Barefootpilot

Transpoders should only go on as you enter the runway thats why they are in the line up. One I have been tought in floats that will get you out of trouble if you forget everything else is as you line up... Fuel Flaps and Rudders (ok you don't need water rudders with landies)

It depends on what I'm flying ie how complex and how current I am. Simple pistons I may use a checklist if its available or just a flow check or even just a simple TMPFISHR. More complex machines I'll use a flow and then scan the checklist to make sure I haven't missed anything. The biggest thing I find about checklist are that that are CHECK LISTS not DO LISTS. Have a look around get everything how you think it should be and the check them off - if they are as they should be. Adam

Tacho time is generally used for engine hours and is usualy set up to give an accurate hour at cruise rpm and much less at idle there for not giving an accruate total for your log book. Airswitch is used for flight time ie airframe maintinance VDO sometimes connected to an oil pressure switch or sometimes straight to the master switch is generally used for log book hours as it recourds time from start up or close to until shutdown. These are all depended on who owns the aircraft/ who maintains it/ who operates it and how they want it all recourded. Flying schools will generally charge on VDO as it makes them the most money! If you can find a school that charges airswitch even if there hourly rate is hirer it may work out cheaper depending on taxi time. Adam.

Thats very interesting. Yes 5 hours does seem over the top at first but looking at it most people converting to RAA from GA are people who haven't flown for years or if they have don't do many hours a year. So a 5 hour refresher is not a bad thing. I haven't kept up with the new rules to much are they still going to serperate the rag a tube from the plastics with a performance rateing? This is something that really needs to happen. If you get a licence in a drifter and then go and buy a CT you are going to end up in trouble very quickly even though you are legal. Adam

A word of warning to all those who are thinking about cadetships with whoever-REX Qlink, Sharp, Jetline? You cannot get a command on above 5700kg RPT without 500 hours Command under a IFR flight plan. So if you start with 150 hrs 300hrs whatever until you go away and get your command time somewhere you will be sitting in the right hand seat. 6 years as an FO on crappy money might not be the dream job. If it looks to good to be true...it probably is! Adam.

Thanks guys bugga as I would like a copy. He was certainly not helping the microlight name but it was entertaining! Adam

I haven't flown RAA floats but I have spent the last 2 years flying floats so I may be able to help with some questions. I have always wanted to put a Thruster on floats but it would be very restricted in conditions it could operate. Adam.

Three sunset photo's from two very different aircraft. 1, On the way to Canberra about an 150nm to the north. I like it because of the Virga coming from one of the clouds 2, Sunset in the Brisbane Valley from a Thruster Glasshouse. 3, The Brisbane River at sunset

Hello, I saw part of a doco on foxtel months (maybe years) ago about a guy trying to fly around the world in a trike. It ends with him doing a runner from an international airport and then crashing on takeoff when he was massivly overload. Does anyone have a copy or could they point me in the right direction to finding one???? It was entertain if not very scary. Adam

Hello, Suprised no one has jumped in here. In my opionion you have done pretty much the right thing. The call I would make its "aircraft joining downwind drifter 999 is a close mid downwind maintaining 1000' and do not have you visual" I'm a little confused why you fly 1000' ccts if you start decending on downwind? Decent is meant to be started when you turn base so either you could fly a larger cct ( I hate large circuits) or go down to 500' The difference between 55kts and 63kts is not much! and in the way I read it is more of a catagory thing than an absolute speed limit. If you fly close slow circuits you can fly at 500' if you fly mid performance aircaft with slightly larger circuits you go to 1000' and if you are high performance and need the extra space for the circuit you got to 1500' I'm sure I'll get shot for that though! Adam.

Well I made it. I did get to meet Mick but that was about all (I think) I was there from about 8 but had to leave early and I think I was the first to leave. A good turn out and a nice airfield. Good work and cheers to the Locals of Gatton.

Good stuff. I'm based at watts bridge but I'm only up for the weekend. I may almost fly across to Cab on saturday and stay at a friends place and then head across to the brekky on sunday morning. I don't really have any plans as yet! I'll be in a Red Thruster Glasshouse (no pod) Say hello if you see me! you won't hear me (no radio!) Adam.

Hello, As I'll be in Brissy this weekend I was thinking about heading over for breakfast on Sunday. Anyone else going to be around? Adam.

From memory Ian anything over 60' bank is considered aerobatic (I think its 20' nose up but not sure) I'll chase it up and get back to you. Stall warnings are pretty useless in a slip in saying that its always best to be conservative like you where. If i'm slipping I'll always add minimum 10kts to the approach speed if not alot more. Usually when your slipping you are trying to loose height so if you do this at approach speed - generally pretty close to best glide speed you are actually flying the wing at the most efficiant angle of attack. Therefore the further you get away from the most efficient speed the more effective the slip will be. An example is when I fly the Tiger I always give myself a high approach and end up with a power off - slipped approach at about 20 kts above my approach speed. When I come on slope I raise the nose bleed off speed and then lesson the side slip, flare and hope for the best. 20kts is alot of extra speed but where I fly its not uncommon to get windsheer or 10-15kts on a nice day so 20 is safe for that particular strip. Adam.

Hello Tim, I'm in Canberra this weekend and the boss is leaving me the car so I will try and make it out for a look. Anyone else going out? Adam.

Looks very interesting. I'm looking at taking my Thruster up from the Brisbane area (work allowing) Anyone else thinking of taking an aircraft of the 50 - 60 kt range and feel like some company? Should only be about 2 hours if the winds are nice! Adam.

I just found this on youtube. Its a promo video from the 80's some interesting stuff in there. YouTube - Thruster T500 T300 promo video - part 1 Adam

Thanks everyone for the info. It all sounds like it happens a bit out of town but I will have to venture out at some stage and have a look. Thank you for the invitations I'm not exactly sure what works planning for me at the moment but I will be in contact when things firm up a bit. It sounds like everyone is keen for an unofficial meeting of the Rec flying forum somewhere in Canberra. Mid week would probably suit me better (and it leaves weekends for flying!) So any suggestions for a date, time and a place are welcome. I'm currently living in Kingstone but do have access to a car some nights so I can travel. Adam.

Hello Everyone, I just moved to Canberra for a few months for work (Yes it is cold) I was wondering if there is anyone on the forums from around here? Also where is all the Rec flying taking place? If we get a few responses would be good to catch up for a drink at some point. Cheers Adam.

I think what pelorus is trying to get at is a Negative G stall. So instead of pulling back on the stick and increasing the AoA to roughly 16% you push forward and reach an AoA of -16%. Thats as good as my brain gets at this time on a Sunday morning I hope I helped.

Hi guys, Thanks for the replies! the updated site must have brought up my post again as I put it out there well over a year ago! At the time I was looking at purchasing and rebuilding a MK1 but passed it up. Cheers. Adam.

You don't need to tell me about conversions. For one flight say I need 800 lbs of fuel. I then work out how much to add in litres. Put that much in the fuel tank write down fuel added in litres and fuel on board in lbs then convert that into KG's for weight before working out my balance in Inches. Yeah makes perfect sense! No wonder some people use the theory if you can get the doors shut it will fly! Oh and back on the thread Height is "almost" always measured in feet and distance in meters/miles Adam.

A good rule of thumb is to land uphill unless you have a downwind component of three times the slope or more. So in your case you would want at least 15kts of downwind before its worth landing down hill and into wind. I use this most days as the strip I fly out of has a small slope and it works very well.

Over the last few years I've flown with a number of different people and gasp a couple of Female Pilots as well. Yes I am still alive after this brave feet and you know what... I'd almost choose a female pilot over male ones. They "usually" have less ego's, less to prove and are kinder on the aircraft unlike some of the rough and tough blokes. The one thing I have found though is that they do often lack confidence in their skills which is not hard to get them over with a good seasion of throwing the aircraft around and making them realise that they are even better than they think they are! So get out there and fly girls. Watch out boys they are probably better at it than you... but not me of course!! :) Adam.

Most importantly don't forget noise levels. Its all good a well loving the sound of a big radial taking off once a week when you visit but don't come complaining to me when we are running them up at 630 in the morning and coming and going every hour. I can see this being a big problem with the Whitsunday airport.