NT5224

Hi folks I've got a week off and we've been discussing flight across to Broome. What's the deal there? Do you fly into Broome itself or is there a smaller strip or club nearby with no or lower landing fees and parking fees, without CTA? Cheers Alan

A few showers our way to freshen this up. But the only thing flying on my airstrip at the moment is my boys Frisbee.

So I was just planning a quick hop over to Kununurra -and decided the weather looked a bit dubious. So I decided to pass. 😂 Alan

Oh, and the roos love it, so if you're a 'bunny farmer' like me you might need to chase em away before landing...🤣 Cheers Alan

Hi Jackc I went exactly through the process you describe about three years ago when I established Robin Falls International. I had to clear thick woodlands to get my strip in, but the native grasses grew back thick as soon as the first rains fell. As soon as you remove the canopy the natives want to shoot up.... No idea want your patch is like but why not hang off for a few months to see what pops up? Slashing natives makes them look a lot like grass, and its the best permanent solution to avoid erosion. Introduced grasses might not survive. Cheers Alan

Please lend me your Sea Rey and arrange for my web feet endorsement Flyboy...I'll gladly accept your advice. Alan 🤣

Hi folks.... Thanks for information on the destination. But you seem to miss the point of my original question. Is it a destination you would choose to fly to? Is it the kind of place where you need a car on arrival to best appreciate it? If you fly in are you effectively stranded at the homestead? For example if you flew into my place and wanted to go check out the scenery, visit the swimholes and gorges you'd need transport. Yes you could overfly them but its not the same as swimming with the freshies... So I'd lend you an old ute. But I don't think Al Questro do that. Its a commercial enterprise. Cash only. So should we fly or take our car to best appreciate what the resort has to offer? Cheers Alan

Certainly a fine looking aircraft -the glass cockpit, reclining seats and aircon sound great! Its a four seater? Unfortunately, I'm not sure it would be much use operating out of my bush strip. But i can dream... Alan

Sorry dumb question -but what is that aircraft?

Hi folks. My wife wants to go to El Questro in the Kimberly. Anybody here been? Is it a good fly in destination with interesting local flights or is it better to drive and have a car locally? To put this in context we live about two and a half hours flight time door-to -door from Al Questro. A drive would take nearly two days. Any informed opinions appreciated Alan

Hi folks Yesterday I dropped into the CASA pre-wet season seminar in Darwin. I thought it was quite useful and instructive although not all of the four or five presentations were of equal quality. I believe it was filmed and will be posted on YT. It was my fourth year attending (prior to that I was overseas). The presentations had an industry focus and were aimed at new charter pilots experiencing their first wet rather than private flyers. Lots of pilots assembled and many had obviously come in from the scrub ( together with their operations). I didn't recognise a single other aircraft owner/operator attending. But what caught my attention was the ages of the young pilots. Maybe I'm getting old (I am!) but some looked very young indeed. Like REALLY young.... I noticed higher proportion of young female pilots than in previous years -which is very encouraging, but it was the extremely youthful appearance of some of their male counterparts that surprised me. How young can you hold a CPL? Assuming RPL at 17, PPL at 18 and a VET course leading to CPL could you be flying commercial at 20? Hope I'm not being politically incorrect or 'ageist' here: My old Dad overflew Germany in a Mosquito aged 20, but times change and the attendees yesterday genuinely surprised me. Cheers Alan

Interesting. Are drones operated by 'fighter pilots'? In my recollection teams launching drones didn't seem to include aviators. But not saying there weren't other controllers in other parts of the world who could assume control at different stages of flight and operations. I have no idea... Never asked. But I find it hard to believe 'targets are studied for months before a strike'. Maybe some were but many were targets of opportunity in fast evolving situations... Never drive a white Toyota Corolla 'erratically'. Apparently that's grounds for vaporisation. Nasty business Alan

Interesting. Are drones operated by 'fighter pilots'? In my recollection teams launching drones didn't seem to include aviators. But not saying there weren't other controllers in other parts of the world who could assume control at different stages of flight and operations. I have no idea... Never asked. But I find it hard to believe 'targets are studied for months before a strike'. Maybe some were but many were targets of opportunity in fast evolving situations... Never drive a white Toyota Corolla 'erratically'. Apparently that's grounds for vaporisation. Nasty business Alan

This pic is doing the rounds on the socials. My wife showed me. Apparently its meant to say 'Gary loves Doris' Alan

Who cares about the hefty price tag when you can look THAT cool! 🤣 It kinda looks like an self -propelled dunny seat I might pass.... Alan

I live out bush in the NT. And my hangar is just a kilometre or so from my house, easily walkable or driveable. So why don't I fly more than I do, particularly in and out of town? In theory flying would cut my travel time in half. There are several reasons why flight isn't as practical a solution as I had once hoped. However much I love flying its hard to justify flying in the light of these factors.. 1. Transport. Anybody flying into a regional airport needs a vehicle of some kind when they arrive. So leaving a car at Darwin airport is impossible because of high parking costs. Leaving a vehicle at MKT is possible but its still 30 minutes drive into town from there. Ideal would be a shared car for club members, but what if you fly into town and somebody's already taken the car...? 2. Weather/ conditions Driving to town I can generally get through at any time under any conditions. Because of licence restrictions I can't fly at night or under IFR. That means I would always need to leave at a fixed time in the afternoon and on occaision may be trapped in town or unable to fly home due to weather. This could be costly and inconvenient. So for now, for practical reasons driving remains my most regular option. I do occasionally fly into town but only when time isn't an issue. If I could get IFR or night rated and had a 'proper' aeroplane equipped to fly such I might use it more... Cheers Alan

Koreelah Yes I take your point. I'm staring at a device right now...obviously. However thats not what I meant. I think peoples lives and society is now busier than they used to be. I don't recall my dad routinely working (professional work) after hours or at the weekend. Back then you did your hours and that was enough. He only had one job. Its possible he did a bit of after hours work - but not like seems commonplace today. In the last two months I've worked seven days sometimes until midnight. I think societal expectations of life and work (and the pace of life) has changed in the last 50 years. Flying -especially the training part- can be very time consuming. I'm just raising this point because I think its relevant -even if not the full picture. Alan

Hi folks I'm so pleased to see this thread running. I logged onto the site and was momentarily disorientated because I couldn't find any of the usual 'Is GA/RAA doomed?' threads that constantly pop up. I almost started one myself 🤣. But good to see contributors maintaining their healthy glass-half-empty scepticism about the future of aviation. Here's a quick observation from me. No references to flashy motorboats... I own an aircraft and have an airstrip to fly it off. I pay exorbitant sums to insure and maintain my aircraft. Yet despite all costs covered I fly much, much less than I would like. What's going on? Are we losing interest? (as the OP posited?) Is GA doomed? Nup. I simply don't have enough time. Im not retired and have a busy working life that consumes so much of my time. I really think the frantic pace of 21st century life is different from previous eras in that respect. I do not remember my father having such heavy demands on his time in the 1970s... So in response to the question 'Are we losing interest?' I have a counter question to put to everybody. How do changes in participation in recreational flying compare with growth or decline in other recreational pursuits (e.g. sporting club memberships, recreational fishing or boating, motorsports?) Do people in the 21st century just have less time and participation in organised recreational activities is changing for that reason across the board? Dunno... Alan

I'd love to fly more but the demands of land management keep me busy dawn to dusk. Funnily enough its flying out to look at bushfires that is when I use my aircraft a lot. I have had only had one week 'off' this year and that week was spent building my hangar. Cant wait to retire!🤣 Alan

Thanks Thruster Obviously the Lycoming has its own filter which (im guessing) is finer. But refuelling out of drums through the wet season (drums are theoretically under shelter) I want to be sure I'm not sucking in moisture... Hence the water separator. Of course I fuel drain as well.

Hi folks, I just splashed out on an inline water separator for my refuelling handpump. The separator is the standard filter and bowl type with a tap on the bottom. It is rated to 10 Microns. My question. Is 10 microns enough to filter avgas safely? I know some state-of-the-art CR diesels now require much finer filtration, but a 1940s designed Lycoming? I pump out of 44 gallon drums. Cheers Alan

I probably fly about 20 hours. It just comes down to work demands and time available. Even though I've got an aircraft sat in its hangar on my own property. Keep hoping to fly more and rack up a few more big trips Alan

Or the wheel of fortune! 🤣

I’m sorry, in my opinion I see this a blatant propaganda by travel and tourism interests seeking to bolster their profits. As SD said earlier in the thread, many of the countries that are opening to travel have suffered tens of thousands of deaths and lose hundreds more each day. The Australian policy has saved many thousands of lives and continues to do so. Anybody craving a resumption of international travel for that two week break in Bali, is that the price you’d be willing to pay in Australian lives? These shameless stories are being put out there by big business interests desperate to claw back profit at the cost of human lives. Cheers Alan

Hi folks. This discussion has been most informative despite the contradictory opinions. One track. Yes I have been to hosepower and they quoted me $100 bucks/metre for avgas hose (regular not high pressure). Thats why I was asking about alternatives. My main concern about using ULP hose was degradation of the material contaminating the fuel ( and my engine!). I hadn't actually thought of the fire risk arising from different hoses. I refuel from 200 L drums using a hand pump. My aircraft can take the full 200L if fuelling from empty. I'll take from this discussion that I can use regular ULP hose for refuelling with my hand pump. But how can I best earth my aircraft while doing so? I have a metal aircraft and just refuel in the open on my dirt strip apron. Drums are kept in the shade under a purpose built car port away from the hangar. Cheers Alan