joeyo68

Well done!

Hi Gav, One of the guys I work with has an RV12 at Lilydale. You probably see it when you go out. It is white and maroon. Enjoy your flying. Joe

Hey Butzull, We'll done for starting. Enjoy the journey. Where are you learning? Joe

One logbook for both. Just use separate columns for your RAA hours to your GA hours

Speed_racer, It comes down to if you are happy to pay for the services that they are providing. I suspect that if you are flying from Moorabbin, then you will be paying a premium for that service. Depending on where you are located around Melbourne, there are places like Ballarat, Coldstream, Tyabb and Tooradin who provide RAA training, at what I would expect a more competitive price than a Moorabbin school, plus you would spend more time each flight in the air, rather than on the ground taxing. I fly out of Tyabb from the Peninsula Aero Club. They do both RAA and GA training, and all of their RAA aircraft are maintained to GA standards thanks to the requirements of some of their customer base. They have Gazelles (which they are phasing out), a Foxbat ( which I believe they are getting more of to replace the Gazelles), and an RAA registered Cessna 162. I believe that Tooradin have Jab's (160 and 170) if you want to stay with the Jab's Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Cheers, Joe

Hi Chris, I fly out of Tyabb, and like the other non controlled aerodromes around Melbourne, is a very friendly airfield. The Peninsula Aero Club is a very active club and trains both GA and RAA.I do not think you will be disappointed wherever you choose to fly. Good luck with the flying. Cheers Joe.

Hi speed_racer, Congratulations on your first solo!. You are right about not forgetting it. I did mine in 1985, and I still remember it. All the best for the rest of your training. Cheers, Joe

Congratulations!

Congratulations Av8ta. It is something you will remember for the rest of your life. One of those great experiences we have. Cheers, Joe

Ivan, Congratulations on getting your certificate. Enjoy your freedom, keep current and fly safe for many years to come. Cheers, Joe

Done!

IFR seems to be the easy way to navigate. No, not the usual IFR (Instrument Flight Rules), but the easier one: I Follow Roads I Follow Railwaylines I Follow Rivers Good luck with the flying.

Welcome to the forum!

Hi AZNA, I see you are from Melbourne. Where do you fly from? If it is Moorabbin, then you might save some money by going to a regional airport like Lylidale, Coldstream or Tyabb. Rates are usually cheaper and you get into the training area quicker. They usually have schools with RAA aircraft also. Last year I got back into flying after a 10year break and went down the RAA route, then completed a GA AFR to get my cross country back. Now I can fly either, usually RAA for local fun flights, and jump into a GA aircraft if I want a bit more speed for cross country. Helps manage the cost BTW, I fly out of Tyabb, and the rates are pretty good. I agree with most of the posters here, finish your GFPT. Good luck with it. Cheers, Joe

I recieved a copy of that in my emails today. Apparently a hotel in Beijing. Must try it next time I am over there

Congratulations! I also did my first solo when I was 16, but that was back in 1985, and I still remember it.

Done!

Hi Bigfella, I converted over to RAA about 12 months ago after a 10 year break from flying. I live in the Frankston South/Baxter area, and chose Tyabb over Toordin based on two things, proximity to home, and also because they maintain their RAA registered aircraft to GA standards. Given your height, I would go to each of the aerodromes and sit in each of the aircraft that the schools use and see what you are comfortable in. The Cessna Skycatchers are a bit different to fly, especially during the flare and landing, they are very responsiveto control input and take a bit to get used to. The Gazelles are docile to fly, and i have been told that the Foxbat is somewhere in between. The Foxbat they have online is fitted with control columns, not the centre stick, so would be easy for you to convert over to, assuming you have been flying either a cessna or piper trainer. If you want to get in contact to discuss more, PM me with your details and I will give you a call. Good luck with your future flying. Cheers, Joe

Dave, Welcome to the club for aviation tragics! Now you have been "bitten by the bug", an aircraft will not fly overhead without you looking up, wishing it was you flying it. Where are you flying, and what are you learning in? Cheers, Joe

Got mine tonight

Tyabb have a couple of Gazelles, a C162, and a foxbat for hire through the Peninsula Aero Club.

Congratulations, and welcome to the club! I did my first solo in 1985, and I can still see the empty seat where my instructor had been sitting! As others have said, it is something you will never forget!

I like your kit. One change I would suggest to your kit would be to get rid of the lighter and get a firestick with a small bag/tin of tinder for starting a fire. They are very effective, and create a very hot spark for lighting a fire, even with slightly damp materials.

I was up that way recently, stayed at the Freeburgh caravan park, and saw a few microlights flying around. Went up past the Porpunkah airstrip a couple of times also. to the forum

I have to agree with Sapphire to an extent. You do have a choice though, as PIC, if anything bad happens, you as PIC are ultimately responsible. Unfortunately flying commercially in GA, the pressure put on young pilots to fly in poor/potentially unsafe conditions is high if they want to keep their flying job. As a low experience, young pilot, you do not want to get a reputation for refusing to fly. Although Aus is a big country, Aviation is a small industry, and pilots are connected accross the country. Refusing to fly, and leaving a job, you just might find that your reputation precedes you when applying for another job. Flipping burgers is much safer, and no irate passengers/cheif pilots to deal with, and pays about the same. Joe