OzFlyGuy

In the absense of a more relevant forum to post this message in, this seems to be the closest.

If you like comedy and don't mind hearing it as a radio show format - as was common years ago .. then don't miss this new show from the BBC.

"Cabin Pressure" - http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/comedy/cabin_pressure.shtml

Cabin Pressure is a sitcom about the wing and a prayer world of a tiny, one plane, charter airline; staffed by two pilots: one on his way down, and one who was never up to start with. Whether they’re flying squaddies to Hamburg, metal sheets to Mozambique, or an oil exec’s cat to Abu Dhabi, no job is too small, but many, many jobs are too difficult. It’s written by John Finnemore, writer for The News Quiz, The Now Show, and Mitchell and Webb; and stars Benedict Cumberbatch (Atonement, Starter for Ten), Roger Allam (The Thick of It, A Cock and Bull Story) and Stephanie Cole (Doc Martin, Housewife 49).

This little black duck will be there too ! Possibly twice :biggrin:

Hopefully will get to fly in on a trade day, tho that's looking unlikely - uncertainty about which day to go and the need to book. But will also go on Sat or Sun - by car !

My mate who I normally go with is working in the Alice .. so not quite a short trip for him to make it :frown: so will be going it alone I suspect.

One things for sure, been before, been last time, and intend to be there again!

Ditto ... though for older licenses like mine, many of the early details are incomplete.

I wonder when they will make it a 'pay for' subscription service - and blame it on 'cost recovery' ?

Hi everyone,

Yes yes I know, have been AWOL for the last 3 weeks ... have finally started my Instructor Rating ... and oh such fun it is ... though some bloody hard work !

However good progress is being made, despite some minor trauma trying to land an Evektor Sportstar !! Damn thing, just trying to get the attitude, flare and hold off right (from the r.h. seat) has proved - well shall we say - fiddly ... ! At least I can fly the other planes just fine.

It's an odd beast though, no stall warning, dual rudder pedals where the middle two are about 1cm apart (don't have a stray foot!), and an electric trim that seems more vicious than the darn joystick. We shall persevere.

Anyways, hope everyone is well ...

Cya :)

My understanding was that you needed to carry your passport just for going MEL-SYD as you need to get processed by Customs ... ??? :?

Sounds to me like an O.H.& S. issue ... really !! :roll:

Do you get adequate breaks ??

Source: http://news.theage.com.au/spacewalkers-to-test-new-shuttle-repair-techniques/20080321-20tt.html

March 21, 2008 - 11:37AMTwo astronauts stepped into the void Thursday in a spacewalk to try out new repair techniques on shuttle Endeavour's heat shield, a crucial test for an upcoming mission to the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope.

 

Astronauts Robert Behnken and Mike Foreman, who arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Endeavour last week, floated out of the ISS's depressurization chamber for a near seven-hour spacewalk, NASA said.

 

NASA wants to make sure astronauts can fix any potential damage during the Hubble mission on August 28, since the shuttle would be parked too far from the ISS, its only habitable shelter in orbit.

 

Astronauts have been testing different in-space repair techniques on the shuttle's protective layer since a crack in Columbia's heat shield caused it to explode while re-entering Earth in 2003, killing its seven-member crew.

 

But every mission since Columbia has been to the ISS, which would serve as a shelter for astronauts while they wait for a rescue mission in case their shuttle suffers irreparable damage. The Hubble telescope does not offer such a safe haven.

 

NASA has used special cameras to scan the shuttle's thermal tiles during flights to make sure they were not damaged by debris during liftoff or by micrometeorites while orbiting the Earth. Columbia's heat shield was hit by debris during takeoff.

 

In addition to in-flight inspections, astronauts have also tested heat-shield repair techniques during spacewalks.

 

Before testing the new repair methods Thursday, Behnken and Foreman replaced a failed circuit breaker on the space station's truss.

 

"Nicely done Bob," a mission control official told Behnken after the repair.

 

The spacewalkers then floated to another part of the station to spread a pasty material on cracked sample tiles with a caulk-gun-like tool. NASA wants to see how the material performs in a microgravity and vacuum environment.

 

The samples will be brought back to Earth to undergo extensive tests under extreme temperatures the tiles would need to withstand during a shuttle's super-heated return into Earth's atmosphere.

 

At 25 times the speed of sound, the shuttle's re-entry into the atmosphere generates up to 1,500 degrees Celsius (2,700 Fahrenheit) on some of the thermal tiles that line its underbelly.

 

Thursday's spacewalk will be the fourth of the Endeavour mission, a 16-day trip that has already included major achievements, including the installation on the ISS of the first part of Japan's Kibo laboratory and Canada's Dextre robot.

 

Future shuttle missions will deliver Kibo's two other parts, which will give Japan a foothold in the ISS alongside the United States, Russia and Europe, whose Columbus lab was delivered last month.

 

The microgravity research aboard the ISS is considered a crucial step toward long human missions on the moon and eventually Mars.

 

Endeavour's crew will conduct a fifth and final spacewalk Saturday before the shuttle undocks from the ISS Monday for its March 26 return to Earth.

 

NASA wants to complete construction of the ISS by 2010, when its three-shuttle fleet is scheduled to be retired.

 

© 2008 AFP

.. and on Good Friday too ... urgh :(

Glad I'm not travelling anywhere ...

Hey Zenonie,

I noticed that you mentioned your ad for Kilcowera and thought I'ld investigate more, particularly since I've had the Birdsville races experience years ago (GREAT)!! :D

I'm thinking about doing the trip again this year, so it's handy to have some places to visit along the way.

Is this your website ? http://www.kilcowera.com.au/

News item now posted in Australian Aviation News ... sadly :-(

Just thought I would remind people that if you're a Mythbusters fan, then tomorrow nights episode The Airplane Hour is on at 7.30pm on SBS.

Can a novice pilot actually land a commercial airplane with instructions from air traffic control? How long does it take to hit the ground from 4000 feet? Can you have a conversation with someone while you're free falling during a skydive? Can you catch up to someone during a free fall? The Mythbuster's, Jamie Heneman and Adam Savage don't merely state the myths, they put them to the test in this Mythbusters airplane special.

Hello Zenonie,

another big welcome to TAA :D but watch out, there's a few wascally wabbits around here

His lifestyle, acting, and love of all things aviation was the subject of a special program on telly ages ago. Either half or a full hour.

It takes viewers on a guided tour of his small house and its facilities for planes, and real 'passengers' as he refers to them.

I think the program was made sometime around the Qantas relationship and his visit here in his 707. Not sure if you might find it somewhere - viz YouTube etc.

With a snake that close it's important that you remain perfectly still ... and hope it doesn't crawl up your trousers ...

otherwise you've got a trouser snake .....

(sorry I just couldn't resist this early a.m.)

Here's the story in this mornings Melbourne Age newspaper -

http://www.theage.com.au/news/travel/gust-drives-planes-wing-into-runway/2008/03/04/1204402401817.html

.. and the video with a British news narrative -

http://media.theage.com.au/?rid=36001

Kinda fits in well with Robbos other post about the Mile High TV series :lol:

http://www.theaussieaviator.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=17629#p17629

Is there something Robbo's trying to tell us :roll:

Wow - I had never noticed ...

but then again I wasn't looking that closely .. I was too busy enjoying Marco's niaevity, the strength and coldness of Janis, the sleaziness of Will, and the silliness of Poppy .... ahh twas a fun and refreshing show :P

Of course we all know that aircrews are like that .......

.... don't we

Well I'm finally "on the air" =D>

Such fun indeed, and managed to get the Google interfaces (aircraft and cockpit views) to work as well ... Sydney area seemed particularly good though I suspect that you guys have your receivers tuned in and 'uplinking' the data - good one ! :P

As for the mass of planes over Europe ... makes me think twice about flying there ...

well at least for 10 microseconds

I'll work on getting (or purpose built) a VHF radio too, but for the meantime a 'ham' friend of mine who's located on a high hill in Preston (Melb) will use a spare radio to stream the audio feed to me, though I have to show him how to do that .. but 'tis all good 8)

Now, I wonder if I can 'transfer' my TAA id into the Spotters web site :?:

Fabulous !

Just went to register and pay for PlanePlotter and it got stuck at "Checking authorisation (credit card) - please wait" ... and I did ... for ages ... :x

Have now sent an email, since I have no idea what the status of the transaction is ...

Hi Glenn,

I had a play with PlanePlotter a little while back, but without a VHF radio in my back pocket to receive the ACARS data I couldn't do much.

Is there an Internet feed anywhere that streams the ACARS data for the Asia Pacific region ? I did look, googled, wiki'd and so on, but alas, was not successful.

Thanks,

Hi everyone,

it's late notice I know, but it seems that I may be able to go to NatFly for the first time too :D

Driving there on Friday and returning on Sunday is option 1 (from Ferntree Gully, Vic) ... though nowhere near as much fun as my preferred option .. flying (from YMMB) !

As for what plane .. most likely to be a 4 seater if I can find someone else who is interested in going as well - pilot or non pilot. Maybe a Commander 114B, Arrow etc. As for accomodation - maybe a local hotel ?

But all things negotiable :roll:

Any takers ??

I remember the viewing deck and its panoramic view. Sadly, I also remember the declining number of people who used it, then it was reduced in area and even fewer people used it :( My guess is - that as an outside viewing area - it won't return.

People seem content enough to use the large bay windows in the terminal areas.

Its all part of the gloss and glamour aspect of flying that is now gone - we're a bus service these days - with prices to match (almost).

Yeah sorry, that's what I meant :P

Hey all,

the full story, Robbo's video, and one other video is available from the Melbourne Airport site -

http://www.melbourneairport.com.au/t2/

http://www.theage.com.au/news/film/star-trek-release-stalled/2008/02/15/1202760542049.html

Star Trek fans will have to wait a bit longer to see where the crew of the starship Enterprise is boldly going next.