lazerin

Hi Nick, The website you are most likely looking for is the RA-Aus website, specifically the flight theory section: RA-Aus Flight Theory It is definitely possible to study for the exam at home by yourself. I haven't used the website much myself, but that's because my school recommended using a different set of books, produced by the Aviation Theory Centre. This is because they teach to a PPL syllabus. Someone else who has gone through the website content will have to comment on whether it is sufficient for your written exams. Good luck :thumb_up:

Thanks magnetodrop, that makes things clearer.

Quick question from a Jab uninitiated....can someone explain the control lay out in the Jab cockpit? From what I've gathered by reading this thread, there is a centre stick which seems to be in the right hand, and the throttle is controlled with the left hand? This means the throttle is on the left side/wall of the cockpit? Are there dual throttle controls?

Ah, fair enough Adam. It just took me by surprise a bit, especially when he said to do it to the circuit side. All good though, adds to the experience bank :thumb_up:

I was asked to do an orbit on downwind by the tower today on a solo circuit. Furthermore, the orbit was to the circuit side, which i guess is to avoid violating airspace. Funnily enough, I was reading this thread last night and made a mental note that I would never do an orbit, but I guess it all depends on the circumstances!

Kent, congratulations on your memorable first solo! Good to hear that no one was injured. Having just gone solo myself this week, I understand the concentration and exhilaration that one is feeling as they touch down. The last thing a first time solo student would expect is something like what happened. Sure, you prepare for certain emergencies like engine failures on take off and in the pattern, but losing directional control on the roll out(whether that be a mechanical fault or not) is just not in the fore front of your mind. I fly in the Sportstar and it's fitted with differential toe brakes. I've had vaguely similar things happen when landing in a crosswind due to not having the rudder centered when the nose wheel touched down. Similarly, if my crosswind correction was off, i.e. landing slightly crabbed, the Sportstar will also veer abrubtly, but never to the extent that directional control is not regained in a second. Anyway, good luck with the rest of your training!

I can see why so many of us dabble in photography as well. Aviation and photography both have intricacies that only those who are truly passionate about will enjoy. Furthermore, it's easy to get sucked into either world and end up with gigantic holes in your pockets.

This is a cool feature. I was able to track my training flight yesterday all the way to the training area, before we dissapeard past Middle Beach, where the coverage stops. Then we popped back into view and I could track us all the way back to the airport. Hehehe. Saves having to use my phone's GPS tracker to leave breadcrumbs for viewing later on google earth. Plus, you can see how close you are to other traffic. Had no idea that another aircraft was right on our six, I'm glad he seemed to have noticed us. Boy, that VFR corridor for Parafield sure does get busy...

Pitfield, the sportstar's flaps are as follows: 15 degrees - a bit more lift 30 degrees - a lot more drag 50 degrees - full blown speed brake The split flaps, when deployed, will increase the angle of attack, because the chord line now has the trailing edge further back and down. However, as these are split flaps, you correctly guess that this only works so far. If you go past 15 (probably even at 15), the fact that the bottom trailing edge and top trailing edge is split means a lot of drag will be created. As motzartmerv mentioned, using the first stage of flaps (15) will get you off the ground sooner, which will be handy if you have a short field and want to clear an obstacle. Your climb performance does suffer a bit though, due to the increased drag. With full flaps at climb power, it might not even climb at all if the conditions aren't just right. For the record, I'm in the camp that lift is not purely due to one or the other theory (bernoulli vs equal/opposite reaction from air impacting bottom surface of wing) and that either theory will dominate over the other based on various circumstances. e.g. a slow flier with a high camber wing will rely a lot more on bernoulli's principle, while a low camber, symmetrical wing of an aerobatic aircraft will rely more on the angle of attack.

I bet one of these people is the real life Bruce Wayne....

Hey all, I've always enjoyed viewing inflight videos and I'd like to try my hands at some. What techniques/methods/equipment are you guys using? Specifically, what method are you guys using to secure your cameras and where abouts are you placing them? I've seen things like the Sticky Pod but they seem a bit costly, is there an easier/cheaper way? Audio wise, what's the best way to capture intercomm and transmissions? I assume there's an audio splitter cable involved. Any tips on where I can get one? Cheers! p.s. for those who want an idea of what I'm talking about: Earning My Wings: a video blog about learning to fly and another example from here off the top of my head is Ben Longden's vids in the tecnam!

Speaking of good ole' Bush, you guys should check this out: Here's hoping Obama is different.

Speaking of equipment, how about that Canon 5d Mark II? *droool* Have you guys seen the 1080p movies that this beast is able to do? I reckon Canon have revolutionised the world of cameras. People will no longer need a HD video camera and a DSLR for amazing stills and movies. Granted it depends on your lenses, but it'll be still be cheaper to have a set of superb lenses that one can use for both stills and videos. Check the quality out: 'Canon EOS 5D Mark II' on Vimeo

Haha, oh dear, I'm blind. Thanks Bas, I see it now

Hey Bas, I'm still a bit lost. You're referring to the tables on the right hand side? How did they get 3600 using the row 2 table?

Brain. Hurt. Confuzzled. :hittinghead:

Ah, an oldie but a goodie. Hehe, it's more like controlled falling that is. Imagine the vertical speed on that....weeeeeeee! Either way, big kahunas needed. Props to them

I'm going through this stuff now and I'm stuck on Charlie. If anyone has the ATC BAK book, it'll allow you to follow along with my confusion easier, hopefully. Ok, for those playing along at home, page 329 is the question "Load System Charlie - Working". Basically, it's given me all the info except the load in Row 2. The question it asks is, what is the maximum passenger weight, in kg, that may be carried in row 2 at take off? The current data, with 0 at row 2 is: ZFW = 75kg, Arm: 2,927mm, Index units: 25,790 Fuel = 99kg, Arm: 2,950, IU: 2920 TOW = 980kg, Arm: 2,930, IU: 28,710 And they've given a "Ballast to add" formula: [GW (kg) x distance to move CG (mm)] / [new STA - current STA] GW = 980 Distance to move = AFT limit - current STA = 3,004 - 2,930 = 74mm New STA = 3600 Current STA = 2930 Therefore ballast to add = 108 kg = max passenger weight in row 2. My question is....how did they arrive at the new STA value? I can't seem to work it out... :confused:

Skykid, when you do a search, after you return no results, at the top, select "people" and try again. i.e. you have to search for people with the name yen36, not photos ;) Anyway, I found yenn: Flickr: yen36's Photostream.

Hi Roy, welcome :thumb_up: Where abouts are you flying from and what do you fly?

Thanks guys. I might grab a VTC and VNC to start out on.

Skydog, alas, I wasn't joking, I didn't know! That's a sweet ride slartibartfast *drool*. The fighter jet HOTAS controls are awesome hehe. Skykid, I understand it must be annoying to try and get prints onto digital format. You probably lose a bit of colour and contrast with scanning as well, unless it was a photo scanner thingy. I'm a fan of airliners as well :thumb_up: Brett, that's very lucky that you get to be where the air race is!! Must be a great sight.

I'm doing RA at parafield.

Hey Mikey, I'm flying the sportstar at parafield and it's definitely good fun to fly. Good luck with your training, I'm sure you'll have a blast! Your sportstars will probably be the new fandangly ones with a glass cockpit, gps and electronic trim. *slightly jealous*. Hehe, after I get my ticket I'll most likely try to get down to aldinga and have a fly in one of those too.

Skydog, those are some very unique aircraft! What are they in shots 1,2 and 4? And is 4 an accident? #1 is my fav as well :thumb_up: