bushpilot

Our school in Bathurst is offering a fully paid scholarship for anyone living in the Central Tablelands or Blue Mountains, of NSW. The scholarship will cover 35 hours of flying instruction + theory tuition + text books. It's all about promoting Recreational Aviation in general and our school in particular. The 70 year old Bathurst Aero Club is co-sponsoring the scholarship. Details are on our website at: www.centralwestflying.com If you know of anyone in our region that could be interested, give them the web address. Cheers, Chris

Or a muslim high school even...

Wouldnt want to be in the path of that in my Jab!

Lots of useful thoughts here - thanks to all.. We had also thought about Brumby, but want to wait and see the high-wing version that is being built....

Thought about FB. But a school near us has one and it is rarely used; most training there is in J160. Maybe some people see them as being more of a U/L than the 'heavier' looking a/c(?) So our shortlist is as shown.

Expanding the Fleet.... Well we are 3 months into operating our new school ( www.centralwestflying.com ) and have added a new J230 (24-7755) to support our 200 hour J160 (24-5555). See photo attached. Now we are thinking about a 3rd a/c. I am interested to get some forum feedback from either students or potential students or other schools on 3 options - and my view on respective Pros & Cons: 1. Another J160 (Pros: Good size; wing tanks. Cons: Same old, same old..) 2. A J120 (Pros: Cost; Performance in hot weather. Cons: Cabin tank; tight cabin) 3. A Cessna Skycatcher (Pros: Cessna brand; something different. Cons: Continental engine = expensive maintenance). Look forward to hearing any views out there.. Cheers, Chris

The stutters have been after carby heat application in run-up; and only in past 2 weeks, so warm weather. Carby bowl was clean at last service - 20 hours ago, but will check. Thanks.

Hi All, My J160 has done 170 hours and twice recently has ran a bit rough for about 5 seconds at idle, after running for at least 3 - 4 minutes after start-up. Crack the throttle and it clears. 2 opinions I have been given by locals with Jabs: 1. The hydraulic lifter are the cause - holding a valve open for too long. Suggested that larger oil bleed holes is one fix - and is standard on latest lifters. 2. Sticking valves caused by the 'dryness' of Avgas. Suggested fix is small amount of 2-stroke oil in each tank fill! (Sounds a bit radical to me..) Anyone had any experience with the issue or a view on these suggestions? Cheers, Chris

Hey Jack - thanks very much for the detailed reply! We are very likely to try these on our J160 first - then the J230 later.. Anyone know if the change to non-standard tyres would impact the 'factory built' requirement for training a/c??

Does anyone have any update stories on how the 10 plys have gone onto a J230 or J160? We have both a/c and are thinking of changing the mains only - but we would prefer to retain spats on mains...

On its way! Simple oversight by my (IT literate) partner who is not a RF Junkie - yet..

Thanks Relfy.. We did the website ourselves; in fact that's one of the things we do 'on the side'. So if anyone wants a new site done or existing one freshened up, at mates rates of course, let us know!

Hi All, Wanted to let you know that we have just opened a new RA-Aus Training Facility in Bathurst, NSW. I have to say it was this Forum that assisted me in going down this path; I found answers and advice on just about every issue that I could think of in the homework phase. (Thanks to all and especially Ian!). In the latter stages, Ken Pidcock of Orange Ultraflight enabled it to happen by taking me from a pretty ordinary pilot and slapping me into a reasonably good pilot as part of his instructor training program. Finally, I got enormous support from the Bathurst Aero Club, which has not had 'in-house' instructors for several years. They could see that RA-Aus flying was the way of the future and gave me a lot of guidance and fantastic premises – the top floor of their clubhouse. They also introduced me to my new business partner, Stuart Park, who brings more than 1,000 hours of flying experience to the school. Stuart has instructed in GA aircraft for several years – singles and twins, VFR and IFR. You can check us out at www.centralwestflying.com - and note the webcam (on Nav bar) to see the view from our rooms! Call in to Bathurst (flying or driving) and visit us when you are in our area; the coffee is always happening and we have fuel on site and can arrange accommodation. Regards, Chris Stott [email protected]

Has any tried this on their 230D?: JSL005-1 of 1 Sept 2008, which recommends the change to the starter motor earth cable attachment point. We did this to my J160 and it made a difference.. First crank, every time.

I'll be there; only an hour from my place.. With a GA pilot / instructor coming for the ride.. ( I think I've converted him!)

and if you dont have enough patience to work through the 82 pages of his website - here is the climax! Inhaltsverzeichnis

Hey Derby.. How many hours TT do you have on the 400? Any major issues with it? Regards.

I was 30 years in HGFA, then moved my trike to RA-Aus 3 years ago. RA-Aus gives better service, currently more stable Board and Management and cheaper membership. No contest by my measure.. unless you only fly hang-gliders.

So does CASA prescribe anywhere what needs to be done for conversion from RA-Aus to PPL?? Or is it left up to each GA school to decide? If the latter, it seems all a bit arbitrary..

Hi Cap. Just worked my way through your posts. It's all very interesting, helpful and comprehensive. Please keep it going. I have an indirect interest in J230, having just convinced a buddy to buy one; delivery late November.. Where are you up to hours-wise now? No further issues? Cheers, Chris

So, Slarti, are you running a 3300?

So, BC and AH - with the passage of time, how have your experiences with J230s been since making these posts? A buddy of mine has just ordered a 230D, so hopefully some of the bugs in earlier editions will be ironed out by now... Cheers,

The lunacy of what is going on: Subject: Reasons to vote Yes on the HGFA Special General Meeting ballot paper Dear XXXX, Your SGM ballot paper is coming. Voting "Yes" to each motion removes a board member who inappropriately: 1. Increased the HGFA annual fee (up to 56%) despite holding $500,000+ in reserves. 2. Retained what was your State/regional fees component. 3. Acted contrary to the HGFA Rules (Constitution) and members rights and interests. The "Yes" vote candidates propose to remedy these matters. The following material was submitted to, but censored from our magazine:- The Board decided to bring in huge unnecessary fee increases (up to 56%). Contrary to their claims, the fee increase was not necessary: The HGFA has always had ample reserves ($500,000+) to meet all contingencies. You were told by the General Manager that a possible insurance premium call could be devastating (Soaring Mag., Sept. 08, Page 42, Para. 2), Pres. Javier Alverez used the word "bankruptcy" (Soaring Mag. Oct. 08, page 39), neither claim was true. Our reserves are double such an unlikely call. See the HGFA's last audited financial statements (HGFA 07/08 accounts, Page 6). Also, the HGFA has traded profitably (averaging $40,000 surplus every year) for at least four years (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008). Treasurer Mark Mitsos recently emailed some members claiming we had made losses, again not true. Further they decided to take your State/Regional fees component and keep those also, effectively curtailing your State/regions ability to fund local operations, maintain sites and fund other Club and State/regional initiatives including Site Procurement. The taking of State/Regional fees is highly detrimental to our sports of Paragliding and Hang-gliding which are not airport based. The loss of reliable State operational funding will lead to poor site maintenance, loss of sites and increases in Club fees. The high fees are losing us members and membership numbers are being withheld. A figure of 2,220 was stated by Bob Hayes (August Soaring) while one new Board member recently mentioned low 2100's. This is down from 2,607 in Sept. 2007. The excesses of the Board are exemplified by the sacking of Board Member Brian Webb by the 5 board members named for removal in this Special General Meeting. The 5 asked Brian to resign, he declined. They then sacked him, disregarding rules 6.23 and 6.24 ("Removal of member") of our Constitution which requires a General Meeting to remove a Board Member. The members elected Brian and only you in General Meeting can remove him; as we are asking you to remove that 5 now. The GM and President in in July Soaring (pages 40 - 41) suggested Brian had left the Board to pursue other interests, not true. Brian was his own man and had his own voice so they sacked him. He is still constitutionally a member of the board, and has even renominated for the upcoming Board election. There are only 3 elected Members left on the present Board. The President implies in his column in July Soaring that nominations were called for the Board casual vacancies, not true, the 5 offered their friends the positions in an attempt to maintain control and negate this Special General Meeting. That's another reason they sacked Brian. The latest resignation of Don Cramer is the loss of a Board Member we believed had much to contribute. He at times voiced an independent view on Board policies. Both Don Cramer and Brian Webb were openly critical of the GM and Board for the unchecked arbitrary and inappropriate use of the GM's disciplinary powers. Don and Brian offered their support and apologies to the recipient of their attention, Mr. Maderson Ford. I believe this led to Dons resignation. Brian and Don have wished us luck with the SGM. The SGM's 5 named Board Members have jeopardised our flying community by: Ignoring input from the membership, ignoring input from State/regional associations, ignoring the Rules (constitution), denying members rights under the Rules, denying a members right to access records (membership, statistical, financial, insurance, and legal), ignoring and not reporting the views of individual Board members, inappropriately threatening legal action, misrepresenting our financial situation in support of the fee increase, claiming to possess nonexistent legal advice (at the last AGM), improper selective Minutes keeping, poor fiscal management, illegal removal of a Board Member and supporting inappropriate use by the GM of his disciplinary powers and delays in proceedings and maintaining a non transparent disciplinary process. Further they have frustrated the ability of concerned individuals and groups to inform the membership by restricting access to the magazine, denying members their right to propose AGM motions, and withholding members postal and email addresses, in order to block democratic action, and even to frustrate a legal SGM conducted earlier in the year (see my article Soaring magazine July 09 Edition). The neutering of the State/regional bodies will reduce volunteerism and increase less effectual centralized paid bureaucracy. If people do not have influence they will not have interest; you must engage them. This GM and Board in assuming all funds and power are destroying HGFA institutions. This recently included the Safety and Operations Committee (Holtkamp, Wenness, and other respected volunteers) which the GM first ignored and recently disbanded. They were disbanded after offering constructive criticism of a proposed GM/Board policy. Their comments addressed safe training operations. John Twomey

I was a member of the HGFA for many years (since 1977), then 4 years ago I heard about RA-Aus and switched the rego of my trike. Never looked back; RA-Aus is cheaper and better..

The company looks as though it is based in South Africa.. I sent an email off to see if they have any agent in OZ...