.Evan.

Hey Jake, sorry I missed that one... From the website: The student pilot joining fee is $160.00, which includes the issue of the Student Pilot Certificate, 3rd party insurance cover, Operations Manual, Technical Manual, 12 months RA-Aus membership and 12 months subscription to the monthly Recreational Aviation Australia journal.

Sure is Andrew! Great advice!

Have you read John Brandon's tutorials here at this site? http://www.recreationalflying.com/tutorials/ Lots of great information - and free too!!

Congratulations!!! I still can't believe that I have one of those too! It's a good feeling, hey?

This PDF brochure produced by SA Tourism might help with some ideas... http://www.southaustralia.com/Air-Adventures-December-2010.pdf

Hey team, Just wondering if anyone knows how the automatic weather stations (such as the one here at the Ballarat Aerodrome) measure the cloud conditions? Is it a kind of upwards radar or sonar-type system? It seems to have been quite accurate during my training, but today it is reporting 0vercast 2800' AMSL, yet VFR pilots are climbing and cruising at 3500'. What might cause that? Thanks in advance, Evan

Check out RA-Aus Ops Manual: Section 2.01-1, 4 It mentions 'not greater than 25 nautical miles from the point of departure unless you have a X-Country endorsement. It also states that Consecutive flights of 25 NM do not comply with this requirement. No mention that I can see of a 'home aerodrome' or anything. Once you have a certificate, you can go to another airfield, rent a plane and fly it in the local area...

G'day and D, I'm afraid I'm not a member down at Lethbridge. However I can tell you that the times I have stuck my head in to have a look at there whilst driving past, and everyone has been very friendly. I got a tour of their clubrooms and invitations to their social dinner, plus a couple of other events straight away! I think the best time to go would be on a Saturday at lunchtime, as they have a bbq lunch and many people fly in for it. Hopefully some more knowledgeable people will also chime in at this point... Cheers, Evan

Thanks guys! You'll get there. I know there were some days when the weather was crap, or my RDOs just didn't align with flying school days that I thought I'd never get there! ...But that day did come, and it will for you too! Keep at it!:thumb_up:

I'm not tall , but for some reason have broad shoulders... I really felt the squish with another bloke beside me in a C152 and the Jab LSA , but no worries at all with the J160:thumb_up:!

Thanks David! Glad you enjoyed it. Manny had mentioned the possibility of that in the leadup to the test. It was mostly centred around weather considerations. If Manny asked me to switch to a crosswind runway that was above the maximum demonstrated for the aircraft and I complied without picking it up, that would be a fail.

Just updated my blog, if anyone is interested in reading about yesterday's happenings. Yes, I'm a slow writer!

I'd love to give the good ol' rag and tube aircraft a go! I also like the look of the Sapphires - I think they just qualify as high performance? 85 kt cruise? Question: how does one get endorsed for a single seat aircraft*? * (apart from the fact that they are a tailwheel, I'd have to do that, too)

I think this might shed a little light, GG: http://australianaviation.com.au/2010/06/virgin-blue-set-for-identity-change/

Just don't install this model: (Just kidding!)

Nice work Jake! What lens you using there? 200mm, 300mm?

Cheers all! I sure will! When it happens....Look out Australia!!!

I gave a pre-take off safety brief to no one, before driving out of my garage!

Thanks again all. Hey Don, yeah I was surprised at that myself! My instructor didn't have to say that once he had passed me - due to the fact that he mentions it during the course of each and every lesson ! Pretty quickly?? I started back in Jul 2010, so to me it feels like forever! I've racked up just over 35 hours in my journey so far. That's very true!!

I'm looking forward to that day! I'm glad she loved it - now, what kind of plane to buy????

Two really so far: 1) Yep, first solo. 2) My first sunset flight in the Jabiru (don't worry - got back and down well before last light, though! :thumb_up:) Watching from above the shadows of the trees creep along the paddocks whilst everything else was bathed in a golden light. Magic! ... and am pencilling in: First flight with my Wife, and then my Dad.

Thanks everyone! You guys are all awesome! I've had the 25nm circle drawn on my map for quite a while now (as a bit of an incentive to myself), unfortunately from Ballarat the border just falls short of Bacchus Marsh, Lethbridge and Maryborough! Oh well, I'll have to wait until I do my cross country before I can 'drop in' on some of you out there!!!

Sorry to hear that! Plans afoot for next year, maybe?

Thanks Sue and Andrew!