tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33192791415403798652011-11-27T15:31:12.752-08:00I love flying. I am about to renew my private pilot's license, which lapsed sometime in the past 15 years because I got too busy doing other things, like work.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14099915723145449850noreply@blogger.comBlogger81100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319279141540379865.post-2832704203392665902008-06-11T21:23:00.000-07:002008-06-11T21:26:55.569-07:00

From the 12th June, this blog has been transferred to my new site at www.squawk3000.com(if you are a pilot, you will understand the name of the website. If not, go there and find out :)See you over there soon.S

Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14099915723145449850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319279141540379865.post-87390306084460720582008-06-01T18:55:00.000-07:002008-06-04T17:43:15.380-07:00

Meant to mention that this flying thing has been consuming my thoughts for the past couple of months - to the point that I am going to try to do my best to go Commercial as soon as I can. Why? Because I think I have finally realised that the one thing I have always wanted to do is fly for a living. I may be getting on in years, but with the current grab for pilots from smaller regional

Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14099915723145449850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319279141540379865.post-58886676687165667942008-06-01T18:42:00.001-07:002008-06-01T19:07:52.325-07:00

Must blog more often. I guess it's a discipline thing. Since my last post, I have been up again - this time for approx 45 minutes to the training area at Launceston to continue the refamiliarisation process (C172P VH-WIX). That was on the 28th April - so a bit over a month ago. It was good though, and I feel it is all coming back to me very quickly. I was pretty critical of my landing

Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14099915723145449850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319279141540379865.post-52129588971471535902008-04-07T17:46:00.000-07:002008-06-04T17:44:19.348-07:00

Finally!! I went up last Sunday with the CFI at Tas Aero for my first LH seat trip since May, 1987. A long time between drinks!! It was great. We just stooged around to the south-east of Evandale, about 6-8nm from the airport (YMLT) and I did some revision on the basics - turns, straight and level, climb/descent, and a power off stall.Although it was my first time in the pilot's seat of a

Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14099915723145449850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319279141540379865.post-54135874085192938602008-02-05T16:46:00.000-08:002008-02-05T17:06:37.256-08:00

I thought the repairs to my car would probably delay my flying exploits... I was right. Just under $3k worth of repairs, which is equivalent to roughly 15 to 20 hours of flying time. Only a short setback though, as I probably won't be doing much more than 2 or 3 hours a month to start with. Just need to consolidate a little, and then I'll be ready to go. Unless, of course, I splurge on a new

Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14099915723145449850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319279141540379865.post-18832440341380057722008-01-17T15:19:00.001-08:002008-01-22T15:26:34.057-08:00

It's amazing how much easier it is to use the FlightGear simulator AFTER you read the #$%^%^# manual and get to know all of the keyboard and mouse shortcuts. Obviously, it would also be easier to fly using a joystick, but I'll wait until I get a new computer before I worry about that. I've also found that if I close every other application, that it is working better, although still struggling.

Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14099915723145449850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319279141540379865.post-47870422579803936782008-01-15T14:25:00.000-08:002008-01-22T15:28:39.087-08:00

Sitting on the sofa last night with my old laptop and trying to fly a Cessna 172 using FlightGear - which seems to be a great sim program - but my laptop isn't up to the task. Its a few years old, was a hand-me-down, and even with all other apps closed it struggles. Frequent long pauses while scenery refreshes makes it kinda difficult to fly straight and level, and key/mouse inputs while frozen

Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14099915723145449850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3319279141540379865.post-40947660529937477372008-01-14T18:40:00.002-08:002008-12-08T22:15:56.279-08:00

I've started this blog to reflect on my decision to renew my private pilot's licence, which lapsed around 18 years ago. I am (was) endorsed on both Piper PA-28 and PA-32-CS aircraft, but my renewal will most likely be in Cessna 172's or 182's. Either way, I will be happy to start flying again.Stay tuned if you are interested in following this journey. I'll also recount some experiences using

Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14099915723145449850noreply@blogger.com0