NT5224

Perhaps Im more fortunate than many. My wife loves flying! She hated spin training but other than that is very competent in many respects superior to me. Cockpit management (multi-tasking) for example, and her reactions and hand eye coordination is top notch. Luckily I have 15 years flying experience on her so usually get the left seat and retain the final word on matters aviation. But its really cool to have a supportive and engaged partner. Alan

Flying overseas eh? Over the years I've been based in seven different countries around the Middle East and Africa and for a private individual to fly (as opposed to a commercial or serving military pilot), its really tough to get clearance if you're on official duties. The closest i thought I was going to get was in Qatar, where there is a small private flying club mostly patronised by expatriates, but because of my status in the country, I just couldn't get the official approvals from local security. Then a few years ago I was based out of Beirut, and noticed there was a local AOPA flying club mainly patronised by wealthy Lebanese business men. Not much flying seemed to happen, it was mainly lavish dinners where the elite gathered to show off their flashy expensive aircraft and even flashier and more expensive female companions. So I called up and told them I owned an aircraft in Australia and would love to go for a fly. Funnily enough, there were absolutely no questions asked, no local security clearances, nothing. So I organised to go for what was effectively a trial flight with an instructor in a battered 172, and flew. Some context. Just offshore in the Med a US carrier strike force was launching their raids into Northern Syria. Across the other side of the Beqaa, the Russians were conducting their own combat operations, and the slither of airspace between the two was tiny. Lebanon is a small country! So I got to take the controls and fly around a bit (with the instructor keeping me out of trouble). It was wonderful with the snow-capped Mount Lebanon range rising from the shimmering blue waters of the Mediterranean. My primary concern was not of all the military operations and restricted areas around, but rather the complete absence of anywhere where a forced landing could be made. The Lebanese coastline is almost completely developed and overcrowded, and with the mountain slopes rising from the sea, if the engine on the ancient 172 died we were going swimming. Nevertheless, it was a memorable flight. Alan

Thanks Nev. Actually its Triclopyr for the suckers, not Glysophate. We're trying to get the roots and plants below ground or they'll just keep throwing up new suckers. Main reason I don't boom spray is its just too expensive with Triclopyr! But Im also a closet greenie and dont want to harm the environment and my woodlands more than i need to. But spot spraying is hard going. Its five hectares and each hectare takes 2-3 hours, two people. Hot sun too. As well as my aversion to broad scale use of herbicides, we want grasses and forbs to grow back to help bind the surface, so selective spraying is the best (although very labour intensive!) way to go. Triclopyr is selective for broad leafs. Alan

Further progress on the airstrip. Has had final rolling and surface preparation. All good for landing. My wife and I spent a couple of hot weekends spot spraying to suppress little suckers which are starting to poke up. We'll switch to boom spraying when we've finished the first pass. Oh, and the windsocks up. I had a thread on here a few months ago asking about windsocks... Its all coming along nicely and Im expecting to land in the next couple of weeks

Hi Folks back to the OP. Great question! Who doesn't keep an eye on the classifieds? Or Aviation Trader, my Sunday morning read. Obviously the market value of (recreational) aircraft fluctuates along with everything else. I recall a period about four or five years ago when prices plummeted for second hand aircraft, especially older designs. I wonder whether the influx of new LSAs and new aircraft designs had any influence on this? People trading up, and saturating the market for older models? The Aussie dollar was pretty strong then. Actually, i don't really recall prices every recovering after that, but perhaps somebody with greater knowledge can set me straight on that. As for the post COVID future, I agree flying may become an expensive hobby for many, and we may see some people divesting themselves of their birds. The other aspect of this is what i believe to be changing generational preferences. Has anybody noted that some young urban Aussies don't get driving licences? Back in the day it was a necessary right of passage for everybody, and out in the bush it was critical. But with increasing urbanization, changing public transport and new types of transport like push bikes and personal electric vehicles, some young people are opting out of driving altogether. Obviously the costs involved are part of that considered choice. Many could waiting for autonomous controlled vehicles to arrive on our streets. But I wonder whether a similar thing will happen with aviation? Fewer people choosing to go through flight training (unless for a career path). As on the roads, autonomously operating aerial vehicles are probably on the way soon, so choosing not to invest thousands of dollars in flight training might be the rational choice. How will that affect the market for light, privately operated aircraft? I can't see demand rising much as older generations of aviators hang up their wings and sell off their aircraft. Cheers Alan

Please forgive the provocatively titled post. Im not firing a broadside at anybody or intentionally poking the hornets nest. I've just renewed my RAA membership, principally because I want to receive the new Sport Pilot magazine. These days my aircraft is VH registered, so Im flying under the CASA system. Other than the possibility of jumping in a Jab or Foxbat and going for a spin, are there any other benefits of maintaining RAA financial membership (flying member) when I fly a VH registered aircraft? For example, does my RAA members liability insurance cover me in a VH registered aircraft? Anything else Im not thinking of? The privilege of voting in elections and shaping the course of the organisation? (Gotta chuckle at that one, my conscientious and considered voting over the last decade has been spectacularly unsuccessful in steering the organisation the way I believe to be in the best interest of members!) Cheers Alan

Hi folks When i first started flying ultralights (or what we now call LSA/recreational aircraft) it was not common to see these equipped with a yolk. Nobody talked about 'yolk and rudder flying'. However, now I notice that increasing numbers of LSAs come with fitted yolks to control roll and pitch. I have flown aircraft with yolks and find them quite different from sticks. My question is... What do you prefer? What do you consider the major differences between both control mechanisms and the relative advantages or disadvantages of each? Cheers Alan

NO!!!?

Im itching to get back into the air, have the added bonus of playing on my new landing strip, but I still cant! This week and next are our last opportunities to get our control burns done to protect our property. Ive been out grading firebreaks, lighting fires, monitoring control burns and calling in aerial incendiaries these last couple of weeks, all trying to head off the severe fire threats that will come later into the season. IF i get everything done Im hoping to get into the air next weekend, Queens birthday. And then, as soon as the state quarantine restrictions ease, it will be over to Kununurra for brekkie! Alan

Hi folks These days in aviation can be pretty bleak but then once in a while something quite unexpected comes along to pleasantly surprise us. I had a bit of a win myself today. As some of you may know I’ve been struggling to get my own airstrip in commission. I’m actually pretty much there but haven’t had time to raise my windsock ( I’m just itching to do it! ) and because final grading and rolling was done in dry conditions, the surface is still a touch dusty. Anyway a couple of weeks ago some nice bloke at Tindal RAAF camp gave me a call and said ‘Hey Alan, we got xxx gaziilion bucks to renovate the camp, and so are replacing all our runway markers.... Our old runway gables are going to the dump. Do you want them out at your place?’ Does Alan want the runway gables from RAAF Tindal? ? Unfortunately the COVID 19 lockdown delayed our transaction, but today I ran into town and collected the old gable markers from Tindal ( well only about a third of them), my strip is admittedly a bit smaller than theirs! So, this arvo the dog and I threw them out on the strip. How cool is that? Great to keep a little bit of aviation heritage alive in the Top End! Any passing aviator from now on will be getting the whole story with their cup of coffee and muffin. A huge thank you to the RAAF blokes who helped me out today! Cheers Alan.

Hi folks. I am an avid reader and collector of aviation related magazines. I prefer them in hard copy if possible, so I can read in bed. Now that Sport pilot is digital, is 'Australian Flying' the last Recreational and General Aviation publication standing? What happened to 'AOPA pilot Australia'? I have a hard copy from 2015, but cant seem to find out if its still traditionally printed (nobody answering the phone at AOPA!) What other magazines do people subscribe to? I also get Flight Safety, and am more interested in flying and aircraft than building, which tends to be the focus of some other periodicals Cheers Alan

Hi folks, With aircraft regularly swinging around and doing low level passes over my strip, I need to invest in a basic hand held transceiver to be able to communicate. I’m on a budget and have narrowed things down to the trusty icon A16E, or the Yaesu FTA 450. I’m slightly inclined towards the latter. I like the big screen and interface. What do you folks recommend? Have I missed something in the sub $500 price range? Which of the two above do your prefer? Anybody here already own one or the other? Cheers Alan

I don’t own a smart phone. Wouldn’t want one -and anyway no mobile coverage in our district. Alan

Hi folks I have pretty much read through much of this thread in one sitting. First, deepest sympathies to the families of those affected by the Heck field incident. It was another tragic incident, and like many other tragic incidents before, I hope we will all come to understand why it happened in the fullness of time. I was aware of this incident when it first occurred and although I did not read the thread, it did cross my mind why that particular flight had gone ahead when we were all being urged to lockdown. While One-Tracks comment on the Baux scale might have been mildly insensitive, there was absolutely no malice in it, and I for one found it very valuable. I have since gone online to read about it further. It’s worth a glance, particularly with so many of us over fifty and practicing an activity where fire is an inherent risk. I’m sure the families of those affected will be getting the very best medical advice already and possibly already come across the Baux scale if they have been seeking to gather information on burns treatment. It’s heartbraking each time we lose a brother/ sister aviator to another accident and we can only wish that the surviving crew member makes a rapid and full recovery. My question is, given the amount of forensic examination we put into understanding why accidents occur ( and that as somebody earlier wrote) “no new ways have been found to crash a plane since the 1930’s”, why do these accidents keep happening? Surely we need to start focusing ensuring that flightcrew are adapting practices to avoid making these known mistakes. Are we as a community doing enough in that respect and how can we improve? It’s all very well wailing about what went wrong after each individual incident, but if we can’t find a way to change practice within the community, then what’s the point? Cheers Alan

So in the throws of the COVID crisis I had to get something done at CASA. I dispatched a wedge of supporting documentation last week expecting the fact that Canberra is shut down to delay the process indefinitely. I didn’t even get the usual email received receipt. So I thought I’d just give them a call to see if they even received my package or if there was even anybody at the office. I’d heard they’d all been working from home. My expectations were not high. So my call was just now transferred through to a delightful person working from home who immediately informs me the date and time that my documentation had been received and that it had already been processed and physically mailed back to me. In 2 days over the Easter Long weekend, with everybody working from home! It’s quite incredible. She then went on to confer with other departments on my behalf to answer some other unrelated questions, and came back to me with clear answers, despite the fact they are all working from home. Again, I’m impressed! Alan

Thanks for asking! The Lycoming has been awesome. I’m gonna post pics and change my profile pic on here -but my wife won’t let me until she’s finished the nose art

Well RAA have just sent round tips for placing aircraft in storage...I’m VH registered now but I’m guessing the intended message is clear. Either way I don’t see this going beyond a couple of months, so I for one will happily put my bird to roost. And the monitor the situation carefully This is not the time to be looking for ways of bending the rules or flying ‘black ops missions’ Alan

Is Myles B. still instructing? If so, highly recommended. Great bloke, great taildragger Pilot.

Hi Thruster88 Im in a similar situation to you. My block is a bit larger than yours and I could fly wholly within my boundaries, but Ive decided not to fly at present unless there is a genuine reason to do so. ( Going shopping or a medical emergency etc...). Im following government advice for now. My current view is that if everybody follows their own interpretation of what is best for the country, then a coordinated response becomes impossible. Some of us may view purely recreational flying as 'essential', but then our neighbours might decide that whatever they want to do should also be categorized 'essential', and then everybody is doing whatever they want. Personally I dont think now is the time for us to be testing how far we can push the letter of the law and what we can get away with. We need to come together as a community. As aviators and aircraft owners we enjoy extraordinary priviledges and I would prefer to lead by example. However, having said the above, there actually is a bizarre reason why I might have to fly. The Territory government has drawn an internal 14 day quarantine boundary through my property between my home and my front gate (my access to a sealed road). If they are silly enough to insist on enforcing it, then the only way I can get in and out of home without passing through the quarantine area would be by air. But I hope it won't come to that! Alan

So Im theoretically locked down... Here in the Territory, our government have defined a number of 'designated areas' subject to movement (border) restrictions. Crossing the boundary of a designated area, you now have to quarantine 14 days. The theory is sound, we need to help protect our vulnerable local communities, so shutting down large parts of the country to random travelers makes sense. We've now got police and military road blocks established on many major routes into designated areas. But the practice is rather sketchy. I've just had the boundary of a designated area drawn straight across my property. If I drive down to my front gate, on return I've now got to quarantine myself 14 days . On the upside, at least the airstrip is on the same side of the boundary as my house, so if somebody seriously wanted to enforce this, I could just fly in and out of home. What bizarre times we're all living through? Best to all Alan

Hi folks! Have found the different perspectives voiced on this thread most illuminating. Its important we have these debates to decide upon our collective actions and policy responses very carefully. But back to the OP about Covid impacts on flying. I had cause to chat with my aviation insurance bloke yesterday and he told me "Alan, the worlds gone nuts! Its bedlam, my phone hasn't stopped ringing!" So asked what was up? He told me he had blokes calling him to tell him their aircraft ware parked across the border and they couldn't get to them, some charter guys were having problems with the 2m spacing regs and were trying to rip out seats and toss them out of the hatch, others were having their charter routes or scenic flights closed and everybody wanted to know whether insurance would cover lost business owing to 'downtime'. Just yesterday RAAus members received a message from the two Michaels highlighting deliberate vagueness in CASA instructions about flying at present, but erring on the side of caution and suggesting we stay grounded. Me, I have my own home strip and could restrict flight to within the boundaries of my own property. But you know what? Unless a worthwhile reason for me to fly comes up, Im going to stay grounded for now. I think thats probably in the best interests of the community. Some here may feel the entitlement to keep flying through this crisis. Its an individual decision. I've made mine. Our aircraft will still be there when this is over or we genuinely need them sooner. best of luck to all Alan

Hi folks Just a quickie! Im thinking about storing 44 gallon drums of Avgas at my home strip. In theory I can buy new drums directly from a supplier (Shell), but anecdotally they will only sell a minimum of four together (apparently to keep Avgas out of the hands of racing enthusiasts). An alternative will be to fill up some pre-used drums at the local bowser. I know a bloke who runs a high end vehicle service centre/workshop. He gets his oil by the drum and so constantly has a turnover of virtually new single use-oil drums. So I can get near new drums for free and potentially just fill them at the Avgas bowser. The question is whether the drums need to be meticulously cleaned before filling with Avgas? If it was an older petrol or diesel engine in a road vehicle, I'd have no hesitation in having a spot of clean oil mixed in the fuel -might even make them run a bit smoother. But what about a Lycoming burning Avgas? Of course I will flush the drums with a few litres of Avgas before filling, but aren't certain I'd get everything. Whats the worst a bit of clean oil could do if mixed into my Avgas? Cheers Alan

Back to the absence of Sport Pilot. Yup I miss it too -and of course the enthusiasm and dedication of Mark Smith. I had a particular fondness for Brian's work ever since he published that article about his doggo in the footwell, and appreciated his humour and quirky style. But in the few months Mark had the magazine production qualities were really excellent. Maybe Brian would take it back on? The other aviation publication i subscribe to is Australian Flying, which covers much of the same content as Sport Pilot, but with slightly higher production standards. While Sport Pilot could be considered the mouthpiece of RAAus, Australian Flying views RAAus within the wider spectrum of Light and General Aviation. Sometimes I find their perspectives on RAAus and its ambitions refreshing. Australian Flying....Worth a read. Alan

Hi folks Im just wandering whether its acceptable to insure a VH registered aircraft if you only hold an RPL? My bird has just switched from RAA registration to CASA rego, and was previously insured with me just holding an RAA Pilot certificate. Do insurers only recognise PPLs for VH reg aircraft? I aim to remain with my current insurer, but something he said made me wonder about this... Alan

Onetrack I wasn’t at the scene. I’m not a witness and these things are often exaggerated. Personally I like the version of events given by Aldo far better than what I was told, and hope it is right. Let’s just hope for the best. Alan