March 2015 Official Publication of the Royal Aero Club of Western Australia …€¦ · ·...

www.royalaeroclubwa.com.au

Official Publication of the Royal Aero Club of Western

Australia (Inc.)

March 2015http://www.royalaeroclubwa.com.au

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Contacts

In This Issue Deadlines

Main Office & Operations:41 Eagle Drive, Jandakot Airport, JANDAKOT, W.A. 6164Phones: 08 9417 0000Fax: 08 9417 0040Email: [email protected]: www.royalaeroclubwa.com.au

Flickr: Royal Aero Club WATwitter: www.twitter.com/royalaeroclubwaFacebook: www.facebook.com/royalaeroclubwa

Murrayfield Operations: Lakes Road,NAMBEELUP, W.A., 6210Phone: 08 9581 6222Fax: 08 9583 3922Email: [email protected]

Racwa Team Members: General Manager: David CurreyClub Secretary: David CurreyCFI (VFR) / Chief Pilot: Trevor JonesCFI (IFR) Wayne ClemeshaCFI (IT) / Murrayfield: John Douglas Chief Engineer: Glen Caple Operations Manager: Rick EnnisOIC Murrayfield: Michael Chlopek

Tarmac Topics: Publisher: The Royal Aero Club of

Western Australia (Inc.) 19 537 624 305

Editor: [email protected] / Advertising Manager:

Shelley Cruden Ph. 0423 892 084 [email protected]

Printer: Mike Severn (Success Print) Ph. 9279 3214 [email protected]

CommitteeAndrew Eldridge

President: 0438 220 703 or 08 9221 4336 [email protected]

Mitchell Wells Vice President: 0400 700 824 [email protected]

Steve Wilson Treasurer: 0407 772 324 [email protected]

Craig Hensley Club Captain: 0439 528 733 [email protected]

Marco Surace Director: 0467 791 537 [email protected]

Linda Maule Director 0411 480 909 [email protected]

Rod Garnaut Director: 0411 700 336 [email protected]

Martin Jones Director: 0407 033 737 [email protected]

Rachel George: Director: 0418 957 225 To Advertise

Disclaimer

Cover Photo: Celebrating our Jandakot Anniversary. Photo: Shanae Terrill

The views expressed in TARMAC TOPICS are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of Racwa, nor does it automatically endorse products advertised. Racwa retains the right to reject or edit submissions for publication to conform with Racwa policies or due to space constraints. Aviation regulatory matters are mentioned as general information only - readers should obtain the current status immediately before flight operations. No responsibility is taken for any loss or damage suffered by any person or entity attributed to the content of any article or advertisement published in this magazine. Reproduction of material published in this magazine is permitted after approval has been obtained from the Publisher of Tarmac Topics, and on the condition the article/photo source is acknowledged.

Advertise in Tarmac Topics now. For details, check http://www.royalaeroclubwa.com.au or contact Shelley Cruden on 0423 892 084 or [email protected].

FeaturesAviation Careers 6About Our Members 7Celebrations 8-12Flying Fun 13Have A Go 14Happenings 15Over the Hills 16Out 'n' About 17Achivements 18Past, Present & Future 20

Regular ItemsContact Us 2News 3What's On? 4Around The Club 5On A Lighter Note 19

The deadline for receiving articles and photos for the following month's edition is the 17th of each month.

PatronHer Excellency Kerry Sanderson AO


Hello all,An extraordinary event was held at the Club on 21st February, when we celebrated 50 years at

Jandakot Airport. The celebration was attended by more than 220 past and current members and staff, some of whom went back to the beginning of the era which began at Jandakot in 1965. It was clear how much this Club has influenced the lives of so many people, and how it has created enduring friendships that have survived the years. It was fantastic to see so many of the wonderful people who have shaped our Club and made it what it is today. Many acquaintances were re-established, and fond memories were exchanged between people who hadn't seen each other for decades. It was a pleasure for me to catch up with Mary Earnshaw (nee Walton) who was the instructor on my trial flight in 1986, Rob Turner, the instructor who prepared me for the RPPL, and Mike Pottier who was the testing officer for my RPPL in 1988. It was an extraordinary gathering of many members who have contributed to the fabric of the Club over the years. There were nine Club CFIs present, eight Life Members, and four Past Presidents as well as a number of previous Club Captains and Committee Members. Proceedings were expertly MC’ed by John Douglas, and we enjoyed excellent presentation speeches from David Currey, Brian Hernan, Mary Earnshaw and Roger Weeks. It was a very auspicious and memorable occasion. It takes a large amount of work to hold an event such as this, and I thank Linda Maule, John Douglas, David Currey, Trevor Jones, John Ridgway, Ann Garrett, Donna Ford, and Coril Bere as well as the many other staff and members who helped with preparations. It was a great team effort. Thanks also to Mick Harcourt and his band for the music, Raif and Chazza Youssef for the entrées, and Jason Douglas for setting up the audio system. One of the beneficial side-effects of an event such as this, is that we were obliged to do some gardening, carpet cleaning and other maintenance work and consequently the clubrooms are looking spick and span. Thanks to George Rolfe, and Gary Evans for assisting with gardening and maintenance, and those who attended the busy bee for their assistance. Thank you to the WAAC students who assisted on the night, as well as the Red Barrows and the formation fly-past team, for their excellent displays. We're thinking ahead to the 90th anniversary of the Club, which will be another major club event not to be missed.Thank you to those who have renewed their membership already. We are looking forward to posting the new-look membership cards shortly. The new cards will include a statement entitling Racwa members to reciprocal member rights at all other RFACA-affiliated clubs in Australia, so I encourage you to carry your card if you are flying at other aero clubs around the country. Though we

Onwards and Upwards

are still developing our Member Benefits program, the card will become the vehicle for redeeming your member entitlements at our affiliated providers. It is a great time to be a member at Racwa! We normally hold an information evening early in the year, but we've been too busy, and intend to include a brief update of the Club's recent performance when we mail the membership card. With an improving fleet, increasing business, and a new bank supporting us, the news is all positive. In other exciting news, Gary Evans' very attractive Decathlon will be online at the Club in the not-too-distant future. This aircraft will provide an excellent platform for tailwheel training and provide a pathway for those seeking to take their aerobatics to a new level. Business continues to grow at Murrayfield under the expert management of Michael Chlopek. One of Michael's innovations is to offer Tiger Moth flights from Murrayfield once a month, and this has proved so popular that the aircraft was fully booked on the most recent occasion. If you would like to experience a Tiger Moth joyflight over the pretty vista of Mandurah, please contact Michael at Murrayfield. For our competition-minded members, don't forget that the ALACs are coming in early April. This year, the competition is being held at Echuca on the Murray River. If you can't make it, please support the Club team in their efforts to wrest back the trophy from the Tasmanians. The first session of the new Racwa Young Eagles program was held at the Club on 21st February. 22 budding young future aviators were shown around the clubrooms, the hangar and the aircraft. Future activities include a tour of Jandakot Airport, a visit to the Jandakot Tower, a tour of a Network Aviation Fokker 100 at Perth Airport, and other exciting activities. The program runs for 7 weeks, and judging from the first session, it looks like being a hit with the Racwa Young Eagles. This is a great way to introduce the Club, and flying, to a new set of prospective pilots and members. It is important that we continue to develop new ways to promote and grow the Club, and you will see an increased effort to market the Club over the course of the coming year. Our best sales people are you, our members, so please do what you can to inspire others to come and experience the joy of flight. If you have a clever idea about how we can promote flying and the Club, please let me know.

Andrew Eldridge. President

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March2 PPL course starts2 CPL Navigation course starts8 YMUL Comp - Practice Forced Landing (PFL)

and Streamer Cutting16 CPL Meteorology course starts16 CPL Human Factors course starts17 Aviation Workshop Evening21 Learn to Fly Seminar24 CPL Flight Performance & Loading course starts27 Formation Friday27 Industry Presentation27 Old Fliers Group29 YPJT Comp - Low Level Spot Landing30 CPL Air Law course starts

April3 Rotto Bun Run9 Become a Commercial Pilot Careers Evening11 Valley View Air Display & Summer Concert12 YMUL Comp - No Comp this month15-19

ALAC, Echuca21 Aviation Workshop Evening24 Formation Friday24 Industry Presentation24 Old Fliers Group26 YPJT Comp -

RFACA "Learn to Fly" Competition

Take a Trial Intoductory Flight (TIF) between

1 November 2014 and 29 March 2015and be in the running for

TWO Flying Training Prizes valued at $7700 each(including GST)

(Total prize value $15400)

Entrants must:* be at least 15 years on 13/4/2015

* have had no prior formal flying training* be able to meet RPL or PPL medical standards

Competition prize must be used by 7th April, 2016

Winners will be notified in writing.Results will also be published in “The Australian”

newspaper 14th April, 2015

Share your passionEverytime you go for a flight the reaction is the same; exhileration, freedom, passion. Imagine sharing that feeling with your friends, family and colleagues.

Now you can share your passion with those closest to you. Bring a friend to one of our Learn to Fly Seminars at Jandakot Airport each month; there are sessions for Private Pilots and Commercial Pilots. Anyone can do it.

Registerations are essential.

becomeapilot.com.au

2pm, Saturday March 21st, 2015

Coming Events

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Later17 May YMUL Comp18 May IREX course starts18 May CPL Systems course starts27 May CPL Aerodynamics course starts31 May YPJT Comp8 June CPL Meteorology course starts16 June CPL Navigation course starts29 June PPL course starts13 July CPL Human Factors course starts21 July CPL Flight Performance & Loading

course starts30 July CPL Air Law course starts7 September CPL Systems course starts14 September IREX course starts15 September CPL Navigation course starts23 September CPL Aerodynamics course starts2 October CPL Meteorology course starts19 October PPL course starts10 November CPL Flight Performance & Loading

course starts19 November CPL Human Factors course starts21 November Warbirds Downunder, Temora

Regular EventsMurrayfield Comp 2nd Sunday of the monthAviation Workshop Evening - 3rd Tuesday of the monthFormation Friday - Last Friday of the monthIndustry Presentation - Last Friday of the monthOld Fliers Group - Last Friday of the monthJandakot Challenge - Last Sunday of the month


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On a quiet March Sunday Jasenko Golic flew his First Solo circuit

Club Capt Craig Hensley & Martin Karl enjoying a Saturday afternoon flight along the coast

Kat Gauci celebrating her Second Place at the Murrayfield Comp with Club Captain Craig

The Trifecta celebrating after the Jandakot Instumentless Circuit Comp

WAAC Class E14: Josh Del Prete, Rob Fabo, Lauren Dowding and Brendan Swale accept their wings

Commercial Pilot Ashwin Sundaram

New Recreational Pilot Licence holders Kent Fitzgibbons (bottom left), Maxim

Kuminov, (left) Raul Bautista, (above) and Shaun Williams (below)

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“Charter is a very fast way to expedite your flying career in both hours and experience” recommends Ben Briers, Operations Manager

and Senior Line Pilot for King Leopold Air, a Charter Company operating from Broome Western Australia. Ben joined WAAC in 2011 after beginning his flying training at Racwa. Possibly the youngest ever to join the college, Ben achieved his Commercial Licence in August 2013 and gained his instructor rating the following month. After some time working behind Racwa Operations Desk but not gaining nearly enough hours, it was in March 2014 when Ben decided to pack his bags and try his luck with charter flying up north. After heading to Broome, it took Ben a couple of months to secure his first pilot job in the small town. His advice for securing that role:• Be keen, you will get a job if you present yourself as

someone who is enthusiastic. This means finding work as soon as you get there, whether that be behind a bar or at McDonalds

• Live in Broome, set yourself up with a house and car, they’re more likely to hire you if you’re located in the town.

• Ben also advised that November is the best time of the year to head there. “By the time they start hiring

in January, you'll have yourself setup and made your presence known to the companies there.”Working as Operations Manager for King Leopold

Air (KLA), Ben also helps with the recruitment of new pilots. Entry requirements of a pilot applying for a charter company like KLA might include:• 500 hours minimum flying

requirement• CSU and RTUC

endorsements (as you’re likely to be flying Cessna 210s)

• NVFR not a MECIR • a friendly personality as the company has a scenic

flights arm to the business and likes their pilots to be customer service focused.

Ben emphasised the point that having your 200 series endorsement is not an essential requirement to securing charter work. There are operational differences between the 210s and 172s, but nothing a conscientious pilot can’t learn whilst on the job.Most importantly, Ben advised to set yourself apart from the other 40 odd pilots who make their way to Broome for charter jobs, by presenting yourself as a professional. READ YOUR APPLICATION FORM THOROUGHLY, as there may be some leeway if you don’t meet minimum requirements. Don’t listen to myths about offering to clean aircraft and fly for free, and how it will guarantee you a role. Most importantly - have fun, living and flying in Broome is one of the greatest adventures you’ll ever experience in your life.

Benjamin Briers Operations Manager / Senior Line Pilot, King Leopold Air

Gift vouchers for hands-on trial flights, scenic flights and even Tiger Moth joyflights out of Murrayfield airstrip in Mandurah are

now available online!

shop.royalaeroclubwa.com.auThe perfect gift idea for Christmas

Fly Locally.

Discounted rates for Murrayfield Aerodrome, Lakes Rd Nambeelup. Tiger Moth Joyflights subject to strict availability & for a limited time only. Ph (08) 9581 6222

Murrayfield - Flour Bombing comp

1st John Look 2nd Keith McEwan 3rd Sylvia Byers

Jandakot - Instrumentless Circuit comp

1st Rod Garnaut 2nd Steve Wilson 3rd Craig Hensley

Comp Winners


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RACWA member Dieter Ebeling scoops Gold and Silver medals at the Intermediate World Aerobatic Championships (IWAC)

I had the proud honour of representing Australia at the Intermediate World Aerobatic Championships held in South Africa between the 26th of November and the 3rd of December 2014. On the 19th of November, I was joined by my mate Mark Jefferies, who is a many times British Aerobatic Champion and with whom I have competed in previous World Aerobatic Championships. We prepped our Extra 330LX, rego ZS-EXE, at Rand Airport near Johannesburg. On the morning of the 20th we headed off to Gariep Dam, 300nm from Rand Airport for a tech stop, and then on to Karoo Gateway Airport at Beaufort West as our destination Mossel Bay was inaccessible due to inclement weather. I managed to get some practice flights in during the afternoon as well as on the following morning, before heading off to Mossel Bay, the championship venue, where the weather had improved by then. When we arrived on the 21st, quite a number of International teams had already arrived and practice in the aerobatic box was well underway. An alternative aerobatic box situated on the coastline had been assigned and we were able to book 10 minute slots, alternating between the two boxes throughout the days leading up to the championships. The championship officially began on November 26. We had the first official briefing followed by the Opening Ceremony, which was a grand night and filled with excitement and anticipation of the events to come. I drew beer can No. 33, which put me midfield in the flight order for the 1st flight programme. The wind blew out of limits for the entire day on the 27th, so all flying was cancelled. The fly, no fly, fly situation can certainly add to the frustration and pressure! On the morning of the 28th we received the following: "IYAK-2811-Cloud base too low at 760m. Minimum 950m. Next measurement at 1000LT." The base did however lift and flying commenced mid-morning. At 5pm we were up to flight No. 29, however a few puffy clouds halted flying again temporarily. A weather flight was undertaken and flying resumed a while thereafter. I got my first flight done just before 6pm. I was happy with how I flew, and I ended up in 10th place overall after the first programme. The 30th started off with low cloud and it delayed things a bit, however flying recommenced when blue skies opened up mid-morning and we got a full day of flying in, completing the Free Programme for all contestants in both

the Intermediate World Aerobatic Championships and the Yak 52 programme. It had warmed up when I flew at around 14:30 and I had to make some allowances in the way I was going to fly the free due to the higher density altitude. Having flown on many a hot Aussie day certainly came in handy! I had a good flight and the judges liked it too, awarding me 1st place with 80.686%. This moved me up in the rankings to 2nd place overall in the championship with a total of 77.839%. The final results in the IWAC were: 1. Michel Leusch 78.997% (RSA)2. Dieter Ebeling 77.839% (AUS)3. Neville Ferreira 77.395% (RSA)The overall Team results were:1. South Africa

2. Great Britain3. Czech Republic4. New Zealand5. SlovakiaI was awarded a FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale) Gold Medal for 1st place in the Free Programme and a FAI Silver Medal for 2nd place overall.The West Australian Chapter of the Australian Aerobatic Club is very active and I would like to encourage anyone interested in aerobatics, whether as a competitor, supporter or simply having an interest in the sport, to please get in touch with us. We hold regular training days at Murrayfield and two WA regional comps a year.

Dee Ebeling

2015 Rotto Bun Run

Good FridayApril 3rd

Experience the Famous

Rottnest Bakery’s Hot Cross Buns

Raffle PrizesSeafood Lunch

Easter Eggs for the kidsMystery Call Sign Prize

All proceeds go to supporting the work of the RFDSRegister your interest online www.royalaeroclubwa.com/events/details/id/213

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Racwa Golden Jubilee

The Aero Club is known for not doing anything by halves.So when JAH celebrated the opening of

Jandakot Airport in December of 2013 and General Manager David Currey proposed the Royal Aero Club have our own celebration of the Club’s 50

Years since our move to Jandakot from Perth City Airport, we had an inkling this wasn't going to be merely coffee and cake.

The month is February; it’s a Tuesday - 1965.“Another step was made in aviation history when the Club transferred to Jandakot Airport” reports the July 1965 edition of Tarmac Topics. “The occasion was marked by little other than more or less an ordinary day’s work. The President and several Committee Members, together with Press and T.V. representative watched Flight Instructors and other staff prepare for the evacuation of Perth Airport, home for the Club since April 1959. The feelings were not mixed as everyone had conditioned themselves for the move, and whilst Perth Airport has proved a friendly venue, the time had come when training was being conducted with some shortcomings. The fleet departed en-mass and the 20 minute flight to Jandakot was made without incident. Another 20 minutes later, the first training flight from the new home was under way. Within several days, the new way of life was accepted,

and flying started to increase. Students in particular were to gain much by the time saved in taxying and nearer location of the training area.”Flash forward to February 2015 we’ve been fortunate to call Jandakot home for 50 years. Marked with a celebration of Members past and present on Saturday February 21, 2015, 220 people filled the member’s lounge, many of whom travelled from Hobart, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to attend. Nine CFIs, 5 Club Presidents and 8 Life Members were amongst those who participated in the festivities. Feedback from the event has been exceptionally positive, many commending the death defying stunts of the Red Barrows as the most enjoyable part of the evening second only to the daring moves of Vice President Mitchell Wells as he


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‘cut up’ the dance floor late into the night.The food was plentiful, the reminiscing was fanciful. Mary Earnshaw captured our hearts when she spoke about RACWA through the 80s and early 90s. Roger Week’s imparted an insightful rendition of the 90s on to early 2000s. What the club had achieved since all those years ago. Life member Brian Hernan’s historical account of RACWA’s past helped us reflect on where we’ve been and President Andrew Eldridge directed us toward the future. John Douglas’ rosy red cheeks spoke a thousand words with a childish gleam from ear to ear. The event also marked JD’s 50th year with RACWA and what an abundant career he has driven.Current instructors have commended the celebration as a chance to finally have the occasion to speak to these figure heads of our club, names that are spoken of but rarely seen who would otherwise not have had the opportunity to approach. Our club crosses the dimensions of a multitude of generations and levels of aviation - but with the one goal that draws us together. It was such a pleasure and so invigorating to see that celebrated across the generational divides. Thank you to all who attended and we give considerable recognition for those who contributed tirelessly to the success of the evening: the exceptional planning committee of Linda Maule, John Douglas, Coril Bere and David Currey. To Brian Hernan, Mary Earnshaw, Roger Weeks and Andrew Eldridge for their insightful speeches; to those who helped to clean and set up the clubhouse for the event: Gavin Williams, Angus Ford, Gary Evans, Colin Bailey, Brendan Swale, Steve Wilson and Trevor Jones; and of course those who worked throughout the course of the evening: John Ridgway, Ann Garrett, Donna Ford, Charlotte Mallen, David Currey, Shaun Williams, Maxim Kuminov, Ian Loveday, Sabrina McLaughlin, Carrie Munro, Byron Page and Shannae Terrill, thank you!It was a team effort and one that simply could not have been made possible without the involvement and club spirit of all who joined in - there is already talk about the RACWA 90th in 4 years time so ensure we don’t lose touch, if it’s anything like Saturday’s event we’ve certainly got something to look forward to.

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A Warm Welcome to our New Members,

and Congratulations Achievers New MembersEsha D’Souza, Dane Gilchrist, Robin Clohessy, Stephanie Opiyo, Greg Webber, David Mustafic, Reinhard Langmair, Peter Lalor, Daniel Punch, Kim Larsen, Wade Robins, Neil Maxfield, John Mitchell, Martin McInerney, Raymond Challen, Liam Birch

First SoloKevin Young, Bryce Thompson, Shaun Williams, Max Kuminou

RPLTimothy Kuruckchi, Joshua Dickinsep, Maximilian Ludwig, Stephen Bedells, Raul Bautista Castillo

CPLDaniel Pascoe, Matthew Christensen, Peter Graham

Night VFR RatingLeigh Odgers, Eugene Ooi, Thorin Lyons, Timothy Berryman, Wang Tang

Instument RatingRuamchon Chomtrakun

The decrease in the fuel price has been a welcome relief for motorists, but there has been no change in the Club hire rates. (The price of Avgas has not fallen by the same margin

that ULP has dropped.) A number of members have questioned why the Club has not decreased the hire rates. This is a valid query, as in 2007, the Club did reduce the hire rates following a decrease in the price of avgas. Where possible, the Club adheres to a policy of price stabilisation, so that students can budget for their training. There are many factors contributing to the hire rate, and fuel price is but one. For a C172 S with a $267 private hire rate, fuel only represents $62 or 25.5%. A 5c/L drop in the fuel price only equates to a $1.90 saving in the hire rate.Hire prices have now remained unchanged for 13 months. In the same time, the price of Avgas has fallen significantly but this has been mainly offset by the AUD depreciating against the USD.

Fuel Price vs Exchange RateThe exchange rate change translates to a Lycoming IO360 engine increasing in cost by just over $10,000. All non-AUD spares have suffered a similar increase in cost. In addition, the cost of many parts for non-production Cessna models has more than trebled in the past two years. The Club traditionally increases hire rates in July to offset increases in salaries, rent and other expenses. We have been able to absorb these increases and utilise the remaining surplus to reduce our debt. STOP PRESS: The price of avgas has jumped 16 cents per litre for March. This represents an extra $4 per hour in an A152, $6.08 in a C172 and $6.56 for a Mooney. The Club will absorb this increase, but further increases will have to be passed on by increasing hire rates.

David Currey General Manager

Earlier in February we gave 3 lucky employees of the Mandurah Visitors Centre the opportunity to

experience a scenic flight over Mandurah and the Peel Area. Shirley Phillips, Louise Boughton and Christine McDonald came for a flight and enjoyed the best that the Mandurah weather has to offer. A beautify cool, clear morning had us cruising at 1500’ with a smooth ride and

a view that they would be talking about for weeks. The aim of this flight was to show what we have on offer so the Mandurah Visitor Centre staff can better appreciate what RACWA does and better sell it for us. Visit www.visitpeel.com.au and check out RACWA’s page. All 3 ladies said they loved the flight and will be back to have a go in the Tiger Moth.

Michael Chlopek

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Skyworks 2015 - Behind the Scenes

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Getting the call from Werner to fill in a ‘display pilots’ form, starts the ball rolling, while waiting to see which displays you will be involved in and which aircraft will be available.The very nature of this whole event is governed by many rules and regulations from both

CASA and the City of Perth and can alter from time to time, so what was accepted in previous years may not be the case for the current one. Contact from any formation or display leader, about a practice or briefing confirms you will be flying in that event.As a team leader, your work begins with the organisation of who to put where, depending on aircraft performance, pilot experience & endorsements and, as many aircraft may be hangared away from Jandakot, - whether they will return to JT with the flight or break away and head for their home base. Sometimes an email arrives saying this aircraft is changed or that pilot can’t make it, etc....so you re-arrange – often more than once or twice!There's usually a general briefing held on the day before the event, which includes over 70 pilots and officials from AirServices, CASA and the City of Perth. This is where you experience the passion and drive that is Werner Buhlmann. The briefing takes less than an hour with refreshments afterwards... which allows some groups to hold mini-briefings for the following day’s display, others make arrangements with brief times for the following day.The first displays start around 3:30pm on the big day, so arriving at Jandakot before midday, gives an opportunity to check aircraft smoke systems, draw up briefings and perhaps give the aircraft a bit of a wipe over if time permits.At 2pm the first major briefing of my day starts with 12 - 14 pilots and crews in attendance. The route, sequence, speeds, heights, radio frequencies, and emergency considerations are all part of this informative safety briefing and takes around 30 mins – so with all questions answered, we can relax for an hour before start up. We make our final checks, have a cool drink or a tea/coffee, and catch up with some other pilots arriving for their later flights. A City of Perth journalist wants to do a video interview, so we have a casual chat both inside and in front of the aircraft. A quick check, then: all ready for departure, start up time comes along and Club members help swing props and stow chocks, with utmost safety. The formation details were sent through earlier to save radio time, taxi permission is given, - and we are off like a multicoloured snake doing a slow conga along the taxiway! Then everything happens by the numbers – even at 70 knots!We take off and head for our first waypoint. Radio frequency change. Call City Base for permission to enter the airspace. Fly the formation to X-Ray holding point and begin a series of orbits. Receive the go ahead to display. Track behind the City via Kings Park. Make sure faster aircraft have us in sight. Lead the whole formation from 1500’ to around 800’. Smoke on GO! Pass the city block then climb, climb. Request a second pass. Granted. Around the back again and descend to height with more smoke. Display. Climb over the Narrows Bridge and head along the northern shore of the Swan River at 1000'. I look left and up to see the next display team entering X-Ray, waiting for their turn to display. Let’s get the formation home.We reach the coast, change radio frequencies and I see three of the faster aircraft depart for home. The main body of the formation tracks south for Jandakot and we settle into our pre-arranged groups for landing. YPJT tower is expecting us and have their sequencing set to its usual well polished style. We land and taxi in.Some of us have a few minutes to unstrap from the Tiger Moths and jump into a C152 for the next display, helped by other members who have already pre-flighted and readied our aircraft. In what seems like no time, we are in the middle of a 14 aircraft formation heading off again! After we return, there are still more flights, but I can relax, put aircraft away for the night and head off home before the traffic builds up. All the planning, work and effort by everyone, gives us about 2 minutes of actual fly-past display time.For those not familiar with Formation Flying, it is a worthwhile skill to gain, in my humble opinion. It promotes camaraderie, trust and a level of concentration that makes a NAVEX seem like a walk in the park! The skill takes a little while to acquire, and develops over a period of time into a trust that is borne by knowing your formation partner or team. This becomes a camaraderie that you never lose. The concentration NEVER changes. It is the one constant. Always. The rewards? Experience it and find out for yourself.

Mick Harcourt


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completely booked out and March 14th is looking pretty close too. The word is spreading, but there is always room for more. March looks to be a fantastic month with plenty of flying in the pipeline and great weather on the horizon. See you all soon.

Michael Chlopek OIC Murrayfield

Murrayfield Matters

We were happy to see about 90 people attend the OFG buffet lunch and hear our guest speakers.Have you wondered what happened to Robin Miller’s

replica Mooney, VH-REM, that perched atop the pedestal opposite RFDS since 1978? Sadly, in 2013 it came to grief and

has been missing ever since.Brian Farr, an Air Force Association (AFA) museum volunteer, spoke about the restoration. He told us the AFA volunteers and RFDS are carrying out the program.

VH-REM should be back on the plinth very soon. The horizontal stabilizer of VH-REM was badly damaged in the fall and Racwa was able to provide a replacement.Nurse Patricia Moran spoke of her time in Wyndham and members were enthralled. She also spoke of her experiences as a RFDS nurse serving the Kimberleys in the mid-1970s. She even invited one of her former RFDS pilots, Les Watts.Patricia described how the RFDS system worked and related some of her experiences. Recently she visited the RFDS base at Jandakot and was able to draw comparisons with the modern aircraft, equipment and facilities.These talks will be uploaded to our Channel, and are now being archived at the Aviation Heritage Museum as well.

Stephen Rogers, Coordinator http://www.oldfliersgroup.org.au

https://www.youtube.com/user/OldFliersGroup

Happy February fellow pilots. A busy start with February, sadly a few flights had to be

postponed due the Boddington and Northcliffe bushfires and the smoke enveloping the south west.

Visibility at Murrayfield was reduced to below 5km for nearly 2 weeks. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the people affected by bushfires around our state and hope everyone is remaining vigilant and safe. Our C172, LTI is getting high hours. She is becoming more and more popular as members realise she flies well and is cheaper. Murrayfield is also becoming the place to do your flight review. Since November I have conducted 11 flight reviews for members and by the time this article is printed, the figure will be considerably more. If your 2 years are nearly up, come and fly at Murrayfield. We can meet all the needed standards including a quick run to Jandakot if you are rusty. With February being a short month, it has been a hard slog to get the hours in. We are still a little dry on Member private hire hours but you can change that. The Tiger Moth made 2 appearances this month; first for the flour bombing runs for our Club competition, and its usual day trip on the second Saturday of the month. Whilst I couldn’t make it to the competition - I have been informed it was well received and everyone who participated had a fantastic time. For the Saturday visits, Feb 14th saw CKF

Old Fliers Group

My Operations Assistant

Katie Murphy enjoying the

perks of her job - her first time in a Tiger Moth

A thorn between 2 roses - Jenny Houghton & Sylvia Byers

How far would you come for a Flight Review?For the past 3 months I have been fortunate enough to complete over 10 flight reviews at Murrayfield.

Most recently I had the opportunity to complete the reviews for long standing members Sylvia Byers and Jenny Houghton. Jenny now resides in South Australia and when Sylvia heard that Jenny was having problems getting a booking she suggested that she come to Murrayfield and do it at the same time. After a morning of questions, we completed 2 successful reviews. Well done to Jenny and Sylvia for the great flights and are welcome back anytime. It is gratifying that ex-instructor Jenny is willing to support the club and return to a place of excellence to keep current.

Michael Chlopek

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Bankstown To Orange (Part 2)

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Toni, not herself a pilot but with many an hour putting up with my hamfisted attempts at aerobatics, was calling out the CLEAROFFS checks every ten minutes

to make sure I did things right. Having reached Bathurst, a mere 20nm from Orange, I realised I was little north of track and made a quick 1:60 correction to the left. I found my visual target for YORG (Mount Canobolas), gave the inbound call on the CTAF and started looking for the airfield. It soon became apparent that Orange had had the temerity to move. It wasn’t where it was supposed to be, so with plenty of fuel and equal quantities of light and altitude, we continued to survey the landscape. After a short interval, we decided discretion was the better part of valour and contacted Melbourne Centre. In receipt of vectors from those helpful folks, I really did feel a fool when I soon realised I had overcooked the 1:60, misidentified Spring Hill for Mount Canobolas and was south east of my desired target! Having eaten a healthy dose of humble pie we landed safely at Orange behind a Rex SAAB 340 and tied OGY down at the convenient general parking area for the three days of the meeting.“We should make an app for that!” mentioned one of my professional colleagues towards the end of the three day meeting. “What do you mean?” said I. “You’ve been calling YORG and YSBK AWIS, and checking the met office continuously for three days now!” Quite true. After arriving in fine conditions, the forecast for western NSW was for progressively worse to come, and for once in its life - the weather did as it was told. On the evening before departure the cloud base was 500' agl and raining. The following morning was worse, and the flight plan had a now laughable, Estimated Time of Departure (ETD) YORG of 11am local. Official duties completed by mid morning, one of my fellow directors with a hire car kindly dropped us off at YORG, and with a friendly wave and a cheery “Good luck!”, sped off into the gloom. We waited and watched the clouds scud by, low enough to obscure the windsock from view. The only thing lower than the clouds was our mood. Only two hours later though, I joyfully pointed at a patch of blue sky through the thinning stratocumulus and gleefully announced our imminent departure to my steadfastly sceptical passenger. With a speed that would make the turnaround time of any commercial carrier more than proud, we filed flightplans, stowed bags, checked tanks, untied ropes, made radio calls and taxied for runway 29 in record time.Climbing to our hemispheric altitude of 5500' on Area QNH, comfortably below the now rising cloud base, we set course for YSBK and with a healthy tail wind were soon belting over the ground at considerably more than our 115

knot cruise speed. Bathurst swiftly appeared on our left, behaving itself and staying where it belonged, and Oberon, now on our right, was visible through the drizzle. The same wind farm we used outbound now looked as if it could power most of Sydney, given the rpm of the blades; whilst the western slopes of the Blue Mountains were a delightful patchwork of dappled shadows and shining rock faces. Flying towards Katoomba, beautifully placed on the edge of its west facing cliff, we flew through a letter-box shaped piece of sky placed for our convenience between town and cloud - the veil was withdrawn and all was revealed. The meteorological maelstrom was left behind and as we crossed the lower ranges, the Sydney basin was below us laid out like a carpet, with a bright blue sky and fluffy cumulus clouds outlining the CBD skyline. Prospect Reservoir appeared with a great rush ahead, and a few minutes after joining early downwind and in an increasingly stiff headwind, we touched down on runway 29R and taxied back to now familiar territory. How the weather can change!So ended one of the best three days and one of the more challenging times, of my life in aviation. Reflecting, I must ask myself, as my first experience of flying in a different state, what lessons have I learned?Firstly, there are some wonderful folk out there and the opportunities and privileges offered by an Australian PPL are immense. I thoroughly recommend Sydney Aviators to anyone who wants a friendly, courteous and professional base whilst in the Sydney area. Specifically my thanks to Paras Tailor who was kind enough to provide all the briefings, debriefings and advice, and Mr Adrian De Luca, base manager, for all their hard work and support.Secondly, know your aircraft. I have flown with an ADF many times, but was not familiar with the VOR and moving map GPS offered by OGY and as she didn’t have the former I relied on visual navigation when I had a host of aids that could have been very valuable. Thirdly, fly accurately, trust your headings and fly the flight plan. This will prevent your destination from inconveniently moving when you least expect it. Fourthly, when in doubt - swallow your pride and use the systems available to ensure your safety and that of those around you. I realise the weather we enjoy at YPJT and WA generally, is beautiful for flying for much of the year, but other areas are not always so lucky and can present challenges to any pilot.Finally, be proud of the quality of Racwa instruction and never stop learning. I am honoured to call myself a RACWA pilot, and the experiences of this trip will only equip me to become a better one.

Rob Hart, #7713

WindfarmParas & MeParas & Toni


flying weekend. I have stayed at The Lily half a dozen times before and Pleun and Hennie are always the perennial hosts. They provide welcoming and genuine hospitality with a good balance of friendship and privacy, delicious food and so many really clever features in each of the different accommodation areas

that not only make you feel at home but also leave you with a feeling of awe at the skills involved in creating

this very special location.Don't be put off by sleeping in an aeroplane. The Lily's DC3 is comfortable, functional and a joy to see and explore I am certain I did not see every unique and

clever feature but definitely enjoyed the wonderment this aeroplane provides. My previous stays at The Lily have always been great but the DC3 weekend was a very special experience. For more details see thelily.com.au

Trevor Jones, CFI

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Pilots Busdrivers Holiday Sleeping on an aeroplane has never been easy for

me. Long haul, red eye specials or even private aeroplanes offer too many distractions, whilst

cramped, uncomfortable seating that make sleep elusive. Well the DC3 at The Lily is a completely different story.The Lily is located 25 miles north north east of Albany just north of the Stirling Ranges. Built, quite literally, and run by Pleun and Hennie Hitzert - the property consists of several houses for overnight stays, a restaurant, a remarkable recreation of a Dutch windmill and now a Douglas Dakota DC3 that is purpose built as accommodation. The aeroplane retains a traditional look, the fuselage sides painted olive green but the upper surfaces painted white to help reflect the heat. Again to add authenticity the tailwheel, although slightly raised, is on the ground giving the aeroplane the appearance that it is ready to take off. Once inside though the visions of a steeply sloping isle with 1930's style aircraft seats completely disappears. The interior of the DC3 has been cleverly transformed into a two bed completely self contained unit. The ingenuity and craftsmanship are evident everywhere. Curved surfaces, odd angles and a combination of stepped and sloping floors all meld into a functional and comfortable living area. Entry is gained via the original rear cargo/passenger entry which in turn is accessed from an outdoor patio area at the side of the aircraft. The initially level floor frames a fully equipped kitchen area, table and chairs and a TV and stand. At the rear of the aircraft after stepping down to another level floor is a small but functional pantry containing everything and more that you will need for a weekend stay. The ingenuity and authenticity comes when you look toward the front of the aeroplane where the now sloping floor looks like the original aeroplane with its long sloping aisle leading to the cockpit. This area contains two beds and bedroom furniture and although the floor is sloping all furniture including curtain rails have been built level. A bulkhead separates the bedroom area from another level area that is the bathroom with toilet, shower and wash basin. Just ahead of that is the cockpit. This contains original seats, many of the original flight instruments and controls, and what I think is the most ingenious feature, a flight simulator and screen that is hooked up to the aeroplane controls.The Lily also has its own landing strip making it possible to fly in then taxi and park next to the DC3, and an ideal destination for a

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Club Captain's Corner

The Australian Light Aircraft Championships (ALAC) follows hot on the heels of the Bun Run, unfortunately I’ll have to give it a miss this year due to other commitments, but I’d like to wish the team all the best of luck on behalf of the Club and I hope they have an enjoyable and successful trip. I expect to see the usual swag of trophies come home to WA and see if you can’t bring back the Federation Cup. We will have a Low Level Spot Landing on April 29th at Jandakot, usual registration time of 1:45pm with snacks and beers afterwards. So come to Jandakot to enjoy a flight and a couple of drinks with your fellow pilots and Club Members. Unfortunately we won’t be having a competition at Murrayfield in April due to Easter, ALAC and the Air Force Cadets camp. We’ve also moved the Jandakot Comp by a week, it’s now on the 19th, to avoid clashing with the Anzac Day long weekend. The Night Competition Trilogy starts on May 7th - the compulsory briefing will be held upstairs in the bar area at 6pm - don’t be late. This comp is open to all members and a Night Rating isn’t required - so if you want to gain a bit of Night Flying experience - come along and enjoy the sights of Perth at night from 1000'.That’s about it for this month, see you at the Club.Happy Landings

Craig Hensley #6844, Club Captain

Alex Fiorentino

On February 18, 2015, Alex became a

Commercial Pilot after coming to WAAC in September 2014, as a Private pilot who began pilot training in January of 2010.Alex always wanted to be a pilot, recalling his first commercial airline flight

when he was 4 years old and knowing straight away that flying was all he wanted to do with his life.On advice from his high school career advisor, Alex began his aviation journey at university while working as a baggage handler and cleaning aircraft in order to make ends meet.Unfortunately for Alex, he struggled to maintain the balance between work and aviation, and subsequently his flying suffered. It took Alex 4 years to get to PPL, but only an additional 5 months to make it to CPL.How? Spurred on by dedication, Alex joined WAAC and in his words “it was the best thing I’ve ever done. I’d recommend WAAC to anyone who wants to become a

Achievers

See how you go Theory question of the month

A piston engine has combustion chamber 9 cubic inches capacity and a swept volume of 45 cubic inches, the compression ratio is:

a. 6:1b. 7:1 c. 8:1d. 5:1

?Answer A: The swept volume + the clearance volume divided by the clearance volume (45+9) divided by 9 = 6. The compression ratio 6 to 1.

G’day Members,How good was the Anniversary Dinner?

Short answer, b____ great. Long answer, read the rest of the magazine. Everyone had a great

time, drank well, ate well and socialised exceptionally well. The night was a great credit to all involved and celebrations like that need to be held more regularly. This month looms large with plenty of work for your poor old Club Captain to attend to. Not the least of which is negotiating the maze of bureaucracy that is the Rottnest Island Authority. It’s all worth it though for the taste of the best Hot Cross Buns in the world. That’s right it's getting close to Easter and that means the Good Friday Rotto Bun Run. The last couple of years we have had over 20 aircraft make the hop across to Rotto and I’d like to see that many again this year. No more than 20 though unless I can get someone else to take on the Marshalling on the ground at Rotto. The sign-up sheet is up, so book your aircraft and fill in your details. We will be collecting the cash up front for lunch this year as last year we took a bit of a pasting on the seafood, having over catered. So if you plan to come along for lunch - get a ticket from the bar or from me at the comps. There won’t be any extra for walk-ins on the day so be sure to pay before March 29.

pilot, its continuous training that has no long breaks, so you can’t forget anything. It’s consistent and just expedites your training.”Alex will soon be doing his instructor rating, so he can begin accruing hours for his dream job of airline flying. Alex would also like to sit in command behind a DC3. Reach for the skies, Alex, the world is your oyster.We congratulate Alex on achieving his Commercial Pilot’s Licence and wish him the best of luck with his upcoming IT course.


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Kulula is an airline with head office situated in Johannesburg .. Kulula Airline attendants make an effort to make the in-flight "safety

The SwampUsed by permission of Gary Clark www.swamp.com.au https://www.facebook.com/DingDuck

lecture" and announcements a bit more entertaining. Here are some real examples that have been heard or reported:

---o0o—Overheard on a Kulula flight into Cape Town , on a particularly windy and bumpy day: During the final approach, the captain really had to fight it. After an extremely hard landing, the flight attendant said,

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to The Mother City. Please remain in your seats with your seat belts fastened while the captain taxis what's left of our airplane to the gate!"

---o0o—Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing:

"We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal."

---o0o—An airline pilot wrote that on this particular flight he had hammered his ship into the runway really hard. The airline had a policy which required the first officer to stand at the door while the passengers exited, smile, and give them a "Thanks for flying our airline." He said that, in light of his bad landing, he had a hard time looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment. Finally, everyone had gotten off except for a little old lady walking with a cane. She said,

"Sir, do you mind if I ask you a question?""Why, no, ma'am," said the pilot. "What is it?"The little old lady said,"Did we land, or were we shot down?"

---o0o—After a real crusher of a landing in Johannesburg, the attendant came on with,

"Ladies and gentlemen, please remain in your seats until Captain Crash and the crew have brought the aircraft to a screeching halt against the gate. And, once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning bells are silenced, we will open the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal."

---o0o—Part of a flight attendant's arrival announcement:

"We'd like to thank you folks for flying with us today. And the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting

Roc?? For years, the Hercules H4, nicknamed the Spruce Goose, build by reclusive

through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you'll think of Kulula Airways."

---o0o—Heard on a Kulula flight:

"Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to smoke, the smoking section on this airplane is on the wing. If you can light 'em, you can smoke 'em."

---o0o—

billionaire Howard Hughes has been the largest aircraft ever built. With a wingspan of 320 feet the Hercules H4 enjoyed a brief test flight before becoming its own museum, never to fly again.A rival to the Hercules is currently under construction in Mojave, California. The gigantic aircraft will have a wingspan of 385' and be powered by six 747 class engines. (A 747 has a wingspan of 225'). It will have two fuselages, twelve main landing gears and two nose gear assemblies. The aircraft will be called the Roc, after a mythical giant bird. The Roc has the support of Paul Allen, a co-founder of Microsoft. It is being built by Stratolaunch Systems and is expected to have the first test flight in about a year.The aircraft is being designed to deliver satellites into orbit at a greatly reduced cost. The aircraft will climb to a minimum of 30,000 feet before launching the satellite, thereby dramatically reducing the huge fuel costs associated with a launch from Earth. The satellites will weigh up to 6 tonnes and can be placed in an orbit up to 1,200 miles above the Earth. The Roc will drop a Dream Launcher rocket that will deliver the satellite into orbit. Currently, the payload of the rocket doesn't provide for humans to be transported but Paul Allen believes this could change in the future once the concept has been proved.Roc’s fuselages will be 238 long, and the empty weight of the aircraft is calculated to be 544,311 kgs (1.2 million pounds). Its maximum speed will be 460 knots (850 kph). If everything goes to plan, the aircraft will be fully operational in 2018. In addition to launching satellites, the Roc could be used for delivering supplies to the International Space station.Commercial pilots – start adjusting your dreams!

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On December 12th, 2014 I had the pleasure of flying in the Tiger Moth with a gentleman by the name of Peter Bremner.It was a special flight for Peter, because the last time he flew in a

Tiger was during his numerous postings to RAF bases throughout England during World War II.Peter was born and raised in WA and has lived his entire life in Beverley. He is now 90 years old, but still has the wit of a 21yr old as evidenced by his eagerness to get in the air. Upon returning from our flight I was invited to join Peter, his wife Helen, daughter Alison and son Andrew for a coffee upstairs at Muzz Buzz to listen to Peter's adventures during his time served in Europe from 1944-1945.

During the war he was a Flight Sergeant and started flying the Tiger Moth. He underwent a course as a Flight Engineer on a Lancaster and passed this on April 18, 1945 before being posted to No. 1661 Heavy Conversion Unit at RAF Base Winthorpe and made his first flight as a Pilot/Flight engineer. This training was intensive involving night cross country flights, emergency based scenarios and flights over the North Pole. At one stage in his training, he was able to see the Sun for 24 hours straight.He passed his in-flight training, was transferred to No.467 Squadron Metheringham and was able to enjoy the company of an all Australian crew. Peter was able to utilize his pilot's experience on cross country exercises and recorded it as dual instruction, which certainly added to his stature within

the crew.His primary role as flight engineer was vital as their expertise in emergencies often was the reason that so many aircraft returned to their base. Once the war ended, Peter remained in Europe with his Squadron and accumulated more hours in a Lancaster whilst bringing the Mediterranean forces back to the United Kingdom.Hearing Peter's story made me feel very humbled to have flown with him. To see the smile on someone’s face who has not flown an aircraft for 70 years really shows that once the flying BUG bites you - it sticks!Peter also brought down his logbook! To surprise Peter, I stamped this with a flight time check and allowed him to fill in a line in his logbook with the 0.5 Tiger flight! It was

amazing to see a gap of 70 years from his last flight and it was a privilege to fly with Peter and hear his story.

Rob Pedri

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In February’s edition of Tarmac Topics it was published that John McBride “[worked for] Fugro Spatial

Solutions (FSS) in August of 2007. When he felt it was time to move on, John transitioned into Skywest (Virgin Australia Regional Airlines as of April 2014) where he has been Check and Training captain on the Fokker 50’s since 2011”.For clarification: John was with Fugro Spatial Solutions between 2007 and 2011 and Check and Training Captain with FSS between 2009 and 2011. John was an F50 FO from October 2011 and has been Line Captain on the F50 since April 2014.

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