DonRamsay

Having done about 25 Special Resolutions, I agree that the process is straightforward enough. However, getting the wording right is not a trivial exercise partly because of the clumsy way our Constitution is put together (courtesy of the model rules in the Regs). The SR requires 21 days notice. To get that done, the SR would need to appear in the March edition of the SportPilot. Deadline for matters for the March SportPilot would have been around 13 February. Even if the work was done, it would appear as a "take it or leave it" proposition with no prior consultation. Col Jones would not be happy about that! If you had a 5 or 7 or even 8 person Board, you would not need an executive sub committee of the board. All Board decisions and actions could practically be a decision of the entire Board. That of course is not practical with a 13 person Board. You really need to amend Rules 12, 13, (possibly 16), 18 (vii) and any Rule that references the Executive. You need to be very clear about having one region - "Australia" - otherwise you end up in a quagmire of parochial gerrymanders.

I've since taken my younger son around Eastern Creek on the back of the VTR 1000 (without incident) but the elder son chose spectating instead - probably wisely.

One of the rare occasions I was ever a pillion it was on the back of my own bike (VFR750 at the time). And, to make it a bit more interesting I was sitting behind a big bloke (an instructor) doing a StayUpright course at Eastern Creek. He was showing me how to ride properly, lines to take and lean angles. He said he'd do the first lap at about half revs and the second one at 3/4 revs. Off we went . . . out of the pits to Turn 2, he leaned in and I leaned out. By turn 4 I had worked up the courage to sit upright and not lean into or out of the corner. By the start of the second lap my confidence was way up and I was going with him. He had an amazing touch (with the bike) and showed me lean angles two-up that I wouldn't have considered solo. He was so smooth it was like a revelation as to what was possible. My next experience was with a mate on the back at a Honda ride day at Phillip Is. He rode a Kawasaki and they wouldn't let him in the gate with it so he had to come to the pits on the back of mine. He was a good rider and OK as pillion for the short run to the pits. I did a few laps on some of Honda's machines and then during a break he said he'd like to have a look at the track so we agreed I'd take him around slowly on the back of a CB1000 (naked bike). He said that since I never took pillions and I'd never ridden a CB1000 before anywhere let alone around Phillip Is, he'd appreciate the "slowly" part. Off we went . . . all going well enough apart from the suspension grounding out around a few corners and pegs scraping here and there. On previous laps, I'd come onto the Gardiner Straight at something over the old ton and wind out to around 220 km/h down the straight before freaking out and grabbing some brakes for the run down thru Doohan. There was a strong headwind up the straight that day and it made 220 km/h feel like 300 and you had to be tucked down behind the screen. This time with Steve on the back, on the naked CB1000, about halfway down the straight, I was getting a bit weary form the wind and so leaned forward - a lot. Poor old Steve went from 0 km/h to more than 200 km/h in an instant. Almost lost him off the back. Funny, he still hasn't thanked me for that one.

True Nev, but I was thinking more along the lines of never taking a pillion on a motorcycle unless they are old enough to understand the risks. Motorcycle is a bit different in that I never wanted a pillion, ever, but always welcome a consenting adult in the cockpit.

Provides a good reason to try out a new Director of Aviation Safety and Head of Avmed. Also, puts them on notice to change their ways or . . . we'll do another study and report :-(

I wouldn't take anyone for a ride unless they were capable of giving their informed consent. That for me rules out children small enough to need such a restraint.

Loved the sound of my Honda V-Twin. Nikasil bores should make it last OK. These people have a lot of practical experience making engines perform but reliability is going to be the key of course. If nothing else, we need to keep the pressure on Rotax with some competition.

He was asked "So, does it work?" and he replied "Yes!" and then he was asked "So demo it." Hmmm . . . now there's a name for it. (groan . . . .)

Col, that is an astounding and disturbing allegation to toss out there. Have a look back through what I wrote and you will find there is no fact in there that has not been made public by RA-Aus already in print or at members meetings. Some of my the comments are judgements rather than facts but I believe them to be reasonable and based on my personal observations. As you know, I have, at considerable personal expense, over the last few years made it my business to keep tabs on what is going on. So, I'm in the unusual position that I know every one of the Board Members personally and have talked to every one of them at different times including at many AGMS and General Meetings. From time to time some Board Members (you would be surprised who) ask me for advice or bounce ideas off me and I'm always happy to do that. Of course that is done on a confidential basis with no strings attached from either side. There is none of the animosity and entrenched positions of the bad old days. There is a real grasp of what needs to be done and they are getting on with it. We shouldn't forget what a low base they are climbing up from. By the same token, I am trying to stay out of their hair and let them get on with it. I have confidence in the current Board, Management and Staff that they know what needs to be done and are getting on with it. Allows me to enjoy flying in the confidence that Recreational Aviation has a bright future. I many have been a bit generous at 9 or 10 but most are doing what they can within their availability and capability. The many problems with 13 on the Board don't need a re-hash. With a smaller Board, chances are there'd be no passengers and no where to hide for a lazy or unresponsive Board Member. And, with a competent CEO, the work of the Board is reduced to the highest level strategy and policy issues. And who knows, they just might actually get around to tapping into the available talent in the membership base and utilise sub-committees.

FT, I agree with your observation. The reduced level of chatter though should not be taken as meaning nothing much is happening. On the contrary, there is a great deal happening at Board and CEO level. The Board, as we hear from the Maj, Andy and Jim is functioning well. It seems we still have 3 or 4 passengers on the Board but no real problem children. We have a CEO tearing up a steep learning curve but with a great skill set brought to RA-Aus from his previous employments. The Board is being led very well by Mick Monck who is working hard on our relationship with CASA to get it to a much better place than it has been. That does not mean being submissive but the right level of assertion in the right way to get a vastly better deal from CASA. RA-Aus still has a long way to go to get to where it needs to be as an organisation and that fact is crystal clear in the collective intelligence of most Board Members. But, governance has been tightened right up and the Board maintains compliance with the Constitution, something previous Boards seemed to think was optional. It is important that Board get on with the job. There are 13 of them and they have a busy forum of their own. We need them to consult with each other and get on with the job. They are elected to do just that. It is very difficult to keep all members aware of work that it is progress. But, it is critical that the membership is consulted on things like the draft of Ops and Tech manuals before they go into print. Mick Monck has promised to do that in future. Hold him to it. I have a great deal of confidence in the personnel of our current Board. There is a clear majority of people who know what needs to be done and are getting on with it. Such a contrast to where we were two years ago . . . rushing down the road to oblivion.

Always had a soft spot for the lightwing and we have a world expert in Ross Millard if ever you need any advice on them. Not sure I could recommend anything with a 2 stroke engine (GR) but plenty swear by them on the ground ant at them when they quit aloft.

Damn it Colin, and I thought I was being subtle and persuasive.

There's a Tobago for $42k at Cessnock. Four seats, 130 KIAS cruise. 35 l/hr and a big fat annual but otherwise good price. Or, you could by a 1/3 share in a Tecnam Sierra (mine) for $23k and it will cruise at 110 KIAS on about 18 L/hr and all your fixed costs are divided three ways. Big fixed costs are insurance an hangar and, if you do less than 100 hrs p.a. the annual maintenance.

As there will be no Natfly this year, what happens to the Natfly General Meeting? This possibility was recognised at the last AGM when an amendment to the Constitution was passed that gave the Board the right (and duty) to schedule a general meeting approx 6 months after the AGM. Another amendment to the Constitution required the Secretary to invite members to submit items for the Agenda. In accordance with that, the Secretary has included that invitation in the current edition of SportPilot and flagged that the Agenda, location and timing of the General Meeting will be announced in the next edition of the Magazine. The original purpose of having a Natfly General Meeting was to give the greatest number of members the opportunity to attend a General Meeting. It was also hoped that in time, the Natfly GM could become the AGM. The Natfly GM was also needed to provide a second opportunity, along with the AGM, to have Constitutional change voted on. In his Presidents report in this months SportPilot, Mick Monck mentioned that amending the Constitution was to be a priority this year. In particular, there have been many suggestions to reduce the size of the Board. This cost saving and streamlining move will require considerable work on the current constitution to achieve. It implies a change in not just the number of Board Members but the process for election of Board Members. It is going to require real and considerable consultation with members all around Australia and members are going to need to approach the revisions with an open mind and a maturity that should consign parochial Regional thinking to the dustbin of history.

I heard there will be a Natfly in mid 2015 just not at Easter. I also heard that there will be an Ausfly over Easter 2015. And Holbrook have moved their "Back to Holbrook" fly-in to Easter (4 & 5 April). This will mark 25 years since the first national fly in was conducted . . . . at Holbrook.

Thanks Alf. Funny thing is if our syndicate had bought a new or nearer new Sierra, I would have been happy to stick with the Tecnam - they are a great design and fly as well as any aircraft I've had my paws on. The Sling is stronger and cops a slight weight penalty to go with it. But the iS Sport Rotax means you can carry less fuel with consumption down around 12 litres per hour while cruising at 110 KTAS. Ironic because the Sling can hold 150 Litres!

Alf, this plane is so good it managed to scare away the scorpions that normally reside in my pocket. Buying solo this time but not regretting the syndicate - it worked very well. I considered the Astore briefly but felt that the service and parts backup for the Sling in Aus is very good. Can't really complain about the great service from Bruce Stark but parts for our Tecnam had to be sourced from Italy. May one day consider creating another syndicate but not for a year or two yet. There is to be a gathering of Slings at Heck Field on D Day, 6th June with the the squadron then flying out for a circumnavigation of our big Island. Really looking forward to that little sortie!

The Icon A5 was a game changer in my view particularly the ambience of the cockpit and the convenience of the folding wings. A brilliant, innovative design but I don't understand why it has taken so long to get to market.

Would be what? I know many who are very happy with the Foxbat and they are popular on a global scale. I, personally, wouldn't rate the Foxbat as strong as the Sling but if treated well should be OK. I know of one at least in a flying school (Heck Field) that has done a great number of hours with few issues. Lead time for the Sling is a combination of Order time, Build time, freighting to Aus time and reconstruction in Aus plus testing, approvals and Registration. Talk to Errol at Global Aviation Products for a current schedule but it will be at least 4 months from start to end I would guess.

On the way from Mudgee to Warkworth, you can fly through the Bylong valley which is a little safer and more scenic than going over the hills. Up to you. Watch out for the small R533 near Denman (SFC to 3,500 ft.) Mudgee has RPT and so is an ASIC airport and they are pretty serious about ASIC cards.

Errol is a good bloke and very helpful in getting the final Spec sorted. I don't know if the Sling is the fastest selling LSA in Aus but if it isn't it must be pretty close being the top seller.

I spent an hour in the Caboolture Sling with an instructor and loved every minute of it. Flys with a very solid, settled feel to it. Loved also the fuel injected iS Sport ROTAX - smooth as silk on the throttle. After a fair bit of research and flying comparable aircraft, I've order a factory built Sling 2 LSA. I currently fly a Tecnam Sierra and the Sling is the equal or better and, for me that is high praise. Built like a brick outhouse - very strong. Clincher for me was the sliding canopy. After the Sierra I couldn't live with a bubble canopy. Cost? $135k will get you flying but an aircraft like this deserves a few nice bits but that's up to the individual. Now the agonising wait for delivery - Petermah would know how that feels.

I saw it at Natfly a few years ago and thought it was the best looking aircraft I'd ever seen in the 600kg MTOW class. Wish I'd got the scorpions out and made an offer. How do you find the long wings - inclined to float a bit?

Are you saying ERSA is wrong? For EDT it says commencing 2200 (UTC) which is of course 0600 Local and for HDS (daylight Saving time) it says 1900 which is still 0600 local. I'd be happy to send them an email and ask if ERSA is wrong if you say it is.

Thanks shags - that's a 1st class service!