David Isaac

The only annual costs in GA are: For the aircraft an annual inspection and maintenance for a required annual maintenance release For the pilot half the cost of the biannual medical and CASA medical registration fee. And if you don't own an aircraft there is no annual maintenance cost. With RAA you pay an annual licence/membership fee and if you own an aircraft an annual registration fee and for that you get limited insurance cover. My GA aircraft runs on PULP, so I don't have high fuel costs. RAA is still a low cost alternative to GA! But it won't take much for that to change if we are not vigilant.

What is she powered by and how many $? I didn't see the advertisement.

Which ultimately means those who want a printed backup should be able to print their own from an air services online source, right? But can you print in A4/A3 and get a good workable copy? At this stage I have no idea of what is planned.

Ian I have seen one under restoration at Caboolture as well. Is that the one coming to Camden? This one had the military all round windows. It was part under reconstruction when I saw it a couple of years ago in the hangar where they are restoring that bomber.

Give the old girl a hug from me Ian.

Interestingly the military versions had a long pipe and muffler suspended under the cabin. I think that was to keep them as quiet as possible for their incursions into Europe during WWII. Dropping spies into the fields of France and sneaking out again.

Mine is a bit quieter, I have the four pipes feeding into a single tail pipe, still noisy though. Decent headsets today would save your hearing quite a bit. Even the early C182s were bad enough to be placarded compulsory headset wearing.

Did any of you 'older' codgers fly the J1B KBY when she was based at Wagga Wagga Gliding club back in the 70s? She had an EFATO toing a glider in mid 70s from memory and was totaled. Finally rebuilt in 1998 some 20+ years later. To Oscars point the Gipsy engine mounts go hard after a few years and need to be replaced this at least reduces the shake rattle and roll a relative amount.

Hey Motz, PM me your contact details please.

Which is why none of us should object to a thorough flight review every two years. In fact we should expect it and not be precious about our (lack) of ability. Hell at the moment I am absolutely NOT current and would not be comfortable about flying without at least a check flight. Could I fly without one ... absolutely ... is it my preference to have a check ... absolutely. In fact I am currently investigating a complete review of subjects that I studied and passed more than 30 years ago ... why? ... because so much has changed.

Interesting Dafydd, the same speed as Cessna declare for the C150. I used to wonder at the accuracy of the ASI on the J1B, but distinctly remember the first time I flew one, how long it took in the hold off until she settled, it seemed inordinately slow compared to the Citabria that I had many hours in. I noted the ASI was waaaay slow when she sat down. I have always regarded the ASI readings at the hold off and settle to be suspect in all aircraftThe POH that I have sates 25 knots stall, I take it that is IAS, not CAS? The POH also states a full flap short field approach at 40 knots, I assume based on the 1.3 x VS0. I had assumed the apparent slow stall and settle speed was significantly due to the rather large 37' wing span, although at a MTOW of 916kg she is a lot heavier than the Citabria. So if the stated stall speed is so inaccurate, should I assume at 40knots IAS on short field approach that I am also traveling faster than the 40 Knots IAS? Again though, at a 40 knot approach it does 'appear' very slow and uses bugga all runway to stop.

But ultimately not quite strong enough at the RAA MTOW limitations. You need around 700 to 750kg by my rough speculation.

I know what you mean by bounce ... I own an Auster, LOL. I have frequently wondered if there was anyway the Auster bungees could be replaced by oil dampened shocks / oleos.

HITC, I believe the Hornet is still available with the original high tensile single piece sprung suspension

They are 19 kit aircraft only Dazz. The cost varies with the options. Ole now has several different models including a low cost tandem version. Occasionally you will see them second hand and quite good value.

Dafydd and HITC, Is not Ole Hartmanns AAK Hornet the ideal aircraft that fits the rough short field farm style. Readily available with a quality strong design? P.S. Ole is not paying me to ask this question. I genuinely believe it to be a very capable and versatile aircraft.

It is interesting that we use words like 'competency', 'experience' and 'hours' in the same sentence implying they are mutually inclusive. I would argue that such a conclusion is part of the problem. Stick the word 'currency' in and the whole dynamic changes.

Just one Tubz. If we don't complain we deserve what we get. I thought the Australian reputation was one of apathy reinforced by the evidence of the level of voting and participation in RAA.

Well done Magnetdrop ... I have to say that I smile every time I see your Avatar ... LOL

I like the concept m61, I guess I partly did that and moved to the Budgewoi lake area on the central coast area above that pain in the ass city of Sydney. I dislike Sydney immensely, but it is one of the economic hubs of my income, so I moved far enough away to have a nice affordable life style . We purchased a small 2 bed fibro cottage originally built in 1930 on the lake and in the process of renovating it. I was lucky, I got it for about land value. Most of my work is in the capital cities and NZ so I fly a lot. Not everyone is able to do as you suggest, but it is worth a mammoth effort to try.

I'd suggest it is losing the license that has far more impact than the fine. DUI always comes with a license suspension.

Same in Qld and SA I believe. We have no rego stickers and the rego cameras in NSW, but still require the annual pink slip (mechanical check) for vehicles over 3 years ? old from memory.

Really ... and just how many fatalities in road accidents have been statistically linked to mechanical faults that would have been picked up in mechanical check? Col I would suggest bugga all otherwise the other Australian States would have introduced compulsory mechanical checks and at the moment at least three don't require it. I have often wondered what a cost benefit analysis would show in this area.

Yep ... possibly it may eventually be found where they least expected it to be ... It just needs to be found.

Why do I keep thinking we are all dreaming to believe that any of this reform will get up .....