Thirsty

I've been checked out in the 160 since I got my cert but I prefer the LSA. Much more fun to fly and heaps better performance.

Aldinga is a good field just watch the weather - it's very easy to get stuck there if the weather isn't perfect.

RPA at Murray Bridge out of Adelaide - James is an excellent instructor but you have to like flying LSA 55's or a 160 :)

Hey All, myself and another gent are maybe looking to buy a Sav or a CH701 in partnership but neither one of us has ever flown in either of these aircraft. Is there anyone is SA that would be willing to take us for a fly (at our cost of course) so we can see if these planes suit us? Tony

It's very easy to become complacent around aircraft. You really need to keep your wits about you all the time - and it's not just you, the pilot, you also need to take care someone else doesn't wander into the prop. Condolences to the victim's family.

I've read all the threads on the Jab engine failures and the opinions on what causes the failures and just want to add something. Comparing the Jab to Lycoming and Conti engines is a bit unfair. Those engines are much larger capacity and are really understressed. If we could have higher weights we'd all be using them because of this - they rarely fail because they aren't stressed. The Jab engine is stressed quite a bit higher 'cause it weighs bugger all and produces a reasonable amount of HP. Maybe Jab should have gone the route of higher revs and a gearbox - to my mind this would have been a more reliable combination but heavier. I don't have the answer but it seems to me they are trying to fix the issues - I hope they do it and soon 'cause I'd love to buy an all ozzie plane/engine combo!

I'm in the same boat mate (and at the same field!). My solution - take your wife with you :) I took my wife for her first flight with me today and I'd already told her about my instructor (James) constantly saying "ball!" so she started doing it :) It really works 'cause I don't have the feel yet. Hope that helps :)

1. I think they are saying the deeper nut spreads the load on the stud. They are not saying the nut fails just that the shallower nut stresses the stud more locally. 2. Yeah this doesn't sit very well with me either. Don't they mention in the bulletin that longer studs are available though? If so owners can change studs at the same time. 3. They have I think. 4. I agree. I want my engine to be able to just work without me having to worry that doing a couple of extra circuits is going to hurt my engine.

No it's cross hired. I know the owner quite well and will be going to Temora with him.

Three Letter Acronym :)

Our LSA's are the same. One flies really nicely while one of the others is a little "heavy". I'm going to transition into the 160 next week so we'll see how that goes. I've had a go from the right seat and it feels quite nice.

Funny you shoulds say that. One of our LSA's stalls beautifully doing it "properly" with a wing drop and a pronounced nose drop as well. The other one won't stall at all - well it just mushes along without doing anything nasty. They are really benign and not scary at all. I also have heard the line about being able to fly anything if you can fly one of these. That's good to know but other planes must be really boring to fly :) I'm quite liking the LSA now. I'll be flying to Temora in a 160 Hildy, what'll you be in?

Hi Peter, I'd say no mate. I know hangarage at MB is pretty limited and I know a few guys that hangar their planes at Goolwa due to shortages at Aldinga. Goolwa is about 80 -90 K's out of Adelaide and not a bad drive (you can rent a car there as well) so that might be an option as I believe theere may be hangarage available. Maybe someone from Aldinga will chime in and advise?

Thanks guys. Good idea on the theory side of the nav stuff too Rod. I'm starting to read the books now and should start navs next weekend weather permitting. I'm really looking forward to that part of the experience as I never did navs when I did my PPL (I have what was known then as a RPPL - I can fly but not navigate!). I'll post back here once I have something to say :)

It's been a while since I updated this thread. I got my pilot cert today! Took about 16 hours (though I wasn't in any huge rush!). So I'm now able to take my family/friends for some flying. Got to get my navs done now though 'cause I'm flying to Temora in April so have to get a wiggle on :)

And of course you meet the nicest people at Murray Bridge :)

Well if you are going to do it on a regular basis I guess you'll need to look at all options. Goolwa is another option and i know they do car rental there. Goolwa is about 1.5 hours from Adelaide and here is a link for hire cars at the airport - http://www.goolwaairport.com.au/CarRentals.htm If you get to know someone at any of these places a ride is probable. BTW - The closest non CTA airports to Adelaide would be Gawler in the North and Aldinga in the South. Forsyth don't operate out of Parafield anymore (as RAA I mean they operate GA only now).

Aldinga is about a 45 minute drive from Adelaide. I live near Aldinga and work at Murray Bridge with RPA (Recreational Pilot's Academy) - about an hours drive from Adelaide. I'm sure James (owner and CFI) would be happy to look after your Foxbat for you for a few days. There probably wouldn't be any hangar room but the area in front of the hangars is out of the way and protected. If you come over on a Sunday, Monday or Tuesday I'd be happy to drive you into Adelaide where you could hire a car.

Hildy - of course learning in an LSA55 makes the whole process harder as well. I'm learning in one and it took a few hours before I felt comfortable. I still don't fly balanced all the time (I've done around 14 hours now) so it's not just you :) You already know this probably but perservere - you'll get to the point where the penny will drop and it'll start falling into place. I reckon you've started ccts a little early as well but you're there now so it won't be long. None of us ever land well all the time either so I wouldn't worry too much about that aspect either - again teh LSA can be a bit of a handful in the flare 'cause the controls aren't all that effective at slow speeds. I also know what you mean about hard work - I've been doing short field landings lately and at the end of 30 mins of that I feel really stressed. I asked my instructor to do one and he made it look soooo easy. Annoying as hell ;)

I find in the aircraft I fly that turning downwind once at cct height is about right ie climb on upwind to 500' then turn crosswind and fly to 1000' then turn downwind. Of course that can change depending on the climb performance of the aircraft you're flying and the wind on the day but as a rough guide it works for me. You'll get to know your aircraft and you'll also start to get a good feel for ccts - you'll do enough of them :)

Well done mate! Hopefully I'll be joining you in the achievement soon - can't wait!

Yeah, an Android version. You're doing yourselves a disservice if you don't hurry this along I reckon. Android devices are growing in popularity very quickly!

I have a WRX and driving it is almost as good as flying (no it isn't, I was lying!). Riding my motorcycles is actually almost as much fun though.

I haven't flown in a 170 (I have in a 160) but I would have thought the higher wing loading of the 160 would make it more stable in turbulence?

Who are you flying with Gnu? If it's RPA you don't have to worry - I've already cleaned out all the tinny's :)