Rotorwork

Happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year. I will have a quite moment on Christmas Day thinking of fellow aviators that have passed during the year, thinking of their family’s as well. (Miss you Sandra, Deb & Nicki) Maybe even raise a glass of wine (I won’t be flying) Fly Safe Regards RW

Reports filtered through yesterday 8th of December that a Par Avion Islander was missing in Tasmania’s South West National Park on it’s way to Melaleuca with only the pilot on board. During the day search aircraft failed to find the Islander due to poor weather in the area. The Westpac Rescue helicopter had dropped 3 Police search crew & an Ambulance paramedic into the South West National Park area around 5.00pm.They have direction finding equipment to locate the beacon”. Sadly an early morning report from ABC Wreckage of missing plane found in Tasmania, pilot presumed dead WWW.ABC.NET.AU Search and rescue police say the plane's sole occupant, the pilot, could not have survived the crash. Thoughts are with the pilots family, friends, rescue personnel, Shannon & all at Par Avion RW

I believe a private operator has a PC-24 on order here in Tasmania. Looking forward to seeing & hearing it soon. Regards RW

Just wanted to let forum members know that pre-sale Gold pass tickets to Avalon Airshow go on sale Monday 8th October. Available from Ticketmaster. I have also contacted ICON re the A5 The reply was “As of current, we can’t deliver / ship an ICON A5 to Australia; because of this we are going to hold off on the Avalon 2019 air show. Once we are able to fly in Australia, we would love to partner up” Fly Safe RW

No disrespects to our drought stricken farmers, But I have just heard the news that all Hay Bales have been recalled, Apparently someone has found a needle in a Hay Stack RW:rotary:

Sadly Debbie has passed away after a short battle with cancer on 26th August 2018. A memorial gathering will be held at Cranbourne Airfield at a date to be announced. Fly high Debb Blue Skies forever Sympathy to family and friends Regards RW

Nice aircraft Good to see the seating is 2 abreast Regards RW

Michael will be in Devonport (Tasmania) this Friday 24th of August. The documentary Voyage of the Southern Sun will be shown at 6:30pm at the Cmax cinema. Niblies, drinks provided, cost $23 also a Q & A with Michael. Regards RW

Sad news from the icon Facebook page Here is the statement ICON Aircraft CEO Kirk Hawkins sent to our customers about today’s accident: “It is with great sadness that I write this. Earlier today, two ICON Employees were killed in an A5 accident while flying at Lake Berryessa, CA. We have no details on the cause of the accident right now and the names of the victims have not been released publicly. The NTSB and FAA have been notified and ICON will be working closely with them to fully support their investigation.... See more

Hi Doc Clicked on the link and got the same message as you. So nothing saved Regards RW

Add to the fact that ICON are building a composite airframe factory for the A5 in Tijuana Mexico, Mr Trump will put a charge on the components coming back into California to pay for the wall., so the price will go up again. I received the survey, also finding the questions weird. I was hoping that there would be one on display at Avalon Airshow. Maybe in 2019 Regards RW

Damm those afterburners

Only last night I was looking at a photo of myself with Bob, he was signing my log book. So lucky to have witnessed his Aero Comander "managed energy" routine at Sky RaceTasmania. Blue Skies Forever. Rest in Peace R W Edit posted at the same time as Marty D Great minds think alike.

I contacted icon a couple of months ago and asked if they were going to be at Avalon Air Show in 2017. They replied saying they wouldn't be represented at Avalon. The email went on to say there have been many orders for the A5 from Australia. I have worked hard and saved, I can afford one now. My shed has been built to fit the icon. 10m X 15m I really appreciate dleggs post, and the following thread discussion, I didn't have any knowledge about the buyer agreement until reading it here tonight. Are there many forum members that have actually ordered an A5? I may look at the amphibious Foxbat and a 2017 Ford Mustang instead of the A5 Fly Safe RW

Billy also wrote a book called the Bush Pilot, an excellent read for anyone interested in aviation. RIP Regards R W Story about Billy's memorial service from the Advocate. http://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/3882036/a-legend-of-local-skies/?cs=87 A true bush pilot who could land just about anywhere was remembered fondly at a memorial service in Smithton last week. Harold Gordon ‘Bill’ Vincent OAM died on April 20 at Smithton aged 84 years. Flying legend: Harold Gordon 'Billy' Vincent was a legend of the air and recognised with an Order of Australia Medal for his services to search and rescue. Picture: Supplied Mr Vincent was born in Burnie on October 2, 1931, just before midnight, and the delay in paperwork saw his birth registered as October 3. His niece Sharalyn Walters presented the eulogy at his memorial service and said that as was tradition in the family he was assigned the nickname Billy by his grandfather Burgess, and was known by it ever since. From his early years he had a passion for flying, and would gaze skyward at anything from a tiny Tiger Moth to a Lockheed Hudson bomber which landed at Redpa in 1941. “A defining moment in his life – young Bill was hooked. He realised his dream to fly in 1949, gaining his private pilot’s licence in September 1952,” Mrs Walters said. “Bill’s yearning to fly coincided with meeting Brenda Edwards who also showed a keen interest in flying – and Bill Vincent. They were married in 1953 and their honeymoon was a circumnavigation flight of Tasmania. Who did that sort of thing in 1953?” He quickly established himself as a talented pilot. It was often said that he could land a plane on a ‘postage stamp’ or drop a parcel on a spot the size of a ‘dime’.” Mr Vincent’s extensive local knowledge led directly to his involvement in search and rescue operations from as early as the late 1950’s. Over the years he devoted long hours in the air to assist in searches for missing fishermen around the islands and in Bass Strait. Over the years he serviced the island families of Bass Strait, and with his brothers “Doggy” and “Toddy” built a mutton birding business. In the early 1970s he married his second wife Susan, and with her and their three children moved to Queensland for a time in the late 1980s. In 1980 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) recognising his contribution to search and rescue in Tasmania and services to the Circular Head community. It was while in Toowoomba he found ultra-light aircraft, and continued to fly until 2003 logging almost 20,000 hours in the air.

Sad to see Tasmanian legend Billy Vincent passed away on the 20th of April 2016. Sympathy to Billy's family. I will post funeral details when they become available. May you find peace as you fly through eternity. Regards R W.

Noticed this video on the local Mercury website. http://www.themercury.com.au/video/id-pnbHVqMjE6HPJtLxd8iUGtjMa4ZKWl1I/Tesla-V-Plane-Which-is-faster

Sadly Search Ends http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-22/light-plane-search-ends-lismore-airport-byron-bay/7266682 Print Email Facebook Twitter More Light plane search ends after pilot fails to return to Lismore airport Updated 10 minutes ago RELATED STORY: Light plane fails to return to northern NSW aerodrome MAP: Lismore 2480plane took off for a short flight from Lismore Aerodrome about 4:20pm but failed to return as planned. Only the pilot was on board the Cessna when it disappeared and it was last in radio contact north-east of Byron Bay. An AMSA statement said the search had been called off "based on the water temperature and sea conditions in the area and expert medical advice". After the alarm was raised on Monday, a rescue helicopter was called to the site about 9:00pm and searched the area without success. Pilot 'could not have survived in water beyond midday' The air search operations continued this morning, involving five helicopters and AMSA's Cairns-based Dornier search and rescue aircraft. AMSA also tasked a NSW Police vessel from Coffs Harbour and a Volunteer Marine Rescue boat from Ballina, to conduct a search of waters near Byron Bay. The AMSA said the search for the missing pilot ended at 1:00 pm and police would now take over the investigation. "Basically, it's been called off based on an assessment of surviving and in this case considering water temperature, sea conditions and the time and that sort of thing," AMSA spokesman Dan Clover said. "It's been decided that the pilot in this case could not of survived beyond midday today." Overnight, AMSA's Joint Rescue Coordination Centre reviewed air traffic services radar information from the area, provided by AirServices Australia. The information confirmed that the last contact with the plane occurred six nautical miles north-east of Byron Bay about 4.50pm. NSW Police Marine Area Command will stay in the area and conduct further investigations.

Very lucky Wonder if the 182 was SIDS Compliant? Cause it's not now. Fly Safe RW

Once again, like last month, February was almost fatality free. Hopefully March will be a good month. Sympathy to family and friends. RIP Rod Fly Safe RW

Yes you read right Interesting to see if it had drugs on board. From ASN http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=184172 The Cessna 337 Skymaster appears to have had a landing gear problem. The 68-year-old pilot elected to carry out an emergency landing on "Sea Lane 4-22" a runway reserved for sea planes. The pilot was rescued uninjured, but the plane subsequently sank. Officials are looking at recovering the aircraft. Fly Safe RW http://www.kitv.com/story/31123525/cessna-lands-in-water-off-lagoon-dr-pilot-ok

Thanks Rastus, We almost made it through January without a fatality, Very sad RIP Fly Safe RW

Occasionally I spend some time looking at flightradar 24. If your aircraft has ADS B with mode S, and if you had a phone / iPad with flightradar 24, it would be possible to click on your aircraft and look at the 3D view (in app purchase pilots view) I realise that vfr pilots should not be ifr, just wondering if this could save a life or two. It would also take longer than 178 seconds to set up in the heat of the moment if you didn't have the app up and running. Can someone with ADS B tell me if this would work and if the pilots view would let you know what your aircrafts attitude is. (Not the pilots attitude) Fly Safe RW

The day after his wife disappeared in a kayaking accident, a Brisbane man answered his door to find two grim-faced Police. "We're sorry Mr. Wilkens, but we have some information about your wife", said one of the police. "Tell me! Did you find her?", Wilkens exclaimed. The police looked at each other. One said, "We have some bad news, some good news, and some really great news. Which would you like to hear first?" Fearing the worst, Mr. Wilkens said, "Give me the bad news first." The officer said, "I'm sorry to tell you, sir, but this morning we found your wife's body in Morton Bay." "Oh my God!", exclaimed Wilkens. Swallowing hard, he asked, "What's the good news?" The police officer continued, "When we pulled her up, she had 12 twenty-five-pound king crabs and 6 good-sized Mud crabs clinging to her, and we feel you are entitled to a share in the catch." Stunned, Mr. Wilkens demanded, "If that's the good news, then what's the great news?" The officer replied, "We're gonna pull her up again tomorrow."

I must be a veganlamb I love having peas & potatoes with my lamb.