.Evan.

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

Well Done Evan,One day I'll get there as well

Congratulations, Hope to get there myself!

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.

One of the other features of my test was being asked several times to do things that were not legal and having to identify that was the case and thus could not do them. As examples, turn right on takeoff while still in the circuit area and turn to overfly the town before I had sufficient altitude.

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

you should log some hours in a drifter, 25nm will seem a lot a epic journey

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!

Congratulations!!! In the not too distant future I can see you drawing a circle around that great big map of AUSTRALIA.Alan.

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

Thanks again all.

Congratulations Evan! You seem to have arrived there pretty quickly - how many hours have you logged now in total?I'm amazed that somebody hasn't already trotted out the "It's a licence to learn". Of course, you probably realise that. And you will now be building up a list in your mind of all the places within 25 nm where you could do a forced or precautionary landing if you had to.

 

Enjoy the great privilege that it is is to pilot an aeroplane and give yourself a huge pat on the back for a fantastic achievement.:thumb_up::clap2:

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.

congratulations!it's always the way that places are 27nm away )-:

Last weekend I took my wife for her first flight in a light plane, she loved it (thank god that means I have a chance to buy a plane) It was a bit scary taking a loved one for the first time but it was a thrill.Pete

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!

Today I passed my flying test!

We had pretty-much perfect weather, a 10 kt wind straight down RWY 36 and clear skies and no turbulence! I was put through my paces out in the training area and then we came back for a couple of normal circuits (including one glide approach), and finished off switching to 05 for a few crosswind CCTS.

I'm looking forward to exploring the local area a bit more... It will be exciting to go outside the training area, and rent a plane on non flying school days!

Next: on to the passenger endorsement so I can finally share the fun with others!!

Hey Woody, how was the trip?

I really like the look of the Ibis, however I'm unsure what the dog wearing the top hat has to do with it....

no doubt you'll see the two tone 'carbon Savannah' (or cab-sav for short) around at fly-ins.

Thanks for sharing!