JG3

Attached is a poster for the annual 'QUA Poker Run' at Watts Bridge, SE Qld, organized by the Queensland Ultralight Association, for 25 July 09. We're making a special effort this year to support this Fly-In. Watts is very central for all the SE Qld airfields, and is an easy day trip. We need a 'gathering of the flock' at this time of year, to catch up on news and views - ie - gossip and B/S. Already it's looking like enough of a turn-out to be worth a visit. All welcome, please pass the word and plan to Fly-In. JohnG pokerrun2009.pdf pokerrun2009.pdf pokerrun2009.pdf

The following is an email I received that pretty much explains itself. Please, everyone respond to support this valuable project. Let's flood them with support to make it happen! JohnG ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Mick & Hellen Ryan <hell-mik@bigpond.net.au> Date: Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 6:31 AM Subject: VNC Charts for areas North of Brisbane To: HI Fellow Aviators! Follows is an email from a colleague here in Gladstone regarding VNC Charts, feel free to respond to him personally to your support to the argument for these charts. If any of you feel it is a worthy case to support please don't hesitate to reply to the email address at the end of the following message. E Mail chitech@tpg.com.au Regards Hellen Ryan ----------------------------------------------------------------- Maryborough Aero Club PO Box 85 Maryborough QLD 4650 email: hell-mik@bigpond.net.au Subject: VNC Charts Hi Gavin, Follows a copy of E Mail I have sent to other aviators. Please talk to as many other aviators and encourage them to E Mail me if they would like to support my endeavours. I have been lobbying Airservices Australia for some considerable time for them to make available VNC charts for the coastal airspace north of Brisbane (Queensland is the only mainland state not to have VNC charts) . I have as yet had no success as they claim that their market research has indicated to them that there is no demand for VNC charts in this area . I have contacted many pilots and aviation groups and have never found any person or group who has been approached for an opinion . When I asked if they could give me the names of who was surveyed they claim that the privacy act prevents such disclosure. As you may know we now have a new CEO of CASA John McCormick who took office on the 16th May and I contacted his office to seek his assistance to put pressure on Air Services to publish the required VNC charts as a safety issue. His office directed me to talk to their Queensland officers who were very supportive and have arranged a meeting for me with John McCormick early July. They believe that if I could demonstrate a level of support from Qld pilots and give to him at the meeting a list of names etc supportive of the request that would give him the ammunition to refute Airservices Australia's claims. If you could assist in circulating this request to any persons or groups I would greatly appreciate your help. Feel free to give my details to anyone who may wish to respond either as an organization or an individual . I certainly don't mind giving John a handful of E Mails from fellow aviators . Regards Rodney Spratt Gladstone Qld Ph 07 49723343 wk Mob 0402858587 E Mail chitech@tpg.com.au

In May I had a great flight from SE Qld to Lake Eyre to see the water, then across the Nullarbor to the WA border, then followed the coast all the way home. Photos and story are at StolSpeed Aerodynamics - Performance Enhancement for Light Aircraft

Boy, you guys are quick! Yes, it is Elliston. I realized the mistake right away, but the power supply for the computer failed before I could change it. The original post is now edited. See, there's lots of info out there, it just needs a listing so we can share it. JG

Here's an example of what's possible. This photo is Elliston, SA. The airstrip is right close to town and the seaside. Kingston, SA is also a seaside town with the airstrip right close to town. Home of the 'Big Lobster', excellent seafood, and seaside atmosphere. We really do need a listing of such places, based on real experience by other fliers. JohnG

Yep, got the number in my book and will sort it out when get a bit closer. JohnG

Sitting at Nullarbor Roadhouse, with good signal on Next G. Left Inglewood Monday morning and got to Cameron Corner with fine tailwinds all the way. Next day on over Lake Eyre, first time I've seen it with water. Stopped at William Creek - the thinnest steak in a steak sandwich ever. I didn't have a micrometer, but am fairly used to eyeballing sheet metal, and I reckon it was difinetly less than 3mm! Must have been sliced with a bacon slicer..... A night out in the bush, then on to Eucla, just over the WA border, for last night. 1400nm in 17hrs with good tailwinds all the way. This morning flying those magnificent cliffs. And dodging showers. Had to land out twice to let them pass, once on a roadside rest area and once on a patch cleared by a grader many years ago. Sure is good to have a STOL aircraft with good tyres. No whales yet. Will tell more and send more photos from Pt Lincoln. This is just you get you envious and start you making your own preparations for a flying/camping adventure. The season is now here, don't miss it! JohnG ps- Mark just showed me how to add these photos, and more photos and story will be on my website soon.

I've been in there a couple of times and no charge. Just the opposite, offered a free car for our use. And we weren't big spenders on accomodation either, just brilliant hospitality.

Arkaroola is worth a visit. Very aircraft friendly hosts. Overfly the resort and call on 126.7, and someone will pick you up from the airstrip several miles away. Unleaded, premium and avgas available. They'll probably lend you a vehicle to come and go and see the sights. Accomodation ranges from deluxe, to a bunk in a donga for $15. Spectacular geology, really interesting history, and an excellent celestial observatory. The most impressive part of the Flinders Ranges.

Yes, please do find out what you can. It'd be good to find an open airfield in the Mackay area. It's a long way for ultralights from St Lawrence to Bowen. Any other airfields along that stretch, besides Flaggy Rock?? JohnG

Palmyra - I've been wanting to find out more about that field. Emails bounced, phone numbers not right...... That's the only field near Mackay, eh?? Permission required?? Any relevant details?? JohnG

Yeh, Marree Man is worth a look, and also the 'art works' at Finis Springs. Have a look at http://www.stolspeed.com/camel-cup There's also an account there of who and how it was done. JG

I'll be over Lake Eyre probably on 5 May. It'll just be a quick look, cause I want to go on to the Head of the Bight before I need to be in Port Lincoln 9 May. When are you guys planning your trip?? I was planning on dropping in at Reagan Aviation later in the month, but if you guys will be away then, maybe I'll change my route plans..... Arkaroola is the place to get fuel, ULP, PULP and Avgas. Great hospitality, $15 accomodation, and really interesting scenery, well worth a fly-in visit in itself. Very aircraft friendly. JohnG

<<Maybe a dedicated page on this Forum? Admin.??>> A listing like that based on personal experience that would be really useful. And while you're at it admin, a separate listing that many of us have wanted for a long time: A listing of airfields that are close enough to country towns where we can camp at the airfield and an easy walk into town for a feed and a beer. It's not always clear from ERSA or AOPA just how far it really is, and many are just too far for comfort, and feel even farther on the way back...... I could supply several good ones to start this list. JohnG

Here's another weather link that tells a lot Australian weather radar loop and lightning tracker JohnG

Yeh, it was the chance of not being able to get back for days that killed it. Big heaps of wet moving from central Qld across our track to get home... They're having an excellent season this year. Thanks for that 'Forecast Rainfall' link, it's a beauty, I've added it to my favorites. JohnG

Thursday morning real early at Kilcoy Airfield, SE Qld, all packed and eager to head for Natfly. One last hopeful look at Elders Weather.... Could make it there OK, and Friday maybe OK, but then looks real soggy, and worse for the track home again for days to come.... So reluctantly cancelled...... Felt bad all day Friday for wimping out...... Then this morning saw 13mm at Dubbo last night, and more to come, and felt sorry for Natfly campers. Visions of hanging around the bar all day like wet shags, and probably tomorrow, and maybe longer - been there, done that, a couple of times...... What a bummer for RAAus....... But what a relief for the countryside! :) JohnG

Yep, sounds like an excellent idea. I've suggested to Reg and photographer BillG that they work together to make that happen........ Should be good. JohnG

That was an impressive photo that Mark posted elsewhere of 7 Savannahs lined up at the Nathalia fly-in. We had a similar number at the Clifton, Qld fly-in, but couldn't get them together for a photo. There are likely to be a lot more than that at Narromine. They'll be scatered all over that large venue, but there could be a good opportunity to all get together on the Sunday morning when everyone is packed up and getting ready to head out. If we could all gather at that time, probably over by the hangars, I think we could easily set a world record for Savannahs in a flock. If a photographer could get access to a hangar roof that would make quite a photo! JonhG

I know a mechanic who put a new set of rings in a 912 at 2400hrs and did a hand lap of the valves. Just recently, now at 5400hrs, he put in the second set of rings and again only hand lapped the valves. He could measure some wear in the bore, but still within specs, no valve guide wear, valves in good condition. The engine is in a gyro doing mustering, so would be running at full power much of that time. Now it's out there again, working full time and shooting for 7000hrs! JohnG

Glide approach for sure!!! Just because it's a heck of a lot more fun!!! Power approaches are about as boring as driving a Kingswood automatic - just steer and more or less throttle. I consider flying by power to be 'driving' an aircraft. The real 'flying' starts when you pull the power and start gliding...... A glide approach requires simultaneously sensing and calculating so many factors that make it an interesting challenge. Balancing aerodynamics, height, speed, momentum, lift, drag, wind, gravity, etc to effect a gide slope that will set you down just where you want. And I do mean always aiming for an exact touchdown point, just as if it's a spot landing competition. Power off at the start of base, and the rest of the way by balancing all those factors. It's really satisfying to get it just right. Takes lots of practice, but that's the fun! Up and around in a short circuit just so I can do another glide approach, over and over again. Deliberately set up high and try to slip right down to the point. Set up low and practice very best glide. Particularly fun if there's lots of wind to figure in, and extra good with a x-wind. Every approach is a bit different so a new challenge. That's why it's so much fun - can do it for hours.... And you can sure get good at it with lots of practice, so it's really satisfying. The closest comparison I can make that's so much fun is down-hill skiing - ride up to the top just to be able to do it again and again. At my home airfield of Kilcoy, Qld there will sometimes be 3-4 of us all following around for multiple glide approaches - maybe a dozen or more in quick succession - a heck of a lot of fun!!! p.s.- Also satisfying to know that you can dependably do it into a paddock if the engine really does quit, no way you're really ready for that without frequent practice..... JohnG

I find it easy to remove Savannah wings - takes about half an hour, including removing the ailerons first. Removing the ailerons protects them from accidental damage and allows the wing to be rested on its trailing edge. I used rivenuts for the join to the turtle deck. There's no need to touch the windscreen at all. I did make a mod during consruction to mount the doors on the fuselage rather than the wing, and this makes it easier. But others with wing-mounted doors have just made the hinge pins easily removable. The fuel hoses and electrical connections only take minutes to disconnect if you plan the connections for ease of access when building. Don't forget to drain fuel tanks first and have a couple of plugs handy to block the fuel lines from any residual fuel mess and prevent dirt or bugs getting into the openings. I've silver soldered a washer on edge to the head of each of the wing root bolts so that I can get a good grip to pull them out, and champered the ends of the threads of the bolts so that they slide in more easily. I have a long pair of needle-nose pliers that help reach into the cavity, and enlarged the opening to get at the rear root bolt. And always give a squirt of WD40. Two men can do it, but three is better - one to support the wingtip, one to support the root, and one to pull the bolts. Tailwinds always, JohnG

That was a last minute decision trip when I saw the weather pattern break just right - got two days of tailwinds! No one else could change their other commitments that quick. Besides, I really prefer to travel alone, then I can change my mind at any instant without having to consult and negotiate (same reason I'm single again at this stage of life...... JohnG

Have a great flight Maj! I didn't go as far as Birdsville, but there was a notice at Thargomindah that there is no avgas at Birdsville until further notice. If you have a jerry can, there's a servo usually with both premium and ULP just across the road. One other tip, take a mossie net as well as a tent. My little tent has some mesh both sides, but was still stifling in that heat. Next time I would just drape a net under the wing so that air circulation would be better. JohnG

Bored?? Come along for a ride. Last week I flew my Savannah out to the 'Channel Country' in SW Qld, to have a look at the floods moving there. Also ran across another Savannah being ferried from Port Lincoln, SA to Dirranbandi, Qld. Come along for the ride, with some photos at http://www.stolspeed.com/water-everywhere Tailwinds always, JohnG