2tonne

I think the issue is that CASA ignore the medical experts. Does that mean CASA itself is making the medical determinations?

Yes, a similar story. The ultrasound detected one small cyst on one of my kidneys. I was told it was of no concern and that it is very common to have at least one by the time you reach your 40s.

Prostate cancer wasn't a concern, probably because of its very slow progression and my age at the time. I was asked about kidney stones, but had never had one, and still haven't.

A self-declaration medical would have saved me a lot of time an money about 10 years ago. I went for a class 2 medical, as a fit 40 year old, and all the tests were fine except the final dip stick into the urine. It detected traces of blood. My DAME said a positive dipstick test for traces of blood in urine would often be a false positive. Nevertheless, he sent me for an ultrasound of my kidneys. That showed my kidneys were in great shape. CASA wouldn't accept it. CASA demanded I see a urologist to be further assessed and have a CT scan. The urologist looked through the paperwork and thought it was ridiculous, he told me I was perfectly healthy and he would have told me to go away if not for CASA's requirement for testing. Anyway, $600 for a CT scan and a letter from the urologist and I finally got my Class 2 medical. Whole process cost me about $1,000 and took 6 months. Absolute freaking waste of time and money. And, of course, my kidneys are still perfectly heatlhy and I have had zero health issues in the last 10 years. That's my 2 cents worth.

Prior to a training flight in a J160, as a very new student, I noticed the locking pin for the adjustable rudder pedals was missing on my side. I didn't think much of it, but told my instructor. He said we weren't moving anywhere until it was located, due to the risk of it lodging into controls during flight. Took a couple of minutes to find itn on the floor, but then it was put back in place and we were on our way.

Thanks onetrack. I googled Sperry Gyro Horizon and found a few of what appear to be the same model for sale as WWII Sperry Gyroscopes. Those are in much better condition than this one. I don't why this gyro is so beat up and missing the cage and adjustment knobs. If I remember correctly my father in law bought it from an old junk shop back in the 80s, but he wasn't given any information about it.

I saw a few recent posts about old aircraft instruments and it reminded me of an old gyro - horizon that I found in my father-in-laws shed. Just out of interest, does anyone have an idea of its vintage or what aircraft it may have come from? Would be interested to hear. Cheers, Tony

I am 45 and lightly overweight at 75 kg. I have decided to up the exercise a bit while eating healthier (and less). I am a member of a running club and there are lot of senior runners there, and very few of them are overweight. The last 10 km run I did with them I got overtaken by the oldest member Col, who is 84. He finished the 10 km run in 56 minutes, while I finished in 58. Pretty inspiring to be whooped by someone 40 years older than me! There are plenty of others at the club well into the their 70s who run regularly and many faster than me. Makes me think most of the battle I have had with getting out the door and exercising is in my head.

I though Ashby said the aircraft was his.

Ashby didn’t pay for the aircraft did he? If not, receiving a fee aircraft on the proviso he fly Pauline around is not a bad reward. It’s possible the party may have also covered all costs associated with the flights?

I got my in-flight adjustable propeller endorsement in the Flight Design MC at Redcliffe, but last I heard Fly-Now weren't using that aircraft anymore.

I like the Jacobsen flare, it works for me.

No, moved to Brisbane in 2015 and finished my rec certificate at Fly Now in Recliffe. Had a great time learning at YLIL with Bob. Come to think of it, I was out by a year with the first solo, it was 2014, not 2013.

Well done! I soloed in 4929 back in 2013. I still get excited thinking about it, not much in life compares to that first solo feeling!

Jaba- who, a lot of what you mention could be illegal. It is called transfer pricing (using various techniques to transfer profit to a lower taxing country). If caught by the ATO, companies can be hit with hefty penalties.

Bruce, anyone in the legal profession can be sued for negligence and it does happen. It is why all legal firms (and patent attorney firms etc) pay for professional indemnity insurance (which is expensive!)

That's a bit harsh iBob. I'm a patent attorney and I spend a lot of time trying to convince clients NOT to file a patent application. But, inventors are sometimes what I would call "special" characters and in some instances there is no way to convince them not to file (and they may have various reasons for wanting a 'patent'). And, if a client says they want to file there is risk in saying no. If someone else gets a patent for something similar to what they wanted to file you can end up with a very pissed-off ex-client who may sue you. In the US a few years ago, one disgruntled client shot and killed his patent attorney (and the attorney's receptionist) when he saw someone else's application for a similar technology to his, and after his attorney convinced him not to file. Sorry, couldn't let that comment stand unanswered.

I wouldn't read much into that. The one time I had to performance manage a useless employee with a terrible attitude and a massive sense of entitlement, guess what? I had an allegation of bullying and an application for a restraint made against me at Fair Work Commission. If you manage people, this stuff will almost inevitably happen.

My concern is that if this new organisation undermines and weakens RAAus, but doesn't get its own act together, it could go badly for everyone.

I agree with TP, there is nothing to say this was not done in a courteous manner. And I don't think there would be anything too controversial in changing insurance broker.

Wasn't there a comment in the latest sport pilot that RA Aus were Negotiationg a better insurance deal under the new structure? Might be related to that.

That is a very clean font and easy to read.

Is a J160 fine to sideslip with flaps? I have slipped the 160 with full flap and didn't notice any issues with control. Pretty amazing rate of descent though.

The more I think about it, the more I realise that I don't really want to stop flying, even if just for a few years (better not let the wife read this) My membership renewal is due next week, so I will pay again and then reconsider next year. If I don't get much flying in over the next 12 months then I will definitely,... well probably, give it away then.

I recently bought a hand held scanner. I was very glad it was not a transmitter when my 5 year old got hold of it and started yelling "hello...hello" every time there was a transmission.