octave

G day all, I wasn't quite sure where to post this, but its too good not to share. I went for a flight along the coast yesterday, only recently having attained my pilot certificate. The scenery along the coast is stunning and I had my very cheap and nasty digital camera with me so I thought I would attempt to snap a few pictures. Being a bit of a newbie I didn't want to become distracted by operating the camera so I held the camera and randomly clicked off a few pics. Somehow the camera got switched to its video mode. I held the camera up high to take a picture through the windshield. Having taken a few pictures I put the camera away so that I could just enjoy the flight. Back on the ground and sitting in my usual after flight coffee shop I scrolled through the pictures on my camera and came across the first frame very short vid, taken through the front of the aircraft I was confronted with a sight that almost made me spit my coffee across the coffee shop. :ah_oh: In the bottom left corner (see pic attached) there appeared to be an aircraft shaped image, now you have to remember that this really is a nasty cheap camera with a very small LCD display. I was stunned, could I have been involved in a near miss? I was sure I had kept a good lookout. I decided that it wasn't another aircraft but I couldn't come up with any other explanation. The only thing to do was to race home and upload the image to the PC so that I could enlarge it. I could see straight away that it was not another aircraft but I couldn't work out what it was, suddenly it came to me. Some of the instructors at our club get the students during the first lesson to place a small marker pen cross on the windshield to mark the horizon in level flight, because I held the camera up high the cross appear quite low on the windshield.Mostly these crosses get cleaned off. I am used to this cross being there and I don't even notice it any more. I am not sure whether there is a moral to this story but I did find it alarming then amussing:big_grin:

well done:clap:

Thanks all for the encouraging comments. Although I don't often post on this forum I do hang on almost every word written by others and I think this forum is a great way to learn. Learning "facts" from books is very important but its good to hear about the actual "practice" of flying. Now its on to xcountry and passenger endorsement. Cheers Graham

Thanks motza, test was in a Gazelle, not too stressful, I was helped by fantastic weather this morning. Made a couple of little slip ups but nothing too bad, my instructor suggested a couple of areas to practice. But I am pleased and glad to get it over with. cheers

I can't help myself, I have to brag (to anyone who will listen), I passed my flight test this morning;)

First Area Solo Approaching Batemans Bay, first area solo in the Gazelle.

I originally trained in the eighties on a Thruster (40 hours) and then gave it away, I am now three quarters of my way to regaining my certificate (on a Gazelle). Back in 80s at the flying school where I trained the usual thing was to have a one off lesson in a suitable aircraft, of course this didn't tell you anything about the aircraft you are learning in but it does give you an idea of how it feels to spin, how to determine the direction of the spin etc. This seems like a reasonable compromise, but to me the most important thing is not to get into a spin in the first place, it's a bit like my old mum - she wouldn't know how to get out of a skid in her car but has a 50 year accident free record (course she does drive everywhere at 50 kph:confused:).

The following is an extract from the ABC news site (full report at http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/11/2087470.htm it seems to suggest that a vehicle may have been involved. I dont understand how know this, if it does turn out to be true its very bad luck, probably the only vehicle for miles. Three German men were killed when an emergency landing went wrong on the Stuart Highway at Elliott, about 700 kilometres south of Darwin. Police say the pilot was trying to land on the highway when he clipped power lines and crashed nose first on the bitumen. NT police are looking for the driver of a four-wheel drive who may have witnessed the plane crash. Police say the pilot pulled up when he saw the four-wheel drive coming towards him. The plane was chartered in Western Australia and was travelling from Katherine to Kings Creek Station in Central Australia.

well done

Monday October 8, 07:29 PM Plane lands on private road in Qld A light aircraft has made a forced landing on a private road on Bribie Island, north of Brisbane. Police said the aircraft carrying two people landed on Hornsby Road about 4pm (AEST). No one was injured. An Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) spokeswoman said the aircraft experienced "engine problems". But she said the ATSB was still waiting on a report from the pilot. ABC Radio reported that the aircraft was a Van RV-7 light plane.

Hey everyone, I went solo today. All went well only mistake was that although I had already pulled the carby heat on I convicned myself that I hadn't so I reached down to pull it on, good landing but as I taxiied back felt so hot and sweaty, duh pulled on cabin heat thinking it was carby heat. cheers Graham:clap:

Sunday July 1, 01:55 PM One dead in Tasmania gyrocopter crash A person has died and another has been severely burnt in a gyrocopter crash in Tasmania's north. Paramedics were called to a private airstrip near Mount Direction, north of Launceston, about 10.40am (AEST) Sunday. One person died at the scene and a man, believed to be a flying instructor, was taken to hospital in Launceston suffering severe burns to his whole body. The crash happened on the flat grass airstrip of the Cranbourn property, an ambulance spokesman said. "The gyrocopter has basically exploded into flames," he said. It is not known whether the gyrocopter was taking off or landing. Details about the victim were unavailable. Further details about the survivor were also unavailable. But, he was conscious while being take to hospital, the spokesman said.

G day Bob, yes fantastic weather, my son is booked in for a TIF next sunday (although motorsport is more his thing). cheers graham

Hi everyone, after many delays due to weather and aircraft mechanical problems, just had my first lesson in a Gazelle. I had learned to fly a Thruster in the late eighties and decided it was a good time to get back into flying. Interesting that although I had about 40 hours experience (18 years ago) I still wanted to squeeze the life out of the stick at first. Cant wait for my next lesson.;)

Thanks Chris for the encouraging words. I enjoyed flying the Thruster although it was always a challenge to control on the ground. I had a trial flight in a Gazelle and was most impressed, it seemed more stable than the Thruster. cheers

Hi everyone, I used to fly a Thruster T500 in the late 80s. After nearly 20 years I have decided to fly again, this time in a Gazelle, my first lesson got cancelled due to a starter motor problem but i am looking forward to my first lesson this week. I am wondering what skills I have lost but i am excited to be back in the air again. cheerss:big_grin: