PRESIDENTS JOTTINGS MARCH 2005

Pilots will notice a new addition in the cockpit of both our C172's, for security reasons we are now required to fit and use an anti theft device whenever our aircraft are not locked away in N.A.C. hanger.
This device is attached to the throttle rod and padlocked in position restricting engine starting, keys for the padlocks are available for use byauthorized pilot in command so check with Matt Bignall.
As both N.A.C. aircraft are due to be parked for long periods at the forth coming Cunderdin Air Show this devices has come just in time. Thanks to Denis Beresford for designing the unit and Dave Bell for making them for the Club
On the subject of Cunderdin Air Show as stated in last months Fly About the Northam Aero Club is being promoted at the show and thanks to our Club Captain Ray Howell the Northam Aero Club in conjunction with the Royal Aero Club of W.A. will be opening Saturday's programme with a demonstration of Club competition flying including Flour Bombing and Spot landing. This competition will be our annual Presidents trophy competition between the Royal Aero Club of W.A. and Northam Aero Club with Northam Aero Club being the current holders of the trophy so we look forward to seeing you all at the show supporting your club.
On the 24th. Of April we will be holding our second rusty pilots seminar covering forced landing procedures starting with a briefing followed by air work to polish up our skills, and then a B.B.Q. Our instructor in charge Kevin Lathbury will be running the seminar so if you are not current you can still attend and join in the fun and catch up with your fellow pilots.
If you are interested and would like more details please give me a call.

DAVE ROSE


PRESIDENTS JOTTINGS APRIL 2005

Well the Cunderdin Air show is over for another two years and as stated in my previous jottings Northam Aero Club was represented in both the static and the flying display. I flew C.M.P. to Cunderdin on the Friday before the Air show to set up the marquee and the aircraft. Matt Bignal assisted by taking the A frame display, fridge and other odds and ends to Cunderdin by road and helped in setting up.
On Saturday morning Ian Berry, Errol Croft and myself helped open the show by competing against the Royal Aero Club of W.A. for the Presidents trophy by flying in a demonstration flour bombing and spot landing competition. Unfortunately due to time restraints some of the Royal Aero Club of W.A. pilots were unable to fly so the competition will be re-run at Northam at a later date to decide the winner.
After the competition Mike Bairstow and myself manned the static display. Mikeprovided the A frame for the display and also arranged for a new Northam Aero Club banner to made, many thanks Mike. Some of our older members visited our display and were pleased to see how we were going. On Sunday Robyn and Denis took over the static display with Denis flying C.M.P. back that evening.
It was great to be part of the show and to represent our Club at this prestigious event and we all enjoyed the challenge and are looking forward to the next show.
Many thanks to all who assisted me with this event.
On another matter those of you who attended the last A.G.M. may recall my saying that there was a great opportunity at Northam for other aircraft and operators to take advantage of the low traffic density and operating costs available at the strip. Well since then Northam Aero Club have been approached by Amity Aviation who have expressed an interest in moving their operation from Jandakot to Northam. Part of our discussions with Amity included the possibility of Amity cross hiring C.M.P. and P.G.L. as well as the leasing some floor space in the briefing room, this is a very exciting development for the Northam Aero Club and I will keep members informed of our progress.
Please note the changes made to the Flying and Club Activities Programme for2004-2005 these being brought about by Mothers Day being on the regular May competition day and the proposed forced landing seminar clashing with the Anzac long weekend.

DAVE ROSE



CLUB CAPTAIN'S REPORT

The flying weather could not have been better for the April competition with a timed flight out to Claude Meunier's strip and then onto the wheat bins at Grass Valley before returning to Northam. The idea was to take an average time for all the flights and the winner being the pilot nearest that time.
The times varied from 22 minutes to 17 minutes with some pilots not being able to Claude strip first up.
The ultimate winner was Errol Croft with Ian Berry second and David Rose third.
Next months competition will be a two circuit flight from the right hand seat. This will be held a week later than usual on 15th May to avoid a clash with mothers day.

Ray Howell
Club Captain.



MARCH 2005 COMPETITION WINNER SAYS…..

Ray had organized a Glide Approach and Spot Landing Competition for Sunday 13th March, with the combination of points over two circuits determining the winner.
With our ever so cheerful and cheeky Errol sitting beside me as Air Judge, I went through my checks both on the ground and in the air and managed to get around the traps without losing too many air points. I was even able to nominate a preceding aircraft on both circuits. My first landing was quite a bit further down the strip from 'the spot' marked by witches hats opposite the taxiway on runway 32, and my 'full-stop landing' was considerably short, but nevertheless, it was a beautiful day to be flying, and I had made it back to earth with both myself and Errol, and the aircraft, in one piece. It was certainly a bit of a surprise to be announced the winner, and I'd like to congratulate Ian Berry for coming in second, and Ray who was in third place. I would also like to thank Ray for organizing the competition, with further thanks to Errol Croft for Air Judging, and to Sion Miller for being our chief Ground Judge.
I'm sure I can speak for everyone in saying it was an enjoyable competition, and certainly great practice in the event of the 'real thing'.

Robyn Stewart

APRIL 2005 COMPETITION WINNER SAYS…..

I feel so guilty for winning this competition and not doing my previous write-ups so tonight I'm staying up late to do my best at putting pen to paper for today's comp.
It was interesting from start to finish & credit should be given to our very keen Club Captain in Ray Howell for climbing out of his hospital bed to once again run the Monthly comp when he could not even compete.
We set off on a sunny & windless day, flying to Claude's airstrip, landing/taking off & flying around the Grass Valley Bin then home for a spot landing for which I, along with Ian Berry managed to gain maximum points. I was extremely pleased with my landing at Claude's & I believe Ian did the same. I just can't comprehend why Claude has trouble landing his helicopter there. Many thanks to Steve for his Air Judging & Flying conversations. Congratulations to Robyn & Claude on each receiving their Federation Awards - well done.

Errol Croft


NAC welcomes new members:
Valerie Stopp, Coedie Robertson, Mathew & Kathi Hess, William Bell & Robert Trepp

We hope you will enjoy the flying and friendship of the Club


FLYING & CLUB ACTIVITY PROGRAMME FOR 2005.

April
9th. Busy Bee
10th. Monthly Competition

May
14th. Busy Bee
15th. Monthly Competition
27th. Sunday Flyers (Destination T.B.A.).

June
11th. Busy Bee
12th. Monthly Competition
17th. Forced landing seminar
25th. Annual Dinner

The above programme may be modified from month to month so please check the latest Fly About for current details. For details on the monthly BusyBee's please check with Matt Bignell or how you may help the Club with this.



SUNDAY FLYERS - ROTTO RUN 27th. FEBRUARY 2005

Both PGL and CMP flight planned to fly to Rottnest Island via overhead Perth Airport at 2500 feet and after a briefing given by Kevin Lathbury our Club Instructor on over water flight and the use of life jackets we departed Northam at 11A.M. local time for Rotto.
Weather to the North East of our track was forecast rain showers and some imbedded C.B's with lower cloud near the coast. Both aircraft were cleared to track to Rottnest Island via Perth Airport at 2500 feet per our flight plan, this route affording spectacular views of Perth Airport and the City as we overflew.
Nearing the coast the cloud base lowered and descent clearance was requested to stay VMC, after finding that illusive gap in the cloud over the beaches we broke clear of surrounding cloud to be greeted by a blue sea, sky and Rotto in the distance.
Arriving at Rotto the obligatory Rotto cross wind slightly favouring runway 27 and both aircraft landed safely after experiencing some turbulence on finals. After parking the aircraft we all made for the Dome Café for lunch and a good yarn swapping session.
Lunch over and back to the strip reacquainting ourselves with the local Fauna on the way (Peacocks and Quokkas).
On our departure the wind was still crosswind at 15knots with PGL electing to track back via Perth enjoying a 1500 foot holding pattern over the City due to the traffic while CMP tracked back via Jandakot, Armadale and Mount Dale.
If you have not flown in controlled airspace for some time or if you are not quite up to speed with the new procedures this type of trip is an excellent way to improve your skills and confidence and everyone agreed that it should be a regular event for the Sunday Flyers or as a solo flight with friends - Rotto is a great day out so if you missed this trip contact me to organize another one.



An article by Tony Rees

Among the great imponderables when planning a long flight is: where to stop. There are a whole lot of factors which dictate how often you put down, apart from fuel. How long can you last without a pee, for instance, can you get a bed for the night, and are sandwiches and a cuppa available?
Frank Kotai and I flew to the Avalon Air Show in March in Frank's Cessna 210, MGE, and made a couple of pleasant discoveries which may be of interest to other members planning to cross the Nullarbor by air.
The first was at Ceduna, at the end of a very long day's flying. We had booked ahead at the East West Motor Inn and could not have had a more convivial experience. Brian Brew, the new owner, had offered to pick us up from the airfield, so we rang him after we'd tied down the aircraft and unloaded our gear. A couple of minutes later he turned up - in a Mercedes, no less! - and whisked us off to the motel.
It was a much improved place from the dosshouse I remembered from 20 years ago, when I flew an Auster to Sydney and back. The rooms are comfortable and (importantly) quiet, and the restaurant more than adequate - particularly if you like fresh Streaky Bay oysters and a cold bottle of riesling.
Brian dropped us at the airfield next morning and was back a few minutes later - clutching my credit card. I'd left it on the counter after paying the bill. Now that's what I call the mark of a nice bloke - in today's plastic economy it would have been really inconvenient to have been without Visa. The East West number is 8625 2101 (SA shares the 08 prefix with us).
The next pleasant surprise was Goolwa, on the coast south of Adelaide. It's owned by an aviation enthusiast, Geoff Eastwood - or perhaps I should say aviation nut. The man has owned 26 aeroplanes, four of which he built himself! The strip is sealed, there are no landing fees for private operations, it's open seven days a week, has fuel, and you can get a pie or a sandwich at Geoff's café. There's accommodation, too, if you want to stay overnight.
Geoff was extremely helpful, giving an hour or so of his time (without charge) to help replenish our brake reservoir when we ran out of left anchor. Nice bloke, great place, and there are joyflights in Nanchings if you get the urge. Geoff's number is 0427 812 422.
Werribee ALA (you'll find it on the Melbourne VTC) is a 2600 ft grass strip owned by Noel Evans, a farmer with a love of flying and a warm sense of hospitality. We decided to find out about it after studying the 23 pages of AIC Supplement you had to digest if you wanted to land at Avalon, and I'm glad we did. It's a delightful little airfield, and only a couple of miles from Mansion Hotel, where we were staying. It's also pretty close to Melbourne and there's a shuttle bus service from Werribee to the city.
Noel's phone number is 03 9742 4227 and you use the airfield at your own risk. I'm sure he and his wife, Fay, would welcome any Northam Aero Club members passing through. There's no fuel at Werribee (no landing fee, either), but Ballarat, which is nearby, has a swipe-card pump.
Nice place number four is Forrest, on the transcontinental railway line. Built in the halcyon days of big piston-engined planes, its runways are so big you could just about land a 172 across them. The airfield is now owned by Andrew Forte, a Sandgroper who lives in the Swan Valley. His resident managers change from time to time, but they'll give you a friendly reception and a cuppa, plus of course fuel. No landing fees there, either, for small private aircraft.
By the way, the air show was fantastic. It's a real privilege being able to see rare aircraft such as the Kittyhawk, Boomerang and Sea Fury among the usual bevy of Mustangs and old US round-engine stuff. And the F15, 16 and 18 displays were pretty speccy, not to mention the dump-and-burn show put on by the F-111, the dirty fly-past by a B-52 and the almost aerobatic antics of huge aircraft such as the C-17 and the B-757 of the New Zealand Air Force. Brilliant flying.
But for me the highlight was the Super Constellation lovingly restored by a group of Australian volunteers who rebuilt it in the US then flew it to Oz. When it took off just after dark, belching flame from the exhausts of those huge Pratt and Whitneys, the hairs rose on the back of my neck. I knew our trip had been worth every cent.
If you have any queries about the destinations I've mentioned you can contact me on 9299 6342 or tonyrees@iprimus.com.au


NORTHAM AERO CLUB
HIRE RATES FOR C172 AIRCRAFT
1/1/2005

Dual Hire ---------- $190 hour
Private Hire ------- $140 hour
TIFs ----------------- $ 70 each

Block Hire for a minimum of 40 hours To be completed within a 12 month duration from the date of purchase:
*Dual Hire ------- $180 hour
*Private Hire ---- $130 hour
Instructor only
*Pilot provides own aircraft ---- $70 hour

Landing Fees & AirServices Charges:
*Where applicable - These are to be paid by the Pilot or Student Pilot
Hire of Life Jackets ---- $10 per jacket

We know you will understand that the above increases are due to rising costs in fuel and the maintenance necessary to keep our aircraft in the good standard expected of the Northam Aero Club


BAR ROSTER
April & May 30th & 1st Dave Rose
May 7th & 8th Dave Bell
May 14th & 15th Dennis Beresford
May 21st & 22nd Les Balantyne
May 28th & 29th Joy Flegetaub
June 4th & 5th Mike Bairstow
June 11th & 8th Matt Bignell
June 18th & 19th Brian Whittington
June 25th & 26th Dave Rose