Canterbury Recreational Aircraft Club

Rangiora, New Zealand

Welcome to the first newsletter for 2011.

I will try and keep up to date with the happenings of our club each month. Unfortunately writing is not my strong point but we will do our best. I do have a few articles that I will bring over the coming months. If anyone has something for the newsletter please send it to me as I am always looking for something.

Some of the happenings around the field.

Graeme Main’s Jodel is starting to get that “I will be flying soon” look about it. Graeme and Brent Thompson are working on the cowling.

Nigel Forrester has taken his Karatoo home to Dunedin. He reports that it is a dream to fly. He came up to Ashburton for the flyin and had a big happy smile on his face.

My Karatoo will be flying very soon with it’s new Rotax 912s.

Jerry Savage has managed to sell his spare 912s so that may relieve some funds to help finish his pulsar.

The trike boys have had a great flight around the bottom of the South Island. I am sure that there is a story there if I can get someone to write it up.

Coming Events

CAC

The Canterbury Aero Club is hosting the Flying NZ national flying competitions at West Melton on the 17 & 18th February. Just be aware that there could be extra traffic around and that some of the pilots will not be familiar with local procedures. Remember to treat them with the same courtesy that we would want, if we were flying in their patch.

Breakfast at the Oxford strip.

Saturday Feb 26th (rain day Sun 27th) The BBQ will be on for those wishing to flyin for brekkie. I won’t be able to maintain the standard of the Forrest Field breakfast but you won’t go home hungry. There will be bacon, sausages and eggs.

For those that haven’t been to the field before, remember all circuits are to the south. 09 can be a little tricky so talk to an instructor or somebody who has flown in before to get a bit of a heads up as how best to approach it.

Big Boys Toys

On the weekend of March the 5th and 6th, there will be an event called big boys toys on at the Rangiora showgrounds. Grant Porter has been talking to the organisers and there is an opportunity for us to showcase our club. We plan to have a stand there but we would like to have an organised flypast of as many different types of microlight that we can gather. We have a chance to have the microphone to tell everyone there exactly what we are about, as well as to explain what type of microlight each one is as they fly past. The plan would be to fly past in an orderly fashion at two minutes apart maybe with the trike guys doing a mass flypast to get everyone’s attention. More details coming.

CFI's Corner with Dave

  The clubs three trusty machines, JOR,JOL and JOZ are all powered with, the very reliable ROTAX 582 and what follows is directed at the club members who fly these aircraft.  These engines are designed to run on Regular or Premium gasoline with an octane number not below RON 90(unleaded )   -  in other words, Regular 91 from the local service station..  You will have all handled 91 at some time or another, be it in your car, motor mower, chainsaw and the like  -  and of course, you are all familiar with its COLOUR  -  or are you?  Well, it is vitally important that you do know.   It is PINK. 

Once the Castrol Super Two stroke oil is added at the ratio of 1 part oil to 50 parts gasoline its colour changes to BLUE/GREEN and this is the colour you MUST look for in the fuel filter on the refuelling trolley when you are "topping" the aircraft up.  As well, the refuelling hose has a clear piece of plastic pipe as a nozzle where the pipe enters the aircraft tank where the colour can be further checked. 

People approved to mix fuel for use in the six 60ltr drums that we hold are responsible for ensuring that the 1lt of oil is poured into the drum before fuel is added.  However, the FINAL responsibility rests with YOU the pilot when you refuel these aircraft prior to flight.

THE FINAL RESPONSIBILITY RESTS WITH THE PILOT TO ENSURE THAT OIL HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE FUEL !!    I trust I have made the point !!    No, we haven't had any trouble in this area and this is a timely reminder to ensure that it doesn't happen  - ever !!  

Now, on a lighter note, the term QNH is often heard in the CTR/CTA.  Ever wonder where it came from?  Well, it goes back to the days of Morse Code where the use of standard questions were given a 'Q' Code to cut down transmission times. QNH of course means  -  "What should I set on the subscale of my altimeter so that it would indicate the elevation of my aircraft if it were on the ground at your airfield". 

And another  -  QFE  -  "What should I set on the subscale of my altimeter so that it would indicate its height above the reference elevation being used"  eg  setting the altimeter to 0 feet when on the ground at an airfield. 

And, here's some more  - 

• QFG - Am I overhead?
• QRV - Are you ready?
• QTR - What is the correct time?
• QFB - Are you flying in cloud?
• QAN - What is the surface wind speed?

And some 'made up' ones -

• QLF - Try sending with your left foot; and this one I really like -
• QRB - My trailing aerial is wound around a rainbow and I am about to transmit in technicolour !

Cheers,
Dave

RAANZ Flyin

RAANZ national flyin is on in Masterton on the 11th, 12th and 13th of March. There is a contingent planning on flying up. Should be a great trip.

Oxford Flyin

Flyin @ Oxford 2nd and 3rd of April. This is the weekend of the local A&P show, so for those partners that don’t want to spend all day doing airfield stuff, they can go to the show. There will be some practice events eg landing competitions, to get some practice before the Easter flyin. More details later

That’s it for now. More next month. Stay safe up there.
Dave McPherson