FlyingVizsla

See my post #70 for links to eyewitness accounts, photographs, conjecture and statements by RAAus:-

Mr Tizzard said there was an average of 6.6 fatalities each year among the RA-Aus member base of 11,000 people and 3500 aircraft.

''Accidents do happen and sadly, given the amount of hours we fly, that figure of 6.6 people a year is not at a worrying level.''

The organisation is not worried. I do accept, that in this context he was attempting to play down any perception that ultralights are extremely dangerous.

Sue

There are more details about what happened, and the names of the deceased, photos etc here:

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/two-die-in-light-plane-crash-after-takeoff-at-sundown-20120408-1wjlp.html

http://theland.farmonline.com.au/multimedia/38517/517887/easter-horror-fatal-plane-crash-at-cootamundra-picture-addison-hamilton.aspx?Start=10&page=1

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-10/ballard-tues/3940456/?site=riverina&section=news

Sad and unnecessary event. Condolences to family, friends and the aviation community.

Sue

Been to Narromine a couple of times - separately and once together (after we met & married). The better half has an objection to going to Temora because he loved Narromine and doesn't think Temora could match it. We have visited the Temora Museum for a flying display, so we know what it is like. Distance is the next consideration, being just a little further than Narromine. Having to travel all Friday and only see Saturday is the next deterrent - we have always driven; him because his ultralight was too slow and me because the C152 was elsewhere or I was coming from the other direction. He isn't interested in Plastic Fantastics and feels the home builder and 95-10 are being edged out. I just make the most of it, love the forums, meeting people, volunteering, looking & drooling over planes. The other thing was work - he worked over Easter and I had come home after a 16 day shift to an overgrown yard (we both live & work in other towns as there isn't much employment in ours).

I'm sure, if we went to Temora's Natfly, he would enjoy it and want to go again.

The other consideration is the Northern Fly-in at Monto. We are planning to bring at least 2 planes. It is on Queens Birthday weekend - so the boss took holidays around it, and now we find it is on the "other" Queens Birthday holiday in October - The Qld State Govt decided to change the date and so introduced a second holiday to move it permanently to October. Still planning to go but it will be a squeeze.

So that's why we didn't front.

Sue

There are private companies who supply the data to Google - Springsure had so many errors and the Council had just changed the name of several roads, so I contacted them and supplied them with GPS plots with road names etc (5 years ago). Unfortunately I can't remember their names. Would have been a hard job doing the conversion from our mapping system to theirs and most never made it to Google maps. Major errors on Springsure town - the railway station is in the wrong location, the two highways through town are incorrectly named and both are in the wrong location (local roads), lots of roads are either incorrectly named, in the wrong location, or mapped where there is no road, or omitted where there was a road. Some business addresses came from the phone book - hence the Rugby field is at a private house, the bakery is listed even though it hasn't been a bakery for over 10 years. And the list goes on...... The RACQ does a better job - they send through maps for updates every year or so - provided there is someone knowledgeable and diligent at Council, they get updated.

Road works Sue

The local ABC news is reporting:

It is believed the plane took off from Temora shortly before the crash, which is also where a national recreational flying event is taking place.

Recreational Aviation Australia (RAA) chief executive Steve Tizzard says it is very possible the pair had been at the event.

"In all probability they were, but I can't confirm that. I have no positive detail at the minute," he said.

A team of three people from RAA is leaving Temora to visit the crash site and assist police.

Sue

The local ABC news on-line is reporting:

It is believed the plane took off from Temora shortly before the crash, which is also where a national recreational flying event is taking place.

Recreational Aviation Australia (RAA) chief executive Steve Tizzard says it is very possible the pair had been at the event.

"In all probability they were, but I can't confirm that. I have no positive detail at the minute," he said.

A team of three people from RAA is leaving Temora to visit the crash site and assist police.

Sue

9 News has some footage here:

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8448250/two-killed-in-nsw-plane-crash The other videos are of previous unconnected accidents.

Not good quality or very informative, but it is commendable that the local firies got there so quickly. They have come down in a treed area behind a property fence. Hard to get to, even harder in the dark.

Thoughts are with family, friends and the aviation fellowship, so sad.

Sue

Edit - there are now 2 videos - one at night and a very short one in daylight showing the wreckage in the windmill and on the ground. As time passes these videos will move further down the line up.

What Natfly webcam Sue ... and where?

It refreshes every 30 seconds at the moment, but will go back to its usual place at the museum and 15min refresh. I didn't notice it (or it wasn't there) when I went looking at the Natfly site - it isn't through the menu - it is a link on the side panel. The site needs a bit more info, photos, news from site, while the event is happening.

Sue

I have only just found the Natfly Webcam and now kicking myself as the show is all over, except for a few departures, the odd car and person. Next year ....

Sue

This article says male 50 years and female 53 years. Had taken off from Temora shortly before.

http://www.skynews.com.au/topstories/article.aspx?id=737386&vId=

Other aviation sites are saying it was a Trike that had attended Natfly.

We will know who soon. A sad end to a happy Natfly 2012.

Sue

Maj and I are at Springsure... the Lightwing is tied down next to a certain forum members 152.

Sue

10-7944 - RANS Stinger S-17 single seat home build - see photos of types from RANS http://www.rans.com/photos/199

Sounds like he's going to be OK (broken leg - the bone between knee & hip - which can be fatal if not attended to). Not sure if he took off from Donnington or the 2km long strip just south. The aircraft isn't very old - about a year or so - I think.

Sue

A man has been seriously injured in a light plane crash west of Townsville, a day after another man died in a similar incident near Caboolture.

The 58-year-old pilot was flying near Woodstock this morning when he crashed into a tree around 9am.

An Emergency Management Queensland spokesperson said the microlight plane experienced engine failure after taking off from a private airfield less than a kilometre away.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/man-injured-in-light-plane-crash-near-woodstock/story-e6freoof-1226315167099

Phil,

What do you fly, or hope to fly? Great to have you here!

Sue

Saw a report on ABC TV and Qld police media (19th March 2012):-

Police will resume the search tomorrow morning for a light aircraft and its two passengers missing from Bundaberg since 3.30pm this afternoon.

The aircraft left Bundaberg around 1.30pm and was expected to travel to the Burrum River before returning via Childers and Gin Gin.

A report was received by police around 3.45pm after the two male occupants failed to return within the designated timeframe of before 3.30pm.

An aerial search was commenced utilising a helicopter until light faded this evening.

The search, co-ordinated by police, will resume tomorrow morning at first light.

Hoping it ends happily.

Sue

Ian,

You must have a few stories to tell and a mountain of experience to share!

Great to have you here.

Sue

Hi Shane,

INC is about to get repainted & interior updated, I married 4 years ago and he has a Scout he's too heavy to get off the ground (but I can), a Lightwing he's loaned to someone else, a Karasport (single seater) in a trailer and a turbulent that will never fly again hanging from the rafters. When I met him he was building a RANS S7 and this is the plane we do the most flying in. He was seriously considering building an Whisky IV from plans, but that looks dead in the water now. He's looking at other types and designing his own, so we might have another one in 10 years time.

Sue

Hi Ian,

I might be giving you more work .... but how would a map of clubs/flying schools go? Keep them under Groups -> Clubs/Flying Schools. Some sort of pro-forma for searching - state, strip, town, RAA/GA, licence categories taught (LP, TW, etc). The most likely user is the person looking for instruction / BFR and the next is the "tourist" looking for places to drop into. Smaller clubs may end up using it as their place to post minutes and announce the next meeting, working bee, get together etc. If the members or the executive grasp the concept, this site is ideal to have a virtual meeting in Chat without doing a ring around. I don't think our clubs & schools have realised the extent of resources and how to use them, that this site offers. Just an example, instead of 4 people driving to a central point to discuss a proposal it could be done at 8pm in Chat in a private meeting, and then the outcome posted on the site.

That's just my quick thoughts.

Sue

AK

That list is going to get longer ..... It is a great time to be learning to fly with so many new types coming on the market. And here is where you will find lots of experience and (just getting started) a set up so you can talk (well, type mainly) with the various vendors or agents for aircraft in real time. Try the chat room about 7:30 - 8pm - there's usually someone there willing to talk, scribble on the whiteboard or pull faces. Or just pose a question - or search the forums. The John Brandon tutorials (under forums) are brilliant for flying knowledge both for new and old hands. Flight planners, aircraft registers, its all here. So, enough from me.....

Welcome, and enjoy the ride

Sue

SAJ,

I lived at Longreach from 1995 - 1999 - I moved there from Winton and left for Barcaldine. I had a C152, which I still have, now based in Springsure. I am pretty sure I know you. Kingfisher St?

Welcome aboard, there are a few from Longreach - Winton way on the forum and a heap of other good sorts.

Sue

(again) Haydn

Sue

Well, Darrel,

What took you so long? How's the RANS - did you build it? We love ours.

Sue

That probably explains why I was in the middle of Australia when on my wireless broadband and St.Lucia at home. Then I thought maybe the duck pond on College Rd St Lucia might have been named Springsure Lakes or something. There's only one telstra exchange at Springsure where I am on a land line so that's a mystery. I thought is worked off my entry in "location" in my profile. Anyway - I have company now - 2 others are at the College Rd address - perhaps we should meet up?

There doesn't seem to be a way to separate clustered people to see who they are. I found where I was when everyone else was logging off to go to bed.

I rather like Universities - having spent so much time in them - I might learn something more...... Thanks for the little gadget.

Sue

On the map (Online - Who's on line) I appear on College Road St Lucia in the Uni of Qld - somehow it can't find Springsure even though it is on the map. In an earlier rendition (one of the other options that had a map?) I appeared in the middle of Australia.

Sue

Good story Tomo,

The night training actually improved my daylight landings. I found it easy because, being so short, the instruments were what I looked at most, so it wasn't a stretch to fly by them rather than the view outside.

Night flying outback (or any sparsely populated area) is magic. Towns you couldn't see in daylight appear lit up and you wonder why you couldn't see them in daytime. In that regard naviation is easy. The thermals have given up for the day and flying is smooth as the fairy lights pass under you (I like a highwing for that) and it seems quieter. Love it.

Keep reporting Tomo.

Sue