Sydney Recreational Flying Club

Dr Brett Molesworth,  aviation safety and human factors lecturer at the University of New South Wales is looking for pilots within the Sydney region to assist with research.

He is recruiting pilots for a study titled ‘Risk Management in General Aviation’ — the non-commercial sector of aviation -  those who fly for fun. The aim of this study is to examine various risk management strategies in aviation, as well as the effectiveness of various training methods in improving pilot risk management behaviour.

Daniel Kwon, an Honours student within the department is assisting Dr Molesworth. Pilots are asked to complete two one-hour sessions on the department’s computer flight simulator. The simulator has a 7.5 metre curved screen, with 180 degrees of scenery.

For assisting with the research,  a $40 bookshop gift voucher is given at the end of the second session. The voucher is redeemable at 90% of bookshops across Australia.

If you can spare 2 hours, one hour each week for 2 weeks, have at least 20 hours of powered flight experience and are prepared to travel to UNSW Kensington, please contact Daniel Kwon – z3158068@zmail.unsw.edu.au

Phil passed all the conditions for his pilot certificate.

Here’s a song to celebrate:

When Phil was a little lad
He proved so brave and daring,
His father thought he’d ‘prentice him
To some career daring

To take and bind the promising boy
Apprentice to a pirate –

I did not catch the word aright,
Through being hard of hearing;
Mistaking my instructions,
Which within my brain did gyrate,
I took and bound this promising boy
Apprentice to a pilot.

A sad mistake it was to make
And doom him to a vile lot.
I bound him to a pilot – you –
Instead of to a pirate.

And that is how you find me now,
A member of your shy lot,

Apprentice to a pilot. (SLYT)

Other news:

A new 1000l tank has been purchased.

Peter Foster took his Saphire out for a wash.

Mark Dawson wrote to mention the RAAF air show,
Defence Force Air Show 2010, 18-19th September 2010, RAAF Base Williamtown

Mark is also planning to organise an outing to the Powerhouse Discovery Centre at Castle Hill probably October. They have a comprehensive aviation collection.

Steve Cohen?

you look like you’re having too much fun!

Milan Kuzet had his first solo in the Foxbat. Although Milan has flown a number of planes before, after 17 years and a complete change in size and type, Milan was sent solo by CFI Greg Davies.

Jamie and Geoff struck a flat tire in the Lightwing (this is getting to be a habit!) on 18L with Milan solo behind. Milan nonchalantly did a go-around. They train ‘em properly at SRFC!’

Dave Venish completed the video of Tom Russell’s talk last week. Dave writes: “I’m very happy with the result. Trust you will be too.”

Geoff Raebel is completing another book. A few weeks back he sent me a photo of a Col Winton Brumby.

The Winton family certainly have an interesting history. A new online magazine has a profile of Col Winton. They followed that story up with a profile of his son, Scott.

I asked Arthur Armour, our flying instructor at the Taree Wing, about various planes of that time:

“The machine I had was a clone built version of Col’s Jackaroo (the prototype of which was called the cricket).

“There should be pictures at the clubhouse of my silver Cricket in Air Force training colours.

“The history of my rebuilding of the clone is at my picasa site; http://picasaweb.google.com/Pylon500/TheSuperCricket#

“I wish I had taken a photo of Scott and one of his first Sapphire fuselages at his house in Granville when I first met him

“It was such a contrast to see this scruffy, long haired surfy in thongs and torn jeans, driving a rusty old EK station wagon, pull up outside a dilapidated old fibro house next to Granville Tech, with this beautiful fibreglass fuselage strapped to the roof, and then find out he was the designer!

“Garry Morgan did a bit of work with Col working on Grasshoppers (he had one for a while), he then worked with Ray Tolhurst building the ‘Stingray’ which was a Grasshopper with a cantilevered wing.

“He later helped Scott building Sapphires, and had a little to do with the Opal.”

Arthur has many other photos in his galleries, well worth a look.

Saturday, 26th June, Tom Russell visited The Oaks. Tom is one of WW2’s last surviving P40 Kittyhawk Pilots.

Tom was brought by glider, which did a pass of the field. Dave Rolfe then gave Tom a ride in his training Lightwing.

Tom gave a talk later that evening at the Camden RSL. The talk and visit was organised by Carl Holden, the Oaks Community Airport Manager. Carl is also the proprietor of Holden Dynamics. We hope to bring you a report and video of the talk.

Club president Joe Newham was up in Taree last weekend. He writes and sends some photos.

“A very productive weekend in Taree. Arthur and I have fitted the nose leg and engine to 4422, the engine is ready for starting. We have also bleed the brakes and cleaned up some of the wiring.

“The port wing and aileron was sanded back and we had Tim Morgan come over on Sunday to spray paint all the components. A big thanks to Tim for his work on Sunday and also Heather and Arthur for all their work and help.

“I think 4422 should be flyable by the end of July.”

Tim Morgan is Gary Morgan’s son, helping him at Morgan Aeroworks.