Windshear in an ultralight

Posted on February 28, 2016 by Scott

This one’s got it all – a scenically beautiful evening with little or no wind on the ground and severe turbulence, windshear (referred to by the pilot as a ‘microburst‘ in this clip), rain and an engine failure in the air. All in the space of a couple of minutes. It’s a good example of how superficially benign conditions – but note the storm clouds and rainbow – can lead very quickly into a potential disaster in any aircraft but particularly in a very light rag-and-tube ultralight. Ignore the weather at your peril!

Click on the photo to view the video – you can safely skip the first 2 minutes 30 seconds, it’s just the pilot pull-starting the engine and climbing aboard.

Delivering Orange Juliet

Posted on February 27, 2016 by Scott

Aeroprakt is going great guns in USA at the moment, with the A22LS multiplying nicely.

Here’s a video of the delivery flight of a new orange A22LS N5266J (for ‘Juliet’) from west Tennessee to Ohio, via (wait for it) the gulf coast of Florida. That’s quite a flight, even by Australian distances! But when the scenery is so good, I suppose you don’t need much excuse to extend the trip…

As usual, click on the picture to view the video.

Tyabb Airshow 2016

Posted on February 11, 2016 by Scott

Tyabb Airshow 2016 The bi-annual airshow at Tyabb is coming up on Sunday 13th March – not long now! This year’s theme is ‘Winged Warriors’ from past and present.

As in previous years, a wonderful array of old and new aeroplanes will be on display in the air and on the ground, as well as a collection of beautiful vintage cars. There will be a wide range of food and drink stands and many of the private hangars on the airfield will be open and their aircraft on show. Truly a great family day out.

The Foxbat Australia hangar will be open and we’ll have the Vixxen and Foxbat there to see. I share the hangar with Cubcrafters Australia and there will be a nice yellow Carbon Cub on view, as well as the mighty Bush Hawk.

Doors open at 08.30 on Sunday morning – come early and grab a good place to view the flying display.

Click here for more details of the Airshow: Tyabb Airshow 2016

And here for a short promo video: Tyabb Airshow 2016 video

Flying review – 2015

Posted on January 2, 2016 by Scott

Here’s a young pilot who enjoys his flying! Looks like he’s flown in quite a few different aircraft types, as well as a couple of RC models. Did I see a SportStar in there too?

This is a nice mix of video and stills, well-paced, with lots to see. I watched it twice to catch all the different aircraft.

Maybe we should all think about recording our flights over the next 12 months??

As usual, click the picture to see the video.

The dangers of wake turbulence

Posted on December 29, 2015 by Scott

Ever felt impatient to start your take-off quickly after a departing aircraft? Here’s a short video which might help your patience and perhaps even save your life.

In late 2012, a Robin DR400 low-wing light aircraft with four people on board was taking off from a grass strip in what seemed like perfect conditions. Suddenly the aircraft banked steeply to the right and in spite of full opposite aileron and rudder, the DR400 impacted the ground. About 45 seconds before, an Antonov AN-2 had taken off from the same runway.

Click the photo to see the video. I found the background music completely inappropriate but as everything is captioned on-screen, you can turn the music down or mute it.

Here’s a link to the full written report (in English): Wake turbulence hazard analysis

Our Light Sport and Recreational Aircraft are often much lighter than GA aircraft – so TAKE YOUR TIME and don’t take off for at least 2 minutes after another aircraft, particularly a heavier one in light wind conditions!

PS – the only time I experienced wake turbulence myself was at about 3,000 feet in a clear sky following about 200-300 metres behind another light sport aircraft. It happened very suddenly and felt like a huge hand had pulled hard down on one wing. Instinctively I applied opposite controls but for a long moment it made absolutely no difference. Thankfully I dropped out of the turbulence within seconds but it was one of the scariest moments of my flying life.

Great Eastern Fly-In

Posted on December 27, 2015 by Scott

The annual Great Eastern Fly-In is taking place over the weekend of 9-10 January. The fly-in, as always, is at Evans Head Aerodrome on the coast of northern New South Wales – an old military airfield once under threat of closure, so whether by air or land, please go along if you can.

Flying displays are planned for both days, including most things that fly – from radio controlled models up to massive warbirds like the P51 Mustang and T28 Trojan.

It’s many a year since I was able to attend the fly-in from my club base at Jacobs Well in south East Queensland. Now, alas, I’m based far away in Melbourne and family and business commitments (including the eagerly anticipated arrival of the first two customer A32 Vixxens) preclude my attendance this year.

However, this promises to be a great family event. Apart from all the aeroplanes – up close and personal – attractions include on-site catering, local food markets and easy access via a regular shuttle bus service to local cafes and restaurants. There’s a family movie night on Saturday, joy flights throughout the weekend, lots of stalls selling local produce and a great selection of vintage and veteran classic cars and military vehicles of all sorts.

Overall, the Great Eastern Fly-In is a wonderful community event for all aviators and the general public, with plenty of opportunites to view aircraft and talk to pilots.

If you go – have a great (eastern!) time and send us your pictures and comments!

15 year-old Bryce tells of his first solo

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Scott

Bryce’s first solo

After only 4.25 hours’ dual instruction, and barely three months after his 15th birthday, Bryce went solo in Foxbat 24-7277 at Tyabb Airport in Victoria. Fantastic news and congratulations Bryce!

Bryce has been ‘borrowing’ friend Mike Rudd’s venerable red A22LS for his training, which has been conducted with instructors from the Peninsula Aero Club (PAC). On Friday 4 December Senior PAC Instructor Tony checked out Bryce for the final time to ensure his take-offs, landings and emergency procedures were all A1 OK. He then stepped out of the aircraft on the apron to give Bryce his first of what I’m sure will be many solo take-offs and landings.

You can see and Bryce’s own recounting of his first solo by clicking the picture above or by clicking here: Bryce’s first solo.

As a bit of background, Bryce has been flying as a passenger in light aircraft since the age of 8 – aided and abetted by his grandfather, Terry, who owns an original SkyFox taildragger. In fact, Bryce has probably flown in more different types of aircraft than I have, taking the chance to fly whenever it was offered. That experience, together with his own natural inquisitiveness has helped Bryce solo in such a short time.

Keep a Foxbat in the family

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Scott

Alysha solo 02a On 01 December 2015, Alysha went solo (new video link) in Foxbat 24-9100 with Caboolture Recreational Aviation at Caboolture Airfield, south east Queensland. It was her 15th birthday – legally the first day the regulations permit a pilot to fly on their own. Congratulations Alysha! You couldn’t have picked a better aeroplane. Something I hear your Dad believes too, as he bought the aircraft on the same day!

I hope you have many happy flying hours and achieve your Pilot Certificate soon.

RA-Aus ‘amnesty’

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Scott

It may seem at first that flying without a current RA-Aus membership or a current bi-annual flight review (BFR), or without the correct endorsements or in an unregistered aircraft, are not serious safety issues. However, research into accidents with RA-Aus registered aircraft has shown that non-compliance in one or more of these key areas is a significant causal factor in many serious and fatal accidents.

It is thought that fear of reprisal may be one factor in stopping lapsed RA-Aus pilots/members/aircraft owners from rejoining the organisation. To help overcome this, RA-Aus, supported by CASA and other aviation bodies, has agreed an ‘amnesty’ period for ‘non-compliant’ pilots/members/aircraft owners to rejoin RA-Aus without punitive action being taken. Part of this process will include completion of any missing compliance items like BFRs and aircraft registration.

The amnesty will run for a 3-month period, from 01 December 2015 to 29 February 2016. This is a one-off opportunity for anyone affected to get back onside and at the same improve not only their own safety but everyone else’s too.

You may not be personally affected but I really urge you to talk with anyone you feel who may be and ask them to re-join the organisation.

To help in this, here’s a link to a letter from RA-Aus which gives more information for lapsed members: Dear Lapsed Member Letter

And here is a link to the RA-Aus website member application page, which can be completed and submitted online: Membership Reactivation Application

Go Flying Australia Podcast on Aeroprakt aircraft

Posted on November 15, 2015 by Scott

Go Flying Australia Blog is a great collection of information for GA and Light Sport/Recreational pilots/owners with, as its name suggests, a focus on Australian aircraft and flying.

I was really chuffed (there’s an old pommie expression for you) to be called by Adam Knight, host of the blog, and asked if I’d be willing to do an audio podcast interview with him about the A22 Foxbat and A32 Vixxen. Do bears seek comfort and relief in the woods?? Previous podcasts he’s released have included interviews with Matt Hall, Australian Red Bull air ace and aerobatic champ and Joel Haski, owner of Red Baron (Aerobatics) Flight Training, so I’m privileged to be in some lofty company. As well as these podcasts, there are many others covering a wide range of topics, from learning to fly, to warbirds, to airline flying and all points around and in between.

To listen to my attempt – Adam is very helpful and easy to talk with – either click the picture above or here: Podcast 024 – New VSTOL A32 Vixxen LSA from Aeroprakt

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