CrayonBox

The flight video compilation from early this morning... enjoy.

Yeah not b'sht = I start flying F/a 18e next week!

Hi Met, I believe Mark c sold the 912. Mark H moved (got moved) out of the airport hanger and operates from a private field. Space is limited and so the drifter had to go. Yes ----- the cross winds at YHBA! More posts to come soon - (tomorrow looks real good again and then the weekend turns it all to wind and rain!).

Lesson 16... 10 more successful landings - one I was told was perfect. But only one lol. The rest were good to not so good. Today was really about landing technique and finessing and perfecting it. The weather has been so kind this week. Another lesson coming tomorrow.

Did you see the Amburance!

And we're there!.... 5 unassisted landings. Oh yeah.... on bitumen too!! Now somehow I am not supposed to get cocky Back for more tomorrow.

Today all i can say is... So close! Landing is a skill.... Added 1 more hour to the log book.

I had been watching the weather all week for today - it was looking great to continue my landing practice and nail my first unassisted. Today at 0530 was ESE 3kts. Awesome!! There are only two certainties in this world - Death and Taxes. Today's Lesson! Logged time = "0.00". So: 1. Get up early 2. Arrive early at Hanger 3. Perform all preflight checks. 4. Kick her in the guts for warm up.... kick her in the guts... KICK IT!!!!! What - crank but no fire? It ran perfectly the other day..... So what's doing? Time for some fault tracing - no spark what so ever, and the plugs are getting fuel! Returned home - got some tools etc, returned to field. Pulled the wiring to pieces and checked ignition switches and connections at modules. Checked stator coil earths and resistances (3.3ohm each, 6.6ohm in series), voltage from power stator to modules - cranking both = 6v. Checked module grounds and supply connections - great. After exhausting all my wiring checks - reassembled to give it another go and ensured everything was connected nice tight and correctly. Crank it... and away we go! So what is it - a connection???? Carried out all engine warmups, choke checks, RPM checks (switching off one ig. sw. at a time). Sweet! So, today's lesson... Engine operation theory and familiarisation. By the time I was ready to go it was 930am, the wind was 090 6/8kts (would be using runway 11 so would be ok, but with the thermals and cumulus - maybe not good for landing practice). Now I wait for the next sweet air window........ . . . . . .. .

A video from my last flight - this week. There is 1 out of 5 circuits at the airport, and 3 practiced forced landings. See the scenery of our training area, and a landing at our hanger over the powerlines.

Yesterday I had another lesson - 1 hour added to the log book. The wind has not been kind as the 6-7kts crosswind at our airstrip are making it difficult for me to accomplish my first unassisted landing. At this stage of not actually landing the a/c without assistance - I seem to have too many things to deal with at the point of settling and hold-off. I keep getting crossed up just prior to landing. I am not yet instinctively understanding everything that needs to be done to prevent landing sideways (due to the cross-wind). I am waiting for that special day when the winds are in my favour... and we have (unassisted) touchdown. So after half an hour of that.... rather than head back to the hanger - we continued our lesson at the training area, and learned about setting up for forced landing and choosing suitable landing sites - in the swamp area and paddocks. I enjoyed this - it was a break from the frustrating circuits and lack of being able to land.

Yes it was an awesome morning for a fly. Where did you go and what did you do?

Hi Turbo, All I am saying is that with the obviously problems that exist, a bit of an overhaul in terms of what is happening now will help to clean up the act. And make the system much better for all involved. One can only hope!

Does anyone want to guess what tomorrows update will say? My guess... It might be something like - "RA-Aus today continued negotiations with CASA on New systems and procedures to ensure that RA-Aus meet all requirements set out by CASA." I would actually just hang tight and wait for the final outcome - not much else can be done really. All this speculation just makes people more uneasy - but easy for me to say as it doesn't directly affect me - or the majority of Australians. If you feel I am being out of line I will stop posting my opinions. Sorry for any animosity that may be felt by you guys.

Just trying to be optimistic that the trusting (once) financial members are not too inconvenienced by the recent sloppy business activities. Cheers.

Yes we mustn't get this out of proportion hey. It is and will be only a temporary setback - and should after all help improve the industry.

I still have trouble sleeping the night before a flight. It used to be the excitement of tomorrows flight - now it's the restlessness of the pressure to fly correctly the next day I think I am trying too hard. I must remember to enjoy the journey of training.

Fortunately I am in the HGFA (doesn't mean they are perfect and not vulnerable) - but it all makes you wonder how secure the future is with the volatility of this industry - and should I continue my training.

Hi Camo, Welcome to the community. You will feel very exhilarated doing your TIF. And you will be bitten for life! Have a good time

I am using my xt912. And am hoping to fly again asap - but the weather and the wind aren't helping.

Mark was telling me this week about someone who knows me and is about to start learning to fly. Is that you?

Up early for some smooth air landings this morning, and I completed 5 tarmac landings with assistance, plus one on grass at our hanger strip. Things are ssslllllooooowwwwly coming together. Every landing I did something different wrong - early round out or overshoot or not holding off long enough or over-correcting or under-correcting or too slow to correct. A tidy circuit reduces the workload during the landing phase!! To much brain fade going on... WAKE UP!!!! SLAP ME! It's only at this stage of our flying careers that we have to do the hardest part so many times in a short space of time more than a qualified pilot - LAND! It's quite tiring on the old brain cells. But we all have to do it. I must learn to keep 'flying' the aircraft until we are safely on the ground. I am learning at least what not to do. My instructor says I am so close. It should all just click into place soon. Logged time was a total of 0.7hrs, and the wind quickly increased from 2kts to 7kts during that time. There was also some rough air - light turbulence. None of this is making it easy for me, but it is all good training none the less. No. Landings = No. Takeoffs : CHECK. Tomorrow is another day!

Hi Mark, Yes sounds like we are at similar stages in training. Our runway is 11/29. The trouble here is that we often have a crosswind from South east, which on one hand makes it hard to perfect the landing technique because every approach has variances, but on the other hand, helps me to learn the skills for adjusting the approaches roundouts, holdoffs and final landing. Bitumen requires greater skill and accuracy due to tyre grip, which we have practiced when conditions are right. My instructor wants me to practice in the afternoon next, when we have a straight-on headwind. Crosswind will be one thing less to think about and correct for. When are you flying again?

Another 0.6hrs today. 5-7kts crosswind. Landing on grass x5 times, with assistance. Grass is a little easier than bitumen due to the forgiving nature and slippage. I am getting closer to achieving the illusive totally unassisted landing - but it sure takes practice. Does anyone remember how long it took them to achieve landing. Probably not a fair question as we are all different. It know some day it shall cometh!

Thank you - very helpful!

I have been trying to complete my theory studies, and have finally found the information in a nutshell. The workbook I am working from talks about MBZ's and CTAFs, but as we know MBZ is the old way, and changed some time ago. Here is an online publication that explains the changes and the new correct ways. http://www.hgfa.asn.au/skysailor/issues/0510/non_toweredaerodromes.htm Why isn't there a text book that is concise and up-to-date to learn from, instead of having to search and search for answers to the many old workbook questions? No if only I could find accurate and easy to understand information regarding SAR. (SARWATCH(IFR) and SARTIME(VFR)). If think I have it right.