Akromaster

Nice one Evan...congrats! Can I ask what plane you did your nav in? Ak

I'd just like it to be written in a way that's easy to understand. Right now, it feels like I need a lawyer to interpret it for me. Ak

Thanks Neil and ayavner. Re: Bristell Amazing looking plane...Know anyone looking for half share?? ;) @Neil..When did you fly into Natfly? I was there only on Friday and I thought I saw your gazelle land, but didn't see you taxi back otherwise I would have come say hello. Ak.

Talking about demo flights, did anyone go up in the Sportcruiser? Apparently they were going to have demo flights available today (Saturday) - I had to leave early so missed out. Ak

I did a scenic / trial flight with Nick at Jacobs Well Heck field while on holidays at gold coast - look up flyapa.com.au. Nick is a good guy and has a couple of foxbats he instructs in. I stayed at Benowa while there on hoildays and it was a half hour drive to Heck field from there. Ak

Welcome Anselm...quite a trip planned there. All the best mate. Ak.

Thank you all... Did some wishlist shopping at Natfly today and loved it. The family was tagging along so had to keep moving, but had a long friendly chat with MarkT who was manning the Sportstar Harmony - really appreciated that. It was already high on my list, but it definitely bumped it a couple of notches. While looking at another plane on the wishlist (the Bristell), I got chatting with a couple of GA guys from Geelong and Latrobe Valley. I mentioned I had only just solo'ed and they burst out with smiles and congrats. I wasn't expecting quite that reaction, but there were a couple of other occassions like that...what a community! Ak.

It's been on the cards for a couple of weeks, but finally did my solo today. We started with a couple of circuits as usual, then my instructor did some final instructions and basically said to remember to think out loud and on landing, remember it'll be lighter so just hold off. We taxied back to threshold runway 18 then he got out. I did my pre-flight checks, did the radio call to line up and roll runway 18. My instructor said the plane would climb like a rocket without him in it and me being a quite a light guy anyway throttled up and sure enough was very quickly in the air - by the time I knew it, I was at circuit altitude. I was a little nervous, but didn't feel it until I stepped on rudder to bank onto my downwind leg. My legs felt weak and they were shaking a little! Anyways, onto downwind leg, did more checks and watched over my right shoulder for the runway (right hand circuits). It felt weird not seeing my instructor there. When I got to the base leg, I was fine and back into the normal routine. Made the base turn call and prepared to land. The day was very still but for some reason we always have some turbulence just before the threshold. Without my instructor onboard, the plane got bumped a little more than usual but I power through it as we practiced and drive in for a nice touch down. Not my best, no bumps or anything like that, but I could have held off a little longer and let her float in. What a feeling...picked my instructor halfway down the runway, shook hands and taxied back to the hanger. 0.2 of command logged in my log book. Wooohooo. Ak.

Bonjour Jacque, Bienvenue. That's about as much French as I know ;). If you like IL2, you should try Aces High 2. I've been playing flight sim for a long time too (fsx, warbirds, aces high) and only started real flying since October last year. Ak

I play Aces High II online (WW2 combat flight sim) and since learning to fly for real, my landings in the game is much better. AH2 probably has the best flight modeling IMO. In fact I've also practiced in game to fine tune my landings in real life. I use it to practice radio calls (to myself), circuits, landings, takeoffs, etc...Online mode, there are no weather conditions, but I think offline mode, you can add wind conditions. AK

Haha :)...mate, got to tread on eggshells for this one. Was wife's idea to take kids away for Easter - I just happened to hint Temora for a win-win ;) that's why I'm asking about stuff for the family Ak

Hi H, thanks for info. Ya a TIF might be an idea...Leaving it rather late so hope I can still get some accommodation - camping will be fun for the kids anyways. Ak

For newbies like me who have not gone before, is it worth staying the two days? The family will be tagging along, so is there much for the kids (teens) to do? Or should I send them into town and the surroundings while I go natfly? Ak

Oh I'd love to get aerobatics endorsement eventually. Rod, my instructor, used to teach aerobatics and we sometimes talk about it, but it's so far down the track at the moment. I've not contemplated going commercial, but once I get x-country and a few hours under my belt, aerobatics is definitely another of my long term goals. Can you get aerobatics endorsement as RAA pilot or do you need to convert to GA? Depends whether the plane is within 600kg I suppose? Ak

@djpacro...can u still get an Akromaster?? I have an Akromaster but it's an RC model...she's my precious painted in Roulette colours, although she's gathering dust at the moment while I'm off doing some real flying ;). @Neil...I'm learning with Rod and yes I might take up your offer in the Gazelle at some stage. Yeah, i know it's all window shopping at the moment. In any case all purchases must be approved by the CFO...if u know what I mean, and that's probably not going to happen for some time. Ak

Thanks for the advice Sue...will have to check out chat rooms. @Tomo...mostly cruising I would think. Long term plan is to tour around Australia with the wife and we're not real campers so whether that means smoother runways or short fields I'm not sure. Right now, I'm still evaluating, but my only initial preference is that it needs to be at least 80kts cruise :). Because I'm learning in the Texan, I'm also biasing towards a low wing, but initial plane may be high wing like a kitfox so not to break the bank. Ak

Hello all, Learning to fly at Sunbury VIC and hoping/looking forward to go solo soon! I've been trolling the web since I started my lessons last year for all things light sport but also something to call my own. Only found this site last night unfortunately, but looks like I'll be visiting it much more - looks very active. My flights so far: 1. Flysythensis Texan - that's what I'm training in 2. 30 min in c150 - this was trial flight from familiy that got me hooked 3. 1.5 hr in foxbat - holiday cruise up at goldcoast. Fun plane. My wish list: 1. Flysythensis Texan - coz that's what I'm training in and love it 2. SportCruiser - nice looking plane but for the future maybe 3. Sportstar - another nice plane I'd like to check out 4. Kitfox - looks like a nice plane, especially with the r otec radial 5. Foxbat - should be higher up but for price I'd rather 1 or 2 6. Lightwing - been looking at it in comparison to kitfox. Not sure though. AK