Roundsounds

A few things to remember about radials and hydraulic locks… - never force the prop through a hydraulic lock when pulling through. Big radials have a clutch on the starter that’ll slip rather than force rotation through a lock. Big radials turn the engine over with mags off for a set number of blades (revolutions) - if you force an engine to turn over through a hyd lock you’ll bend or break a link rod. A bent one will likely fail at a later time. - do not pull the engine backwards. This can force the oil into the intake manifold and suck it back in during engine start and break / bend a rod.

Dealing with the CASA frontline staff was never an issue. It’s the day to day business side of things and the idiotic “regulation reform” (ie bureaucratic BS) that makes running a school not worth the effort. The customers are usually the reason you keep at it and being a line instructor would be ok.

Having started, run and sold a successful flying school I can assure you it’s not as profitable as the hourly rate x hours might appear. The various overheads associated with any small business are there, once you factor in financing airplanes and maintenance costs to keep the machines in a serviceable / presentable state it’s a tough game. I’ve been approached a few times since selling the school to set up new ventures. Once you run the numbers it’s not worth the effort, it would simply be an expensive hobby.

I’d rather mix with birds than people flying with the autopilot engaged and head buried in their EFBs. As for engine failures, I have my plan sorted and the airplane I fly either runs or doesn’t so I don’t have tank changes, pumps etc.

I fly everywhere at 500’ AGL, too high for Ag aircraft and Drones, too low for the EFB crowd. I avoid populous areas and airfields, I’ll climb to circuit entry height approaching my destination.

DCA recorded an accident at Highfield on 27/12/1968 involving a 180HP Arrow (PA28R-180), the aircraft was destroyed. Maybe this is the event?

The 100HP is the nicest handling / to aerobat in my opinion, just slow to reach altitude.

It’s in my logbook too (as the 160HP version)

Rocketship, it might be worth checking with VH-ECI. Recent pics look like it’s got the rails?

This image shows the cover / shade slid toward covering the unpainted section about the crew.

This image shows the outer “rail” the Perspex covers slid in. The rail was also made from two sections of Perspex. The cover in this image would have been stowed in the painted section and not visible.

I’m talking about the 1970/80s version, before it was declared a write off following an EFATO at Camden.

VH-RSJ had some pieces of curved painted Perspex that fitted into tracks and slid forward when needed. Looked like a factory fitment.

The above advice is great. I’ve sent many first solos, don’t go unless you’re comfortable. Some instructors think it’s cool to simply have you stop the aircraft and get out without any advanced warning and not discussing the event with you. It’s a joint decision between you and your instructor. Enjoy your first solo!

If your instructor hasn’t provided you with that information I suggest you find a new school.

Interesting thread, but still haven’t found out anything about the prang.

You cannot be PIC and not be in the aircraft. All solo flights are logged by the pilot as PIC. Student pilots cannot fly unless under the supervision of a flight instructor. ie they can’t simply jump in an aeroplane and go flying, they must be authorised by an appropriately qualified instructor. The supervision includes a briefing / debriefing on the sequences to be flown, weather and any pertinent operational considerations.

This will be an interesting case to watch. Given it was his first solo, if found to be pilot error was he actually proficient to fly solo? Who’s liable, school, instructor, CFI, student? This was always something I always considered when assessing whether a pilot was ready for solo or passing their flight test for the issue of a licence. Could I stand up in court and state this person was assessed as proficient?

If you listen to the BK TWR ATC recordings online, you’ll hear ATC tell POLAIR 24 it was the pilot’s first solo.

Yes he did, so there’s no chance of making the runway without power on a powered approach. Unless you set up for a glide approach you won’t make the runway with an engine failure once you’ve reached the base turn position. as indicated elsewhere, you’re subject to other traffic and cannot guarantee spacing to make a glide approach. The ATC recordings state this was a first solo in Comms to POLAIR 24 when they were tasked to check in the pilot’s welfare.

The concept of glide approaches in GA went out with Tiger Moths. I know it’s a thing with RAAus, but that goes back to 2 stroke engines and GFA instructors.

It was the pilots first solo.

The PA28 was a first solo. FR24 shows a full stop and taxy for further Circuit. Also ATC recording has ATC telling POLAIR24 it was a first solo with 1 POB. The R44 came to grief at Forresters Beach.

I did a heap of research into midair collisions in Australian airspace, couldn’t find any enroute aside from people flying in company / formation. Most collisions occurred in CTA.

I’ll bet you’re still driving