Neil_S

Hi Andrew, Shell Advance VSX 4 is pretty easy to get from motorbike stores. We have used it for years in our Rotax 912A. It's on the list (2 different viscosities - I am pretty sure we use 15W50). Cheers Neil

Hi Matty, Speaking on Mick's behalf - yes it is! I have flown in a number of times. Let me know when you plan to go there and I will try to get there too for a coffee/chat. Best to choose a day with nil wind or northerlies as there are tall trees at the northern end of the strip which can make landing southwards a bit tricky. Cheers, Neil

Hi Buzzard, I don't fly a trike, but I have found the Mini G iPad Mini Kneeboard from Sky High Gear to be really good in my Gazelle. No frills, just a solid kneeboard with adjustable elastic strap. It was also considerably cheaper than some of the alternatives even after postage was included. Worth a look IMO. Cheers, Neil

Congratulations, mate! My better half and I will be celebrating 30 years next year.....happy wife, happy life..... Cheers, Neil

Hi Beefy, - tell us some more about yourself - what you fly, how long you have been flying etc. Don't be shy! Cheers, Neil

Both videos are stunning! So much we arrogant humans have yet to learn! Cheers Neil

Hi Dan, Congratulations on making the decision to learn to fly! You will not regret it. I also wished I had done it earlier than the age of 54, so you are ahead of me. I would agree with what the others have said, ie a lesson a week if possible, and ask your instructor what the next lesson will be so you can read it up in the books beforehand and have a better idea of what you are doing (and why) when you come to each lesson. Learning is fun, so just take it one step at a time, and don't expect to remember everything first time - you won't! Enjoy your learning, and keep us all posted with your progress. Cheers and good luck, Neil

Hi, Excellent documentary - very interesting and very matter of fact commentary. Thanks for posting! Cheers Neil

Great airshow yesterday at Tyabb, and good weather! Here are a few pics :- Not often you see a Sopwith Snipe and Sopwith Pup side by side!! Yak 9 Temora Spitfire P-40 Kittyhawk Beautiful Stinson Gullwing Cessna 195 P-51 Mustang ...and Vev's Ercoupe, of course!! Cheers, Neil

Well done, mate!

Andrew, If the others don't work out I believe you can order it from Peter McLean at Yarrawonga Flight Training who will send it. http://www.yarrawongaflighttraining.com.au/?page_id=2 Cheers Neil

OK - my Gazelle is registered with RAA. However it used to be registered VH. So how the **** does that make my RAA registered plane "not a registered aeroplane or a recognised aeroplane". It would appear the b*llsh*t continues......... Neil

I shall be there, with a mate. Looking forward to it. Neil

Don't you still need a plane with a certified engine, and TSO'd instruments, to fly into Controlled Airspace? Rules out a lot of recreational planes I would think.... Cheers Neil

Hi Matty, Not flying in, but meeting up with a friend and car-sharing. We must definitely meet up and say hi - suggest best organized by text as I couldn't hear a word on my phone at Point Cook due to planes, commentators, and background music. Must have listened to too many loud rock bands in my misspent youth! Shall we say meet up at the entrance to the Flying Club building at 1pm - text me if that is not convenient and we can arrange something else. Cheers Neil

....and what's this one at Point Cook today?

...and some more....

Hardly just a Fly-In - it is an Airshow celebrating 100 years of Military Aviation in Australia, organized by the RAAF. Everything from FA-18s, Hercules, to Bristol Boxkite replica, Sopwith Pup replica, and the Roulettes. Tickets in advance from Ticketmaster. Flying displays from 10am to 3.30pm Saturday and Sunday. Don't think anybody can just turn up in their microlight.... I am going on the Sunday (by car).... Cheers Neil

Hi Charlie, and . I hope you find a good plane to build, and enjoy flying her when finished. I assume you are aware of EAA in the US, if not then I would highly recommend joining as you would then have access to loads of useful info wrt building and flying, as well as their forums too. Keep us posted with your progress! Cheers Neil

Hi, You could try :- Sanctuary Lakes Hotel 280 Point Cook Road Point Cook 3030 03 8353 1052 No idea if they are booked out..... Cheers Neil

I used to work for British Airways at Heathrow for about 10 years, and no matter what else was going on, or how many times you had seen it, when Concorde took off everyone just stopped what they were doing and watched. An awesome sight, and sadly missed. I was fortunate enough to fly from Heathrow to New York on it one time. Brilliant. Neil

G'day! Welcome to the site! Cheers Neil

Haha - reminds me of the brilliant account in Ernest Gann's superb "Fate is the Hunter" where he describes the load of steel radio towers that they are carrying (but had not tied down) slipping down to the back of the plane at takeoff, and his companion's struggle to move them back forward to avert a tail-heavy disaster! Cheers Neil

Hi Kaz, I believe Mangalore & Locksley Field are 121.1, not 119.1, but I totally agree with your point. I frequently fly that route when going from Penfield to Wangaratta exactly because it has a lot of small airfields in case the fan should stop, or some other reason where I would need to land quickly, but it does not seem to be a logical setup. I actually switch to 126.7 when past Locksley Field and therefore 5 miles from Longwood, and stay on it for Euroa and Violet Town. Then I switch to Area Frequency until 10 miles from Benalla when I switch to 122.5, but Earlston airfield is shown on the VNC within 10nm of Benalla, but with no CTAF frequency. So this should really be 126.7 too. So I flip to Area Frequency and listen, but then flip back to 126.7 when close to these small airfields. CAAP 166-1(2) has the following definition for "In the vicinity" : An aircraft is in the vicinity of a non-controlled aerodrome if it is within: a) airspace other than controlled airspace; and b) a horizontal distance of 10 NM from the aerodrome (reference point); and c) a height above the aerodrome (reference point) that could result in conflict with operations at the aerodrome. The elevation of the land along that stretch is about 600 or 700 ft, so those airfields would have circuit heights (for small piston aircraft) of 1600 or 1700 ft, and the minimum overfly height would normally be about 1000 above that, ie 2600 or 2700. However, I am usually at quadrantal 3500 or 5500 heading East, so the question remains if I am at 3500 or more whether I am deemed to be at a height "that could result in conflict with operations at the aerodrome" and therefore should just stay on Area Frequency? I know Euroa does parachute drops, so they must operate a lot higher than 2700 ft....... Perhaps we should be requesting a better definition of a height "that could result in conflict with operations at the aerodrome", and if you are within the cylinder of 10nm radius and this defined height (let's say 1000 ft above circuit height, or 2000ft above the airfield elevation) then broadcast/listen on 126.7, but when you transit out of, or are about to go into, this cylinder a broadcast on Area Frequency with your position and intentions. It is not perfect, but perhaps a little clearer than the current documentation...... Cheers, Neil

Agreed. It is bad that AIP & CAAP contradict each other. I would have thought the following should apply. 1. If the airfield/ALA is neither in ERSA nor on the charts (VTC/VNC etc) then broadcasting on 126.7 will be a waste of time as people flying in the area will probably have no clue it even exists and will not be listening on 126.7, but rather on the area frequency. So broadcast on the area frequency, giving a very brief description of its location. 2. If the airfield/ALA is marked on the charts, but has no CTAF and is not in ERSA, then when in the vicinity listen on 126.7 and broadcast on 126.7. Cheers Neil