Narrabeenrick

If a had a lazy $250k I'd get one, I would be nice to take-off and land at Palm beach {NSW} instead of driving out to Bankstown airport :{

Yeah thanks guys for your support! Can't wait for my next lesson. What' next, solo circuits?

Hi guys I DID IT!!! My first solo. It’s been a long while coming, as I only go for lessons once a month. What a feeling. Here is the link for youtube if anyone is up to critiquing my flight. My nerves were up once my instructor got out, taxied to the holding point then had to wait for four planes to land, the last plane being a Foxbat , bloody thing took what seemed like an eternity it floats forever , The waiting calmed me down a bit. Then got the takeoff clearance and something like a “ZEN” moment come over me and all was calm and relaxed, I even found myself looking around taking in the view on the downwind leg. Cheers boys Rick

I would have to agree with you Butch, I am a student pilot with only 21hrs dual, I was told before I started with my lessons by the flight school to get a sim. I love it can can't believe anyone wouldn't get one. I only go for a lesson once a month. I video every flight with a gopro I watch it each time before I go up for a lesson and run through the lesson in the sim. I was practice my run ups ,take offs, circuits, stalls , pre landing checks and landings on the sim, VERY HELPFUL ! {for me} With the length of time between my lessons the sim is fantastic. At the moment I'm practicing PFL, running through all of the immediate actions and picking a landing area, as all you guys know there is so much the remember and do for a forced landing and for a student pilot it is a lot to take in, the sim just helps to remember and get a bit more fluid in your checklist run-throughs and reactions. Obviously this is just my opinion but from a student perspective.

Sounds the way to go. Thanks boys

Thanks guys, I think Ada's idea of RPL is a good one, I hadn't heard of it, just looked it up. Cheers Rick

Yep ! drove it about 3 weeks ago for a 9 o'clock flight on a Saturday

Hi Guys After some thoughts on my options once I get my pilots certificate. I live up the Northern Beaches of Sydney, I've been learning out at Bankstown on a Jab170 and a Tecnam golf. Once I get my certificate and want to hire and fly around. What are my options? I can't fly out of Bankstown or Camden. I drove up to Warnervale the other day of a fly in a Foxbat, It was 1hr 10mins to get there. Then there is Wedderburn, I typed that into google maps and it came up as 1hr 45mins. Then there is The Oaks, I think that was 1hr 30mins away. Am I missing any? What is at Somersby? Can I fly there? This there anyone else up this way? What do you guys do? Am I being a princess and should just suck it up and do the long drive? Thanks guys Cheers Rick

Yeah thanks for the tips, I have to also chase up the medical certificate, I have to email the Ra Aus to see if it is a specific doctor or any GP and also some security form I have to fill out, someone said that take a while to clear as well . Cheers Rick

Hi guys ,for the help, much appreciated These are thing things I was told to study and maybe in the exam. Aerodrome symbols and markings Right of way Flights over water VMC for different classes of airspace How low can you fly to the ground Privileges and limitations of pilot certificate Smoking near aircraft Drugs and alcohol Max operating altitude for recreational aircraft Last light requirements Prohibited, restricted and danger areas Low flying Aerobatic flights Control airspace separation Airspace classes Where to find airfield information Flight above clouds Formation flying VTC chart symbology Accidents and incidents Carriage of passengers Transponder codes Aircraft eligible to fly in controlled airspace see and avoid. I see what you mean, some of this stuff has nothing to do with first solo unless my first solo contains some formation aerobatics over water just before dusk !!!

Thanks mate, I looking in the BAK book and the Ra Aus operations manual issue 7. Thanks again Rick

Hi again . Buggered if I can find the section in any of my books that tells me anything about "Last light requirements" Anyone know where I should be looking for the regulations on last light ? Cheers Rick

Hi Guys I purchased from ebay a "Skylite 800" headset. $130 delivered. From the first time I used them the they didn't seem to work all that good, the sound was fine but the mic wasn't all that sensitive, had to real talk loud for it to work. they got progressively worse, by my 4th flight they didn't work at all. Got in contact with the seller, they told me to send them back and they would pay for the postage back.{ fair enough} They sent me back the" Skylite 900" series {free upgrade} I used them last weekend and they seem ALOT!! better I think they are worth about $189 and they come with an MP3 plug on the side for your phone. Not that I'll be using that function while practicing my touch and goes or on my first solo :} Just thought I'd let people know about that brand and how I found them. 900 series good , 800 series bad !!

Hi guys Spoke to the 2 guys at our flying school that own planes. Ok so, owning and leasing it to the flying school is out, The damage/repairs from student {like myself} soon mounts up. They bother say owning the aircraft isn't too expensive, One pays $2000 for insurance the other pays $3000 his was $4000 but comes down every year the more hours he gets up . Hanger fees are $500 pm but I only looking for an aircraft that has the de-rigging wings and trailer it. So the hangering fees are not an issue. them the maintenance. the 25hr and the 100hr priced they told me were reasonable. the 1000hr was more expensive, but 1000hr is a long way off for me. They both told me to wait and get a lot more hrs under my belt before purchasing an aircraft, So I'll wait a couple of years now, no rush, Just want to be a safe pilot over everything. I don't want to be some Gung ho inexperienced pilot an endanger myself or my passenger. Thanks for all the help Rick

Thanks for all the info' guys, I need to talk again with my school and other owners at the school. Cheers Rick

Hi guys I’m after a bit advice/direction. I’m thinking, JUST THINKING !!! At the moment of purchasing a ra-aus reg’ aircraft and leasing it back to my flying school. Because of the Jab motor restrictions at the moment my flying school only has 1 aircraft and that is very close to needing an engine overhaul. I only have 14hrs under my belt. I need to finish my pilot cert’ then I need another 10hrs for my cross country endorsement. So owning an aircraft would cheapen things that way. But I’m a total newbie really, SO! Any thoughts? Does the monetary return cover all or most of the cost associated with the aircraft operation? What to look out for? How much should I get back per hour to cover costs? Any hidden cost? I would have hanger fees, Insurance {does it cost more to insure for an aircraft used for training?} Maintenance costs. I’m sure I’m missing things. Am I dreaming or is it possible? Cheers Rick

LOL It's 5" long now and it's heavy enough at that length :{

Hi Guys Now I know this is for planes BUT !!!!!!! I do build and fly them and this little creation of my came from the plane building :} The idea came from flying my Catalina down at Narrabeen lakes. I was forever changing servos because of the saltwater, Once I worked out a way to waterproof the servos, Presto !!!!!!!!! for some reason I thought of building the shark. Let me know what you think. There is also a video of it swimming on youtube Enjoy Cheers Rick

Very nice , I love the detail

Yeah, I did find it pulled more to the left and found I was using more right rudder most of the flight. One other thing I did notice was when I my first landing when coming in for the flair and cut he throttle like I do on the Jab it really drop and hard on the runway. The next few landings I eased the throttle off and I don't mind patting myself on the back here BUT they were pretty awesome :} !!!!

Hi Guys Went for my lesson in the Tecnam Golf yesterday out of Bankstown after only doing touch and go’s in the Jab170. What a fantastic morning for it not a cloud in the sky and 3 knot wind. Ayavner was right the Tecnam is SOOOOOO forgiving and dead easy to land. My instructor even had me doing flapless landings {a first for me} It really made me feel like I’d been flying for years. Felt like I could do anything in it. Also the Tecnam climbs like a rocket compared to the Jab. Cheers Rick

Yeah, thanks for the advice Guys, I have been you in the Tecnam but it was for the stalling lesson, not for the touch and goes and yeah you are right about the switches, completely different spots. luckily I video every lesson with the gopro attached to my headset, I'll be doing my next lesson this Saturday. The night before I go up I watch the vid' to familiarise myself with the aircraft. I really find it helps a heap. Cheer Rick

WOW!!!!!!!!!! thanks soooooooooooooooooooooooo much guys for all your responses, Very helpful. Got a bit of study ahead of me:} As well as swapping aircraft I'm learning in. I was doing all my training in a J170 ,but with the restrictions on the Jab I have to swap to the Tecnam, Hopefully they handle the same, I'm up to touch and goes, my instructor said it's not ideal to swap aircraft at this point. Finger crossed Thanks again Cheers Rick.

Hi Guys After a little help. I'm studying for my pre-solo test, I have a list of things to study and one of them is flights over water. I can't find anything in my BAK book, I also can't find anything in Operations manual {issues 7} I have found something on the casa website. {this is it below} "Legislation for overwater flights other than for balloons and gliders will be changed to 25 nm from land providing the aircraft carries an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT), life jackets, and giving lodgement of a SARTIME. Requirements for crossing Bass Straight will not be limited to 25 nm from land to allow greater pilot discretion of the route with due regard to safe passage clear of inclement weather." Is this it? is there any more? Or does anyone know where this stuff is in my two books? Cheers Rick