Geoff13

So 5 days in we have the following. AUF/Ultralights 18% GA 25.6% New to Aviation 41% Other 10.3% Only 78 votes so the figures really do not mean much in terms of the whole RAA, but it is a reasonable sample of forum members. Over overwhelmingly the largest percentage is from the new to aviation school. I think that really does reflect the leaning of many posts on the forum. What it tells me is that we do have a growing member base. They may not really be younger people coming in but they are new to aviation which means that we need to nurture their needs. Not for a moment am I suggesting that we forget our roots ie. the auf/ultralight group nor should we ignore the GA types but we certainly need to work out what it is attracting this new group into the sport and then we need to use that or those things and continue to provide for them. My gut feeling which has no basis in fact tells me that is the ability to purchase a factory built aircraft at a price that was up until recently not a possibility and basically fly it anywhere they want with an affordable maintenance program is the major reason. Also remember that many of these people are baby boomers. They are the new generation who have changed everything that they have touch throughout there live. These are people who are used to getting what they want and will stop at nothing to get it. I admit that I am making some assumptions in here but I think it really it does mean our our management group to at the very least consider "WHO" the future of our group will be and what they want.

It may just be me, but I overflew there today on my jaunt out west. I have flown over it several times before but not really looked at it. I had a good look today with the thought that tomorrow after going to the Gympie breakfast I may drop in there on the way home. I decided after overflying it today and giving it serious consideration that it is not somewhere that I am likely to land any time soon. One way runway, powerlines on final and that bloody big hill behind it. Not a lot of options if it all goes pear shaped, so I think that instead if I feel up to it, I may drive over instead after I get home from Gympie.

All the title needs to fix it is a Question Mark?

I would not purchase a plane without getting a condition report by an independent 3rd party first. I would see it as good form if the seller were to provide one up front but it would not be a deal changer for me, as I would want my own done anyway. If I were selling a plane I would be more than willing to have on done if a buyer wanted to see one before travelling some time and distance to see the plane. We would have to come to some agreement re cost to ensure I am not just burning money for someone not really that interested. Maybe if they were to pay the upfront cost, I would organise the inspection and then refund the cost off the price of the plane. But then with some people you really can get a feeling just by chatting. Of course a lot would depend on how much I am selling it for, if I am giving it away I am not going to waste a lot of time or money doing it but if I am asking top dollar I could have a valid inspection report ready when the phone rang.

No worries mate just my warped sense of humour at work.

I like my tube and fabric plane. And I am happy to fly it a bit as well, not just my 1 hour per week. My Mrs loves flying in the schools J230. She is a bit different to me, when she flys it is to go somewhere, be it a flyin, lunch or whatever. When I fly it is to fly so I really do not mind flying slower and in my R & T plane. So lets not generalise in our gripe about generalisation Russ.

Many Goldwing riders run them and swear by them. I have followed a few for miles and out on the open road they might be ok by in the twisties no thank you. The real issue though is not the cornering ability but the actual bead and the fitting to the rim. Most insurance companies will wipe you and I know of a couple who have come unstuck. One who actually asked his insurance company and was told so long as it is safe and the manufacturer approves. He had approval from the tyre manufacturer but not the bike manufacturer. I have also seen a couple on the big Harley's and Triumph Rocket3's. Similar story. They all say they handle great but they are almost impossible to follow. Google Riding the Dark Side.

Ahh yes but automotive technology has for year mirrored the race teams. Flow down will happen.

Nissans new 40kg 400hp engine that will fit into your carry on luggage. At 400hp we only need to have it idling to get the power we need for 600kg MTOW. http://www.engineering.com/DesignerEdge/DesignerEdgeArticles/ArticleID/7071/Nissans-40kg-400HP-Engine.aspx

5 in the circuit at Caboolture is not normal but then it is not unusual either. The day that I went to do circuits and found 7 there already, I decided to go somewhere else. I was taught 10 mile inbound. ( oh and departure when leaving) Overhead with intentions. Jioning. Base with intentions. That is what most of the regulars at Caboolture use and it seems to work well in what can at times be a very busy place. Then just when you think you have it all sorted in will come a couple with no radio at all just to remind you that the most inportant tool you have is the old Mk1 eyeball.

I don't know. PM asked for advice. Got lots. Acted on the good advice and got a good result. Thats what forums are for.

A good result for both of you by the sound of it.

That was my reasoning behind the Poll. Needs of members a very important part of any group or organisation.

Uhhmm that would be other. Always put in something that covers everything else. Besides I am fairly new to Aviation and polls for that matter so didn't think of everything. I suppose I could have put military in there as well. Sorry

As many discussions on this forum seem to pit the GA against the AUF/Ultralights etc etc I thought I would try this poll. It seems to me that many old school people think they own RAA and it is theirs. (Don't shoot me yet). This group appear to feel that anything new is a reject from GA and should be avoided. Then there is the group that appear to come from GA and think that anyone without a Class 2 Medical and a million hours of training is below them. But I think that we are mostly missing out on the most important group. They are the ones who are new to Aviation and the RAA provides them with an affordable way to get into Aviation. Some of these people are cashed up baby boomers who want to buy a plane that looks like a plane and just go flying, others are the tinkerers who now that they have time would rather build and modify etc. Some of these people are the youngsters who whether we like it or not are going to be the future of our sport. Personally I think that the third group are the larger silent majority and we will ignore these people at the risk of losing everything the other two groups are fighting for. Attracting new people is the only way to guarantee our future and the future of our sport. The first two groups are a fixed number and will eventually die/fade out. Thoughts please as well as the poll for numbers. I personally am squarely in the middle of the third group.

He who would be the CPO in a ship is the COB in a boat. At least according to the Yanks.

Where are you based Oscar, there is always an empty seat on back of the Wing. You can sit back and sip Champers while I do the work

Cool TY

Yes my tank is a single behind the seat tank shaped like an upside down U with one arm of the U either side of the elevator control rod and rudder lines. There is a joiner from the two lowest points and a small drain/joiner assembly that the fuel pickup comes from in the middle of that. It will drain the tank dry or the aux pump will pump it dry no matter the pitch angle, but I can't simulate flying out of balance on the ground and I certainly have no intention of going up with only 5 litres to fly out of balance and see if she keeps running.

Today was about the ultimate. My Grandkids are up on a visit from down Mexico way. Today I got to take my Grandson for a fly from Caboolture out to Cape Moreton whale spotting. We saw several pods one with about 10 whales in it and only about 1 nm offshore so we were able to get down close enough to get a good look at them. We also saw three small pods in the bay between Bribie and Moreton which I have never seen before. From there I took him for a low pass over the Tangalooma Wrecks and over the Tangalooma Flyer on her way in. Back up to height and crossing back to Bribie we were overtaken by another aircraft at our height and travelling at least twice our speed, which is something else that I have only seen a couple of times. Then over the southern tip of Bribie there was a lonely cloud at 2500 feet so we did a pass above and then another below that and then over for the inevitable circuit of the Glasshouse Mountains and home. 1.5 hours. I had a ball. Mike was mesmerised and can't wait till he is old enough to learn himself. Today for me made all the work worth it. It was without doubt one of the best days I can remember in a very long time. The buzz for me was as high as when I finished my Navs. I only see my Grandkids for a week or two every couple of years, maybe next time Kaitlin will be old enough to come for a fly.

I agree totally. I have been in contact with one owner with over 400 hours but that is still a long way from 2000 and it is only 1. But there was a time when the 912 only had 1 motor with 400 plus hours on it as well. I am not sure but have Jabiru got any with that many hours yet? (I am just stiring people). Not to sure about CAMIT yet either, there are not to many high hour Camits around yet either. With the data that I have on the D-Motor, if I were building a plane, I would take a chance on it, in fact I nearly did with this one except for one small hiccup which is probably best not aired in this forum. With the additional info I have now given the same choice I would go with the D-Motor

My Father had an almost identical setup when I was a kid. It was in our back yard and he just used it to demonstrate how the bees worked. He actually preferred to do it the old fashioned way. I would like one of these though as being allergic to bees this would minimise the risks.

Looks like a nice entree PM, what did they bring out for Mains?

The simple thing is that the flyin traffic in these areas would be a very small percentage of the total business and unlike the truckies and the communication network we as flyers are not likely to return to many of these places on a regular (read weekly) basis. That means we are a heavy labour drain for a small non renewable return. Most of them would probably be happy if we never stopped there. And as has been said who wants to sit around all day for a plane that may never turn up.

David You will be taught all of this before you set out on your Navs. Probably best to not overcook it because there are more than one way to skin a cat but your school will have their way. So listen in on the briefings and practice. When I was planning my Navs I ran my Wind, Bearings, Times, Fuel Weights every day from when I got given the route until I had finished the flight. One of my Navs I fully planned every day for 4 weeks due to weather cancellations etc. When you start doing that you get the hang of it fairly quickly, especially if every 2nd or 3rd one you can email to someone you trust, (an instructor preferably) to keep an eye on your number crunching. After all there is not a lot of point practicing the wrong thing. As for getting accurate figures for my own plane it has been an interesting exercise. I am actually still not sure of my full endurance. I have recorded every bit of fuel to go into her since first flight. She has now done 44.7 hours and used 700 litres. So I have an average of 15.67 litres/hour. Would I use that figure for planning purposes, not yet I wouldn't I want a far bigger sample than that. I still plan using the POH figure of 20 l/h even though having crunched my numbers even my worst figure is still 2 l/h below that. Maybe when I have a couple of hundred hours in different conditions I may consider using the actual figures for planning but still unlikely. With an 80 litre tank and 75 litres useable (the book actually says 80 is usable and I have run the fuel pump with the tail on the ground and nose in the air and pumped the tank dry but I will keep my little non usable figure anyway). That gives me 3 hours plus fixed reserve plus those extra 6 to 12 litres that I haven't burned yet. I can live with that. If I want to go further I can carry 15 kgs of luggage or (2 by 10 litre cans). To date I have not yet landed her with less than 35 litres. The added bonus with the Hanuman is that I just need to turn my head and I can see exactly how much is in the tank.