Tomo

I had a radio failure due to extremely poor wiring on the push to talk button. I sent photos to Jabiru and NEVER got an explanation as to why the soldering and wiring was so poorly done.

Coronial Inquiry: The degree of survival is equal to the angle of arrival.... was my grandson Michael's signature motto.

Now that the Lismore Coroner has requested a brief of evidence by an aviation expert for an inquest, not simply a ruling that these deaths occurred as the result of a tragic accident.

 

It is painful for the family but it is also necessary for the family to know and accept the truth of the matter, and part of the grieving process insists that every detail be examined. Nothing can bring those two vibrant young men back, they will never learn from hindsight, but

 

I am hoping that the findings will prevent further needless deaths in the recreational flying community, and after all, this would be the aim of the coronial inquiry.

 

Thankyou Turboplanner, dunlopdangler and BlackRod for your kind remarks.

 

Please do not stifle discussion and speculation just because you know family members are observing.

 

I appreciate this forum.

 

Trish

Thanks Trish, appreciate your time also. Having met Mike the week before and being offered to take the aircraft for a flight, then hearing this news, it all hit pretty hard.

He has taught me a lesson, something unfortunatly I can't thank him for now.

Will not do GFPT as I will do a few hours solo and then start the navs so will not need it. They want three navs from me. Two with them (short ish) then a big one on my own. I'm happy with this as I will do the navs in a 4 seat Piper which means I get to know a new plane. So I'm guessing about 12 hours total.

Have been hitting Bob Taites books and the weather is doing my head in. But Im in no rush.

Pretty similar here, a couple short nav's then a solo Nav I think, actually looking forward to it. Anyflying is better than not :big_grin:

I will be doing a couple of days next time, so hopefully run through a lot of this stuff. Will post how it all goes after.

Bob Taits good!

Take care, and happy flying.

G'Day Tomo,I've put a couple of 582 SB Drifters through their paces and I reckon a good WB 503 will out perform them every time,I know mine will.

I'm probably not much help here, but I'll tell you what I do.

Being a Drifter flyer as well, things have to be organised and simple as you can imagine when one is out in the breeze. As ERSA pages and pencils aren't recommended propeller food.

I use those Yellow stick it pads, write the details that will be likely to be of use on to one of them, One airfield for one pad. Write it in such a way as to be easily understood, that is fairly important. Less clutter the better.

Things like CTAF frequency, Bris/Melb Ctr Frq. Runway numbers, and cct directions. You should be fully briefed on local requirements before you start your trip anyway, so that shouldn't be neccessary, but If you can add it without making a mess to the simplicity it probably wouldn't hurt. Things like turning before flying over the hospital etc...

They work great, as I clip them on with a dog clip to the windscreen of the drifter, in order of travel, as you would imagine. In other aircraft you stick them wherever. The plastic information strip just above the head on the Jabiru works great if there is enough sticky left on them.

And once you finish your trip, you store them in the ERSA under the correct title, works a treat for finding airfields later on also!

Have the ERSA accessable (in the case of cabin). But treat it as a Planning tool, rather than on the go I reckon, that way you will keep your head out the window as much as possible, and navigating.

Fold maps in descending order if on a big x-country, that way you don't have to fuss with re-folding enroute.

I actually colour copy my maps and laminate them for the Drifter, in A4 size sections. Much easier to handle and you can write on them with a marker. (bit of metho takes it off later on) You can then stick that under your leg, when not needed. Or in some cases for Trike pilots they have a plastic bag type thing strapped to their legs. Fantastic idea I reckon, but bit hard in 3 axis aircraft!

When maps are not needed In the cabin I just put it in the pocket, or down beside you (left side) for something like the Jabiru. Using normal maps for that as you could imagine.

I always do a flight plan. I have a template made up, which makes it a really simple proccess. And use a knee board in a cabin. Being left handed and ambidextrous helps quite a lot when it comes to writing, but that is limited to only some of us I guess.

As long as it works for you I guess... Each person works differently. One of the most important things is map folding my instructor told me, for ease of everything in the cockpit. Nothing worse than having to unfold and refold a big map, whilst you missed your last confirmation point on the ground. And or you hit the stick, and you're now doing a 30 degree bank and going madly off course!!

Just for your interest, I checked out how Bert Hinkler used to do his big Navigations. He used a canvas scroll type map, marvelous idea for long direct trips. Writing pretty much everything on it also.

Happy flying.

Do I need a medical before I can put the SPL application in?

Would it just be easier to get an ASIC from CASA with the SPL?

Or do I apply for the SPL (which includes an application for ASIC and ARN I think?) and then once that comes through I get the medical?

(ARN) Application) including appropriate identification with this application.

So I'd probably do that.

You need the ARN for the medical, so you will have to wait till that comes through to do it.

Gee you're a helpful young lad Tomo!.....I should have shopped around for my medical, I did it at Jindalee, can't remember how much it was exactly but well over $200 just for the consultation! Ouch.

But may I add - it was all worth it to be able to fly.

I payed 300 something for my initial consultation, said it is cheaper at renewals though.

Yes it is worth it indeed.

Hey Darks...

Allow at least 6 weeks for the SPL to come through - send application registered posts for best results I found out afterward.

You'll need an ARN first as Blackrod states - costs nothing.

ASIC unfortunately

And the Medical, which is the most exy of them all.

You will/should (I'm not sure on that one) be able to start your training without all these though, but it wouldn't hurt to start applying for them all as they do take a while to process.

ARN application form

ASIC application form

RAA ASIC application form

SPL application form

Medical examiner list

Hope that helps.

Chin up :big_grin:

Hey Guy, I see you're in Lismore, Duck over to Wayne Fisher, and he'll probably take you for a blast. You'll love it.

Hey mate.

I'm pretty much doing exactly the same thing now, and will give more of an idea once I'm finished as to how it went.

Why I went with RAA first for myself was because; 1) the aircraft were cheaper to fly/maintain; 2) I could start when I did as I had the money for it.

Difference was: $130hr dual for the Drifter vs $260hr dual for GA. Initial training to fly an aircraft is the same, why pay twice as much for the same thing??

I now have a hundred or so hrs in quite a few different aircraft, I've flown around a bit of Australia. If I did my PPL first off, I would not have been in a position to do any of that, and would no doubt have no where near the hrs I do now. I'm still better off actually even with all of that.

Rough estimate of say hundred hrs, about, lets say at $120hr for average sake = $12,000. A fair bit when you see it like that!!

PPL estimate they reckon of around $18,000 I think = How many hrs?

The way I look at it is experience/understanding rather than license. I may only need a few hrs to go GA now, but I've put aside about 10hrs or more worth at this stage and will try as many new things as possible. Whats that leave me? 10hrs at $260 an hr is $2600 + $12,000 is $14,600. $3,400 left over, that I wouldn't have if I had done the PPL.

Fun factor? Oh yes! Flying Drifters and the Huge range of RAA aircraft is just incredible.

Do what you have to I guess, but you don't want to get ripped off, and you also don't want to undercut yourself when you don't have to.

Another thing, how urgent are you at wanting your PPL? Get the RAA ticket now, wait a yr gaining experience in the air, X-countries etc... then Jump on the PPL, may end up the same amount of doing the PPL first, but consider how much more learnered you are.

Sorry to ramble on, but I hope it helps a little.

Oh, and just another thing. If you want to do the 150hr CPL course it mayen't be a good idea to do RAA first. (you'd have to check on that) But there are some restrictions on how you go about doing it. All depends I guess on how urgent you are.

Also make sure you are satisfied that the other answers are wrong. Sometimes there are 2 answers that are right, but one will be "more right". If you are too hasty and pick an answer that seems right, you may get it wrong.

Yes, Don is from dalby. And teaches in the Gyros.

Ok, yes, very much different to Tafe.

Welcome Guy, hope you enjoy it.

Sounds great about your recent trip, something I'll have to do one day.

If you don't know the answer... I guess they do!

Seriously though, I'm sure they are designed to be a little tricky, and get you thinking. They make it look easy by using multi choice answers, so to get you back, they make up some trickery...

But yes, reading the question over an over, and answering only what they ask is certainly a plus. Sometimes you think they are trying to trick you, so you answer with the smartest looking answer, only to find you are changing the original question.

I reckon you're dead right Maj, bit of a hold up really.

A poling accident indeed. One that can't be brushed aside.

Nice video, love the editing!

In the Announcements section would be ok I reckon, or in the Flyin trip planning section.

G'day Douglas, and welcome along to this awesome place. :big_grin:

I believe I met you on Saturday morning at Caboolture the other week, you gave Natasha and myself some information on your up-coming fly-in. And you and your dad have a Spitfire. Great work.

I'll certainly be over to support you if I'm around on those dates.

Ask anything you like, and I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks guys.

G'day Shaun, great to have you, welcome along.

Young Andrew on here also fly's from Bindoon Ab, aka Sseeker

I learnt in the 503 wb, fantastic little machine they are, still fly the 503, but also the 582 sb, goes like a rocket!

Gyro's are interesting machines, hope your license goes well for it.

Have fun

Looking good Maj!

Indeed DJ.