Methusala

I think Harrison Ford landed there when engine failed,  Ryan from memory.  He ended up inverted but uninjured. 

Nothing to add ATM, occurred around 1500 today. Emergency vehicles attended, pilot OK apparently.

 Well, we flew Cootamundra to Holbrook for the Easter fly-in. Good weather and a decent roll-up of approx 50 aircraft, everything from  Cirrus to  RV's to Thruster T 500 and a sole Drifter. A sizeable coterie of die-hard Wheeler Scout enthusiasts celebrated the 50th (can you believe?) anniversary of this historic birthing of ultralight aviation in Oz. Sadly the wind made demonstration flights unwise, so none happened.

The large range of historic types in the museum's collection, on display prompted various reactions ranging from nostalgia to horrified disbelief (there was even a Pteradactyl, one of which I once owned). 

Oz Runways presented a comprehensive summary of the almost bewildering range of capabilities from our premier EFB provider. This was followed by a presentation from RAAus. Many people had the chance to catch up and share enthusiastically memorable events and stories.

An evening meal and guest speaker left all attendees believing that such events are too rarely held and a vote of thanks expressed our collective gratitude for the enormous efforts made by Holbrook Ultralight Club members. Next year hopefully, even more of us will make the trek because this is an event well worth the effort. I overheard at least one observation that it was far more rewarding than Avalon.

  On 18/04/2025 at 6:47 AM, Underwood said:

I have a DC headset that I had converted by ANR Man https://www.anrman.co.uk/

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Thanks for your post. Unfortunately, I am in Oz so can't really use your bloke in the UK. A/c Spruce offer a kit so may try a self-install. Anyone else have experience?

G'day all, I have a trusty David Clark H-10 13.4 headset which I would like to convert to active noise cancelling. Has anyone used the kit from Aircraft Spruce and can report on the results?

Also to inflate pneumatic tyres.

  On 03/04/2025 at 1:24 AM, facthunter said:

Nitrogen is an element.

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Hydrogen also🤪

There were 2 in Oz back in the 90s's. Quentin's and another. Both shown at Tuggeranong Hyperdome "Big Boy's Toys" show. Don't know what happened to the other. 

Quentin's used the wing from a Smyth Sidewinder which he was also building at the time. He sold the partially complete Sidewinder into Queensland I believe.

Colourful character was Quentin!

I remember some talk about massive rotating discs storing potential energy for stationary devices such as ski lifts and funiculars but seems to have gone quiet lately.

Mate, I  was 9 yrs old

 Don't know.

I used to walk from Cooma Nth to Polo Flat after school to watch Snowy Beavers return. Could walk around the apron looking into the cabins, no one cared.

It is certain that the US is headed for traumatic events dictated largely by past actions of delusional politicians. These include the pushing of NATO membership onto minor eastern European states (always towards Russia's borders).

Gorbachev and Reagan had agreed "not one inch further to the east" in 1991. Unfortunately modern impasses were set in past mistakes and here we are (with the orange looney.

Today I noticed at our market, 2 of 4 recharge spots occupied by non EV's. My solution? Crush and return to owners as scrap 🤣😂

  On 20/03/2025 at 12:01 PM, Jerry_Atrick said:

This thread is already 63 pages in on SocialAustralia

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Thanks Jerry. I'm aware of this thread. I don't wish to add my voice to a well deserved dissing of Trump. My view is that the US has been rogue for 80 years or so. I rejected the Oz invitation to fight in Vietnam and have seen Oz tail wagged by dog as extremely disappointing. In a perfect (or even a slightly better) world, we could be better off with an independent foreign policy. Just my view. Cheers and no judgement implied to my fellow forumites. Don

I struggle to understand the reason this thread has not been stopped by the mods. I recall some long while ago that my thoughts on the US political failures were very roughly curtailed by ad hominem attacks and worse. It must be apparent that the US nation has been responsible for catastrophe followed by worse at least since they took on the Vietnam boondogle but ,really since Korea and all that. it is NOT JUST TRUMP. We have  taken on F35s that can't turn. can't... etc and now are involved in the steal of the century , purchasing Submarines that we will never control let alone actually need. It's about time that we grew a pair as a nation. Sorry for that rant, I guess that I will now be banned for muy trouble. Don

  On 13/03/2025 at 9:56 PM, aro said:

1) he was overconfident

2) he was given a license without the required training

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I believe that without point number 1 the rest of the chain would fall over. Cause and (then) effect. Not directly RAAus' fault . See point number 1 !

  On 10/03/2025 at 5:19 AM, facthunter said:

 Has the DPP made the decision YET?  To Me, that's still to be done.  A referral is just that..  Nev

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See my above re-quote

  On 16/02/2025 at 1:45 AM, Methusala said:

Be interesting to see response from DPP.

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Deleted

I think that the great danger lies in that one may convince oneself that, having done all required training, you become safe from making an erroneous decision. This is where Nev's call regarding human factors gains legs.

  On 02/03/2025 at 12:10 AM, Love to fly said:

Training won't ensure all decisions are sound. But does give an educated basis to form an opinion.

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Consensus both here and with the pilot on the Mt Beauty strip, was that the weather was terrible. The proverbial 'anyman' would judge that the trip in prospect was not safe or viable.

  On 01/03/2025 at 10:36 PM, aro said:

That doesn't matter. He shouldn't have had a license. Otherwise, what are training and testing for? Why not make training optional?

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That is a straw argument. Do you believe that only unqualified people make bad decisions? What of the De Havilland Dragon that went in at Imbil few years back? Training will not alter bad decisions made because, "We want to get there." The lack of training had almost no impact on the fact that the pilot made a fatal decision. RAA can be criticised for many sins but this one is all on the individual.

Really Nev, what in heck has charter flying got to do with the topic?

From Mt Beauty in the direction NW must climb over the range extending from Bogong towards Murray Valley. Hume dam and heavy wooded ridges till Tumut Valley then Murrumbidgee. All unfriendly. How was this anything but the poorest decision. I remember the weather over SW NSW was foul.

We cannot excuse poor planning regardless of errors in regulation or regulator personell. Black is black, not white or even grey.

  On 16/02/2025 at 1:20 AM, facthunter said:

In  relation to the WEATHER. EVEN some HIGH hours Pilots are guilty of that. It's a HUMAN FACTORS issue.  Nev

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I think you win post of the day. Exactly what HF is all about. However the weather was terrible from the get go, no RPT aids on a basic Jabiru.

  On 16/02/2025 at 12:44 AM, Love to fly said:

Think you've mixed people? Matt Boutell went to casa. No longer there I'm told.  And overreach? Hmm deliberately withholding relevant information from a Coroner is okay? 

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Be interesting to see response from DPP.