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sfGnome

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  1. sfGnome
    Yep. Read it this morning while stuck in a Dr's waiting room. Made the time fly much faster than normal. I like Monty's regular column idea, so you'd better get your skates on and fly somewhere so you can tell us all about it!
  2. sfGnome
    Maca, while I've never been there, I hear a lot of microlights flying out of Somersby on the radio (um.., well, they're not flying on the radio - I hear them on the radio. You know what I mean... ). All that aside, they might be worth a visit, or someone here may be able to tell you more about the folk there.
  3. sfGnome
    I heard an interesting story on Radio National's Science show this week about the Dunning-Kreuger effect. Basically, these blokes have shown that people who are bad at something tend to believe the opposite, whereas people who are good at something are generally dissatisfied with their capability. They had a group sit a bunch of logic tests, and then asked them to say where they thought they'd rank. The best thought they'd be down the scale, while the worst thought they were right up the top. The really scary part was that when they were shown the right answers, the worst revised their estimated ranking even higher. In other words, even when they saw the right answers, they still didn't have a clue that they didn't have a clue! What's the relevance to the thread? The heroes who think they're fantastic (and aren't) aren't likely to believe you because they don't know that they don't know. Sad, but I have a horrible feeling that it's probably true. The other corollary is, of course, that if you think that your flying could do with some polishing, then you're probably flying better than the ones who think they're fine... :)
  4. sfGnome
    The 160 that BlackRod and I fly has just had a panel revamp - out with the Glass and in with the steam driven gauges. That's allowed the top of the dash to be lowered by quite a distance, meaning that shorty here can fly without cushions. Much more comfortable, and I didn't miss the glass at all. To pretend that I'm still on topic, I'd always assumed that all Jabs had 2 flap switches, one either side. I was staggered when I saw a cockpit picture a few weeks back with the one switch in the middle. Forget about ergonomics - what about safety? thumb_down
  5. sfGnome
    I always thought that I spoke clearly on the radio. Then one day I had cause to chat to Brisbane centre, and the first thing he did was ask me to repeat my callsign... I try to speak a bit slower now. I do recall that for the first couple of months most radio calls were indecipherable. Then, as I learned to listen for keywords, it started to make sense. Even now, though, I occasionally hear "3000 ft" and I suddenly think, hang on, I'm at 3000ft. Who the hell was that and where on earth are they?? Partial situational awareness is a scary thing!
  6. sfGnome
    Right. Try again! (and it it isn't there in full size, you can always look at the thumbnail )
  7. sfGnome
    Wow! Just goes to show that you shouldn't plough your land! Seriously, just like Bacchus said, your report has me thinking about how I'd handle the same situation and whether I'm prepared for it *every* time I take off. Sobering stuff. Thank you.
  8. sfGnome
    Hmmm... It was there last night, really it was! I think I know what I did wrong, so I'll sort it out and have another attempt tonight...
  9. sfGnome
    Here's lookin' at you, lookin' at me, lookin' at you... I think that I was the only person there who wasn't paying attention to the activity being filmed, but anything airborne is sooo much more interesting than what was behind me
  10. sfGnome
    Is it just me, or are Darky's Avatars getting scarier and scarier... p.s. Good on you Mick. We told you you'd be ok! :thumb_up:
  11. sfGnome
    Very cool :thumb_up:
  12. sfGnome
    Your basic pilot certificate only permits you to fly within 25nm of the point of departure, and only by yourself (or with an instructor). To take someone else you need the passenger endorsement, and to travel further than the 25nm radius you need your cross country endorsement. For what I think you want to do, you'll need both. The RA-Aus "Learn to Fly Guide" has lots of good info - well worth a read. p.s. I'm talking about a Recreational Pilot's Certificate here, not a Private Pilot's Licence. It's generally more expensive to obtain but allows you to do more. However, the 'more' than you can do (aerobatics, night flying, etc) may not be on your wish list. :)
  13. sfGnome
    Yeah, but that's because we think to much! (and which is also how we managed to get as old as we are )
  14. sfGnome
    Hi Latestarter! Better late than never. Everyone's different, so I can only tell you a few things as I found them. I had lessons most weeks (weather permitting), and it took me about a year from dreaming to having my cross-country and passenger endorsements. Total cost, approx $8000. If you can budget something in that order, you won't run out half way through. :) I reckon if I'd had lessons more than once a week, my brain would have exploded, particularly in the first few months. Then again, if I'd had longer gaps between lessons then it would have just taken too long (we haven't got that much time to play with any more... ). On the odd occasions when I did have a few weeks between lessons, I didn't notice my skills being any the worse for the wait, so I wouldn't be too worried on that front. Like I said though, everyone's different so just get out there and suck it and see! :thumb_up:
  15. sfGnome
    Fantastic stuff! Wish I'd managed it 36 years ago :) Given how much better the little planes go with only one POB, how do you think they'd go with no one in 'em??
  16. sfGnome
    Just tell her that she'll be riding pillion! (Either that, or tell her it's for all those times when she wanted to see the back of you... )
  17. sfGnome
    Hey, just down the road from me (and exactly the same story - I think you'll find it repeated here one or two thousand times... ). As I said to my brother the other day - "All the sweeter for the time I had to wait!"
  18. sfGnome
    Cruel but fair, Graeme, cruel but fair.
  19. sfGnome
    Most kind! Well, by the time I'm back on line again, I'll know whether I needed it or not. I'm a lot more settled and confident than I was earlier in the week - maybe it's got to the point where there's nothing more I can do now to make it better, so I might as well relax...
  20. sfGnome
    Yep. The RAA one. Ok, I'll assume that if you're asked to do a 'latest departure time' calc then you'll be supplied with the EOD graphs and LMT tables. I'd ask the assessor, except that the next time I see him will be exam day! :)
  21. sfGnome
    I was working through some practice exams for my rapidly approaching cross-country exam tonight, and I noticed that it said "Reference Material - None" on the front, and then proceeded to ask questions that couldn't be answered without extra material. For example, how are you going to work out EOD & LMT questions without the AIP tables, and planning questions without maps? What reference material are you allowed to use, or is everything necessary provided? p.s. are there any other sources of practice exams apart from those that come with text books?
  22. sfGnome
    I'm not at a stage of using it (yet! ), but it is a really good read - clear and very useful. Well done. :thumb_up:
  23. sfGnome
    Howwwwwwwwwwlll !!!
  24. sfGnome
    Thanks. I knew it'd be something simple. Much appreciated!
  25. sfGnome
    Hi. Here's a simple question that should be answered easily (but not by me ). I heard an Air Services safety bloke say "A lot of pilots say 'Cancel SARWATCH' when they mean 'Cancel SARTIME', and they are completely different things". Unfortunately, I didn't ask him at the time what the difference was. I've looked though AIP and ERSA, both of which describe HOW to ask for the two different things, but neither of which say what the different effects are. Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks.
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