planedriver

I reckon that first aircraft was based on Yenn's Corby and he bought the RV4 with the royalties, but he is probably not letting on:ecstatic:

Thank you PD for the tour, many memories there for me. I lived in the SF Bay Area for around 12 years, and my daughter was born in SF. I also worked both the Oakland International ramp, and the Oakland North Field airport ramps, plus flew in and out of the Hayward airport when doing a bit of GA flying there. The Oakland North Field of course was the starting point for Smithys flight across the pacific and also used by Amelia Earheart. Also one of the few airport in the US where the Concorde was allowed to land. I saw many Blue Angel demos there also during "Fleet week" which was usually in. October. Great overhead shot of Alcatraz, showing clearly the open exercise yard and seating/steps which were used promently in the movie made there with Clint Eastwood. Alcatraz is a great tour anytime, but it took us ten years to get there also !...the coast guard Island shot reminds me of the time the cops rounded up a whole heap of east bay based hard-core bikers, after one of their leaders had been arrested. They took them to the coast guard island for added security !..The treasure island reclaimed island shot was also going to be the site of the first SanFrancisco airport, but they chose Mills field instead . It was used for a time as the base for the China Clipper seaplanes, and as I recall there is still a small control tower there somewhere. The now decommissioned Alameda naval base is the site used often in myth busters for car stunts etc.

I did a lot of ocean kayak racing in the bay, including the Angel island regatta which started and finished at Jack London square. I would train with friends out of aquatic park in SF after work, and we would paddle (race!) around Alcatraz Island which took about 20-30 minutes each way depending on tides. We would rest on the lee side near the chimney, and you could still see many Indian inscriptions put there by the Indian nation when the 'claimed' it in the 70s. We also experienced the memorable Loma prieta earthquake, so it is interesting to see the repair efforts which are still going on, with the bridges and freeways etc. Tanks for the memories, and the great tour !!...............Maj...

I noticed that this blimp has the motors up and away from the gondola, which should be a hell of a lot quieter than the old one I went on.

Kind Regards

Alan

They're not my photo's David, I had them sent to me by email and posted them here for others to enjoy.

Alan

View of San Francisco & Bay from an AIRSHIP

If you had to pay for a flight it would have been $495 per seat.

These pictures are awesome.

http ://home. comcast .net/~bzee1b/ Zeppelin / Zeppelin . html

Some of the comments under the photo's I found very interesting, especially regarding an extra 80kg of lift if the sun raises the gas temperature by 1 degree.

Sorry Steve! I got too wrapt up in Nev's post, and forgot to wish you a speedy recovery.

Keep yer chin up mate.

At least you're here to tell your story, and we're all so very gratful for that.

Kind Regards

Planey

Rust in tanks even when used regularly in motorbikes seems to be the norm. Petrol doesn't inhibit rust it seems to promote it. I often put a small amount of two stroke oil in the older bikes fuel, hoping it will help stop the rust. Hardly a lot. About an egg cup to 6 litres. nev

I used to do this once a year, as the UK winters always promoted a rusty tank if they were not kept full.

This seemed to stop any crap clogging up the filter on the tap, so I could then fly up any hill without any fuel starvation problems.

It dosn't need too much oil once cleaned as above, otherwise it'll show up on your plug deposits.

"Old fashioned" I may be, but i'm sure it helped prevent potential problems for me in the past for the old bangers I could afford back then.

As time goes by, thats all I seem to be able to afford these days.:crying:Funny that, NOT REALLY !

The 'Middle Wife'

I've been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two kids myself, but the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own second grade classroom a few years back.

When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few sessions with my students.

It helps them get over shyness and usually, show-and-tell is pretty tame. Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that. And I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations on them. If they want to lug it in to school and talk about it, they're welcome.

Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater.

She holds up a snapshot of an infant. 'This is Luke, my baby brother, and I'm going to tell

you about his birthday.'

'First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and then Dad put a seed in my Mom's stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate for nine months through an umbrella cord.'

She's standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I'm trying not to laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me. The kids are watching her in amazement.

'Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts going, 'Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh!' Erica puts a hand behind her back and groans. 'She walked around the house for, like an hour, 'Oh, oh, oh!' (Now this kid is doing a hysterical duck walk and groaning.)

'My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she doesn't have a sign on the car like the Domino's man. They got my Mom to lie down in bed like this.' (Then Erica lies down with her back against the wall.)

'And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in case he got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled all over the bed, like psshhheew!' (This kid has her legs spread with her little hands miming water flowing away. It was too much!)

'Then the middle wife starts saying 'push, push,' and 'breathe, breathe.

They started counting, but never even got past ten. Then, all of a sudden, out comes my brother. He was covered in yucky stuff that they all said it was from Mom's play-center, so there must be a lot of toys inside there. When he got out, the middle wife spanked him for crawling up in there in the first place.'

Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her seat.

I'm sure I applauded the loudest. Ever since then, when it's Show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder, just in case another 'Middle Wife' comes along.

Welcome Hans, sounds like avery happy retirement situation to me.

As Cosmick has already mentioned, we'd love to see a few pics of where you live, but not of you in pyjamas :yikes:Sorry!

Well done mate, yesterday looked like the perfect day.

Well, your business must be going well that's for sure.

If thats the case Con, i'm very happy for you. I used to work 70-80hrs a week with my own business and enjoyed many of the benefits of all my hard work.

However, i'd say one thing from experience, don't ever let a successful business ever get in the way of family priorities, it can get devastatingly expensive and change your life.

I'm sure you'd be to wise for that, but just be aware.

Rgds Planey

Model flying in Menai/Barden Ridge through Southern Sydney Model Aero Club.We fly out of council owned soccer fields with permission so its only really good for electric or max 40 size ic models.

Thanks Con, I'll check it out

Welcome to our forums Con.

I used to do a bit of flying out of YSBK in PA28s with Schoie's , but as my pension is not like a polititions, it stretches things too far (Like the Bishop said to the actress) .

P.S. where around Syd do you get to be able to fly models these days?

Most people book their flights based on the cheapest price they can find. They appear otherwise intelligent. I always research the safety records and use personal knowledge to choose those I know have a good standard. It's a race to the bottom to save money. Choose wisely. Your life depends on it. Nev

I think you are right on the money there Nev.

I learned that lesson many years ago after a bad experience, and have never forgotten it.

It's sad that sometimes people learn the hard way and never get another chance.

Kind Regards

Planey

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1699318381001?bckey=AQ%7E%7E%2CAAAAAEhanPQ%7E%2Cgw69HqZGIms5MhMn9lTWU6fWRBlOFlrn&bctid=2196772274001

It seems no small wonder, that many of these airlines are banned from flying into EU countries.

A BIG to you both

Keep us informed about your progress.

Rgds

Planey

Well done Steve, looks like a great a/c with my "reserved" tag on the r/h seat.

Take care, and good luck with your familiarisaation flights.

Kind Regards

Planey

Congratulations mate, thats great news.

We're all looking forward to seeing some pictures though, either with, or without a leggy babe posing with it.

Hope some learn from this:bomb:

http://www.youtube.com/embed/bAYrcu5_Pko?rel=0

There are a few of us around Brisbane Pete who are building Morgan aircraft so if you have a problem, help is close by.

Remember a slow job, sometimes takes a long time, but in the end of it, you will be the envy of of many.

Kind regards

Planey

I'm sure the past three posts are pretty much all on the money, but I wouldn't be trying it for sure, even though I enjoyed watching it.

Maybe I should forward it to WorkCover, just to stir the pot a little:stirrer:, then they can employ even more non-productive staff at our expense.

Perhaps not!

I'm amazed that, in the days when movie cameras were expensive and scarce, there were all these cameras able to record this mid-air repair.

Sure to the Bank of Nigeria in Perth (Overseas account section)

Those who just choose an airline, on price alone amaze me. Airlines are not all equal, Nor would brain surgeons be either. Watch out for airlines run by accountants.. Nev

I got off-loaded onto an Air Lanka flight with a very tired looking 747 which took me to Amsterdam via Paris then another airline across The Channel.

Luggage arrived 4days later. I should have known in those days that not all airlines are equal:yikes:

Quote of the day:

If you need brain surgery, don't trust the local butcher. They both cut meat, but one normally has a better outcome.