This Weeks Quiz(page 3 is crap, don't bother))

[Ken Watson]

My 1st solo was with no ASI. I forgot to take the cover off, so just landed fast. I've also done it in my 2 seater but can reach it with my foot and kick it off easily. I fly in mountainous country and feel a lot of unusual things which have now become usual. I was coming into my strip once and throttled back to idle as per normal, kept the ASI at 45 knts, and finished up climbing. I then slowed to 15knts and managed to hold altitude with no descent. Yet on other days it's like falling down a steep slippery dip. My answer, keep alert and feel it through the machine. Some of the visual signs can be helpfull, but can also be misleading. ken

[asra]

Me again.......this feeley feeley flyin, do it about 100'. Gives you a better aide, as you can immediately relate to speed [ground] while you get to feel the air etc goin past you, and the tree tops for height stability. The higher you go, the harder to feel level stability,and speed, untill you get some time up.And please.......if you don't like the feely bit, don't do it, maybe get into a trainer, with the backup there just incase.Russ....A1014 NT....gods country

[birdy]

Speak'n of altitude, I went to 1640' the other day!!!!!!!!!!Well, that was 1640 feet higher than me house strip, which was 50km back and the mountain I was fly'n over was only 50' down, and I was in the RAF with the doors on.Ignorance is bliss............but only till you realise you were.You can always get the answer you want, if you ask enough experts.

[asra]

Birdy, I'm a little curious here, just how high have you flown"Ted

[NiqueNaque]

Birdy,How would you know.. your altimeter tops out at 200'Nick.

[birdy]

Thats the one on the ferel Nik, I havn't found the top of the one in the RAF yet.From the ground under me Ted, high enough.I'v been to 1200' in the RAF and I took Shane's machine to 1100' last week[ it's got a pod].From memory[when the alt meter was work'n] the ferels been to bout 700'.[and that was only to get over a 20km long 699' bluff.]Ignorance is bliss............but only till you realise you were.You can always get the answer you want, if you ask enough experts.

[Ken Watson]

I'm going to take you for a ride one day Birdman.5500ft is good, you don't have to go so far to see the end paddock. Mind you my end paddock is closer than yours. Hee,hee. Ken.

[birdy]

Hee hee Ken, fat chance mate.Ignorance is bliss............but only till you realise you were.You can always get the answer you want, if you ask enough experts.

[asra]

Birdy, I guess you won't be volunteering to go to the moon then?A couple of years ago, a group of us were down at the local, throwing down a few when we were asked if we would like to try parachutng. Yeah sure we all blindly agreed. Next day when things sort of got back to normal.... well one guy quit, another said his missus told him " to stay home and hang out the washing". Eventually only 3 of us went.I was drawn to be in the first plane at 7.15 am, and its about this time I'm starting to think that I've should have stayed to complete some not so urgent tractor work. Arriving at Goondiwindi airport about 1/2 hour early and there's two groups of people there. The first group are somewhat youngish, cheery and moving about, whilst the second group are looking decidly more serious about all things the concern life. Off I head to the second group, only to be told the other group is the ones trying to kill themselves.Hmm... Oooookay I can't back out now so up I front. This young fella hands me a suit and says "Suit up pal then we'll go through a few things you need to know" On goes the suit, and the second guy in the group then tells me to sit in the aircraft door and put my feet on the step. Those of you who have flown in a 172 can visualise the the size of the step. At zero feet you can easily put both feet on the damn thing. OK he says... next assume the exit position, like this.... sure no problem mate. Good, he says when the time comes we'll rock forward slightly and on the count of three we simply roll out of the aircraft. Okay, sounds good I say but I'm having a tiny doubt or two.Then I'm introduced to the guy who is my jump instructor. Apparently you can't do your first jump by yourself, and this guy is going to be attached to me. Alarm bells are starting to go off in my brain..... this guy is too young, too daredevilish, too.... Beam me up Scotty I think to myself. Any questions he asks... sure I've got a thousand....like are you in a successful relationship I ask. Yep comes the reply. Hmmm... and she wants you home in one piece at the conclusion of the weekend, I pose the question... Sure she does , comes this damn reply. And, you don't have any existing medical issues that come to mind, like ..... terminal cancer or the like, I ask hoping I might have found a way out, but alas, he assures me he's medically sound. We are about to get hooked up when he volunteers the information that his tablets had run out yesterday and the new ones are sort of having an effect.....Anyway to cut the story short, there we are two pairs plus the photographer and the pilot on climb to 10,00 ft. We are cramped into this 172 like sardines. This old aircraft has all sorts of rattles and as I look about I swear most of the panels are close to falling off. You can feel the air becoming colder by the minute. We continue to climb, and due to the south easter head towards Boggabilla. At 10,000 feet we turn back to Goondiwindi. Its at this stage we've passed above the brown haze and the the air is cold but extremely clear. The modified door flips up and rattles in the breeze. The photographer climbs out and wraps an arm over the wing strut. Righto says my instructor, move over to the door.Those of you who have been to dentist when he's got this humungous drill operating in your mouth and you backside begins to twitch and squirm, wil recognise the feeling when I tell you, when you have to bum walk yourself and your partner over to the door. He's pushing and you are trying to establish a new form of handbrake with your backside. Slowly you are in position. That normal sized aircraft step that you clearly placed both feet on when on the ground has suddenly shrunk to something a mouse couldn't place one leg on. Come on he says, we have to go.Reluctantly I assume the correct position and I can hear him start the count... one.... two... and I swear, the ****** didn't wait for three. We're out and tumbling. Desperately I look above me to see a rapidly departing aircraft. My mind is telling me what a bloody fool I am,... this is one the worst ever decisions you have ever made you idiot.... Within myself I'm screaming at the departing plane, ...come back here!!!!!....For 35 secs we are hurtling towards the ground at an unrealistic rate. The wind is trying to skin you alive, the noise is something you have to hear to believe. In the back ground, I hear this faint voice, Pull your head up and look at the photographer. There in front of me is this suicidal maniac taking photos of us. Suddenly off he goes, screaming towards certain death, and we continue to plunge earthwards. The trees look as if they have our names written all over them. At 5,000 feet we pull the chute. One minute we were travelling somewhere in the vicinity of 240 klms per hour downwards and the next the straps between my legs begin to bite hard. They had warned me about the real possibility of bruising a couple of days earlier. We're floating in this unreal world of silence. It seems an out of this world place.... just me and this guy in whose hands my life is placed in. Four and a half minutes later we touch down on the football field in the middle of the town. 2 metres off the target cross but pin high. The adrenilin is pumping but my legs seem made of plastic. Off I walk trying to convince the other guys its fun. 6 quick beers later I'm okay, laughing with the guys and telling them they're bloody girls for being nervous.I've been often asked would I go again.... Yes I would, now that I know what to expect. Was I kakking myself.... You can bet you house on it. Anybody want to come next time?TedImage Insert: 62.99

[asra]

Why is me screen too narow to read this without having to scroll sideways, back and forth......bloody anoyin[]Russ....A1014 NT....gods country

[asra]

Nick tells me its to do with the size of the pic.... I'd better edit the size of it then.. TedSquare bear at least once a day keeps the blues away.

[asra]

That photo......wich one is you, and the other is nic, is itand do ya take turns at beein on topRuss....A1014 NT....gods country

[asra]

Russ, that's me acting like the impact cushion. And no there's no changing positions just because you want a break..TedSquare bear at least once a day keeps the blues away.Image Insert: 45.92

[asra]

LOOK MUM.......no handsRuss....A1014 NT....gods country

[birdy]

I'v just lost all respect for you Ted, I thought you where a bit smart.[fancy jump'n outa perfectly healthy plane!!!]Ignorance is bliss............but only till you realise you were.You can always get the answer you want, if you ask enough experts.