PaulN

Look at the bright side. We can now call ourselves a Banana Republic with pride. Surely, at the current cost of bananas this would be saying we're a wealthy nation?

 

You mention double dipping. Before retiring, Gwen and I ran our Sawpit Creek caravan park business inside Kosciuszko National Park.Visitorshave to cover their Park Use Fee to get inside the Park (currently @ $27/day/car) under the guise of a user pays fee for infrastructure costs. Our business was leased from the NPWS. Part of the lease conditions required that we provide and maintain theSawpit Creekpublic picnic area, toilets, water supply and garbage disposal at our cost w/out any means of cost recovery. Also as part of the lease agreement the NPWS was entitled to levy our buisness (around $50k PA)for what they called Community Service Charges for provision of water supply, sewer treatment, and garbagetip facilities in the Sawpit Creek area. So the public paid the Parks for the facilities, we paid the Parks for the same facilitiesand we provided the service to the public. After a while one just gets numb to the wayGov't operates, esp when there is no course for redress.Oh yeah, we also had to buy annual park entry permits for each of our cars to drive to and from home. Too bad if anyone came for a personal visit, they paid too.

 

It's so easy to become cynical when dealing with the Public Service. PaulN

 

 

Thanks for the support Rob .

 

The strange thing about the Evans Head site is, the Council is making moves to sell it off for housing development, yet their sewer infrastructure is inadequate for the existing population. In fact, as a temporary measure in an attempt to save the local wetlands being further polluted by run-off, they have plans in place to pump the waste onto the airfield.Now there's a good use for an airstrip .

 

 

Everyone,

 

At Turtle's suggestion I have composedthe followingletter that may be used to help support the guys and gals at Evans Head. I will be mailing my copies away this coming Monday. If youcan find the few minutes it will take tocontribute to this cause, Istrongly suggest, for the sake of impact, that you use my wording as a guide only ... compose your own words/format so that the receivers don't simply disregard your effort as just circularised proforma letters. Keep it direct and respectful. Write to each Councilor for maximum coverage.

 

Pass this around your local aero clubs andothers that are supportive of aviation. Encourage them to join in with their support for the Evans Head clubs. This is not difficult or time consuming. "I fear not the voice ofmy enemy,my fearis the silence ofmy friends".

 

Come on everyone, let's stand up and be noticed. Hopefully our leaders at RA-Aus are with us on this too.

 

NOTES: 1. Councilor's names are on earlier post - insert the correctname for each of your letters.

 

2. Alter the I/we and my/our alternatives to suit your letter.

 

3. Be sure to head your letter with your (or your organsiation's) contact name and address details.

 

Thanks,

 

Paul

 

<DIV align=center>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

SAMPLE LETTER

 

Date

 

Mr/Ms (councilor's name),

 

Richmond Valley Council

 

Locked Bag 10

 

CASINO 2407

 

Dear Sir/Madam,

 

Subject: Evans Head Great Eastern Fly-In

 

It has come to my/our notice that the above event at the Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome has been cancelled by the organising committee.

 

From information received it is understood that this has become necessary due to the extreme charges and other difficulties imposedby your council.

 

With respect, I/we wish to register my/ourdisappointment over the demise of what has been a very popular and successful aviation event.

 

It appears that your Council has lost the tourism plot. This event has been an attraction for many aviators of light aircraft and observers alike. In the past this has brought into the Evans Head region thousands of visitors. An obvious spin off from this influx of visitors has been the support for local business operators. What may not be so obvious to you is that many of these visitors return to the area on other occasions throughout the year to re-visit the aerodrome and the local clubs to rekindle acquaintances and experiences.

 

Shouldthe event have continued it carried with it the potential for ever increasing public interest and visitor numbers, a very real attractionto the area and boostfor the local economy. One only needs to consider the increasing success and growth of the Natfly event held each Easter at Narromine to visualise the potential of the Great Eastern Fly-In. The Natfly is eagerly anticipated each year, draws hundreds of aircraft, thousands of visitors and many tourism dollars. Understandably, the Narromine Shire Council supports, sponsors and encourages the event organisers enthusiastically every year.

 

Particularly disappointing is the apparent disinterest the Council has for the aviation community, especially the local aero clubs and associated members. These organisations, having demonstrated an enthusiasm rarely seen these days,deserve your whole hearted support and encouragement. Not onlyhave they beenproviding a wonderful venue and event on the aviation calendar, they have been engendering support for your local community.

 

Further, the Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome is steeped in history. Surely it is your responsibility as the local authority to ensure this history is not lost but rather nurtured.

 

Please, give yourserious consideration to standing with the event organisers by exploring ways and means to reinstate this great event. It can happen without high impact charges and impositions. It is not outside Council's interests to make it a welcoming event for aviators,visitingpublic and the local community alike.

 

Respectfully yours,

 

 

Are we going to just sit on our hands or register our disappointment and disgust with the Council's attitude to recreational visitors and aviators to the Evans Head area? From what is reported, their greed and disdain for the aviation community is outrageous and completely introverted. We know from earlier reports that the Council's agenda is to close down aviation activity at Evans Head in order to provide prime building development and to allow the erection of a retirement village complex just off the end of rwy 18. It's not as if the airfield lies dormant, each time I've dropped in there has been plenty of flying in progress.

 

Let's make our support of our Evans Head friends known.

 

I'm not sure if this is the best way to go about it but my suggestion is to email the mayorvia the address below. Perhaps, we should also putink to paper and send off letters, just in case emails are conveniently lost in the system.

 

Let's showthat this forum and its members has some clout.

 

[email protected]

 

POSTAL: Locked Bag 10, Casino. 2470

 

List of Councillors

 

1.Councillors: Charlie Cox (Mayor)

 

2.Councillors: Sandra Humphrys (Deputy Mayor)

 

3.Councillors: Ray Jeffery

 

4.Councillors: Peter McLennan

 

5.Councillors: Robert Mustow

 

6.Councillors: Col Sullivan

 

7.Councillors: Norma Thomas

 

8.Councillors: Shirley Wheatley

 

9.Councillors: Norma Wise

 

 

Thanks Turtle, that makes it all so clear now. That is, it's clear I wasn't confused (where I was) before now becoming confused, which means that I now am confused more than before (where I am). So, in order to clear up my confusion (where I should be) I will read your report once more (where I shouldn't be) but chances are I'll be still confused tomorrow (which is where I am most times).

 

Paul PaulN

 

 

Welcome to the gang Scott.

 

What could be a better float plane than the CT? That's right, CTs come with a floats option. Having never flown, or even been in, a float plane I have no real comments of value, however, the RA-Aus mag (Dec/Jan and Mar 06) has a good article by Barry Wrenford (one of my instructors). It should be worth a read for you, you can no doubt obtain back copiesthrough the RA-Aus office.

 

Enjoy your flying ... what better way to spend your spare time?

 

Paul

 

 

Onya Dave ... it's a great feeling, eh?

 

Paul

 

 

Hey BigPete,

 

Gtblu identified your first strip as belonging to the Packers, but where is it and what is it called?

 

Paul

 

 

If I had the money, the mrs permission and could afford thehourly runningcost ... I'd buy a Lancair Colombia. Had the opportunity to test fly a demo plane at Wings Over Wagga last year and fell in love . Problem is, it can't be reg'd RA-Aus.

 

Paul

 

 

Hi Shifty06,

 

For more info, take a look at the Announcements thread "Very Important Notice" started by Ian Aug 13.

 

Cheers,

 

Paul PaulN

 

 

TechMan siad "I usually finish off by using the polish in the orange bottle (very common though I have forgotten the name) and then changing to a lambswool buff to remove the polish."

 

I think Chris may be referring to the polish I use from the orange bottle called NuFinish which is polymer based (I incorrectly called it Nulon in my earlier post). NuFinish is available at Repco.

 

Paul

 

 

Hi Ian,

 

Everyone wants to wash and polish his new car when he gets it home ... you want to polish your new CT now and it doesn't arrive until October?

 

An aviation friend, who has built several of his own, recommended I use apolish called Nulon which is pretty easy to use and leaves the composite pretty slippery. I reuse it every 50 hrs all over and 25 hours on l/edges and engine cowling to help with ease of removing bugs.

 

I've heard of others using Mr Sheen, which would have to be very easy to use.

 

Another friend washes his Jab using water with a polish/detergent additive (don't know which) every 50 hrs and he's happy with that.

 

Paul

 

 

Even the manufacturer is inclined to change recommendations. For example, from the link that Turtle provides Rotax recommends (not specifies) 100% Evans NPG. My hard copy Rotax manual that came with the CT specifies (not recommends) 50% antifreeze and 50 % pure water. Wal at Bert Flood's (Aust Rotax agent) advises use normal antifreeze as opposed to the Evans product, providing the operating environment is "normal" conditions but consider Evans NPG if operating environment is hot and you have difficulty holding CHT within limits.

 

Paul

 

 

That's all Greek to me Ian . PaulN

 

 

Interesting you should ask. I've been observing a few CT flyers discussing coolants on their forum. Apparently some of them fly from "hot" locations and have been experiencing overly warm CHTs. Theyare of the mind thatthe fix is to use a coolant called Evans NPG which they say keeps its cool better than normal glycol.

 

I have discussed this with Wal from Bert Flood Imports who reckons that unless I am operating in anabnormally hotclimate (which I think Cooma is not) the Rotax is quite happy with normal glycol. He is willing to part with the Evans product but warns that the system must be flushed of old coolant before changing over ... and the cost is a bit scarey ($80 per US gallon for the coolant and $53 for the same amt of flushing liquid).

 

On his advice I have recently replaced my old glycol coolant with the same (Nulon, 1060gm glycol per litre). On the advice of my Level 2 I've added a little water (4 parts glycol: 1 part water). He tells me that with added water the coolant removes heat more efficiently.

 

Paul

 

 

Onya Geoff.

 

If that's a man-made body of water, are they man-made sharks? Or are they crocs? If they are crocs, why is that guy loading fuel into the float plane not a little more alarmed? Or is gtblu just pulling my leg?

 

Paul

 

 

Are we still waiting for someone to put a name to Ian's (and Turtles) island strip? Come on, some body must have flown past this. There was a nasty (not that there are any nice ones) shark attack very near here in Jan this year.

 

Gtblu, how about a clue. I've searched all over the charts for a high grade airfield near a large river and with sharks or crocs but I've no idea where you are. BTW the pic is fantastic, almost looks like a Flt Sim graphic capture.

 

Paul

 

 

Ian,

 

I recall visiting this issue before. My $0.02 worth is take note of Chris's advice. As you know, Gwen and I have been happily touring the CT at 544 AUW. It's no big deal keeping your baggage minimal and you only need fuel sufficient for stages long enoughfor bladder comfort.In our case EW is 305kg, 2 up adds 170kg (we really have to think about dieting), bags and bits & pieces are15kg. That leaves 54kg for fuel which at 17 lph burn (110kt cruise) givesaround 3.5 hrs flightwith 1 hour reserve. Ihave to admit (you should stopreading now techman ) on two of our outback legs I did load in more fuel for a couple of those Simpson Desert stages but only about 10kg with a peace of mind knowing the CT is factory certified to 600.

 

On a personal note, even if I was tempted to overload, I can't as I have a built-in "RA-Aus policeman". Gwen knows the legal limit and insists keeping within it, justas on the road I have no fear of radar cops while Gwen is on board. Even on the bike she peeks over my shoulder and digs me in the ribs .

 

The CT guys in the US with their SLSAreg'd a/c are tossing this issue around too. It seems they all want to tweek this and that, change a thing or two, add something here and there butare restricted by the rules ... not that they all stick by them to the letter. It looks like some of them may deliberately forfeit the SLSA to go ELSA, although the weight thing is not an issue over there.

 

SS (you know who that is) reckons that when RA-Aus is authorised to 750kg all the CTs will be upgraded to 600 as they already have certification. I'm more inclined totake notice ofChris on this issue, after all he will have the final say. It looks as though he may be of that mind now. Did I read you right Chris?

 

Cheers,

 

Paul

 

 

Egads gtblu, do you know how many "wet" strips there are around Oz? The nearest most of us get to any of these is a 500' fly over, higher if we see sharks, unlike you guys with floatplanes (you do have floats?). You tell us where that blue shed is and we'll guess where your water landing area is.

 

River, thanks for the sentiments. Apart from the store of knowledge,experience and comradeship, what I like about this forum is the wit ... like Chris's.

 

Paul

 

 

Ian,

 

By 20 - 40% higher consumption does this mean more fuel burned for same distance travelled or more distance travelled for same fuel burn? What you report looks clear enough, I just wanted to make sure because I've heard automotive use gives more distance for same fuel burn.

 

Thanks,

 

Paul

 

 

the oh's would be WOW's ??

JL, my is in reference to my inability to link your comment with the aforementioned pic. Your estimate of the pic is right on ... that's a pic I'm looking forward to catching myself one day.

 

Cheers, Paul

 

 

Oh!

 

 

Onya Chris, good to see some one else havinga go.

 

Paul

 

 

Hi Don,

 

Like Ken says, make the effort to contact the owner/operator of the ALA prior, this courtesy is esp appropriate with private strips. The same courtesy is not req'd for your larger more public aerodromes. However, once down and parked one should make the effort to locate the owner/manager to settle your dues. The bonus here is that you meet new people and make new friends, and you'll know you will be welcome back there. Some of the larger fields you'll often find no-one around which is really tough because there's no-one to give your money to.

 

How do you locate these owners? The ERSA lists info for most of the strips you're likely to use, but there are many that do not list here. Get yourself an AOPA National Airfield Directory from http://www.aopa.com.au/website/afdorder.cfmat a cost of $50. This lists most strips in Oz, but not all. Chances are, the ones not listed that you may want to use will be by invitation only anyway.

 

Both the ERSA and the AOPA directory detail info about the airfield, landing fees, fuel availability, contact names and numbers, etc. The AOPA directory is more informative with stuff like nearest town, accommodation, and so on.

 

From my experience, when you talk to owners in advance they are friendly enough and usually offerhelpful advicebased on local knowledge. It pays to double check stuff like co-ords, elev, and rwynums while you're talking with them too. When Gwen and I did a flight through the outback last Sept one of our stops was at Wilpena Pound. From the AOPA directory we noted all the relevant strip info for the flt plan and GPS set-up. However, in flight at about 30 mins out I contacted their chief pilot by mobile and just happened to mention the rwy nums we had in the conversation. To my alarm he said "Mate, you've got the wrong airfield. We are .......".What we didn't knowwas thereis another strip about 15 milesfrom Wilpena with different elev and different rwy nums. The AOPA book incorrectly listed all the strip data for this unknown field under their listing for Wilpena. Anyway, it made for an interesting "seek and ye shall find" scenario as neither strip is indicated on the WAC.

 

Paul

 

 

Hey John, don't keep us in suspense. I'm looking forward to seeing that Pilot's Rainbow over Lake George. Please try again with your pic upload.

 

Paul