Yay! RAA Ultralight Licence!

Finally I had my RAA flight test today and now I have my unrestricted
RAA pilots licence too. Next on the list is my night rating. I flew 5.4
hrs today, half in my Piper and half in a Jabiru 160.

On the way back at around 7pm I took a photo of the back of Mt Bakewell.

I've got a running Jet Ski again.

Yippee!

Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and
he'll be warm for the rest of his life.

Photos

As per usual find the photographic records of my latest exploits on
Flickr, you should know to look by now!

Telstra Aaargghh

Optus Aarrgh too. I decided that nothing could make me want to give any
more money to the Evil monopoly called Telstra. So I ported my number
across to Optus as they have the next best coverage. All went well, up
to the point that they killed my number and it got lost in cyberspace. I
am now waiting for Optus to rediscover it and make it work. It means I
am without a working mobile at the moment. If you are trying to call me,
perhaps it will be possible again tomorrow.

Ultralight Licence

Last Friday I flew out to Wyalkatchem and clocked up another 2.2Hrs in
the Jabiru J160C, it takes my total RAA Ultralight 3 Axis time to 3.2
Hours and puts me only a couple of hours away from my RAA Ultralight 3
Axis licence. I need to get my RAA Microlight license sorted and then I
will be qualified to fly almost everything fixed(ish) wing.
Next on the road to my commercial pilot flight test is my night rating
that I hope to start in the next few weeks and my Constant Speed and
Retractable Undercarriage endorsement. I am also planning to do my
taildragger endorsement once I feel I have truly mastered the stick and
rudder technique that I am improving at all the time.
MTW is due for her 50Hrly service and I am hoping to get it done in the
next couple of days so that I can fly up to Exmouth and beyond in my
quest for 200+Hrs.
I am starting to realise that my initial plan to get my IREX out of the
way early was going to be doing things in the wrong order and it is now
on hold until after I pass my commercial flight test.

Putting baby to bed.

_DSC0077.JPG, originally uploaded by hangflyer.

Back at Jandakot I put MTW back in her parking spot. She looks heavier than she is, honest.

Ships

_DSC0073.JPG, originally uploaded by hangflyer.

On the way back there were ships waiting to unload at Fremantle.

Leaving Rotto

_DSC0059.JPG, originally uploaded by hangflyer.

Leaving Rottnest some low cloud started to come in, but it was only at 500ft and streeting so I was able to depart clear of cloud, it looked worse upwind so maybe the timing was fortunate.

Final

_DSC0056.JPG, originally uploaded by hangflyer.

For Rottnest Island Wind was due south 90' from left but only 10knots

Heading for Rotto

_DSC0053.JPG, originally uploaded by hangflyer.

Perth City

_DSC0041.JPG, originally uploaded by hangflyer.

On the way out to Rotto I did the mandatory orbit over the city so Karl could get some shots, less haze than last time!

Waterproof Camera

IMGP5734.JPG, originally uploaded by hangflyer.

Not waterproof! After surviving diving trips down below 15 Meters for some inexplicable reason my Pentax filled up with water when we were snorkelling at Rottnest. It might possibly come back to life when it dries, but I doubt it, it was really full when I took the cover off. This was the only tiny little issue in an otherwise great day, until a small jellyfish managed to swim up inside my board shorts and the discomfort at having been stung was mostly tempered by the fact that I managed to get it out just before it got to first base!.

Rotto

IMGP5711.JPG, originally uploaded by hangflyer.

I'm trying to work my way through all the aerodromes/strips in WA as I build hours and experience on the way to my commercial licence. On the spur of the minute this morning Karl and I headed out to Rottnest for lunch and went snorkelling afterwards. It was great Xwind practice, a bit of rotor behind the hills on arrival and a huge 90' crosswind on departure, but no problems.