Mathew Ker

Congratulations on your Pax & Nav endorsements. I was in Forbes Monday/Tuesday of last week but travelling by road on this occasion. I would imagine flying around Parkes/Forbes would be quite a sight at the moment. A visit to Temora might be an excellent adventure to test out your new wings. Cheers, Mathew

I spent 15 months between flights with a change of circumstances and a move from Cairns to Temora in between. It wasn't until August this year that I found time and money to go flying once more. Given that it was such a long time and that I was going to be flying a low wing Tecnam after learning in a Jabiru, it was always a "no-brainer" that I would spend time with an instructor once more. I was a little unsure of myself before that first flight but things quickly came back for me. Jill Bailey from Temora is a confidence inspiring instructor and made sure I was competent in the basics before running through a number of exercises including stalls, engine failures and various turns. We completed a couple of hours then Jill was happy to sign off on me flying the Tecnam Sierra. I then went for a check flight with our club president so he would be happy I wouldn't bend the club aircraft too quickly and from there I have now hired and flown our club Tecnam. My confidence is growing but I am reminded that I need to continue filling the bucket of experience before the bucket of luck runs out! I now have 39 hours total so the learning curve is still steep. Cheers, Mathew

Ian, I went for a flight in an XT912 near Mareeba and whilst I enjoyed it, I prefer 3 axis so this is what I learnt to fly in. Originally flew the Jabiru UL/D but am now flying the low wing Tecnam P2002 out of Temora. It has been interesting making the adjustment from high wing to low wing, but in both cases I've been able to walk away and reuse the aircraft! Cheers, Mathew

Welcome to the forums Microlight Magic. I'm sure you will enjoy your flying in FNQ and the wealth of experience of those posting here. Who are you doing your lessons with? I learnt to fly three axis with Ron Watson down at Innisfail. I landed at both Frank's strip and at the microlight/helo strip at Port Douglas. It looks pretty short when landing a Jabiru! Frank, great photos that remind me of my time in FNQ. I'm really enjoying my time in Southern NSW but still have great memories of FNQ , especially the flying. Cheers, Mathew

Congratulations on a terrific achievement . For those of us who remain committed to kicking tyres, I am full of admiration. I'm sure many others, including myself look forward to comments regarding the testing phase, then numerous trip reports. Cheers and happy and safe flying, Mathew

Van Halen's - "Go ahead - jump!" :confused: Cheers, Mathew

Big Pete, May I add my condolences to you and your family at this time also. Mathew

Thanks for the update John. Your post is a great endorsement for how easily the Sierra must go together, plus the advantage of expert help. Will you be adding photos? What engine have you chosen? Happy times as you continue building your new pride and joy. Cheers, Mathew

Just heard on the local news that Matt Hall is going to base his plane at Temora for the next one or two months . Matt will be traveling back and forwards to Temora for training. Fantastic news for this community which continues to attract aviation enthusiasts. Reading so many examples of communities which are losing access to local airfields, it is so encouraging to live in a place that actively looks to make things easier for locals and visitors alike to enjoy our passion. Just hoping the weather plays the game tomorrow. Cheers, Mathew

Papafox, You are just boasting now that it is approximately 2.5km from your house to the airfield. That really isn't fair as I have about 3.7km to go . I wonder if there are any people in town who might consider hosting one or two guests over the long weekend? Might be worth asking the question. Cheers, Mathew

Greg, It's been nearly twelve months since I was in Cairns, but I think you will find Innisfail and/or Atherton will be much more accommodating of RAA hangarage than Mareeba. There is very little covered hangarage at Mareeba although they may have built some new hangars on the southern side of the runway. Innisfail is probably a little easier to get to, especially if you will be living on the southern side of Cairns. If you're on the Northern Beaches, toss a coin. It is also an all weather runway. Follow up Frank if you do move to Cairns. He's very encouraging and has a wealth of experience. Cheers, Mathew

Thanks Nev. I found the website and if the trip doesn't come off as planned, my wife is very interested in a romantic trip away . Cheers, Mathew

Thank you for the replies. Stawell is looking the goods as the ground party from Melbourne could pick me and pax up from the airfield on their way to Halls Gap. Will let you know if the trip comes off. Cheers, Mathew

Thanks Brian. Stawell would work equally well as we have a group coming from Melbourne and they could pick us up just as easily from Stawell as those coming through Horsham. Cheers, Mathew

I'm planning a trip from Temora to Halls Gap via Wagga Wagga for the last week of October. Can someone please advise me of the closest airstrip to Halls Gap. An alternative would be to fly into Horsham and we have a ground crew travelling to Halls Gap from Adelaide by bus, so they could pick myself and pax up. If the trip comes together, I would be flying a Tecnam Sierra. Still a low hours pilot so would prefer 500-600m strip at minimum (no sense getting my abilities mixed up with my ambitions!). Cheers, Mathew

G'Day Mark, Other than a car, it was work that brought me from Cairns to Temora. I am a pastor in the Lutheran church and the people in Temora asked me to come and serve them which I have been very happy to do so. The funny thing is, most people ask, "Why would you move from Cairns to Temora?" While Cairns and the surrounding area is beautiful, I much prefer Temora as a community and it really is a 'go-ahead' sort of a town. Longer term, I see an opportunity to use a plane to serve a much larger area, maybe as far afield as Tamworth/Armidale to Leeton/Griffith. But that is a bigger picture and I'm happy working around Temora for now. It's certainly a picture from above with the crops growing well and the paddocks of canola in full flower. Cheers, Mathew

Having moved from Cairns to Temora, I've taken some time to settle in to a new town and get organised with some more flying. I knew it was some time since I last flew, but it was really March 2009 - way too long . I bit the bullet and booked in a famil flight with Jill from Temora Flight Training to get brought up to speed on the Tecnam Sierra P2002. Great plane and an interesting transition from the Jabiru UL/D to a low wing aircraft. I've now completed a couple of hours in the Tecnam and Jill has cleared me to hire the club plane . I look forward to adding to the bucket of experience before the bucket of luck runs out. My 15 year old son has begun his flying training and he has completed his first two hours. This is an exciting hobby, but I've got to buy me a plane now! It's getting too expensive with two pilots in the family. Cheers and safe flying. Mathew

David, I am a pastor in the Lutheran Church and the congregation in Temora called me to serve them there. Cairns is a beautiful place but I'm enjoying Temora as a community. And that is what stands behind my original answer to Tomo's question. As a town and community it is a great place to live. It has all the amenities we could want for as a family, without the hassles of city living. Your concern regarding the humidity is well founded. A lot of people cope; many go from one air-conditioned building, to their air-conditioned car, to their air-conditioned workplace, then back again. A few people like the humidity and all power to them. My advice to anyone thinking about moving to Cairns would be to visit during the wet season to experience what this is really like. I didn't like the humidity, but the paradox is that this is the time of the year that is most exciting in FNQ. Mind you, lows of high teens, low twenties is pretty good during June/July as well! Cheers, Mathew

Tomo, I moved to Temora with my family in January this year. We made the move from Cairns in FNQ and we love the atmosphere of Temora. I can only comment on our impressions but we have been made to feel very welcome. I haven't spent enough time out at the airfield, but there are many people in town who have a connection to it. Certainly the whole town as a rule supports the airfield and recognize the importance of this industry to the local economy. Other than that, I would say Temora punches above it weight in a number of areas. There are the V8 jetboats, a ripper rural museum and lots of other events or organisations that encourage people to get involved. I won't comment on the financial wisdom of buying a block or putting a hanger up, but the above are my early impressions of a great country town, one I hope to be in for some time to come. Cheers, Mathew

It is something you thwow at a wascally wabbit when you haven't got a wifle!

Have a look at the Skyranger setup, they use dual throttles as you describe. Friakpuk is currently building a Skyranger based at Katanning. Cheers, Mathew

Thank you for this insight into flying large commercial aircraft. I've been guilty at times of lampooning pilots of such aircraft as 'just pushing the autopilot' and its not 'real' flying. Your fascinating story reminds us just why they get paid the big bucks. It's not for the times things are going well, but for the times everything goes to clag. Thank you and fly safe. Mathew

I would love the challenge and joy of building and flying my own aircraft - and there's the rub regarding your proposal. If I wanted to fly (and could afford to do so, I'd buy an aircraft). If I want the challenge of building, I'd want to build the whole thing. That way I know what's been done and I'm responsible for the end product. Building just a part might be more efficient, but it doesn't sound very exciting or interesting. Also, how do I know the standard that others have worked to, or how would they know to what standard I have built to? The other issue is whether such a process would be in conflict with the 51% build rule? Maybe the idea has more merit applied at a club level and I think there are many examples of people pitching in together to build one aircraft. Just my thoughts, be interested to see if anything further comes of your idea. Mathew

G'day Norm and welcome to the forums. A good mate of mine, who goes by the name Friar Puk on these forums, is moving to Katanning/Narrogin in the new year. He has recently bought a Skyranger kit which he intends to build when he arrives. I'm sure he will enjoy catching up. Cheers, Mathew