Summer continues as we go to print.
I guess it’s the El Nino still influencing. I see they are now talking about it going straight into a La Nina phase. God knows what that will bring.
The field is dry and hard with a greenish tinge. The cattle are right on top of the meagre growth and taking some of the hay we made earlier on. Middle of May and temps into the mid 20s. Incredible.
The flying weather has been good and the aircraft being utilised. The Tiger especially with Chris Dooney back flying her regularly and also Lea Giblin enjoying this back to basics flying.Great to see.
As we go to print the 172 is still in Auckland, having her apparent lack of power investigated. I’m not sure what the outcome will be. I’m hoping they’ll find more than it’s just a Friday engine.
I had a victory recently by finally getting Ash Dahya from the Dannevirke Club, up to speed and delivering him to Wayne Harrison at Hawera for a PPL flight test. Well done Ash. We got you there finally. Probably the highest houred student pilot in the country. Ash started with Colin Sandbrook at Dannevirke last century and sat the PPL theory subjects twice on his journey. As a GP in the Manawatu, Ash is very busy and took a while to get all the planets aligned. Watch out for Cherokee DGL visiting Waipuk in the future with more than one on board.
The following from CC Richard Bradley:
The competitions have been available most Sundays recently and will continue to be available for the next few weeks---at least until the end of this month-May.
We had a great day for our dawn raid.There was fog the day before and the day after but the Sunday was clear and warm. A good crowd turned up and seemed to enjoy themselves. There was a fantastic effort in the kitchen to provide a smooth running system and I would especially like to thank Wendy Bradley,LizGollan and Sandy Adam. Also special mention of Peter Harris who supplied gourmet coffee, fruit juice and fresh muffins and then headed back to Oruawharo and helped Dianne serve over 200 Devonshire Teas for Mother’s day. There were a large number of dish washers passed through and other helpers and the kitchen was left spotless. Thanks again to Dave Brun for taking away all the rubbish.
The trip to the South Island has been postponed due to weather but will most definitely be offered again as soon as there is a weather window.
The next Dawn Raid is Fielding on the 5th June. The one after that is Dannevirke on 19th june.We will be attending this one to continue the Frogley Comp that we presently have a small lead in. There is also a very good chance that we will continue on to visit a venue of much interest to Ag aviators but this is yet to be confirmed and will probably not be widely advertised. If you are interested please put your name down for the dawn Raid. On the board in the club house.
Duty Pilots.
May 22 Clempowell
May 29 Ron Day
June 5th Derek Mohi
12th ThomasMorgans
19 Chris Dooney
26th wendy Milne
July 3rd Chris Harrison
Thanks Richard.
As he mentioned, we take a slender lead in the Frogley Cup through to the 2nd round at Dannevirke. We posted some very good scores but left the best ‘till last as president John Armstrong delivered 3 landings to the mark scoring a max 150 points.
It was very pleasing to see the high standard of flying in the Frogley Cup competition. The ToiToi fence was relatively unscathed at the end.
Our 3 pre solo students are working away well with the 2 youngest having to time their run for their 16th birthdays. The other, Simon White, has been busy farming and as I write, is in Japan, visiting his squash crop and following its marketing. Impending first solo when he returns.
Bob Gunson has shared a story from the AOPA magazine. It is lengthy but with Bob’s permission I will precis it.
It involves a young 20 year old pilot working for a charter firm who had the task of picking up 2 pax and their gear from Carmel Valley airport and ferrying them back to San Jose in a Piper Arrow.
The 2 pax had several boxes of heavy computer gear and after working out the weight calcs with the taller of the 2 pax pacing and looking over his shoulder, the young pilot informed them that the airport runway length was too short for the conditions and suggested that the only way the charter could be completed was for the pair to drive 20 mins to Monteray Airport (which had a longer runway), and the trip back to San Jose could be completed from there. Despite protests, he stuck to his guns and the pax had no choice but to carry out the instructions. The charter was completed successfully. Upon arriving back at base, the young pilot was summoned by the boss. Expecting the worst, the pilot had resigned himself to looking for a new job but was prepared to be unrepentant. He was however pleasantly surprised when the boss doubled his salaryand congratulated him on standing up to Steve Jobs, the Apple founder .
The lesson is that the pilot in command is just that. The buck stops with him. Have the courage to say no or to turn back.
One other thing I think is important is that if you are a pilot and are not pilot in command. Don’t sit there dumb and happy if you are not comfortable with what is going on up the front. Even if you just ask a question. Why, where, or how? Get some discussion going. As an instructor, my autobiography that is a work in progress entitled, “1001 ways students have tried to kill me” will be completed the day I hang up my headset. Not before.
We have been contacted by a bunch of microlighters from the Waikato who would like to come for a visit to Waipuk. The weekend of May 28/29 is their proposed date. They are staying at the motel at the end of the runway. I thought we could put on a BBQ for them on the Sat night and open the bar. The tide is low mid arvo on the sat and we could take any who wish out for a look at our beach. Any one who would like to help out with this give me a call.
The club comps are well under way but we need more competitors. As usual I will waive my dual fees for any student wanting a go, plus any non students who want some tips. There is a comp for private owners but the bulk of the comps need to be completed in club aircraft.
Call Richard Bradley or myself for more info about available comps .
Lindsay McNichol’s hangar is taking shape and his Cropmaster will soon be safe inside .
Last month I mentioned that a local had purchased a 172. I think it’s now well known that Robin and Allison Langslow are the new owners. It will be good to see Robin back in the air after the departure of his 185 CAK, a few months ago.
Ben and Theresa Geertson are now also planeless, having sold 172 EWA. Not sure what their plans are but maybe the club’s 172 will get some extra flying in the future.
Wendy Milne has taken the opportunity to take up the hangar space left by EWA’s departure and now has her beloved Rans S6, JDP, closer to hand.
Coming dates:
Fielding Dawn Raid June 5th
Dannevirke dawn Raid June 19th
AV Kiwi seminar on aircraft accidents: Thursday 23 June at Hastings Airfield 1900
Friday 24 June at Fountain Theatre Dannevike 1900
These are well worth attending . Let me know if interested and we can car pool. I’ll likely go to the DV one on the Friday.
That’s just about all from me for this month but there are some astronomical facts I’d like to share.
Three bright planets and the brightest stars share the evening sky this May. Soon after sunset golden Jupiter appears in the north and orange Mars in the east. As the sky darkens Saturn appears below Mars and Sirius, the brightest star, appears northwest of the zenith. Canopus, the second brightest star, is southwest of overhead. Midway up the southeast sky are 'The Pointers', Beta and Alpha Centauri. Soon after dusk Arcturus appears in the northeast, often twinkling red and green as the air breaks up its orange light.
Mars is at “Close Approach” on May 30th. This happens every 15 to 17 years. This year he will be a mere 46.8 million miles. This is the closest he has been since 2003. Don’t worry if you miss it. The next Close Approach will be July 31st 2018.
In 2003, Mars was as close as it had been for 60,000 years. It will be that close again in 2287. I’ll remind you about that then.
Have a look at it in the early evening sky to the east. Very bright and very red.
Don’t be fooled by the classic internet hoax that says that at close approach, Mars will appear to be as big as the moon. If that was the case, the combined gravitational effects would suck the milk right out of your morning tea or coffee. Now that would be a mess.
“Take the Spoon Out Of The Sink”
Ross Macdonald