Schofields Flying Club Ltd - 1 Tower Road Bankstown Airport 2200
(PO Box 200, Georges Hall, NSW 2198 AUSTRALIA)
Phone: +61 2 9773 3611 Email: mail@schofields-flying-club.com.au
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SCHOFIELDS FLYING CLUB NEWSLETTER - DECEMBER 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Welcome to the December 2005 edition of Schofields News. There are the usual plus some new features - X-Files X057 (Miles M.20) by Anthony Coleiro, Tips, Tips and More Tips by Paul Daniels, 2004 Kimberley Tour (Day 18) by Grahame Smith, Open Day Report by Sheri Crawshaw, Why be a Duty Pilot? by Peter Blackbourn, The Night Before Christmas - aviation style (Anonymous), The Wedding of Darren Swain & Jean Langejans - by Hank Langejans, and The Last Word from Latrodectus. As well, there's the usual administrivia that you've come to expect. So, read on and enjoy! OCTOBER DUTY PILOT DRAW: The Volunteer Duty Pilot Monthly Draw for October ($50 free flying) goes to Greg Leversha and Bob Casagrande. Congratulations!
NEW MEMBERS FOR OCTOBER: Welcome to Rebecca Armstrong, Peter Sugden, Michael Lapic, Nathan Rooney, Brett Tipton, Ben White and Hugh Connolly.TOP END FLYAWAY 2006: Club member Rae Cauchi is starting to organize a trip to Darwin and the Top End for either May or June 2006. There was a meeting on Sunday 13 November at the Club to discuss the trip. More details as they become available. More... CLUB COMPETITION: With bad weather forecast and only three definite starters, the planned December competition at Warnervale was cancelled. A Bankstown competition is currently in the planning. This will be conducted in the early morning (to be finished by 8.30 am and using two aircraft) and we will throw in a cooked breakfast for those participating. we hope to do this in January. SFC pilots did us proud at last weekend's NSW Interclub competition, including first time participant and Club president Mike Allsop who came third in the Glide Approach. More details to follow in our Newsletter and dates for next years competitions will be advised very shortly. Why not make a new years resolution to take part in the comps - not only is it great fun but also a great way to improve your skills. DIARY DATES: The Club has a number of social and flying activities planned for 2005. You can check full details on our Coming Events page. Below is a summary of the programme for December 2005 and January 2006:
Finger food and savouries will be served during the course of the night, with drinks available for purchase from our Propeller bar. If you could call the office staff on 9773 3611 to let us know that you can come along, this will assist with our catering. We look forward to seeing you on the night. LAST LIGHT DRINKS is a new social activity introduced by the Clubhouse & In-house Events sub committee for members and their guests to join together with some of our committee members on the last Sunday of each month. It is an opportunity to discuss flying at an operational and social level and see the changes that are taking place at the club. Drinks are available from our newly licensed bar, with complimentary savories served. It's a couple of hours of social intercourse with an aviation theme we can all enjoy. From 17:00 to wind up around 19:00. Come and join us on January 29. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In the weeks before the Battle of Britain, RAF fighter command became concerned that a supply of fighters might not be maintained. Miles approached the Minister for Aircraft Production with their idea for a fighter that sacrificed everything for speed of production. The Minister gave his instant approval for the construction of a prototype. To speed production the aircraft was fitted with a fixed undercarriage, which did away with hydraulics and used a lot of components from the Miles Master, an advanced trainer. The construction of the M.20 was fast; it was designed, built and flown in a period of 65 days! It was equipped with eight machine guns but it had provision for twelve.
The aircraft was powered by a 1,460 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin XX 12-cylinder liquid cooled engine. The aircraft had a twin-spar wooden wing. The fuselage was semi-monocoque in construction covered in ply and fabric.First flight took place on 15 September 1940 and a speed of 536 km/h was achieved which made this fighter faster than the Hurricane and marginally slower than the Spitfire. In the end the aircraft was never produced, as the perceived shortage did not take place. In the meantime the Royal Navy put forward a specification for a single-seat shipboard fighter. Another M.20 prototype was produced as a private venture but modified for naval use but nothing came of this aircraft either. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Illustrated Ency. of Aircraft - Orbis publication The Complete Book of Fighters - William Green Gordon Swanborough Anthony Coleiro | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Well that's it for 2005, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and look forward to seeing you in 2006. Until next time, enjoy our skies! Paul Daniels Flight Instructor | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Day 18 and final day - Thursday 17 June - Fitzroy Crossing to Alice Springs Last official day of the flying safari dawned bright and clear. We ate a hearty breakfast in the Lodge's spacious dining room. The more experienced adventurers surreptitiously smuggled buns, cheese, ham and fruit back to their rooms to make up snacks for the long haul ahead. 
We were soon boarded onto our mini-bus and transferred to the Fitzroy Crossing airstrip. It was quite a busy scene with all of our aircraft plus a number of commercial operators in for the day.Finally the time came for departure. With a lot of handshaking, hugs and kisses the main contingent bid farewell to Rae and Angelo Cauchi, Bob Casagrande and Bill Aitken in the Saratoga; Neil and Chris MacGowan, David Winter and Renee Willcockson in the Cessna 206; Hank Langejans, Lorna and Merv Hughes in the Cessna 182, Sue and Graeme Bellamy and Janet Richardson in the Archer. These guys had previously decided that they would be extending their adventure by continuing down the West Australian coast to Perth and then back to Sydney - the long way. An uneventful take-off in HTP, our trusty Cessna Cutlass, conducted in somewhat more of a gracious fashion than the less than masterful arrival the day before in 20 knot cross winds. We set up our heading of 125 degrees magnetic for Balgo Hill though not directly on track it had an airport and NDB - just a little insurance in this remote region of the world. Sailing along between 2,500 feet and 4,500 feet looking for best winds, we marveled at the endless expanses of the Great Sandy Desert and later the Tanami Desert. Gerry and Fiona in BMX, their rented but brand new C182, soon caught up and passed us at the same altitude. Helen captured the moment on video and Carole, in the back seat, was busy taking snaps of the landscape with her new digital camera. 
3 hours and 10 minutes after take-off we were overhead Vaughan Springs and nearing the limits of safe endurance. So it was with some relief that we landed, refueled and attended to some urgent 'call of nature' priorities.Several months previously, Matt Braitling, the owner of Vaughan Springs, had kindly agreed to truck in avgas for us along with his normal annual supply. This proved to be most convenient and we cheerfully parted with $1.24 per litre for the privilege. We had discovered early in planning for the flyaway that endurance and fuel limitations for a large proportion of the fleet were going to be an issue, especially over long desert crossings. After consuming our ill-gotten Fitzroy snacks for lunch, it was back into the air and sally forth to Alice Springs. Another hour and a half and we were talking to Alice ATC. They seemed a trifle perplexed at the sudden rush of VFR light aircraft appearing out of the desert and went to some trouble to make sure that we didn't dance too closely with a couple of Qantas and Virgin jets also claiming landing rights. After a safe landing we taxied over to the Alice Springs Aero Club where we were greeted by an enthusiastic CFI Ingrid Phillips. I'm not sure whether the enthusiasm was based on seeing us again or having her Cutlass back safely in the hangar. We had of course earlier rented the Cutlass from the Aero Club. Ken and John had also rented one of their C172's. Both machines had served us well on this long safari and it was with some melancholy that I handed back the keys. 
Then it was back to the comfortable Mecure Diplomat Hotel in Alice Springs for the night. Nine of us had dinner at the Indian restaurant around the corner. Michael Allsop had flown in via RPT from Sydney to reclaim his Arrow IV from David and Jenny. He had a commercial student in tow and was preparing to fly back home with him via Birdsville the following morning.The next day we went our several ways. Some were flying back to the east coast via various routes and several of us jumped commercial services. So that was it! 18 days of flying, touring, walking, exploring and just having a lot of fun. We flew a lot, we laughed a lot and we had a damn good time. I'd do it all again in a heartbeat - finances permitting - though I'm not so sure about that camel ride - 'twas a bit hard on the rear end. Grahame Smith | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
It was a beautiful sunny day as the dedicated workers put the final touches to the Club House and grounds in preparation for our Members and Guests Open Day on Sunday 14th November. We'd covered chairs, sanded and varnished tables, mowed lawns, washed planes, tidied training rooms, painted walls and doors, and baked plenty of cookies and slices in readiness.10.00 a.m. saw the early birds begin to arrive - a signal to crank up the BBQ and have our aircraft marshals slip on their neon safety vests We had a variety of visiting aircraft on display including a Bell 47 helicopter from our neighbours, Dynamic Helicopters, Matt Perkins' Beech Duchess, Craig Hobart's Piper Aztec, Mark Sareff's Piper Twin Comanche, an RV6 from the Air League, and two ultralights from Hoxton Park - a Jabiru and a brand new Allegro. What a contrast! 
Our five workshops were a big hit with over ninety keen pilots and students attending throughout the day. Rodney Hyde, our CFI, and instructors Peter Kestle and Wayne Russell conducted sessions covering night and instrument ratings, various endorsements, new CTAF procedures, flying the Sydney basin, and then fun stuff about competition flying.Each workshop provided an opportunity to hear about the activities undertaken through the Club and Sydney Flight College, as well as useful tips. It was good to see the level of participation and interest shown both through questions at the time and through subsequent discussion. We also saw some aerial photo's taken by members, some dramatic video footage of the Red Bull Air Race in Budapest, a float plane attempting to land with wheels down, and finally a 717 coming in for a very heavy landing. Handouts were available to all participants on the day; you can still pick up a copy of the information at the Club if you missed out. 
With the recent changes in CTAF procedures, this workshop was by far the most popular.To fortify the crowd, Peter Whiteman and Peter Blackburn were busy on the BBQ for most of the day, with the smell of sausages and onions wafting over the airfield. As always, our members had brought along their family and friends to share the flying experience; some took advantage of the day and did a scenic flight over Sydney Harbour, others enjoyed the company and spent time getting to know each other. The day finished at 4 p.m. with a presentation of the 2006 agenda for our mid year fly-away to Darwin, by Rae Cauchi. More details of the fly-away will be available on the Web Site very soon. Thank you to all Club Members and Guests for making the day a success, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. Sheri Crawshaw Director - Marketing & Promotions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
At the time of completing my flight training, I told myself I would join the team of Duty Pilot (DP) volunteers, as I liked what I saw. Meeting other club members, new members, instructors and, of course, talking flying and things related thereto, such as training and technique (not to mention good and not so good jokes). That was eleven years ago and the role continues to meet my expectations. During this time, I was promoted to lead Team 3 which performs the DP role on the 3rd weekend of each month. We also have teams 1, 2, 4 (and even a Team 5 for the months with a 5th weekend, as well as those with public holidays).The Club used to be located at Schofields aerodrome before moving to Bankstown at the end of 1994. In those days, the DP even did some hands-on refuelling and taxiing aircraft to and from the old Bond airship hanger. The role has slightly changed. Without these additional activities, it is more a Duty Officer that a Duty Pilot. We have also swapped the quill and ink for 21st century technology in support of our computerised cashier system. Meeting, greeting and picking up on the latest flying gossip still remains and I see this as the reward for donating my time. So what does a DP do ? Depending on your shift, either AM or PM, Saturday or Sunday, it goes something like this:
This is not every thing, but I am sure you get the picture. Believe it or not, it is fun - especially the variety of people you get to meet.Being a number cruncher during the week makes using the PC easy for me. However, with training and a good sense of direction to point and click the mouse, together with a desire to learn, you will be surprised how quickly this can be mastered. All volunteers are assigned to one of our teams (1-5) depending on your availability. Training material, together with hands on development, will ensure you are provided with the necessary skills before being signed out for your first solo. "Forced landings" are easily from the front desk - just a Mayday call to your team leader will ensure a smooth landing. So why not consider joining the fun? It's usually only a half day shift every six weeks on either Saturday or Sunday (your choice) and, as for the personal rewards, well the sky's the limit. To find out more contact Vivianne or Suzanne at the Club. Peter Blackbourn Director, Clubhouse Services & Events | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Well to start it must be said that it was yet another Schofields Flying Club destined union, and they join the ranks of Roger and Wendy Plumpton, and Graham and Joey Plowman just to name a couple of couples. The day went like clockwork, but the clock was ticking double time, as everything seemed like a flash, I remember picking up the flowers in the morning and getting lost trying to find a new address in Kellyville. At home things were quite cool, calm and collected as all the organising that could be done was done, and it was a simple task of going through with it. She arrived at St. Barnabas Church at Westmead on time, in fact about 5 minutes earlier than Darren, who was already inside, waiting.The ceremony lasted about 40 minutes. I'd counted on about an hour, so I asked the photographer to slow things down a little for the surprise visit of FTU and HQR in formation at 4pm. Many thanks to Rodney Hyde and Chris Pearl for a wonderful flyover, which was completely unexpected by Jean and Darren. The reception was at Tudor lodge at Greystanes, and again everything went according to plan, with the exception of Darren's pants, which decided to give up the ghost at the belt level, and the only way he could stop them from falling was to keep his hands in his pockets. Anyway the head barman came to the rescue by donating his belt. The honeymoon is, of course, a trip and they decided to take Cessna MIG away to White Cliffs, Andamooka, Coober Pedy, Ayers Rock, Alice Springs, Birdsville, Longreach, Comeroo and back home. I can hardly wait for their return to see all the photos and hear all the details - of the flying, that is! Hank Langejans | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
SEASON'S GREETINGS: Best wishes to Club members for the festive season, and safe flying in the coming year. FEEDBACK AND CONTRIBUTIONS: Well, that's the last newsletter for the year. With help (in the form of contributions) it might have been possible to continue to produce a newsletter every month. Don't forget to check the latest news on the Club's website at www.schofields-flying-club.com.au. Contributions, comments, feedback, and suggestions to latrodectus@schofields-flying-club.com.au. THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH: Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons - Woody Allen.
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NON-TOWERED AERODROMES: As 2005 draws to an end, aviation in Australia has experienced some major changes with regards operations at uncontrolled aerodromes. When changes to procedures are implemented, it is not uncommon to see some confusion caused by the changes. DOTARS has issued significant amounts of literature regarding these changes. Please note that in the first pack they issued, the DVD shows how to depart an uncontrolled aerodrome. This picture shown in that DVD is incorrect. This has been corrected in the second pack which was issued with the supplemental guide. 
© 2003 Schofields Flying Club Ltd. All Rights Reserved.