In our theory training, we’re all taught about what happens when a wing stalls: going beyond the critical angle of attack breaks laminar flow and the wing loses lift. More on Wikipedia.
But what would it actually look like? During flight testing of the Icon A5 amphibian LSA, they attached small pieces of string to the entire surface to show the airflow. The video has been posted on YouTube and going though it frame by frame shows how the stall progresses over time across the wing and also just how quick they all snap back to attention when the pilot releases back pressure and un-stalls the aircraft.
This should be required viewing in every flying school’s briefing room!
CASA has a few days ago released CAAP 166 (PDF): “Operations in the vicinity of non-towered
(non-controlled) aerodromes.”
This advisory comes into effect from June 3rd (the same day as all GAAPs become class D) and basically turns around 300 registered and certified airport into a CTAF(R). It also covers some new circuit procedures, focused mainly on the safe mix of small GA aircraft and RPT traffic. For instance, the new overfly altitude is 2000′ AGL so as not to conflict with high performance aircraft that fly the circuit at 1500. As if reading a windsock from 1500ft wasn’t hard enough at times!
It’s a remarkably easy to read document and everyone should read it cover to cover as it will not only make clear the changes, but also remind you of proper procedures.
It also finally defines what the difference is between RA and private GA flying: “pilots flying
recreational or sport aircraft for their own enjoyment, or pilots flying GA aircraft for their own leisure.”
There has been a lot of opposition on this, especially from the RA-Aus camp, but I wonder how many pilots this actually affects. Looking at the list, many of the aerodromes were CTAF(R) already and none of the larger airfields in SA used by RA (Gawler, Murray Bridge, Aldinga, Truro) are on it.
Are you negatively affected by this, or know someone who is? Let us know in the comments!
Flight Global is reporting that the FAA is requesting US$10M in funding over the next 5 years to help rid the world of tetra-ethyl lead in AVGAS. They will use the funding to develop both a 100LL replacement as well as modifications for engines that can’t run on unleaded fuel.
Click here to read the full article on Flight Global
That’s only a few decades late, but hopefully any such fuel will come to our shores sooner rather than later. The Americans are trying to get rid of 100L, while we still have a good part of the country on 100/130. The green 100/130 AVGAS is nasty stuff and around Parafield, some fuel-injected C172s are having real trouble with it. Not to mention the Rotax engine in my SportStar, which is why I now fill it with premium unleaded MOGAS, the fuel it was designed for.
While the lead going will probably be welcomed by the oil companies as well, in the end they are still going to be making a relatively low volume of fuel that is not very profitable for them. So in the long term I still don’t see a real future for AVGAS and am keeping a keen eye on the development of diesel engines that can run on Jet-A.
Opinion. As it has for many years, RA-Aus’s annual NATFLY has been and gone this Easter. For the first time this year it hasn’t been at its former home of Narromine, but at the new location in Temora. I didn’t make it this year, but there was a record attendance of aircraft and people, making it a great success; not in a small part thanks the Bureau of Meteorology scheduling great weather for it.
Last year, RA-Aus started shopping around and through a tender process, Temora got the contract to host the next three events. Unlike so many other councils that were handed a great airport by the Howard government they decided not to eat away at it for residential development with the aim of buldozing it completely later. Instead, Temora took their asset, recognised its value and decided to develop it. What a novel idea!
The Temora Aviation museum hosts a large collection of airworthy aircraft that regularly take to the skies, with warbirds ranging from the Tiger Moth and Spitfire to jets like the Vampire, F-86 Sabre and the world’s only flying Gloster Meteor. Not bad for a small country town.
A fly-in attended by 750 aircraft and thousands of people combined with a big airshow of classic warbirds, Chris Sperou in his Super Stinker and to top it off the RAAF Roulettes showing their stuff in close formation, what could be better? Well, for one, they could have actually put on the airshow. Instead, “due to the volume of flying activity at Temora Aerodrome over Easter, none of the Museum Aircraft will be flying.” Seriously? Who came up with that idea? Tell all the participants the field is closed for displays from 10 till 3pm one of the days, NOTAM it and you are done. Instead, the next flying day will be this weekend, a week after it should have been.
Despite this unbelievable SNAFU oversight, there is lots of good news. Depending on who heard it right, the council is now willing to invest 2 to 3 million dollars in upgrades to the airport for the next few years of NATFLY. That money would go a long way to more and better campsites and toilet/shower facilities, taxiways and indoor space. This could make Temora a world-class fly-in/airshow site so that in two years time, the event will have grown so much, moving it elsewhere will be impossible. In my opinion, that would be a good thing as things can only get bigger from there. Hopefully, RA-Aus, the museum and the council will realise from comment such as this that having an airshow during the weekend is the logical thing to do.
To reach full potential, though, we need to get all of Australia’s many personal aviators on board. First of all, SAAA and RA-Aus should combine forces; the two group’s members do essentially the same thing – flying personal aircraft for fun. One has an all-experimental fleet, the other a largely experimental one but even the certified ones are being maintained by their owners. Having two fly-ins with workshops every year that cover the same topics makes no sense.
Once there is a full-blown airshow, just like at other airshows, those people flying certified GA aircraft will also flock in. It will no longer be an RA-Aus only event to them where they are just a guest; the fact that RA-Aus organises it becomes secondary.
NATFLY at Temora has the potential to become Auskosh. Of course it will never be as big as EAA Airventure or Sun ‘n Fun, but with the enormous amount personal aviation committed per capita compared to the rest of the world, it can easily become the world’s 3rd biggest fly-in.
Now wouldn’t that be better than a weekend of compulsory in-law visits and Easter egg hunts?
For most people, Kangaroo Island, a beautiful part of South Australia, is cruelly separated from suburbia by a two hour drive to Cape Jervis followed by another, expensive, hour and a half on a ferry*. Not so for pilots. A quick hop from one of South Australia’s many airfield and you are across the water with a choice of a number of runways.
One of the best of those runways is at Antechamber Bay and belongs to Chapman River Wines‘ Cellar Doors. I know, I know: 8 hour bottle to throttle, but there is much more on offer than just wines. Besides, your passengers can enjoy them and you might take a bottle or two home for the debrief.
Set just behind the dunes in between the trees, this cellar doors restaurant is a real quiet getaway. Sit outside on the veranda or indoors around the fireplace, you are surrounded by the artworks created by the lady of the house, Diana.
On offer for lunch is the nation’s cellar door favourite: the platter for two. Antipasti, dips, fresh bread, cheese, fruit and nuts make up this one made from local produce. It’s delicious. If you are in the mood for more, a mouth watering selection of fresh cakes is available to satisfy your sweet tooth. Top it off with an espresso or latte.
While you are enjoying or waiting for your lunch, the kids can keep themselves entertained on the playground.
Just a 10 minute walk over the dunes is a beautiful sandy beach perfect for swimming or just a nice walk.
You could easily spend a good part of a day here; arrive in the morning for some time on the beach followed by a nice lunch before flying off home or to the next destination. Or stay overnight in the nearby eco-cabins or camp grounds.
The airstrip is about 800m grass and gets regular use. It’s roughly 16/34 and has a power line a the Southern end and some small trees at the Northern end. The windsock is at the South Eastern end. S035 47.7 E138 04.1. Not suitable for use in winter and after rainy periods. It gets grazed too, so make sure to phone ahead so it is clear and slashed. They even slash a good taxiway and parking area.
Open 11-4.30 Thursdays to Mondays (Closed Wednesdays-Thursdays: Winter closure July-August) Phone: 08 8553 1371, email: chapmanriverwines@activ8.net.au
* before you correct me on this; SeaLink quotes 45 minutes but that is dock to dock. Loading and unloading takes time too.
Parafield Airport
In just a few months time, Australia’s GAAP airfields will become class-D airspace. To get first hand information on the changes, CASA has organised workshops in the 5 cities affected. On each day, there will be a 1-4PM afternoon session as well as a 6:30 to 9:30PM evening one. A great way to learn more and ask any questions you have, as well as meet up with other pilots in the area.
- Monday May 10: Sydney, Bankstown Travelodge
- Tuesday May 11: Brisbane, Bardon Conference Centre
- Thursday May 13: Melbourne, Dingle International
- Tuesday May 18: Perth, AFA Club, Bull Creek
- Thursday May 20: Adelaide, The Mawson Centre
It is highly recommended you go to one of the sessions if you fly in and out of any of the GAAP airfields. To register, go to casa.gov.au/gaap.
Liberty XL2
If you are in the market for a great, modern two seater aircraft, this could be your lucky year. This week’s used aircraft of the week is the Liberty XL2 is a certified version of the Europa XS kit plane, complete with FADEC controlled Continental IOF-240-B engine producing 125HP for a 75% cruise of 113kt. The wide side-by-side cockpit and almost 270kg useful load means that with full fuel there’s plenty of weight available for two real people and their bags while cruising along at barely more than 20 litres an hour.
With the bankrupcy of Sydney Flight Training Centre, the market has just been flooded with no less than 12 Liberty XL2 aircraft in various configurations, all listed on Aviation Advertiser.
No prices are listed, but them being on sale by the administrator probably means they won’t want to sit on them forever and are willing to do a deal.
Sucks to be the one guy currently advertising his private XL2 for almost 200 grand!