ayavner

Are you referring to post #1. It has all the hallmarks of being a Jab LSA55 + actually a great little plane to fly. John Carlo must have muscles like a gorrilla to get it to lock up.Gentleness in all is the success of life.

wow, that could very easily have been a full loss of control!

You obviously weren't flying a Jabiru.

i was going to just leave it heh

www is 3 times as many syllables as world wide web

Scotland Yard said that no-one else was on board when the single seater plane crash landed.

well that's a relief.

I've used this technique at unfamiliar runways and it helps, along with looking at the far end as others have said. The effect (expansion at a specific point) is the same regardless of runway width.

for the purpose of the discussion, i'll share what helped me, though as you pointed out - practice, practice, practice.

For me, i think it helped once I had done the lessons on slow flight - controlling the aeroplane at lower speeds with confidence, after all this is what you are doing whilst landing. In slow flight lessons, descending from one altitude to another will help you get the roundout right - get straight and level just in time to be at the correct height.. that's the roundout (just imagine you are over the runway). the flare comes as you feel the sink and try to trade remaining airspeed for height, pulling back gradually until there is no more to trade and you touch down.

of course you will incorporate all the visual cues, but as far as getting the feel for it - pay attention to those slow flight lessons.

A series of lights along a line of increasing height (say up a mountainside) would not make a very good horizon. The CAAP also says that while NVFR is not an instrument rating, proficiency with and use of instruments is accepted and acceptable:

https://www.casa.gov.au/sites/g/files/net351/f/_assets/main/download/caaps/ops/5_13_2.pdf

The emphasis is mine, just to show points on both sides of the debate in this thread. Our own advisories aren't as clear cut as one would hope. Its basically - "don't do this... but if you do..."

CAAP 5.13-2(0): NVFR Rating

3.2 What is Night VFR (NVFR)? 3.2.1 Night Visual Flight Rules (NVFR) permit flight at night under the Visual Flight Rules (VFR) using visual navigation augmented by the use of radio navigation aids. Flight under the VFR (by day or night) must be conducted in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC), that specify minimum inflight visibility and vertical and horizontal distance from cloud.

3.2.2 NVFR is not the same as flying at night under the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), even though NVFR involves proficiency in instrument flying and the use of radio navigation aids. This is because NVFR flight is based on the use of visual procedures in VMC.

**BUT**

5.3.5 While NVFR flight must be conducted in VMC, a visual horizon is often not available and sudden loss of visual reference is also possible, such as when turning away from a well-lighted area or if there is inadvertent entry into cloud. Night flying training should therefore emphasise the importance of flying the aircraft at all times by reference to the flight instruments, even in conditions where external lighting provides adequate visual reference.

5.5 NVFR Rating flight test

5.5.1 The flight test for a NVFR Rating must assess three basic areas of night flying proficiency: Flying solely by reference to instruments; Night circuit and landing; Navigation at night by visual reference both with and without the use of radio navigation aids.

So you're both right. The takeaway for me is (as with any flying) not to get myself into a situation where I require skills I do not have in order to get out of it.

nowhere to go but up!

What I'd really like to do is Harbour Scenic One at night. Damn I wish I had started this sooner :(

Good on ya mate!! Well done, now if you find yourself up the Kimberley way, drop me a line and I'll show you what it looks like without all those pesky lights

Haha one step at a time guys!! LOL :-)

yeah did OK with the PAPI, think i was a hair high the first couple. Actually, the very first circuit, tower called a go around on me. It was surprisingly busy still.

I find it easier to just use google and steal everyone elses photos.

(damn I wish I had that Nikon tonight... oh, and that I knew how to use it!)

Wow, what can I say... it was magical. Air was so cool and smooth, wind was variable/3kts. I was surprised, in the sea of lights that is Bankstown that the airport was far from the most obvious thing around.. in fact, on downwind it was very difficult to find the row of lights side-on against all the others. however, the rest of the circuits were a snap, especially turning base to final, and the landings were surprisingly better than I'd expected. Of course it is just an intro, and i'm well aware that I don't even know what I don't know (and I'm not even sure about that!), but I definitely plan to pursue it!!

Can you spot the runway? Hint, I'm on early downwind, right-hand circuit.

hardest part for me i think was just flying the plane when the workload gets high. Don't get so fixated on the radio/downwind checks/procedure that you forget to fly the thing!

Wow... i wish i had a good camera. Stunning, PA. Used a tripod, I assume? i'd never be able to get a zoom shot that clear!

haha oh yes, that. I was just there the other day so someone mentioned it and i signed up - didn't see that hehe :)

i think there are some spots left on the 530 session

oh dear

Where are you doing this. Sounds like a great idea.

Sounds like fun, its an introductory session to learn about Night VFR. Looking forward to it. Anyone done theirs?

Being a musician AND in a plane. Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens, John Denver, Otis Redding, Aaliyah, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Patsy Cline...

well then.

Northbound would be problematic, as it takes you right over Parramatta. Might be worth a call to CASA on that, but as you pointed out DrZ isn't in a Jab. (sorry for having assumed that, you know what they say...)