Phil Perry

Thanks PM, and Tim, . . . it's nice to have a piece of history in your hand, my Paternal Grandfather kept a piston with a hole in it's side, from his very first car ! used it as an ashtray. I've still got it somewhere, but I can't remember what the car was. . .anyway, I digress. Tim, Yes that's the site I saw on G/Earth, and I've since had a reponse from Owen Bray, who flies a Jab 170d from the Mildura area, and also flies Gliders from the Sunraysia site. . . but I still don't know if it was an actual Airfield prior to the existing Mildura airfield, I wasn't very clever when I emailed him, and forgot to ask ! ! Still, when I respond to Owen, I'll get around to asking if he knows the history of the site AND if it was something bigger in 1926 too. . . .

 

Thanks to both of you for your responses and Tim, I hope the new arrival and the Missus are doing really Well.

 

Phil

 

 

Purely from a commonsense angle, IF armed security guards ( Sky Marshalls ) end up being carried on ALL flights, then might I humbly suggest that firearms are discarded in favour of Tasers ? these things are very efffective, and non - lethal ( most of the time )

 

Guns and thin alloy fuselage skins don't go well together in my view, whatever you load the weapons with. . . .

 

Just a sugggestion. ( Don't shoot me down please,. . .just Taser me,. . . I've got an electric personality . . . )

 

 

Just a brief explanation of why I was interested; 1) I can't think why I didn't notice it whilst flying in and out of Bendigo ( sorry not au fait with all the international "Y"designators for Aussie airfields yet, you blokes and blokettes seem to use them in preference to the actual site names, where we Poms rarely use an "E" designator, unless we're completing a flight plan. . . ) as I thought I was more observant than that, and 2) we have loads of interesting old airfield sites from WW2 dotted around the country, particularly on the Eastern coastal areas, some are completely gone now, but you can still see the outlines of lots of others even though they went back to agriculture after 1945 . . . Phil

 

 

Just emailed The Sunraysia Club to see if they can shed any light on this. Not important, just curious.

 

Phil

 

 

I think that is the gliding club strip used by Sunraysia Gliding.Kaz

Thanks for that Kaz,. . . . I wonder if it was an existing layout that the gliding club adopted, or an existing disused site theough. . . . have to look up "History of Mildura" I guess, could be interesting. . . I'll wager that Someone in the past has written a history of Australian Airfields. . . bound to be a link on the interwebby thing somewhere. . . . .!

 

Phil

 

 

And again for a 3rd scenario I hark back to the complete absurdity of the American "two in the cockpit" rules. The remaining pilot has a friggin' gun!! What the HELL is his flight attendant "minder" going to do if he's suicidal and wants to take the whole planeload out with him?

Yeah,I guess you`re right! Is there a solution?. probably not!. Hang on there!How did the remaining pilot get the friggin gun into the cockpit,er, flight deck?

 

Legally Issued to him. . . .read back a few posts . . . . .

 

 

Before others get to it, they can't even spell calibre.As I was told by a septic; "an armed society is a polite society". Poor show that so many had 'one up the spout'. I wonder if any actually had terrorist intent?

I think you'll find that it is US who spell CALIBER incorrectly, so my mate from New Jersey reckons,. . . . good job the rounds are not made from ALOOMINUM, we'd have another discussion. . .!

 

 

Question: Does the Flight Crew inc Pilot go through "Airport Security" each flight ?

Aparently they do in the U.S. Mike, I read a book by Patrick Smith ( askthepilot.com ) where he regaled a tale of being frisked by a lady security officer who took away his personal cutlery, carried in his pilot case, as there was a slightly serrated knife included, and this was not allowed to be carried onto an aircaft. He argued that it was standard airline cutlery, and was issued to all passengers with their meals,. . .but it was still confiscated ! Where do you draw this line ?

 

 

Hey Adam , I don't have any 'Anomalies' ...... Bob

Hi Biggs,. . . .er,. . .if you had an anomaly,. . . how would you know ?

 

 

Hi Gals 'N' Blokes,

 

During hangar chat this week, I was asked if I knew about what looked like an old airfield near Mildura Vic. When I got back to the ops shed, I had a look on GE and sure enough, around 4km SSW of Mildura Airport there is what looks like a three runway layout in the scrub, which has obviously not been used for a bit ( If that's what it actually IS ) could be just a series of tracks, but the layout is reminiscent of a long disused airfield. I still have ( somewhere ) some old flipcharts of Aussie airfields dating back to the early seventies, but can't remember where I stashed them !

 

I've flown into Mildura on several occasions, but have to admit, I can't recall having noticed it . . .any ideas ?

 

Phil

 

 

Only if it made all the way around without breaking down.

* Aparently, if you half - fill the gas tank, you double the value of the car .

 

* The latest Lada is an extended model, they call it the Superskip.

 

* The East Germans had a much better car called a Trabant, this had a natty little engine somewhere in the back, I think it was a one and a half stroke.

 

 

And Lindbergh flew mail planes in IMC at night then baled out when he ran out if fuel. No petrol left so the mail was not badly damaged when found in the wreck. He did it a couple of times.

I was listening to tales from an ex-WW2 USAF pilot in Jakarta a while back, . . . he mentioned this PM, and also that they had arrow markers on the ground along the mail routes in some states, I think he said that there was also some sort of tower structure next to the pointer, allowing the marker to be illuminated with some sort of kerosene lamp. . .you just reminded me about that, I'll have to go and stick me 'ead into Wikibible, bound to be some mention of that. . .

 

Phil

 

 

english = cheap skate

FT. . . .sigh,. . . .I think all that high ground in Toowoomba is causing you some annoxia, Hypoxia,. . .or some other kind of poxia. . . . .

 

 

Yes, but Phil, with all due respect, you're not Hugh Grant.(Well I assume you're not, but if you are, loved your portrayal of the PM in "Love Actually"!)

Yeah,. . .I actually LIKED that film,. . . I wonder if the little drummer actually got to shag the little. . . .NOW STOP THAT !! It's getting rude.

 

I watched a movie starring Grant recently, where he was a junior doctor, and he discovered that a large medical clinic were taking derroes off the street and experimenting on them, can't remember the name of the fillum,. . . . . come on you telly watchers, you must have seen it. . .

 

Only serious story movie I've ever seen him in. . . . ANYWAY still don't like the bloke because of Hacked Off. . . .

 

 

No, he is home.time for phil to audition for top gun, the bbc's new sunday night aviation show...

Nice Idea FT,. . .actually I AM at a loose end at the moment ( as if you all hadn't noticed by my bloody incessant posts on everything and anything )

 

I think a better title might be not Top Gun, although I have awards for incredibly good rifle shooting. . . but. . . Bottom Bum ? any other suggestions on a post card to Poo Box Werribee,West Melbourne Vic.

 

 

What I can't get over with the Hugh Grant thing is his choice of gobbler. I mean - you're rich, good looking, and a famous actor. SURELY if you wanted to get your end away in the back of a car, you could do better than Divine Brown.

MARTY . . . . . . I am inclined to agree with your sentiments Sir,. . .but at MY age,. . .any port in a storm. . .?

 

 

Time to come home Phill , !!

Bloody 'Ell,. . .you got that right sport.

 

 

Thanks for that Phil.However I think it's a stretch to indict an entire organisation based on the fact they were fooled by Jimmy Savile (along with the rest of the world) and they had 6 DJ's charged with underage sex over 20 years.

 

For example there were 16 MP's implicated in the 1980's Westminster child abuse scandal. Does this mean the entire British government are paedophile apologists? (And don't get me started on the churches!)

No Marty,. . . SIX were CONVICTED . . . . .there were another 21 who got away with it, as there was insufficiant evidence, OOps, I forgot Rolf Harris,. . . .a lot of his abusing was carried out at BBC premises also,. . . .sorry,. . . . And please don't extrapolate from what I said about the Government, to include the whole lot of them, I didn't mean to impune that at all.

 

I went to see Rolf, who was a childhood hero of ine, I met him in OZ twice ( by accident once when he was filming a commercial for British Paints in Oz ) and met him again at Dudley Hippodrome when he did his "Jake the peg" thing. . . brilliant,. . .then again a few months before the carp hit the fan. . . Spoke with him in Lichfield at De montfort Fine art gallery after he'd done one man show with his artist skills with a big paintbrush . . . . shame he turned out to be a bad 'un. . . . Ce la vie. . . . Just think. . .if he'd been of the Sunni Muslim faith,. . . .they can marry a girl child at birth under the wonderful Sharia Law system. . . ., and have conjugal relations from the age of 9. . . . .

 

BUT HE WASN'T.

 

Phil

 

 

I just watched a funny Pommie movie last night called Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa. In it a radio announcer makes remarks about Muslims and is cut off by his co-presenter who says "NEVER make jokes about Muslims, only Christians, and Jews occassionally.""

Yes, it was quite amusing, BUT, I can't forgive Steve Coogan ( AKA Alan Partridge ) for being a member of the "Hacked Off" brigade, who caused the Leveson report into the British Press, and tried to have legislation framed to keep the newspapers out of everyone's business ( Yeah,. . .including the Pollies ) fortunately, this has not happened yet, but four reporters from the Sun daily paper, have just been aquitted in the high court, after being charged under some weird act, which the judges rightoy didn't agree with, but their careers have been trashed for four years thanks to the likes of Hugh Grant, Steve Coogan and a few others,. . .Grant's chances of continued stardom are now greatly reduced, as most people here think he's a TIT as well. Good. Grant got ticked off after he was photographed being gobbled in a car park by some lady of the evening, . . . .if you are in the public eye,. . .then you have got to behave yourself in public. . .no sympathy. No good trying to muzzle the press, Geez, if that happened we'd be back in the days of Nazi Germany,. . .which is, I'm sure what most Pollies would like.

 

We now have an ongoing investigation ( thanks to a free press ) about an MP named Cyril Smith, who was a serial abuser of young boys, back in Margaret Thatcher's time as PM. . . . HE WAS ARRESTED, BUT THE Government used the Official secrets act. . .to have him released, and all of the evidence obtained by the press and handed over to the police was sequestered and destroued, as it would have brought down the Government, there being quite a few high ranking Goverment people involeved in a wide ranging paedophole ring which resulted in a young lad being murdered in a sex game. . . . I REALLY HOPE that this investigation isn't swept under the carpet like all the others have been. . . . .

 

( As I said to Fly Tornado,. . .I'm not interested in politics )

 

Phil

 

 

1) They give loads of airtime to organisations such as CAGE,. a freely admitted Muslim funded organisation which says things like, "It was the fault of the Brits for allowing these poor kids to be radicalised, so you can't blame them for wanting to kill everything Britain stands for"

 

2) six of their Disc Jockeys have been fined or jailed for repeated sexual offences against under-age girls, ( and boys ) ON BBC PREMISES over a period of two decades.

 

3) They turned a blind eye to the activities of Jimmy Saville who, not only abused children in his private caravan in the BBC car park, but also abused injured and disabled children in hospitals all over the country, whilst being fully employed and funded byt the BBC.

 

4) they have an obvious political agenda in what they report, ie, everything that the Government do is spun as BADDDDD . . .but any looney left wing party is allowed an obvious easy ride on radio and TV when it is plain to 80 percent of the viwers that the coverage is slanted left.

 

5) No manager has ever been brought to book for allowing all of the above to occur. " We had no idea. . . ." yeah, right.

 

This is NOT WHAT A PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTER IS SUPPOSED TO DO .

 

Hope that puts it into perspective Marty.

 

They are supposed to be impartial.

 

that's what the "Public Service" bit is all about. ( Sorry about the spelling Dazza, but when I get annoyed I type too fast. . . ( ! )

 

All of the above makes the Jeremy Clarkson affair look like a storm in the lid of a bloody aerosol can. . . .

 

Phil

 

 

Phil the UKIP will punish England for being stupid and encouraging them

Geez mate,. . . thanks for telling me,. . .phew,. . .Wifey was going to vote for 'em, as her cousin is standing as a candidate,. . . .thank you for the warning. I don't get into politics as you probably realise from my posts, so I rely on my aviation friends on the other side of the world for good advice. I keep telling her that nice Mr. Cameron is her best bet, what with zero inflation and the lowest unemployment figures for a decade, but she just won't have it. . . .

 

Cheers mate. . . .and thanks again.

 

Phil

 

 

ALL of their ( Clarkson, May, Hammond ) contracts were finished at the end of April anyway, . . . . and SKY have refused to take them on in a "similar" show format, but BT have been extremely quiet about this,. . .I suspect that they might make some kind of offer to the three musketeers to start some kind of motoring show under their banner. . .but whateve, they are all millionaires, so does it matter to them really ?. . . I can't say. But if they enjoy working in TV then perhaps they will find a way to do something or other. . . James May said in an interview today, that . . ." Clarkson is a Knob,. . . .but I really enjoy working with him, and I'm not going to work without him on a BBC alternative. . ."

 

We'll have to see how it pans out. If it "Pans out" on a commercial channel, then we ( the great BBC Tax paying public ) will not be paying AS MUCH for it . . . as pay-to-view tv is an option, whereas the BBC Tax isn't, you go to jail if you don't pay.

 

I'm hoping that, if UKIP get as many parliamentary seats as the polls suggest, then they could well hold the balance of power in another coalition Government with the Conservatives . . . and one of their policies states that the BBC is an over-spending qango which needs at least half of it's currrent public funding removed, ( Damn good idea in my view ) and restructured so that it is a GENUINE public service broadcaster,. . .not a breeding ground occupied by looney leftie apologists for Jihadism, paedophilia, and other weird political leanings. . . . . not before time.

 

If Labour get in with a minority Government, supported by the Scottish Nationalists, then I will packing up me bags and looking for a secondhand ranch somewhere in Australia, as No Government you have ever had could be as bad as that would be. . . . Thank Gawd I took Australian citizenship while I was there ( never ever expected to leave actually. . .nuther story ! )

 

Phil

 

 

No we prove how clever we are by remaining safe and consistent without supervision after gaining our certificates.

Don't worry Geoff . . . WE KNEW you meant " Safe and Consistently Responsible" well put anyway mate, Listen JabPhil,. . .Me and Geoff ain't scared of You ! ! ! (LLOL)

 

 

Small update. . .

 

I heard early this morning that the person with him near the damaged aircraft was a lady occupier of one of the cottages who had witnessed the accident and had immediately attended to offer assistance. He was flying solo. Pilot has leg an mild head trauma, but not life threatening. He claimed that he had revalidated his license a few days prior after not flying for over three years. "Must have a "Friendly" A.M.E. " ( quote from another useer of his base. . . . . ) So it looks as if he might be flying again, being a relatively wealthy individual. . . . Luckily the CAA are involved, so fingers crossed, maybe they'll suggest he takes up a less demanding pastime, one can only hope . . .

 

I apologise for my apparent uncharitable and blatant prejudice towards a "Fellow Aviator" ( ! ! ) I used to rent that aeroplane from him occasionally back in 2007.

 

Phil

 

 

I’ll conclude the first aircraft report quickly, as I have insufficient info for a useful report at present.

 

Aircraft Down #1

 

Whilst duty Air/gound radio operator today ( Sunday 22nd March 2015 ) I heard a radio call which said, “Oh $hit,. . .he’s bloody crashed. . .” I called the station and asked for details, and the pilot apologised for his invective and said that he was overhead Darley Moor Airfield ( Derbyshire UK, approx 40 NM from our base ) and he had just seen a flexwing ( Trike ) take off, and then suddenly turn 180 degrees, and crash into the ground in a field parallel to their runway. Darley do not have an air – ground radio station, but use the “Safetycom” 135.475 national system, where the airfield location name is placed before the word safetycom, and is used for aircraft to aircraft communications around a particular site, and ground communications are not allowed on the channel ( another stupid, pointless and potentially dangerous UK regulation ) He said that it was a “late model trike” and after five minutes he called again, and said that the occupants appeared to be out of the wreckage and walking about on the ground. No further info, though I’ve asked the CFI on his telephone answering machine if everything was OK . . .no reply as yet.

 

Aircraft Down #2

 

I heard a call from an aircraft identifying as “Alpha Delta” who said that he had just witnessed an air crash, and could someone call the emergency services. Upon anwering the call, the pilot said that he was overhead Shifnal Airfield, which is approx 15 NM from our base. He said that the aircraft looked like it was taking off from rwy 28, but that it suddenly turned to the right, and crashed just a few metres away from a pair of residential cottages adjacent to the airfield. I called the emergency services immediately, but they said that they were already aware, and that a “Helimed” aircraft had been contacted and would be on site shortly.

 

I rang a friend who flies from that site, and he informed me that the aircraft was a dark red Luscombe Silvaire. The only Luscombe in our area to my knowledge was based at Abbotts Bromley private airfield approx 19 NM to the Northeast of us. I rang them and they confirmed that one of their pilots had indicated he was flying there to see if he could obtain hangarage.

 

I have known this particular pilot, and his aircraft for quite a long time, as I personally ferried it from his previous base, to the current one on May 1st 2006, as he did not hold a G.A. license and could not fly it himself. . . .This is where my story loses objectivity and becomes very subjective.

 

I had a rather bad experience flying with this particular person when, whilst I was a passenger in his Murphy Maverick, he had deliberately flown us into a deep cloud deck, whilst I was acting as Nav, and studying a chart. We were “In Cloud” for more than fifteen minutes with no blind flying instruments whatsoever, and this bloke, it turned out later, had been doing this for a long time, using a compass as his only steering device. AS soon as we cleared the cloud, I said that I wanted him to land immediately and leave me behind, which he did. How we ever survived that without him losing it completely and spinning us into the deck, I will never know, but sometimes, regrettably, fortune seems to favour the terminally stupid amongst us.

 

Later in the same year, he was reported to have taken another pilot as a passenger, and flown” VFR on Top” toward a destination in the North of England, whose GPS cords he had entered incorrectly,. . .they broke cloud forty NM out into the North sea off the East Coast, and only just made it back to land with the fuel remaining, and could not have called for help if they’d ditched, as the electrical system had failed the previous day. . . . ..

 

Other stories of his stupid exploits abounded at various flying clubs in the region, most of which he had been kicked out of. When I finally contacted the owner of his current base, to confirm that it was actually HIM, the owner told me that he had been asked to leave, as they did not wish to be associated with him, when he killed someone innocent. Which was why he was looking at other places. . .

 

TODAY at Shifnal airfield, he was seen to fly very slowly along rwy 28, then pull right into a really steep right hand turn, pilots on the ground watching have reported no change in engine sound,. . ie, no increase in throttle, at which point the aircraft was seen to stall and drop onto it’s right wing, which absorbed most of the impact. The right main landing gear was torn off the structure. The pilot and his Wife, were able to exit the aircraft unaided.

 

The owner of his current base has informed me that the pilot had suffered a stroke some time ago, and he’d been very seriousl y ill. He expressed incredulity that the pilot had been able to obtain a class 2 medical in his current state, and if he has NOT done so, then I’m hoping that the CAA will chuck the book at him. . . . not being too judgmental here am I ? ? ? ( ! ) I just think that other people will be that bit safer if he doesn’t fly. . . .

 

Putting my tin hat on now. . . .