Piet Fil

Dave, excellent job looking at the piccies. Well done! Hopefully I'll be able to take a peek at Natfly. Enjoy flying a marvelous job! Phil

I love a good 'longdrop' story. When I was a kid on a quiet night you could hear the white ants in our dunny timber chewing away. All came to a head one windy night when dad was outside and the whole shebang collapse on hime in the middle of his business. Took quite a while before he saw the funny side to that event.

It is a challenge but that is why it is so rewarding. If it was easy, being human, we wouldn't value it any where near as much. It has helped me personally, being a very goal orientated person, in realising that in aviation there is no end state! There is no point at which you can say I know enough, there is always more out there. For me this is a good thing, I know i have a long gradual road of learning new things in front of me and I find this a wonderful thing. I have for years been trying to teach myself that it is the journey we must learn to enjoy not the getting somewhere. For me, having my children helped me 'mentally' start slowing down and smelling the roses and I have brought this to my aviation dream. I am trying to enjoy every aspect of the journey of learning to aviate as best I can at all times. Yes its frustrating at times but all the more enjoyable when the break through happens and we look back at how far we have come. I believe flying has made me a better person in all aspects of my life through application of thought and discipline, but most importantly just enjoying the moment. A bit philosophical, but its early, the house is quiet allowing me to think. Back to what I originally meant to say: WELL DONE CARL, I'M GLAD YOU"RE BACK WITH US! Phil

Love the stick shift harleys. Thats early enough to have magneto advance isn't it?

Congrats Robyn, Its something that will never leave you and no-one can ever take it away ..... just like that smile on your face. Excellent Phil

Agree with what Pud has said regarding the hot debrief. Sometimes called CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management), its very necessary and hopefully if you contact the emergency services they can provide advice on gaining access to a mediator. My thoughts are with you all and please remember talking about it with others involved, however painful, is an important part of the healing process. Stay safe Phil

Well done Dave, Must be a good feeling to have passed it. I'm only 4 hrs into my X-C endo but enjoying it all, particularly the planning phase. Cool toys to play with, love my e6b Phil

Doug, Thanks for that. It never fails to move me when watching a story of selflessness. Cheers Phil

Welcome Kyle, Lots of good info and people here, just ask your questions and good info is yours for the taking. Enjoy Phil

Read them as a teen and still read them now, Preference on WWI books, ........ Also, there was a parody in another british annual (Goodies or Monty Python) called "Biggles Flies Undone" whch was quite a hoot!

Love it ..... but easily outside my budget (legally!)

Bob, Thanks ..... after a rough day in the office its nice to read such a post . I hope he hooks a monster when you're fishing. Phil

Well Done FL, I agree there is more pleasure and less stress in that first area solo compared to the workload of the circuit. Good Stuff Phil

Depending what day/days you want to go up and back I will have a spare spot in the car from Canberra. I don't know whether I am just going up for a day (which day it will be either) or an overnighter at this stage though. Will define as I get closer to the event. When I decide I'll post and you can get a lift either one way/both ways/ or not, as you want. Phil

Ozzie, Thanks for the reply, it clears a lot up for me. I suppose not having been aware of the progression from the early days and what was there made it harder for me to understand the issue. Ta Phil

I get confused by the statement " that rag and tube will be lost" (some would say its not hard to confuse me). Has the CAO 95.10 been changed or proposed to be changed? I can't remember seeing anything on this anywhere on the net that I can find. What's stopping those that want a rag and tube going that way? I just may be missing something that underpins the "perceived threat". Phil

I'd love to see some footage of it vectoring from takeoff config to clean flying. they are one amazing bit of technology. Phil

Good work Jake, You now know there are two types of people in the world. Those that have gone solo and non flyers.... well done

Like it a lot, unfortunately getting to be too true

Good writing Maj, I enjoyed the read, I hope one day I can have the same experience but in the finest traditions of the list, can I ask why as you state "no slip ball" in the words, then what is the small item in the cockpit photo on the bottom of the console just left of centre. Ha ha! (I am assuming the cockpit photo is from a different aircraft). Just letting you see I read and enjoy your words and pay attention to your pictures

Ditto here, first one was just annoying, being forced into choosing an answer to something I don't think I would ever do. The second I came up with Macho 18, Worry 19, Self confidence 19. Coincidence? or an australian aviator theme?? or are we all trained to think the same way? Phil

Well, after accusing Iggy of bragging over quick delivery, I get home to find mine in the mailbox. Yay! a good christmas readathon coming up as my EAA Sport Aviation mag turned up just the other day as well.

Just goes to show that you can't legislate against stupidity! Attempting to rectify the possibility of someone being this stupid through any administrative means would be doomed to end in a system where no-one could fly. IMHO

Mine is aspirational, the current intent is commencing a pietenpol build in 2012 (now some property has sold!)

Thanks for the update Ig, sad bit is now I have to wait for my delivery ........... btw, you're not just posting this to rub in how quickly you get your mag are you? {LOL} Phil