NVFR

After several weeks practicing and reading up the skills associated with flying a light aircraft in the dark, Wednesday night was test time to demonstrate to the test officer that I could successfully pilot an aircraft in the dark alone.

Unlike driving a car an endorsement is required for a pilot to fly after dark and before dawn. This includes navigating by radio aids (as you cant see so many landmarks) and using instruments more to ensure the aircraft is not actually upside down or some other precarious position. Also avoiding low terrain is high on the list of things to get right.

After an oral theory test the flying got underway. The trip was supposed to be from Warnervale to Maitland, Singleton, Scone, Warkworth, Cessnock, Mt McQuoid to Warnervale. However a en-route diversion meant not getting as far as Scone. However the time saved in journey time was spent on demonstrating the recovery of unusual attitudes, navigation aides and orbiting 360 degrees whilst making sure my altitude did not vary by any more than 200 ft.

Two and a half hours later and the test was complete and I'm now happy to be able to fly at night.

C150 Navigation Exercise

Some pictures from todays solo flight = Warnervale - Maitland - Bundook - Nowendoc - Quirindi - Scone (touch & go) - Singleton - Maitland - Warnervale. 4.5 hours. This picture taken just south of Scone.

This picture taken just south of Scone.

The hills and valleys of NSW.

Following the railway line through the Williamtown military area.

To avoid being hit with a missile through the Williamtown military flying zone, its possible to fly up a 'lane' at 1000 feet which tracks the railway line. In this picture the railway and road run parallel. It was about at this point the aircraft radio stopped working....

Overhead Sydney - 10,000 Feet

Overhead Sydney - 10,000 Feet
Originally uploaded by harrip.

Flew to Canbera and back today in a Cessna 172 (KHT) via Sydney controlled airspace. Awesome view - just like Google Earth :)

Change of house, change of airfield

Having moved from Sydney to Terrigal, and got used to the mortgage payments, I finally got chance to pop along to my new local airfield at Warnervale to get some flying training under way.


Warnervale is almost the complete opposite of flying from Bankstown, my previous airfield. There is no control tower, there is only one rather narrow run-way, rather than than the three wide stips at Bankstown.


I've now signed up with the Central Coast Aero Club so I can continue to work closer towards my goal of obtaining a Commercial Pilots Licence (CPL).

My initial lesson was some basic familiarisation training and circuit revisision. As I'd not flown since May, I was a little rusty so it was good to get back in the air. I flew with Wayne Young, the CFI.

The Arrow

The Arrow
Originally uploaded by harrip.

Thanks to Billy for letting me have a copy of this picture. Makes the Piper Arrow look like a very cool flying machine.

Australian Aviation Links

I've collected a number of useful aviation/flying related links, particularly if your like me and have come to Australia from another land and wish to fly here.

Here they are:

128km Sydney Radar

Aeronautical Information Package

Airbourne Aviation

Australian Government Civil Aviation Safety Authority

Civil Aviation Advisory Publications - CAAP

Civil Aviation Orders

CIVIL AVIATION REGULATIONS 1988 - List of Regulations

ERSA

Fly in France

FLYING_AUSTRALIA

Last 72 hours from Bankstown Ap

Last 72 hours from Camden

Last 72 hours from Canberra Airport

Last 72 hours from Sydney Ap

Mal's Storm-Severe Weather Page - Links

National Airspace System

OziPilots Online Forums - powered by vBulletin

Pilot Briefing Service

Sydney flying tour by Germans

Sydney weather - f2.com.au

Tasair Home

Weather Underground Sydney, New South Wales Forecast

Weather Watch Radar

Welcome to PPRuNe

Back seat to Tamworth

Yesterday I had a great trip to Tamworth with Danial and Brett - thanks for inviting me along guys. We left Sydney Bankstown at around 09:00 for Tamworth before returning via Port Marquirie arriving back at 18:50. Whilst I was just a passenger, I enjoyed the flight, tour of Tamworth (including the big guitar) experience in a Twin and the night flight.
Tamworth photos