Jerry_Atrick

OK.. impossible to work out where they were, but even assuming a non FISO airfield, there should be radio calls somewhere?!? That is nuts... BTW, rather sadly, I used to work at Coles Myer at their Tooronga head office in Melb (nicknamed the "Tooronga Zoo"). A lovely lady (few years my senior) who was a server at the canteen (called "The Bistro") had a husband who was a glider pilot. He drove to Tocumwal every second Sunday, went for a glide and drove back. At the time, I used to go to Toc one a month for a weekend (Friday night to Sunday morning) mostly for gliding, but I never met him. I used to glide on Saturdays as well and left Sunday for a lazy sleep in and lunch before the 3+ hour drive back to Melbourne. One Sunday evening I get back to Melbourne but go to the sis-in-law's place instead of home. As we are yapping away, one of her kids grabs my attention to the tellie to show me a glider accident at Toc; A power pilot was descending on final and the prop cuts through the tail of a glider. My heart sank as, although I didn't know his name (they hadn't yet married), I just knew it was him. The next day, she was not there, and when I asked about her, they just said she had a sudden family bereavement. I felt gutted, as she confided to me she hated him gliding, but I used to assure her the drive home after an early morning drive up + all day gliding was far more dangerous than the gliding itself. When she finally returned to work, I greeted her; she came out from behind the counter and gave me a big hug.. Tears were streaming from both of our eyes as I apologised for giving her false assurance. She told me not to be silly and agreed it was a freak accident and it brought some comfort he died what he loved doing. It was the only time I thought of chucking it all in. I gave up gliding not too long after, though.. I have not been in a glider since (although I have yearned to a few times). [edit] I still have the newspaper cut out...

Glad to hear pilot will be (or should be) OK... Noted that the ATSB were informed.. Do they investigate such actions for RAAus aircraft?

2017 - 145 hours 2018 - 122 hours 2019 - 65 hours (a/c was in the paint shop for a bleedin long time) 2020 - Zippo hours... a/c came out of paint shop just before lockdown, sold the share, work dried up.. Start some work on Wednesday, and we go into lockdown on Thursday!

Ahh.. OK. .The ad has to contact someone called Mario (can't recall the surname) on an Aussie mobile...

The phrase, "Watch this space..." comes to mind...

Nice part of the world you've retired too, squire... Often see Aeropup advertising in the UK both for the aircraft and set aup a distributorship/manufacturing operation. I think someone took on the distributorship... not 100% sure. Interesting the instructions are a pain... Would not do for someone of my engineering talent-lessness...

Another in flight break up - not quite as dramatic, but made little lambies or goats a little nervous... Around 2:50 is where iut starts..

Yes.. Sadly what happens when a schlock rag tries to make a mountain out of a molehill 😉

Firstly, this is probably a better discussion to behas on socialaustralia, as it is politial rather than flying related. I rarely click on a link to Brietbart, but did on this occasion.. At best, a tepid attempt to sensationalise something that reflects its makeup and introducing gener nuetral pronouns - and what is actually wrong with that.. There are women fighter pilots as well as women chefs and technicians/engineers.. And for haircuts and head-gear... well, they are simply reflecting the times - probably to continue to attract the best to its ranks.. Re turbans: they have allowed them for at least 19 years as when I did work at a RAF base, there were service personnel wearing them.. in fact, bringing them into uniform could be seen as tightening discipline a bit... Two great editorial quotes from that article: "... although the flying service somehow managed to see off Hitler’s Luftwaffe in the 1940s without recourse to gender-neutral pronouns." Yes, but I am sure the vernacular has changed somewhat since WWII.. I don't recall anyone at the RAF still saying "Tally-Ho, Ol Chap".. Also by that logic, since they fended off the Luftwaffe using spitfires and hurricanes, why on earth did they bother upgrading to jets since.. FFS.. "The Ministry of Defence has been led by Conservative Party politicians since 2010.".. Er... So? They are actually caning their own right wing.. Fantastic (also, it is not the MOD that is implementing this, it is the RAF themselves - so no - not led by any political party). Also, something about introducing woke culture as if it is a bad thing... Well, it isn;t, although, as usual, the right try and hojack terms to suit their twisted agenda: https://www.theguardian.com/society/shortcuts/2020/jan/21/how-the-word-woke-was-weaponised-by-the-right I do agree though, that the potential scrapping of tanks is an issue, but the £500K for a diversit and inclusion directorate is being reported by the British "Freedom" Party and the Daily Wail (er, Mail) and no-one else - can't find reference to it from MOD nor army sources on the net... And, for reference, there is no mention in the Brietbart crap that the RAF will be renaming itself to change the word force.. And sorry to differe FB, but force is very much a gender neutral word already.. Nice try at futher sensationalism, though... (I don't support the left any more than the right, but it appears the right are whipping up a frenzy not too dissimilar to both "sides" of the left/right divide prior to WWII... Interesting times ahead...)

Firstly, it is unclear whether the lapotop and/or content is authentic.. You'll get a good treatment on this on the ABC's Fireside Chat, last week.. But, the shop owner is a dedicated Trump supporter, why would Hunter Biden drop a laptop off for repair at an unknown shop for repair when he lives on the other side of the country? Why was it not encrypted? Why would he not pick it up again if it had a lot of sensitive data (cost of the laptop is not important)? Why does the shop owner contradict both his original timelines and that esposued by I think Giuliani? Yet, the shop, in Delaware, is only a short drive from New York... There were other things on the Fireside Chat that called it into question.. yes, people are that dumb... but at this stage, let's wait and see what the investigation shows, because even without the commentary provided, it was already suspicious. Yes, Eric was a coke head, yes, he may have used the family name for his personal business gain, and yes, he may have even offered to get meetings with Joe Biden to wrangle some influence/deals - but unless Joe Biden was complicit and involved, Joe Biden should not be vicariously tarred with the Hunter Biden brush. They are different people. For what it's worth, I think both candidates are short of the mark required to be president. The people of America do not have much to choose from.

Except for Yeovilton, the other airfields I mentioned are those they definitely won't let you near as a civvie. With Yeovilton, they will, but, like others, you need to give notice (I have given at least a week's notice) and of course, it must not conflict with their operations. I have ben to Yeovilton (Naval Air Service rather than RAF) twice, once for their airshow and once for an all-day meeting (non-military related) held at their museum meeting centre. You have tio give details similar to a GAR (General Aviaton Request) form, which I guess they forward to the Special Branch for backgorund checks. I have also been into St Athan (RAF), Cranwell (RAF - but more a university airfield these days), and Cosford. Glad to hear overflying is OK.. Although the best route from Blackbushe and Fairoaks, where I had shares in a plane to Dunkeswell - my closest airfield to home - takes me almost directly OH Boscombe Down, I have never even bothered trying to get an overhead clearance as I know it would be futile (have been through the Danger Area, but they routed me to the north...)...

Let's not forget, the video presented in the OP was put together by the Lincoln Project - a bunch of republocans opposed to the election of the republican nominated presidential candidate.. I am not sure anything like this has happened in the history of US politics (I am not sure it hasn't either, but not in my lifetime).

I had some credits with an air school in North London. So a work colleague who was also a member of my PA28 syndicate and I flew from Surrey (Fairoaks) to North London (Elstree) where I was to use up the credit showing him a loop in a tired C150A.. It had a 4 point harness and normally I check the thing is very tight.. must have forgot. We took off, found an area of sky where there weren't too many others around and in the apex, I came off my seat, pulling back on the control column.. Didn't hit my head, but it did wake me up... (Also, a couple of pens fell from behind the rudder pedals... that was more worrying...)

Campaing Against Sivil Aviation, eh? That is a shame... There are fields here that have a reputation for denying permission, but the pilot can make a complaint and if there was no operational requirement denyung the permission, then the station commander can be in for a bit of a grilling.. However, how many times do they not have such an operational requirement? Shame though, and a little short-sighted.. Can you imagine a father taking his impressionable children to a mil field and they are so smitten by it, they decide they want a career in the forces - they are closing down a free (or where the pilot pays for the landing fee, paid-for) recruitment opportunity..

I just checked my log book and my very first training flight for the PPL was at RVAC on June, 1988. At the time, RVAC's single fleet were all PA28s, mainly Warriors and a 181. My first flight was in JIO, which is still used by club. Also at the club during my time there is MRX (the -181 - affectionally known as Mr X), BZE, and I think TPW (although it may have been there when I last flew there as a non-member in about 2012). The two 152s replaced UPS and UPY, both were involved in fatal accidents (1 near Coldstream and 1, I think a mid-air over or in the Moorabbin circuit). The Seminole may have been there when I was there.. I am single engine only.. they would have used it mainly for IFR and twin training.. There was also an on-line Partnavia at RVAC when I was there. Checking the log book, they finsihed with a few other 15x on the line, but some may well have been cross-hires (where a school will hire to another school if there is more demand at the "another" school). So yes, there are some older planes there, but as Bosi says, these are fairly standard for GA training (and of course, the Slings are newer). Cessnas and Pipers form the core of general aviation schools worldwide - or at least in the Western world.. with the possible exception of France where I would guess Socata and Robin also have a good look in (and don't forget, Cessnas were also produced in Reims, which were factory corrosion proofed when the US ones weren't). In Europe, where there is a lot of modern aviation manufacturing coming out, we are seeing Slings and AT-3s at GA flying schools (or for GA training), but not as many as you think. Some continetnal schools also have Tecnams in their GA training fleet, but most of the modern/later model stuff that is being used for training is for commercial flight schools (think Oxford, FlyJerez, etc). Also, as MattP says, cost should only be one factor. Forgetting your mission for the moment, I am living testimony that how you click with your instructor is probably the most important (so instructor continuity may be best as well). When I started flying again in the UK after a long break, I thought, "Hey, I know how to fly and am just blowig off the cobwebs", so I foudn the cheapest school and my instructor and I just could not communicate that well. After about 6 weeks, my confidence slumped, my flying was terrible and I was about to chuck it in thinking I have forgotten how to fly and can no longer learn... It culminated in a big row between himself and myself as I was obviously irritating him, and he me. When I got home, I told the wife I was hanging up the headsets and although she hates flying and hates me flying, she sat down and said she noticed I would come home visibily angry, something she never saw before and that maybe I should try somewhere else. A few weeks alter, with the right instructor, I was ready for the solo cross country qualifier and to take the test (unf, it would be months before I could because of weather). Next, for me wouold be what the school is like - particularly, how confident are you of their maintenance, their staff, their procedures, etc. I picked RVAC after looking at a lot of schools at Moorabbin, Essendon, Melton, Lilydale, Romsey, Baccus Marsh (it's where TVSA, who are now in Moorabbin, started). I did a lot of TIFs, which I recommend because not only do you get to check out different instruction styles, it gives you the chance to build a framework/some experience to make a comparison about what works for you as well as how good the school is (e.g. do they rush through the checks or take their time and are thorough), etc. I settled on RVAC for my reasons... I am not saying they were better or worse than anyone else. On the question of RPC --> RPL --> PPL.. that is one of cost, preference, and mission. On cost, the RPC route is going to be the cheapest. But, take into account the instructor and the school and whether it is right for you. One advantage though is that LSAs, althrough conceptually the same have slightly different characteristics and of course, when learning, you should stick to the same type, but if you know you will go to, say PPL, by the time you get there (and to a point where you sound you will be ready to take the pax you anticipate), you will have flown different types with different characteristics which may be beneficial in the longer run. So, it will be cheaper, and also give you more varied training by the time you get to the PPL. From your mission, I am guessing more than one pax but cross-coutry can be anything from Moorrabbin to Lilydale to Moorabbin to, well anywhere (but for discussions sake, let's say Mildura). An LSA is equally capable for both (assuming enough number of seats), but I think two elderly parents going to Mildura would feel more comfy in a GA type - generally - but not always... If you want to go to Mildura, you want to be able to cross that Class C over Tulla, maybe route overhad Tulla, so talking to Melbourne, Tullamarine; and Mildura. You may want to get an instrument rating (is there a recreational instrurment rating in Aus).. to maximise your chances of getting home shoudl the weather not be so great. I think you have to be PPL rated and fly only GA planes for IFR (you can fly IFR with permit/LSAs in the UK - so I may be wring as I am going off 30 year old Aus Air law). I don't see a RPL (which sounds like the old RPPL, except you can bolt on endorsements) would be of any great use nor save you any money. Cut a long story short.. - Get a school and instructor you like and click with. - I would recommend RPC --> PPL from your mission and my assumptions; and it would give you varied training. - If it costs more, it will take longer - it's a hobby (at the moment) and you don't sound like you're in your 50's yet. - Don't pretend the tram is a plane while driving (when waitign at the end of a route to turn around, try not to make "neeeeooooowwww" noises)! [Edit] Airsports Flying School at Riddells Creek may have somethign for you. I have no idea about them and their website is a little on the amateur side as well as don't give hourly rates, but they should be easy to get to from the west with the Ring Road and freeways... May be worth a shot.. https://www.airsports.net/

Maybe may be worth asking when is a good time to come and visit? In the UK, there is a sense that as these airports are continually paid for by the taxpayer, the public should be able to use them as much as possible...

I have been watching this: And checked the local airport in Newcastle on Google maps.. and it is RAAF Williamtown... Had no idea before that.. How pig ignorant am I?

@Flying Binghi - thanks.. will look it up.. @Bruce Tuncks - Missed that one...

I did an internet search to find out to what extent civvies can use military airfields in Australia and didin't come up with anything. In the UK, the MOD actively encourage civvies to use military airfields.. It isn't always cheap (e.g. £40 landing fee at RNAS Yeovilton if you have the requisite insurance), but in a land of ever diminishing civvie airfields, it is an important option. Of course, it is PPR and at the discretion of the station commander, but I have a few airfields in the log book where there are operational fighting squadrons and training ones. A friend of mine popped into Yeovilton and ended up getting a tour of the F35s (or YF 35s - can't remember their actual designation).. external only.. I recall from my flying that airspace around virtually all military airfields was prohibited airspace - or at least heavily restricted (with some procedures for accessing civvie airfields within military airfield zones). And I recall RAAF Point Cook being opened to the RVAC one Sunday for spot landing competitions - jeez that must have been the lat 80s or early 90s.. It was not normally done, but I think it was one of the best attended comps.. But I can't recall if Aus generally allows civvies a/c into their military airfields. There would be obvious exceptions - in the UK, Boscombe Down (no longer RAF managed, but still a research base and home to Empire Test Pilots School), and the bases that house the Quick Reaction Alert squadrons would be the obvious. Lakenheath also, as this is a joint USAF base and they don't lik their a/c to mingle with civvies. Fairford is also off limits as it is a backup base, and is used by the US as a stopover for their bigger and more sensitive hardware. But apart from that, most military airfields are accommodating subject to operational requirements at the time you intend to visit. Is it the same in Aus, or are they all more or less off limits? Note: From the MOD Policy Statement (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/393016/20141218-JSP360.pdf) "is MOD policy to encourage the civil use of defence facilities wherever possible, provided this is consistent with defence requirements, the interests of existing tenants and licensees, and does not unreasonably affect local amenities. MOD airfields in particular represent a valuable national asset, and the income from civil flying provides a useful contribution to the defence budget. The Wider Markets Initiative (now known as ‘Income Generation’) gave further encouragement to public bodies to earn commercial revenue. COs and Heads of Establishments are therefore to consider all requests for civil flying facilities sympathetically."

@bluebird121 - How did you get on getting to Edinburgh? I have been looking for flights back to Aus (Sydney) and with 4 weeks notice and a whole lot of cash, there is a way.... The in laws of a friend in Melb spent $11K each to get to Ireland and back (family bereavement). I know you have Emirates credits, but unless it was business, my guess is they did (or will or would have) requested a top up.

First sentence - agree.. No evidence (yet).. IRS still investigating. Sentences 2 and 3.. I am not sure if you have operated as a company before, but even in the USA, you cannot treat your company revenue as your personal income. You can either a) pay yourself a salary (with appropriate taxes, social security, ambo, fire service, medicare (US) and other deductions), or take your personal spend as dividends and by taking into account the equivalent of Franking Credits, deduct the similar tax from those dividends as you would if you were employed by your company (see above taxes and other typical US deductions).. A company in the US cannot cover personal expenses any more than a company in Aus without the person for whom those expenses are covered paying appropriate tax and other social charges (e.g. super/401K). Using your business jet travelling example: If he was able to meet his mate, Vlad, at Mar-i-lago (or whatever it is called) for a "business meeting", then yes, it could be expensed through the company. Under US IRS law though (much like Aussie tax law), if it was deemed only a portion of the trip (e.g. DT met Vlad for a day but stayed for two weeks), then a portion of the flight, hotel, food, etc would be deemed personal and he would have to pay tax as personal income for the proprotional cost of the flight, hotel, food and any other entertainment. As he owns the resort, you may think that because the room and food/booze that he was given rather than having to pay for would not have to be taxed. Er.. no.. Fringe Benefits Tax is also payable in the US (where do you think we got it from?). Of course, I am simplifying this somewhat, because, no doubt, there will be low tax country ownership and other rorts that governments allow uber-wealthy people (or those that purport to be uber-wealthy) to help minimise the amount of tax they have to pay. My point is, just because the business pays for something does not mean it is a legitimate business expense which can be deducted from revenue/income for tax purposes. Simply, your assertions in those sentences are flawed (or do not contain enough clarification to be valid). Sentence 4 - you and me and the rest of the interested world both (gramatically incorrect, but you get my drift).

@SplitS - this is a very good point.. And I can't remember the numbers, but the number of bombs he has dropped is less than half of the total that Obama dropped during his tenure, so by extrapolation assuming a second term, he will have droped less in existing conflicts than Obama dropped in both existing and new conflicts. My son keeps telling me that Obama has authorised many drone strikes that have taken out may thousands of innocent civvies as collateral damage and then used the excuse thaty the strikes were necessary to save thousands of lives. I haven't double checked, and even if I did, I would be happy to be corrected. Apparently, DT has authorised a handful of similar strikes and collateral damage has been much less. Of course, it could be because drone and weapons tech has moved on... but... But, and I admit, without the facts and only playing devils advocate, could his inaction had cost more lives? He withdrew troops from Syria and that has since escalated with a higher rate of civvie losses than before. It was also seen as a betrayal of the Kurds - assumed to be supported by the US to be left alone against a far mightier foe. OK, Obama may have started it, but the US started it.. so they should have supported it until its conclusion. While not diminishing the importance of any life lost - allied or or other, allied losses tend to be restricted compared to others in such wars of late, and given the USA's position in the "free" (aka Western) world, and the leadership role they assume, are they justified in pulling out. Also, has there been new conflicts that have started, or have existing ones just kept rolling on? BTW, that is not to say his predecesors were saints.. Far from it. I can't speak to Obama, but G-double-ya and Tony Blair went into Iraq totally unjustified and in my opinon, both should be tried at the Hague - they may or may not be guilty - but justice does require a formal hearing. And the shennanigans at Guantanomo Bay has to be investigated - as a collective, we are better than the allegations. And, of course, Gulf War 1 was not about coming to an ally's defence, but defending the flow of oil.. We know that. I have always said DT has done some good things. Some have said a clock says the right time twice a day, but on reflection, that analogy is not appropriate - the clock has stopped working; DT continues to work. He got Kim Jon Ng talkiing (ultimatley, it failed, but at least provided a sliver of hope), he has got the NATO countries investing in defence at the levels they should, he has brokered (probably with his aides) a significant middle east peace deal. OK, some say it is symbolic, but one should not underestimate the significance of the Saudis allowing an El Al passenger carrying flight through their airspace nor the UAE allowing them to land (and presumably providing the appropriate level of security) in their country. Of course, if I were Israel, I would be thinking are they being lulled into a false sense of security - especially given their leader - but DT can take credit for pulling a rabbit out of the hat. Unfortunately, he has too many other policy directions and actions which more than cancel it out. Climate change, domestic division, open racism, cronyism, rigging the postal service to frustrate postal votets (so, corruption), and the list goes on. He has a disposition which grates a lot of people and his command of communication is not great - and while we would expect a press to see through that, unfortunatley, it doesn't. The big concern is he undermines democracy and the rule of law in his own country. The US is polarsied as is the western world... His denial of science and although I will not say the 220K deaths are all his fault, as a leader and steppingin fron (has he proclaims), the steps he has led his population through seem to be the wrong ones - on many counts. |There has been no new skirmish/war for him to deal with.. Maybe he has bullied all minor countured into submission (and maybe not).. If one does flare up while he is in power, it will be interesting to see how he does.

BTW - still think JB will fall marginally short.

This is probably more for socialaustralia.com.au, but given the last few posts, I will put it here. I find this the most balanced discussion about the presidential race and it does discuss some of the above:

That one!