PaulN

Onya Geoff, good to hear ;). (Don't ya just love Slarti's humour?) Paul

OK. Here’s an opener for our NZ South Island trip report. There’s way too much to share just yet … we’re in sight seeing overload right now and getting sore from rubber-necking all day every day since arriving Nov 06 and each night finds us just wanting to crash with no energy left for even writing postcards. But for my forum mates I’ll leave you with this little beauty. This is a pic taken late downwind for rwy 29 Milford Sound. What an awesome experience … I have never before and probably never will again land at a place like this. Picture it. Entering the Sound from the east coast at 3000’ and still with high ground rising above you either side. Then as the sound narrows you drop to 1500’ while banking right to follow the Sound and just as you get the first glimpse of the strip. At this point it’s difficult knowing just where to look, at the passing aircraft on departure, the huge waterfall dropping from above you on your left, the sheer rock wall just off your right wing tip or the strip just ahead. Talk about pilot overload. Then down to 1000 as we pass the strip still with a rock wall just off the right wing, fly into a narrow gorge while dropping to 500 banking left and losing sight of the strip behind yet another rock wall and continue the base turn for almost 270 degrees. Hold in there for a moment until sighting the strip off to the right, now quickly bank right to line up, power off then down onto the threshold, brake the 172 quickly to exit the runway to make room the Islander coming behind you. Now start breathing again. Man, what an experience. Later I’ll have to tell you about the “elevatorÀ on departure … sheer madness. Paul

I know you will Ian, but I'll say it anyway ... keep me in mind while your away doing your stuff Paul PS NZ's SI is fentestic. Had some great flights and way too many pics to share.

Thanks team. I had a nice surprise this morning. Took a call from Biggles1 (forum member) telling me he was heading out of CN tomorrow on VB for BN at 0620. "That's odd" I said, "we have the same flight plan", so now we have good company en route to Brissy. What a coincidence . I'd like to stay and chat but off to bed now ... 0345 departure tomorrow :;)6:. Paul

It was autumn, and the Indians on the remote reservation asked their new Chief if the winter was going to be cold or mild. Since he was an Indian Chief in a modern society, he had never been taught the old secrets, and when he looked at the sky, he couldn't tell what the heck the weather was going to be. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he replied to his tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village should collect wood so they would be prepared for it. But also being a practical leader, after several days he got an idea. He went to the phone booth, called the National Weather Service and asked, "Is the coming winter going to be cold?" "It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold indeed," the meteorologist at the Weather Service responded. So the Chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more wood in order to be prepared. One week later he called the National Weather Service again. "Is it going to be a very cold winter?" he asked. "Yes," the man at Weather Service again replied, it's going to be a very cold winter." The Chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of wood they could find. Two weeks later he called the NWS again. "Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?" "Absolutely," the man replied. "It looks like it's going to be one of the coldest winters ever." "How can you be so sure?" the Chief asked. The weatherman replied, "The Indians are collecting firewood like crazy."

Had mine just a couple of weeks ago. Yep, straight forward but you can expect a couple of pains. The Dr billed me a $126.50 with no Medicare refund available. Then I rec'd my CASA notice requiring their $75 donation. Paul

Sounds like a plan Mudjeep ;)

Show off ;)

Love the colour and artwork Ross ... can't wait to see her in the flesh. Great stuff ;) Paul

Thanks Ross, That's it ... WOT = wide open throttle (at least in the context that I have seen it used). My acronyminity is now that much richer Paul

Welcome Mik. Glad to see you hear. Sunshine Cst ... one of my favourite parts of Oz and a great strip at Caloundra. Hope the council doesn't push it out of town as rumour has it. Hey guys, speaking of acronyms what is WOT? I've seen this a few times now and it beats me. Paul

Good to have you on board Pioneer200. My wife and I will be flying into NZCH this Tuesday for a wee holiday. Hoping for fantastic weather on Thursday as we are hiring a 172 with instructor/tour guide (Cassie) from Canterbury Aviation for a 6.5hr flight around the alps, glaciers, fiordland, Milford and Doubtful Sounds, Qtown, Te Anau, hydro lakes, Timaru, CH. Can't wait . Have been studying the VNCs of the SI, the terrain is just awesome, nothing here compares, almost the whole island looks like "tiger country". One can see why mountain flying in NZ is a skill all of its own. Like we'll be passing close by Mt Cook and at A100 there's still 2316' towering above us. Wow!! From a local's perspective, how's the weather shaping up for then? Please say calm and cloudless all day all over ... that's not asking too much is it? Got any good tips for what to see and do or what not to see or do while tripping around the SI? We have 18 days to take it in. Paul

Sounds like a Labor man :). (Oops, politics is probably not allowed here)

Can anyone give me names and contact details of someone who can do a good prop balancing job? Paul

Hi Fly, I recently needed to upgrade the starter on my 912ULS to the newer HD unit for better starting in the cold. Price from BF was $1218 plus freight. I ended up sourcing it from Lockwoods in Florida for AUS$448 incl freight. Makes you wonder. Maybe give them an email and see how you go? Paul BTW I have a working order older starter motor available if anyone's looking for one.

Now there's a challenge Ian ... let's see you pass that one up . Paul

Brilin_Air, Have you considered a FlightCell Pro unit. This neat gadget provides for connection of mobile phone and MP3 directly to your headsets. You can send/receive mobile calls, listen to music while keeping on top of your radio comms. If I recall properly, the add ons instantly fade to allow incoming and outgoing rado calls. And no wiring needed. Get in touch with Ian, he may have one in the shop for a good price. Paul

Hi Methusala, I think you'll find most members here are keen to keep abreast of anything from anywhere that contributes to aeronautical knowledge, procedures, incidents, developments and safety. It all goes toward a broader knowledgebase and leads to better airmanship in the end, one hopes. Not to mention it's just interesting for some of us ;). Paul BTW, just how old are you? With a name like that one wonders :;)4:.

An intense week of PPL training and endorsement, mostly with Nathan but also shared the cockpit with Tristo and Matt. Highlights were 90 mins of night flying on instruments in Matt's 172 and tripping between Essendon and Moorabbin in the CT just after fog lifted keeping us down below top of CBD skyline which seemed just metres away. What a buzz for a poor country boy :big_grin:. Meeting up with some of the Shepp locals has also left me with fond memories ... "Greetings" to Pelorus32, Storchy Neil, Jabba Jo, and others whose names elude me and of course Ian who dropped in to show off his brand new CT with dinged wheel pant. Good times stay with you, hey! Paul

Thanks for the heads up Ross. Second that ... WELCOME BACK GEOFF Good to have you home ... and chatting with us again soon we hope. So how did it go, all is OK? Bet you can't wait to drag the Jabba out of its Hut. Best wishes, Paul

Great stuff Doug ;). Keep on enjoying it (as if you have to be told). Say "Hi from Paul at Cooma" next time you see Sue and the guys at Shepp. I had the best week there in Feb. Paul

It's time (overtime) to have my Microair transponder biannual calibration check-up. Can anyone suggest someone who can do this that's within cooee of Cooma? From my research, I can find only Regional Aviation Services at Wagga who want the CT for 3 hrs and charge $340 for the pleasure. (Imagine if we all have to fit ADS-B ;)) Thanks in advance, Paul

My CT (fitted with Rotax 912ULS) was del'd with a 3 blade Airmaster AP332 constant speed prop with Warp Drive composite blades and elect controller, retrofitted by its previous owner. Top bit of gear ;). Ex factory it had the a 2 blade var pitch Neuform prop as seen on Ian's just departed CTsw. The only downside of the Airmaster in our case is its extra 12kg of weight on the nose needing ballast at the tail to achieve safe CofG. Re operation, we have set the constant speed parameters as T/off pitch = 5500rpm; Climb = 5200; Cruise = 4800. Now with T/off selected and with AUW of 435kg I barely finish applying full throttle and she's off the ground and climbing at around 1400fpm (+ or -), 300ft up I switch to Climb and by now the momentum is there and she continues the rapid climb. At 1000 agl I drop the pitch a little, set to Cruise and the climb continues comfortably at 800-900fpm and gaining speed. I don't really wish to try this, but the Airmaster has the advantage of feathering in case of engine failure thus enhancing the glide ratio. Also, I can select manual control allowing me to vary the pitch at will at any given rpm, but honestly, I haven't found this to be of any advantage with either speed or economy. That's with a careful watch of the ASI and FS450 fuel flow instrument. Maybe it's just me. By way of comparison I reinstalled the Neuform for a period (107 hrs) and have to say that the Airmaster is way smoother and affords better flight control. I can't say that I have noticed any significant variation in fuel burn between the two. The Rotax is happier running at higher revs so in my view cutting the throttle (and manifold pressure) back to cruise at lower speeds (say around 90kt) the rpm holds at 4800 while the prop pitch fines up. Using the Neuform to cruise at 90kt the engine was back around 4000rpm from memory, a bit quieter though. Another advantage of the Airmaster is on approach to land. With the pitch set fine it works a bit like a brake making for short steep finals and easy short landings ... and reacts really smartly when the throttle is pushed on again. In short, I like the Airmaster's performance :) ... just wish it wasn't so heavy . Hope this helps. Paul

Matt, Rex referred me to Wagga.

Guys/Gals, It's time (overtime) to have my Microair transponder biannual calibration check-up. Can anyone suggest someone who can do this that's within cooee of Cooma? From my research, I can find only Regional Aviation Services at Wagga who want the CT for 3 hrs and charge $340 for the pleasure. (Imagine if we all have to fit ADS-B ;)) Thanks in advance, Paul