RAAus shuffling positions

[FlyBoy1960]

you are rambling about nothing to do with the conversation. My point is, there are still many thousands of Rotax 2 stroke powered aircraft in Australia based on the sheer numbers of engines that they sold, if as little as one third of these were still flying that would be probably about 1000 aircraft as a complete guess and that was the whole point of my comment.

 Just because you can't see them flying past your front door does not mean they are not there, they are out in the boondocks being flown unregistered by large farm/property owners. These do not get reflected in the registration fees just like a lot of paddock bangers are no longer registered and therefore used quite comfortably on properties but not reflected in registration statistics.

 This has got nothing to do with owning a vineyard. This has nothing to do with being a nationally accredited vineyard manager. This has nothing to do about owning a 6 cylinder Cortina. This has nothing to do with solemnity of irrigation. This has nothing to do with anything other than your own desire to answer every single possible question and to answer even questions that were never asked in the first place.

 

Just slow down a little bit before you post, ask yourself am I adding anything valuable to the conversation?   in your answer above the only valuable part is that at some stage of life you owned 3 planes could give you the ability to make a qualified comment regarding the planes that you owned or the experienced you gained whilst operating these aircraft.

 

Nothing to do with wineries but perhaps there was a little bit excessive consumption ?

[FlyBoy1960]

Based on what is publicly visible, "facthunter" is almost certainly a long-standing forum member whose first name is Nev (or Neville), but I could not find any reliable public evidence identifying him by his full real name. He consistently signs his posts "Nev", and other members frequently address him that way.

 

Here's what can be said from his public forum activity:

• Forum name: facthunter
• First name (used publicly): Nev
• Location: New Gisborne, Victoria, Australia
• Aircraft: Listed as "non pilot"
• Forum status: First Class Member / Well-known member
• Posts: Over 35,000 posts, making him one of the most prolific contributors on the Recreational Flying and Aircraft Pilots forums.

His role on the forum

Although he lists himself as a non-pilot, he has contributed for well over a decade on topics including:

• aviation safety
• aircraft maintenance
• engines (particularly Rotax discussions)
• CASA and aviation regulation
• accident analysis
• general aviation history and engineering

He often comments from a maintenance, engineering or operational perspective rather than a flying perspective. Other members clearly recognise him as a long-term contributor, although his opinions sometimes generate lively debate.

Reputation

From reading a number of threads:

• He is respected by many members for his willingness to contribute.
• He is also regularly challenged because he expresses strong opinions, particularly regarding aircraft engines, certification and regulation.
• He generally signs almost every post with "Nev."

There you go.

[facthunter]

Mud thrown is ground lost and that's exactly what you are doing. I didn't List Myself as a Non Pilot and perhaps erroneously believed it would be obvious  to anyone with 1/2 a brain that I wasn't a NON Pilot. I wouldn't know how to change it but I think bringing it UP which quite a few have done is a bit below the Belt. I've been called a CASA Hater( Not true) I've known more CASA pilots than anyone here and a Rotax hater Not Tue either but they ARE expensive and should be good. I'm equally critical of plenty of other engines, but that FACT is not noticed .

  I've also done 4 years of tertiary psychology too. I detest Snobs and Posers. I never wore my uniform anywhere but to Work and IF I was overnighting at a pub, I left the Plane after everybody else with my Epaulettes off. I also have had a Lot to do with engines all my life and it's fascination with Piston engines that Most attracted me to real  aeroplanes   after about 11 years of Control Line and Free flight Models. My family was POOR but I didn't realise it. We always had a roof over our Head. When I started to fly It was never Mentioned at all. I sold Newspapers and reconditioned engines two week nights and all the weekends when I was doing my Last 2 Years at High school .

  Army camps at Singleton on officers Pay all went into Flying lessons. When I started working for TAA, it was the first Time I'd received money for any flying I did. At age 25 I was considered almost too OLD to be employed but my UNI qualifications made my application more acceptable., Particularly with ANSETT who Kept on offering me a Job, which I probably should have accepted but out of a Misguided sense of Loyalty, did not.. I've NEVER considered Myself superior by being an Airline Pilot but it's Not a thing that Just Happens. I worked for it and I'm Proud to have done it  and survived some very critical events.and thought by coming here I might be able to give a Bit of the cost that was spent on my training which would amount to some Millions as it would for others of the Period, back to the system and future Pilots of all kinds. If I helped only a few it would be worth it especially On SAFETY. Yeah BORING I know. Would I advise Young People to Be Airline Pilot's?  Probably Not. It's pretty uncertain and you need realistically to have another possible option up your sleeve. Management resents having toPay you and is Jealous that you enjoy your Job.  Wives don't like to be with out of Work people . They NEED security. I've seen it happen. Nev

[facthunter]

I'm Usually a Person of not many words. Lately with my hand problems. . It take s a lot of extra care and time and corrections to get something here. Have also had some unexpected Deaths happen to People close and am Under a Lot of strain. I feel a great Need to clear up the view some  have of me, but piling more of it on me doesn't make it any easier. I've run out of"  just cop it Nev". or take a sip of the cool aid.. Nev Yeah, I don't like the Name either but I'm stuck with it Now I reckon.   

[BrendAn]

12 minutes ago, facthunter said:

I'm Usually a Person of not many words. Lately with my hand problems. . It take s a lot of extra care and time and corrections to get something here. Have also had some unexpected Deaths happen to People close and am Under a Lot of strain. I feel a great Need to clear up the view some  have of me, but piling more of it on me doesn't make it any easier. I've run out of"  just cop it Nev". or take a sip of the cool aid.. Nev Yeah, I don't like the Name either but I'm stuck with it Now I reckon.   

not agreeing with you doesn't mean people don't like you.  you contribute  some fantastic information. especially your stories about flying in your early days and new guinea.

the way you respond to posts dismissing anything you don't agree with gets people off side.

i am guilty of stirring myself, i am trying to turn over a new leaf but its not easy.😁.

its easy to upset others on the internet because it does not convey the emotion of a statement.

[BrendAn]

2 hours ago, T510 said:

I think the Briggs is rated at 27hp for the ~800cc motor, A Rotax 477 makes 40hp and is ~5kg lighter

 

I will be looking at a Rotax Rick big bore when my 582 needs rebuilding

there was a 60hp v twin getting promoted a while back. i think they were canam buggy engine conversions fitted to merlin ultralights. sounded promising but haven't anything about them for a while.

i reckon the old jabiru 1600 would be a good fit to a lot of small planes. pity they aren't available any more.

Edited Monday at 06:49 AM by BrendAn

[turboplanner]

2 hours ago, FlyBoy1960 said:

Based on what is publicly visible, "facthunter" is almost certainly a long-standing forum member whose first name is Nev (or Neville), but I could not find any reliable public evidence identifying him by his full real name. He consistently signs his posts "Nev", and other members frequently address him that way.

 

Here's what can be said from his public forum activity:

• Forum name: facthunter
• First name (used publicly): Nev
• Location: New Gisborne, Victoria, Australia
• Aircraft: Listed as "non pilot"
• Forum status: First Class Member / Well-known member
• Posts: Over 35,000 posts, making him one of the most prolific contributors on the Recreational Flying and Aircraft Pilots forums.

His role on the forum

Although he lists himself as a non-pilot, he has contributed for well over a decade on topics including:

• aviation safety
• aircraft maintenance
• engines (particularly Rotax discussions)
• CASA and aviation regulation
• accident analysis
• general aviation history and engineering

He often comments from a maintenance, engineering or operational perspective rather than a flying perspective. Other members clearly recognise him as a long-term contributor, although his opinions sometimes generate lively debate.

Reputation

From reading a number of threads:

• He is respected by many members for his willingness to contribute.
• He is also regularly challenged because he expresses strong opinions, particularly regarding aircraft engines, certification and regulation.
• He generally signs almost every post with "Nev."

There you go.

I thought this site banned attacking another member?

Edited Monday at 07:11 AM by turboplanner

[skippydiesel]

4 hours ago, turboplanner said:

I thought this site banned attacking another member?

What attack?

 

It would seem to me that FlyBoy1960 has given a fairly even handed (slightly biased in favour of the subject) summary, on the contribution style, of the person in question.

 

😈

 

 

Edited Monday at 11:53 AM by skippydiesel

[BrendAn]

14 hours ago, turboplanner said:

I thought this site banned attacking another member?

Well why are you still here 

[turboplanner]

1 minute ago, BrendAn said:

Well why are you still here 

Pretty dumb thing to say and not your business.

[FlyBoy1960]

What I wrote was an AI overview response.

 

I just asked GPT to make a character profile assessment based on all of the posts by facthunter on this website to get an overview on the person, their style of posting, their style of reply, rather than me go through 3000 odd posts myself.

 

This is what gave me.  I thought it was pretty obvious it was AI generated.

 

I did the same for myself and it came back saying "flyboy is not a very nice person"   😁

[turboplanner]

If I were to put GrammarNA through the system I would probably find five to be the same people with four more possibles.

 

Who could forget the night 273 posts had been torn down by the next morning.

 

[T510]

2 hours ago, BrendAn said:

Well why are you still here 

Someone has to keep the never ending story thread going 😉🤣

Edited yesterday at 12:18 AM by T510

[facthunter]

Turbs Likes it.  That's fine. The"NEVER ending" has me bothered. I wasn't prepared to commit to that as I couldn't deliver. Nev

[FlyingVizsla]

Back to the topic.  I logged in to the livestream with the new Chair & Deputy Chair tonight.  Only 14 out of all the membership bothered to participate.  There's the problem.  We all "just want to fly".

 

Seriously though, it appears flying is getting less popular both in RAAus and GA with numbers falling.  1,000 planes have gone off the RAAus register over 5 years.  There's still 115 flight schools.  They are hopping to take on MOSAIC, the Ops manual No.9 is being reviewed by CASA.  Vertical take off aircraft can't be registered in Australia - they are hoping to take this one.  New IT system in Beta testing, will bring electronic exams and School in a Box (everything to set up and run a Flight School).  Brief mention of staffing changes.  All over in less than 30 mins.  The Q&A will be on youtube.

[facthunter]

Too Much BS and too much cost. It also doesn't fascinate People like it used to. People want more instant gratification with Less effort. Not How I would like it but what I fear it is. Nev

[rodgerc]

It will be interesting to see how many light GA aircraft drop off the CASA register when annual registration fees are introduced….I personally know of 3. 

I spent just shy of 3h in the air last Sunday taking 7 youngsters on their first flights….I’ll wager that 2 of them (at least) will pursue aviation as their chosen career in a couple of years. Their enthusiasm for flight was palpable. (My messages have been running hot with texts of thanks from their parents.)
 

From my viewpoint, one of the best parts of introducing youth to flying is that they have no idea that it was ever better in the good ole days.

 

As far as (not) tuning in to the livestream  goes….I know a couple of the RA-AUS directors and have confidence in their ability….Happy to let them get on with their jobs. 

[FlyingVizsla]

The Q&A mentioned a growth in young members who are pursuing an airline career.  RAAus is a good and economical way to start on the journey, build some hours, but once they move on to PPL/CPL/GA they don't renew.  So looking at retaining some of them.

[KRviator]

4 minutes ago, FlyingVizsla said:

The Q&A mentioned a growth in young members who are pursuing an airline career.  RAAus is a good and economical way to start on the journey, build some hours, but once they move on to PPL/CPL/GA they don't renew.  So looking at retaining some of them.

Why would you stay with RAAus though? Annual membership fees, annual aircraft rego. If you're flying GA why suffer the expense of doubling-up?

RAAus' only practical advantage over GA is the medical aspect if you can't hold - or don't want to deal with Avmed for - a GA medical. SAAA has the non-builder maintenance scheme on the boil, the CAsA Instrument allowing that should be signed off shortly and when it does, it opens up a whole swag of Experimental aircraft to new owners who previously couldn't do their own annuals and were restricted to RAAus if they wanted to own an aircraft they could maintain themselves.

[Reynard]

10 hours ago, FlyingVizsla said:

The Q&A mentioned a growth in young members who are pursuing an airline career.  RAAus is a good and economical way to start on the journey, build some hours, but once they move on to PPL/CPL/GA they don't renew.  So looking at retaining some of them.

 I only caught the last minute of the Q&A - in summary, has RAAus identified they have a membership retention issue rather than a membership attraction issue ?

 

I suspect RAAus ticks the affordability box for the young student (or their parents) to get a taste of flying and to see if this is the career for them.  There should be a steady stream of students in this category that are horrified at the cost of GA flight training and RA-AUS is the logical answer.

 

As far as retention, many students simply stop flying once they get their licence. They discover that flying alone (either without an instructor or family friend to talk to in the cockpit) is a bit boring and they slowly give it up. This is the same for both RAAus and GA.

 

This is where aero clubs play a key role. If you can fly with mates, you are likely to do it more often (and share the cost). Yes, aeroclubs are struggling too, but aero clubs are the coal face of flying whereas RAAus is the ‘back office’.  
 

How can RAAus support aero clubs - that’s what I would be interested in.

[skippydiesel]

Rightly or wrongly, I have never had the impression that our leaders are ACTIVELY pursuing the following:

• Removing the requirement for private pilots to have an ASIC, to legal access most regional airports.
• Where an airfield management wish to charge for access, the fee schedule be published in ERSA (no publish / no pay).
• For non-controlled, congested airspace (eg Sydney Basin) the mandatory carriage/use of a two-channel radio and an ADSB Out Transponder.
• Communications in uncontrolled airspace tightened – Minimum Mandatory calls:

“10 Nm …..” when within a 10 Nm radius & 5000 ft AGL, of an ERSA listed airfield.

“Overhead …..” within 3 Nm & 5000 ft AGL, of an ERSA listed airfield.

“Joining Circuit ….” & “Down /Up Wind……”

 

😈

[Reynard]

I missed the opportunity to ask questions of the new Chairman and Deputy last night, as I only tuned in at the last minute. 

You could have asked your questions then, or I understand they are happy to take questions from members at any time.

[skippydiesel]

1 hour ago, Reynard said:

I missed the opportunity to ask questions of the new Chairman and Deputy last night, as I only tuned in at the last minute. 

You could have asked your questions then, or I understand they are happy to take questions from members at any time.

I don't do the computer link up thingy.😈

[BrendAn]

23 hours ago, FlyingVizsla said:

Back to the topic.  I logged in to the livestream with the new Chair & Deputy Chair tonight.  Only 14 out of all the membership bothered to participate.  There's the problem.  We all "just want to fly".

 

Seriously though, it appears flying is getting less popular both in RAAus and GA with numbers falling.  1,000 planes have gone off the RAAus register over 5 years.  There's still 115 flight schools.  They are hopping to take on MOSAIC, the Ops manual No.9 is being reviewed by CASA.  Vertical take off aircraft can't be registered in Australia - they are hoping to take this one.  New IT system in Beta testing, will bring electronic exams and School in a Box (everything to set up and run a Flight School).  Brief mention of staffing changes.  All over in less than 30 mins.  The Q&A will be on youtube.

the falling numbers aren't good. it will probably mean we have to pay more to keep the show going

[facthunter]

At the Moment a lot of activities are suffering as People don't have the spare cash.  Nev