New Glider

**Jantar** · 21st May 2006, 19:25

So I went up to the flying club this afternoon, and it was a crap day. 5 - 8 kt southerly so no thermals. The wind wasn't strong enough for wave, and it was steady so no chance of any instability at all. The tow plane was away so that meant we only had the winch to use.

but the good thing was... only two students turned up, so another instructor and I took the Twin Astir for some low level ridge soaring. Absolutely fabulous flying along a low ridge which is inside the circuit and directly below the powered aircraft downwind leg. Only 500 - 800 ft above the airfield height on a beat of about 5 km long and trying to stay airborne in a 5 kt breeze. The best fun anyone can have with their pants on.

**marty** · 22nd May 2006, 21:58

up to the barrier today via ardmore, then down through crappy vfr at 700ft via whitianga to tauranga. kaimais closed out so back up thru the waihi gap which was clear and calm, back to hamvegas.

another round tomorrow....

great day

**bobsmith** · 22nd May 2006, 22:11

This is turning into a resident kiwibiker aviation thread......

Well I'm glad you're all having fun... We have this stupid rule at Massey that the students have to have a current class 1 medical for all flight checks... some stupid equivalence with CAA or something, anyhow, I was supposed to do my seneca rating last week, got cancelled and since my medical expired on friday couldn't do it today, have lectures the rest of the week so wasn't too worried..... until the bastard of the medical centre rang me up this morning to cancel my appointment tomorrow to see if I can reschedule for next week!!!!

I'm like WTF!!! (I didn't say that to the lady since I do want a medical scheduled soon) They better get me another time this week or I'll be screwed since I rather not do my type rating a month after my last flight....

I hate doctors, I have to put up with shit from idiotic doctors and nurses at work (advice, if you ever get your blood taken make sure the form and the specimens have YOUR FULL name and date of birth, its amazing how many doctors and nurses can't get their patient's name right) and now I gotta put up with stupidly scarce aviation medical doctors (in palmy anyway...)

**N4CR** · 22nd May 2006, 22:27

Students need class 1 to go into the circuit/flight checks.. wtf!? You only need class 2 for PPL holding. Sigh.

CAA are a bit nazi sometimes eh.

**bobsmith** · 23rd May 2006, 08:10

"a bit" ? "sometimes" ???

Oh and we also need to attend 90% of lectures and obtain 70% pass in exams, I mean I understand 70% pass (like normal caa exams) but 90% attendence? WTF!!!!! (I never went to my lectures much when I was attending a REAL uni...)

Oh well better head off to my lectures so I don't get marked absent....

**GNR** · 23rd May 2006, 18:37

"Oh and we also need to attend 90% of lectures and obtain 70% pass in exams"

well im rooted, i don't do any lectures? i just study at home and sit the exam, its worked so far with CPL law, Got CPL met soon :S.

**marty** · 24th May 2006, 09:47

cpl law is good. met and nav a bit tougher. and how many times should someone have to sit a human factors exam? 4 different ones for me - LAME, PPL, CPL, ATPL. ridiculous.

**GNR** · 24th May 2006, 18:13

yer mets a bit tough, i think i'll be right tho

DO the human factors exam get much harder? like gonig up thru the grades...ppl...cpl....atpl??
whats LAME?

**Michaelt** · 23rd July 2006, 17:57

LAME is Licensed Aeronautical Maintenance Engineer or something along those lines.

I've done a bit over 60 hours in Tomahawks, and a few glider flights in a Blanik and a Grob Twin Astir.

Marty, feel free to add me to the list of people begging you for a ride in that Pitts.