Barefootpilot

I believe narrandera just got a jab back on-line for training so that could have been the one. Probably Wally running around in circles as usual!

The ground component will be covered as part of the course. I do not believe it is that difficult just gives you an outline on how to "teach" and different ways to approach problems. I'd recommend Airwings with Wally Rudin. Good bloke who will take the time to get things right and won't rip you off. When I started looking I found it hard to find people who where interested in teaching IR's which is a real shame. Adam.

My advice from someone who is in G.A. unless you are prepared to work for pretty low wages (at least at first) and move to where the work is. Stay with a job that you can stand and keep flying a hobby. Do your RAA Cert and get some hours and experiance and then go do an instructor rating and spend your weekends at the field with like minded people. Sure flying for a living can be awsome fun but like anything after a few years it becomes just another job! Saying that I still won't trade it for an office job! Adam.

Hello, The set up you have sounds good enough for me. A dg would make life easier but is not essential. As for AH and VSI and even a turn co-ordinator they arn't really needed only take up more of room and weight. It doesn't matter if your doing a 25' 30' or 32.5' turn as long as it ballanced. Having to many instruments can be a distraction for anyone who doesn't have the correct training to use them (ie Instrument rating) and besides we are day VFR only so not having them will stop you from being tempted! My aircraft has a ASI, slip and alt.

Hello, Looking for a bit of info on Scouts. If anyone out there has one feel free to send me a message or point me in the right direction. Thanks Adam.

That Contact number should have been 0438230146. Adam.

For Sale Thruster Glasshouse “C†Rotax 582 C type gear box. Approximately 235 Total time on Airframe and 143 Engine hours. 3 Bladed Brolga Prop, EGT+ CHT Standard Flight instruments. Fabric Very good condition. Two seater (Bench seat) Regretful sale of this historical Ultralight. Ghost was built in 1984 and was one of the first two seat Thrusters built and a working prototype for all the following Thrusters. Although 22 years old this aircraft is in almost showroom condition after a complete rebuild by TOSG in 1999 where money was no object. I have unfortunately spent more time getting this aircraft perfect than flying it. Nothing needs to be done pay the money and fly away for many enjoyable hours. Ghost is a Watts Bridge aerodrome SE. QLD and we would prefer it to stay in the area. $12,000 Contact Adam on 0402884811 or [email protected]

Use the majic words "Due weather" and you can go anywhere you want as long as its not CAVOK over all of Oz!

Hello, A subject a little close to my heart in the last few weeks. My partner was in an amphibouse float plane when the pilot decided to land on a lake with the wheels down. Result one secound hand float plane and three very wet people! luckly no more than a few scratches and bruises. She said that it all happened extremly quickly and she doesn't even remeber taking her seat belt off or how they all got out the first thing she is sure about was standing on the wing trying to climb onto the inverted floats to get out of the water and away from the crocs! It turned out they didn't even go out a door all three went out the pax side window (cessna flip out window) the cabin filled up with about 30 seconds with the windscreen smashed it sank in about 30 mins and that with big floats trying to keep up afloat. So yes have an escape plan and have a back up if you can't get out your planed exit (maybe a crash axe or kicking out a window) if you know its going to happen get rid of your headset and anything else thats going to get into the way throw it in the back or even better out the window and most of all make sure your seat belt is real tight it may look softer than land but it not! Hopfully no one else has to ditch but if you do it long enough there is always a chance. Adam.

Hello, Don't think there is any Thrusters around the Gong the closest I could find was Goulburn but I struggled to get the people who owned the school interested enough to take my money! Adam.

Hello, I agree with Tony, Wally Rudin is the man to see. He did my intial ultralight conversion and I have started my instructor training with him at Narandera. Its worth the long drive he is a no fuss instructor and will have you up to speed quick smart. Added bonuses are the accomodation is at the pub (not to hard to find your way to bed) and if you time it right you'll get to meet some of his "favorite students"! Adam.

Radio's Hello I’m looking for a radio for a Thruster the catch is I don’t want to install it as my aircraft is a bit historical so adding a fixed radio really wouldn’t suit (and Tony would probably kill me!) So I need a portable radio that I’m able to plug a headset into that will give reasonable transmitting range without and external antenna. Any ideas? Adam.

My old work used to run a Hilux on 50/50 Jet and diesel used to go just as well as any other Hilux... Had been doing it for over 10K km no obviouse problems.

I think it can still grow but as Tony said it needs work to keep it healthy. The low end is where a lot of the market is. How many people want to go out and have some cheap fun for an hour a week/month or putting it another way how many people can afford $50 a week/month! Most people can even high school student can con Mum and Dad into that! Ultralights will kill the low end of G.A. When the G.A. student wakes up and realizes that he can do pretty much up to his GFPT (about 25hrs) in an Ultralight at half the price of a rusty old Cessna there will be no need for two seater G.A. training. When the Business man who owns a C172 realises that he can own a brand new plastic for $110k versus a 30 year old piece of junk that burns twice as much fuel that costs 10c a litre more he will change. Take a look at all the C172’s and PA28’s they can’t carry more than 3 people at the best of times and 90% of the time would carry two up at most. The only market left for these aircraft are scenic flights which isn’t that big real charter needs a minimum of six seats and two engines (or a Turbine) to even get close to making money. The problem is that we need to get out there and make sure everyone knows what is available in ultralights as most people have there heads in the sand! Cheers. Adam.

Its canopy is huge so I wouldn't imagine you would have a problem. The guy who bought it would be almost that tall and don't think he has any problems.

Hello, Friend of mine just bought a sports star and I got a free fly of it. Nice aircraft with very few faults. The nose wheel gets really twitchy at high speeds which may become a problem for the less experianced and the buble canopy which would get really hot in summer and may be a problem in strong winds when its left up. I've also had a fly in the Tecnam P92's which I think are a better aircraft faster but a little less roomie, although the price tag is also a little higher. I've been told the low wing tecnam is almost the same as the star but I've never flown one. Adam.

I had been told not to do it because if you had a flap malfunction (asymmetric flap) it would be harder to control. Fair call but chances are you'd be very unlucky if you had conducted a thorough daily inspection. In the real world as Cecil will probably agree (possibly anyway) flaps are used to tighten the radius of a turn (ag work) standard for the Airtractor and probably for most of the ag planes is to lower flap through the turn at the end of the paddock and retract it again before recommencing the run. That why they have a flaps lever on the stick. In G.A. and I also use these for high performance ultralights I only use oval circuits. Therefore there is no level segments that would allow me to put flap down between downwind and short final, bit of a problem really! As most people have said it will generally be the instructors who haven't been out in the real world (away from a flying school) who reproduce these ghost stories which they told when the where learning to fly. The only way you can find out if it’s one of these ghost stories or something worth listening to is to ask questions as you have done and if the person who is telling you can't give you a straight answer then it’s probably just another story.

And if the power line just happens to be in the middle of the field your in the same boat go under or over? The rules are designed to try and keep us safe but you can alway end up in situations where you shouldn't be even with the best of intentions. Just sharing my thoughts.

Safer to go under than try and squeez over. Not saying anyone should be in that situation but if you are ever faced with trying to just make it over probably much safer to stick low and go under. If you ever get a chance find yourself an instructor who has flown ag and get them to take you for some low flying. Could save your life one day.

I'm glad all the crash investigators where out there watching! To be able to tell the media what happened hours after the event with no investigation is disgusting. If anyone quoted by the media is reading this you should be ashamed. Let’s let someone with some credentials after an investigation into the event is carried out speak to the media, not just shoot off your mouths to get your 30 seconds of fame. This sort of attention helps no-one. My condolences to the family and friends.