red750 Posted February 14 Posted February 14 Fifty eight years since my first solo (1968) and 40 years since my last flight, but I still remember a bit about the first solo. Moorabbin Airport, runway 17, Beechcraft B19 Sport (2 seat Musketeer). Straightforward circuit, good landing. "Well done" from the Tower. I'd love to get off the ground again, but not many RAAus aircraft can handle a 132kg 81yo pax. I'll never fly again myself. My medical history takes up half an A4 typed page. 2 1 1 1
Bennyboy320 Posted February 14 Posted February 14 (edited) 10 hours ago, red750 said: I'd love to get off the ground again, but not many RAAus aircraft can handle a 132kg 81yo pax. Just crunched the numbers for the load sheet & weight & balance, you can definitely go flying in a Foxbat A22LS with a pilot weight of 85kg no baggage & half tank of fuel, cockpit actually wider than a C172, took my mate who’s a QF captain weighing 120kg sometime ago, no shoulder contact. Good luck 🍀 Keep the dream alive. Edited February 14 by Bennyboy320 6 1 1
danny_galaga Posted February 14 Posted February 14 40 minutes ago, Bennyboy320 said: Just crunched the numbers for the load sheet & weight & balance, you can definitely go flying in a Foxbat A22LS with a pilot weight of 85kg no baggage & half tank of fuel, cockpit actually wider than a C172, took my mate who’s a QF captain weighing 120kg sometime ago, no shoulder contact. Good luck 🍀 Keep the dream alive. Bushcat too, and possibly the widest cabin in the ultralight category.. 1 1
danny_galaga Posted February 16 Posted February 16 On 14/02/2026 at 8:28 PM, Scott Pollard said: I guess I should my own first 'solo', lol. I've been taking part in the Moomba Birdman Rally down here in Melbourne almost every year starting from 2004 onwards and my first attempt was as Jetfire from the classic Transformers cartoon. I walked up onto the platform as a robot, transformed into a plane and jumped off. The cardboard plane flew off over my head and I dropped out below it into the filthy disgusting Yarra river, with the robot head still attached to my bike helmet. I did a huge belly flop and swallowed way too much water, which I instantly regretted. Love it! A story to tell 😊 In my case I thought I knew everything about aircraft. I didn't. I didn't understand that in most regular aircraft, the elevator needs to produce a little bit of negative lift in level flight. I actually added a positive angle on it. Just that one thing probably cost me several metres at least, and probably first prize. I came third. The flight itself was a total blackout for me, didn't remember it at all! Basically one moment on standing on the edge. The next I'm swimming to shore. Probably doesn't help that I'm not good with heights 😄 2 1
danny_galaga Posted February 16 Posted February 16 On 14/02/2026 at 8:40 PM, BrendAn said: silly rules by casa as i found out, not raaus . you only have to assist in the build to qualify. if you bought the aircraft off someone you knew and handed him a spanner or did a couple of bolts up then you are allowed to train in it because you assisted in the build. You need to be on the paperwork as a builder..not sure if someone is going to put you on there just because you handed them a spanner. As well, since in reality your friend built it, if he royally screwed up and it crashes, although really you didn't have anything to do with it, now you are legally liable. 1 1
facthunter Posted February 16 Posted February 16 Never ever heard about "assisting" in the Building. I think it Harks back to the 51% Rule and 19 xxx planes. A real difficulty for Subsequent Owners. U/L rules here grew in a random manner and it SHOWS.. Time the whole thing was revisited by someone who CARES and sorted out. Nev 1
BrendAn Posted February 16 Posted February 16 (edited) 1 hour ago, danny_galaga said: You need to be on the paperwork as a builder..not sure if someone is going to put you on there just because you handed them a spanner. As well, since in reality your friend built it, if he royally screwed up and it crashes, although really you didn't have anything to do with it, now you are legally liable. 9 minutes ago, facthunter said: Never ever heard about "assisting" in the Building. I think it Harks back to the 51% Rule and 19 xxx planes. A real difficulty for Subsequent Owners. U/L rules here grew in a random manner and it SHOWS.. Time the whole thing was revisited by someone who CARES and sorted out. Nev Well maybe you blokes need to have all the conversations I did with raaus. I am not picking stuff out of the air I spoke to several senior raaus staff and got the same response from all. You must build the aircraft or assist in the building of it to use it for training. This is 19 rego I am talking about. And yes if you handed the builder a spanner and he puts you down as assisting them you are covered. And builder is a bit of stretch for a lot of kits in my opinion. Maybe assembler is a better term. Most rag and tube ultralights are a Meccano set with some pull on skins yet they are classes the same as a plans built jodel for example. Bit of an insult to the scratch builder. Edited February 16 by BrendAn 1 1
facthunter Posted February 16 Posted February 16 It's an Idiotic ruling and would look ridiculous in Court. That's for sure. Some of your descriptions are exaggerated. It de-legitimises the thrust of your argument. Nev 1
BrendAn Posted February 16 Posted February 16 53 minutes ago, facthunter said: Never ever heard about "assisting" in the Building. I think it Harks back to the 51% Rule and 19 xxx planes. A real difficulty for Subsequent Owners. U/L rules here grew in a random manner and it SHOWS.. Time the whole thing was revisited by someone who CARES and sorted out. Nev it is a casa rule not raaus
BrendAn Posted February 16 Posted February 16 (edited) 46 minutes ago, facthunter said: It's an Idiotic ruling and would look ridiculous in Court. That's for sure. Some of your descriptions are exaggerated. It de-legitimises the thrust of your argument. Nev you told me i wasn't allowed to have a trim tab unless i flew a spitfire, i think thats a bit of exaggeration. Edited February 16 by BrendAn 3
BrendAn Posted February 16 Posted February 16 41 minutes ago, facthunter said: It's an Idiotic ruling and would look ridiculous in Court. That's for sure. Some of your descriptions are exaggerated. It de-legitimises the thrust of your argument. Nev maybe you should contact raaus and deal with facts.
facthunter Posted February 16 Posted February 16 Don't like the truth eh. No wonder the RAAus get in the Poo in Court. I NEVER told you, you weren't ALLOWED to have a trim tab . but said Sptifires NEED them but Maybe you don't. More twisting and exaggeration. Nev
BrendAn Posted February 16 Posted February 16 1 minute ago, facthunter said: Don't like the truth eh. No wonder the RAAus get in the Poo in Court. I NEVER told you, you weren't ALLOWED to have a trim tab . but said Sptifires NEED them but Maybe you don't. More twisting and exaggeration. Nev behave youself
BrendAn Posted February 16 Posted February 16 Just now, facthunter said: Get real M8. Nev i don't know why you started abusing me in the first place. i don't know what i said that was so bad. . and picture this . a school class builds an rv kit or whatever. all the students that participated in the build are eligible to train in that aircraft. they are only assisting aren't they. 1
facthunter Posted February 16 Posted February 16 Bit different to handing someone a spanner. I'm NOT trying to abuse you. I just have extreme difficulty with how you Present your case.. They PARTICIPATED in the Build. (Your words) That's EDUCATIONAL NOT "only assisting". You could assist "Hold things etc" and Learn nothing. Incidentally I am an ex High school teacher and have a 100% pass in PMI with CASA .Have Instructed with GA and RAAus. so perhaps I know a little about passing information on and the Learning Process. .Nev 1
BrendAn Posted February 16 Posted February 16 (edited) 12 minutes ago, facthunter said: Bit different to handing someone a spanner. I'm NOT trying to abuse you. I just have extreme difficulty with how you Present your case.. They PARTICIPATED in the Build. (Your words) That's EDUCATIONAL NOT "only assisting". You could assist "Hold things etc" and Learn nothing. Incidentally I am an ex High school teacher and have a 100% pass in PMI with CASA .Have Instructed with GA and RAAus. so perhaps I know a little about passing information on and the Learning Process. .Nev Edited February 16 by BrendAn
BrendAn Posted February 16 Posted February 16 20 minutes ago, facthunter said: What is that supposed to do? Nev it was a rude reply to your abusive posts. i decided to delete it before it got stuck there.
facthunter Posted February 16 Posted February 16 Can't you take a suggestion about how you present things? I get it ALL the time. I only Post to get Ignored or shot down in Flames. I never beat around the Bush. Is there much Point in that? Nev
BrendAn Posted February 16 Posted February 16 6 minutes ago, facthunter said: Can't you take a suggestion about how you present things? I get it ALL the time. I only Post to get Ignored or shot down in Flames. I never beat around the Bush. Is there much Point in that? Nev Keep your suggestions to yourself. You saw a chance to put someone down and took it like usual.
facthunter Posted February 16 Posted February 16 Total BS. Maybe you are too sensitive.. I'm NOT interested in Pissing contests. Just Facts. You certainly sling your share of straight out Insults. Look at your Last line as an example. . Nev
BrendAn Posted February 16 Posted February 16 (edited) 49 minutes ago, facthunter said: Total BS. Maybe you are too sensitive.. I'm NOT interested in Pissing contests. Just Facts. You certainly sling your share of straight out Insults. Look at your Last line as an example. . Nev whatever. you own the forum. Edited February 16 by BrendAn 1
facthunter Posted February 16 Posted February 16 I'm SICK of it and I'm sure No one else likes it either. nev 1
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