Neil_S

Well done, mate!

Hi Heather, Welcome to the site. I take it from your recent other post that you fly a Gazelle? Great stuff - let's see some pix and hear about your flying background, where you fly from, etc. Don't be shy! Cheers Neil

Hi Heather, Yup - no bungees on a Gazelle - they are vulcanized blocks like the man said. We recently replaced ours with newer undercarriage struts from another Gazelle that was being rebuilt (with different undercarriage as a taildragger) and they were spare. Perhaps you may be lucky and do the same if you advertise.... Cheers Neil

Hi Paul, You might try sending a message to a guy on this site called Foxworker (real name also Paul), or even call him on 0402 871771. He is very knowledgeable on Skyfox wings. Cheers Neil

Hi Robyn, I waited about 35 years before learning to fly! Far too long! You will get the hang of it all in time - just keep going. After all, if you are going to do kangaroo hops then Australia is the place to do them.... Keep us posted with your progress. Cheers Neil

That helicopter vid is just insane!

Hi Ozzie, Excellent pix! Thanks for sharing. Cheers Neil

Hi Bacon, - hope the training is going well. Keep us posted on your progress.... Cheers Neil

Hi David, Very interesting - thanks for supplying that info. Gives us all something to think about, and when illustrated in that manner it is very sobering just how little time there is to react. Cheers Neil

Wow - that was interesting flying! Don't think I will be landing the Gazelle like that though Cheers Neil

Mine has a throttle lock that prevents the throttle being pushed in, but I would think it possible to start the engine with the throttle in its locked position. The throttle lock is there to prevent the plane from taking off (eg stolen by terrorists to fly into a building etc), but it wouldn't stop anyone playing silly b*gg*rs. Perhaps we should get them to pay for the fuel, then stand close in front of the plane while we start it.. Cheers Neil

...and we have "bone" and "debone", which mean the same, "ravel" and unravel" which mean the same, "flammable" and "inflammable" which mean the same. No wonder people who don't have English as their first language get confused..... Also I like these :- through trough thorough thought tough throughout Cheers Neil

Hmmmm - tautology - we could circle round that one for ages...

Hi Malcolm, Congratulations, mate! Well deserved. BTW - when back in Vic prepare to wear your wellies when pulling your Allegro out of the hangar - it's been pouring here in Vic and there was a lake in front of our hangar last time I was there. Had to get Vince to help me put the Gazelle back as the wheels got bogged. He says he will fix it in the near future though. Sorry to hear about the job - hope you get another one soon. Cheers Neil

Procrastinate NOW!

...and too many people rely on a spell checker when they really need a grammar checker. Just because "effect" is spelt correctly doesn't mean it is correct - a lot of times I see it used when they should use "affect". "Principle" when it should be "principal", "compliment" when it should be "complement"....etc etc. It's such fun being a pedant .

LOL - brilliant!

Hi Ignition, LOL - they certainly are, and I had to learn them as a 13 year old at school in order to speak and write Latin. I also had no idea what they were in English, but we use them all without knowing about them because in English Language lessons these days they don't feel the need to teach the parts of language. I can explain them all if you really want me to......I just hope I don't turn into my Latin master (he wasn't my favourite teacher). Cheers Neil

I had to learn Latin at school, and at the time I hated it. But now I have to admit it was very useful as you absolutely had to understand the structure of language to be able to do Latin correctly. From there I actually understood correct English. When I talk to the younger generations at work about conjugations, declensions, the pluperfect tense, subjunctive mood, passive voice, gerunds, ablatives, etc they think I am talking another language.... But that is why I cringe when I see people write "would of" instead of "would have", and use "it's" when it should be "its" (personal pronoun), and say "Me and a friend did xyz". Grrrrrr Maybe I am just turning into an angry old man..... Cheers Neil

Well done! My wife had no trouble declining the offer to be my first pax, so my daughter had the honour (or misfortune, if you want to look at that way )

...and if you are American why use one word when many will do , eg "ongoing emergency situation" an emergency to the rest of us...., or "at this point in time" ie now, and the (non)word burglarize , ie burgle. I could go on.....

Me too, when alone in the car (don't want people thinking I'm a complete nutter....more than they already do) Cheers Neil

Yeh - I realized when I played them back after getting home! DOH! Plus I missed the Gazelle based at Holbrook too. I just get distracted yakking to people! Good to meet you as well. Hope you had a good flight home. Cheers Neil

Hi Folks, For those that may be interested I have posted the pictures I took at the Holbrook Fly-In last weekend at the following location :- It was a very enjoyable event, good weather (if a little warm for us Poms!), and friendly crowd. Look forward to next year! Cheers Neil

Hi CK, I agree with Pud - the best way to approach the lesson is to turn up in the best condition possible - having checked the IMSAFE list. If you have not come across this it is :- I - Illness -> do not attempt to fly if you have even a minor illness, a fuzzy head or aching stomach will not allow proper concentration M - Medication -> some of these will affect your judgement, coordination, memory etc S - Stress -> difficulties at work/home can distract you. Sometimes hard to leave them on the ground A - Alcohol -> fairly obvious one. Hungover is not good F- Fatigue -> make sure you have had a good night's sleep E - Eating -> don't skip breakfast. You need the energy and low blood sugar is not good. I would also check with the instructor what you will be doing at the next lesson, so you can prepare by reading up the theory beforehand. I always found this useful as trying to absorb an hour's worth of new stuff is difficult. If you have read up on it beforehand you are familiar with at least some of it. You also mention taking notes - another good idea. You inevitably forget some things, so writing them down and going over it afterwards also helps cement it in the brain, as well as giving you material to revise before any subsequent test. I still go over my notes from time to time when I have a brain freeze and can't remember, for example, exactly what Adiabatic Lapse Rate was ..... Anyway, hope this helps....good luck with your training, and keep posting here on your progress Cheers Neil