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Flying Officer Kite

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Posts posted by Flying Officer Kite

    BERLIN AIRLIFT - PART THREE

    in AUS/NZ General Discussion

    Posted

    I hope that he stuff that I am posting is of interest to Flyers, and if it is deigned Not to be, then please say so And I shall desist.Phil. X X X

    Fascinating stuff Phil. Brings back memories of my old employer, British Eagle (RIP), which, as Eagle Airways, was one of the many airlines which took part in this massive operation. Just a little before my time though!

     

     

    • Informative 1

    Favourite aviation books

    in Aircraft General Discussion

    Posted

    An air fighters scrapbook by Ira Jones

    There's also another good read by Wing Commander Ira "Taffy" Jones - the best-selling "Tiger Squadron - The Story of 74 Squadron RAF in Two World Wars". Long out of print now, but used paperback and hardcover copies occasionally pop up on eBay, Amazon, Abe Books and other sites. The book was actually ghost-written by my late father, John Oram (Jack) Thomas, and while they were working together Jones was a frequent visitor to our house. I was about 12 at the time and he became something of an adopted favourite uncle to me. Sadly, like "Aircraftman Shaw" (T. E Lawrence), having survived more scrapes with death than most of us would ever experience, some years later he was killed in a motorcycle accident.

     

     

    • Like 1
    • Agree 1

    Good old Channel 7 does it again

    in AUS/NZ General Discussion

    Posted

    One of the reasons I refuse to pay subcription fees to any news feed, is because todays journalism is amongst the laziest work I have endured.Spelling errors, misplaced paragraphs, poor grammar, words omitted, and an often-disjointed story, are just regular features of news articles. Proof-reading is obviously a lost skill today.

    Sadly, onetrack, it's worse than that. Proof-reading in most printed and online "journalism" is no longer bothered with. Sub-editors were among the first casualties of cost-cutting by national and local newspapers and journalists are now required to sub their own copy, a task for which far too many are totally ill-equipped, having little, if any, detailed knowledge of spelling, grammar, punctuation and syntax (not that such ancient arts seem to matter much to many in today's media).

    Anyone seen an ad for a Sub-editor lately?008_roflmao.gif.692a1fa1bc264885482c2a384583e343.gif

     

    FULL DISCLOSURE: In an earlier life I was a print journalist and although "sub-bashing" when a sub-editor dared to "improve" or correct our carefully-crafted prose was a daily pastime, we grudgingly recognised that only the sub's vigilance and skill not infrequently had protected us from at least the odd irate complaint from someone whose name we had mis-spelled or, thank God, some expensive litigation.

     

     

    • Like 3
    • Agree 2

    Drifter makes emergency landing on Surfers Paradise beach

    in AUS/NZ General Discussion

    Posted

    Stricken powered glider .... hmmm. Would that be an ultralight ?Nah - couldn’t be because 1. the people were unhurt and 2. the “powered glider” looks just fine and clearly is not a death trap.

     

    My Christmas wish is that in 2018 one reporter - just 1 - actually ask the pilot what the hell it is they are flying AND actually report it as it is.

    Your wish has been granted Kasper! See Gold Coast Bulletin link above....

     

     

    • Agree 1

    Drifter makes emergency landing on Surfers Paradise beach

    in AUS/NZ General Discussion

    Hello

    in Just Landed - Welcome

    Posted

    Hello,May I introduce myself. I worked in the UK in aviation since 1961. The airlines that I worked for were British Eagle International Airlines, Seaboard World Airlines Inc. and EL AL Israel Airlines. Served as an avionic tech in each of the airlines..

    Although very much retired I run the British Eagle Airline Archives here in the UK.

     

    I came across this website as a result of some research for the archives regarding immigrant flights in Britannia aircraft. The fact that Eagle ran many immigrant flights to Australia in the sixties has meant that we now have collected a fair number of Passenger manifest which also give the registration of the aircraft. I am more than willing to pass on this information to relatives.

     

    Regards eric

    Wow! Another former Eagle bod - like me! 098_welcome.gif.81ff07d492568199326e4f64f78d7bc6.gif We've been in contact before in connection with the archives. Always look back on that period of my life with great affection - best job I ever had (publicity and PR). Those were good times, such a shame they ended the way they did.

     

    - Mike

     

     

    Aviation TV shows

    in Aviation Videos

    Posted

    Maybe slightly off-topic, but does anyone else of "a certain age", and probably British descent, remember a 1933 aviation adventure serial, "The Mystery Squadron" shown on the fledgling BBC television service in the 1950's? US-made and obviously dated even by the time it made it to the British 9-inch black and white screens, I fondly remember sitting with my dad as we watched the full 12 weekly episodes together. Apart from the incredible actual and studio-recreated biplane aerial sequences, I'll never forget the thrill of hearing the villain's radio call - "Black Ace calling station A". Seems a few others have fond memories too, as a Google search brings up quite a few references. For those who enjoy a bit of flying nostalgia, some restored episodes are available on DVD and streamed, free, at The Mystery Squadron DVD.

     

    - Mike

     

     

    FlightGear Foxbat anywhere?

    in Flight Sim

    Posted

    g'day Kite - Simviation has a very nice freeware A22 by Rick piper, don't know if it will work for you, it's FSX- this link may work:Simviation: Microsoft Flight Simulator Addons

     

    as for the Drifter by Ant's Airplanes, it has fairly accurate flight dynamics - 0455 is my 1:1 aircraft and I was one of the beta testers for Anthony

     

    I know for a fact he did a lot of amazing work on this aircraft - zoom in on the air cleaners to get an idea of what I mean - he also came for a flight with me to record all the sounds

     

    I did test flights with all sorts of parameters for Anthony and then compared the results to what happened on the simulator - I reckon it's just about spot on

     

    (that's actually moi in the red helmet as the pilot...)

    Thanks for that info bp. I'd love to play with a good sim, but cost being an important factor for me (like most aspiring flyers I'm sure), I've decided that rather than blow $$$ on a more powerful pc I'll keep spending it in hands-on training - at least until I get the hang of getting the flare right so I can finally move on to solo!

     

    - Mike

     

     

    Stored Hueys

    in Aviation Enthusiasts

    Posted

    Apparently it's because they're not yet protected from lightning (oh the irony...). I would've thought that's something you'd think about when actually building the aircraft, instead of doing it later.So maybe future wars will be like cricket... our PM will ring the opposition leader and say "Looks like a spot of rain... would you mind delaying your invasion a bit? It's our planes, you see, yes they cost 120 mill each, but they don't like going out in the wet..."

    A Civil War then?

     

     

    Show us your bad landings!

    in Student Pilot & Further Learning

    Posted

    Interesting and reassuring thread. Thought I was the only student finding it difficult not to drift left on landing, but from the comments above it seems it's something many do in the early stages of training. I've occasionally managed to follow the centerline, but then spoilt it by misjudging the flare. Very frustrating and I'm losing patience with myself quicker than my calm and patient instructor is. But today, coming up to my 16th hour, I'm determined to get it right!

     

    - Mike

     

     

    Post journalist's abysmal incident reports here

    in Aviation Laughter

    Posted

    The photo of the aircraft standing on it's wheels is a little misleading - the report states that it was found standing on its nose in the field and the state of the prop tends to bear that out. I think if I parked my Tiger on its nose, I'd probably admit to crashing it.

    ... and wouldn't you think that even the most junior/uninformed hack reporter would have been able to identify one of the most recognizable historic aircraft in the world? On the other hand, at least he didn't call it a Cessna. And it's reassuring to know there was "no disruption to the roads".

    - Mike

     

     

    RAA Classifieds

    in Aircraft General Discussion

    Posted

    It appears as though RAA may have realised that they pissed some people of by taking away our classifieds from the website. It has been reinstated.Maybe they will give us back our free magazine as well. LOL

    008_roflmao.gif.692a1fa1bc264885482c2a384583e343.gif ... and that's only because I couldn't find a "Flying Pigs" smilie!

     

     

    • Haha 1

    Cessna Officially Junks Skycatchers

    in AUS/NZ General Discussion

    Posted

    Mike:As far as I know, Silent Wings are still importing the Legend. We had ours down at OzKosh on show on the dealer's stand and there was a LOT of interest in it. Give Greg a call if you're interested in it. So far, there are two in Oz but more may be coming after the turnout at OzKosh.

    Thanks Scott, I'm afraid that as I've only just started RAAus certificate training, it's something I shall have to admire from afar! But if you ever plan to drop in to YCAB with her I'd love to know so I could maybe have a closer look.

     

    - Mike

     

     

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