora, so when the wx is good, come on over and stop in for a cuppa. Cazza

Ross Yep I'll be here. We are on the airfield and our hangar has the orange windsock. I'll make some brownies since a couple of people from this forum are popping in. CAZZA

Welcome to the forum clack. After checking out your a/c experience, I think you are a good candidate to visit the Temora flying museum. I live on the airfield, so if you get up this way, stop in for a cuppa. cazza

Welcome to the forum Aaron. Flying in tumut area has to be a dream, the scenery is so nice. I am nearly in the neighborhood at Temora, so when you start your navs come over for a cuppa. I fly a J160, but I have a few hours in trikes and they are awsome. cazza

Hi Ewen and welcome to the forum. No need to have GA vs RA arguments. I have a PPL and an RA certificate. I fly a J160 REgistered RA-Aus and my husband flies an RV6, Vh registered, but he has just finished training on my J160, so both of us are both. I guess we could argue with ourselves, but basically we see our household as enlightened and flexible with lots of options. CAZZA:laugh:

Welcome to the forum TFC. I can't help with any suggestions on mods, but I fly a J160 and she has more room in the front than the J230, but not as much 'grunt'. I also have a few hours on a Trike which is great fun but not for winter. CAzza

DJ, the GAzelle I trained on AND the one I bought both had Rotax 912 0 80 HP engines. Very reliable old workhorses. Just came back from Sun and Fun in US. Many of the new fancy composite aircraft coming out of Italy and the Czec republic are using Rotax 012 100 hp engines. Cazza

Welcome Ron-C to this forum. What are you flying or contemplating flying these days? Where are you flying from? Do you have an aeroclub of supportive aviators? CAZZA

Hey Jonsey welcome to this forum. You'll find lots of helpful info from the members. What kind of aircraft are you looking at and where do you think you'll be flying from? I fly a J160 out of Temora, NSW. I trained on a GAzelle (very lovely and forgiving), a trike, and a J160. CAZZA

RA-Aus site, like most, is manned by a volunteer who has spent 30 hours a week for 9 years maintaining it out of the goodness of his heart. So he takes a while getting the info on and trying to keep it up to date. Bear with us. Glad to have you on this forum. Very friendly folks and there is always someone with the right info you need. Cheers, CAZZA

Welcome flying high to this forum. You'll find it is a veritable wealth of information and opinion on all sorts of topics. Great fun and very supportive. CAZZA

Hi roadk99 Welcome to the forum. You'll have a great time flying a trike. I have a few hours in one myself. I normally fly a J160 though. I like the cabin heat and the ability to fly when there is a little wind around. You'll enjoy this forum. Where do you fly from? CAZZA

Welcome Kevin! Forgive my bad geography. Where is the Locker Valley? CAZZA

Hi Paul, Welcome to the forum. Loved the photo of the trike adventure. We have a group of 15 recreational a/c that are going on a big safari in July up through longreach, Karumba, then over to atherton, airlie beach and down to Cessnock. No trikes, but lots of others. I fly a J160, but I have 10 hours in a trike and they are such FUN. Maybe we'll catch up with you when we are in atherton. CAZZA

Hi John and welcome to the site. Have you checked out areoclub.com? It has lots of info like that? What do you fly? Where do you fly from? I fly a J160 out of YTEM. CAZZA