Thread: Who has a pilot's licence??

Originally Posted by superquag

... Reckon I'm over the half-way mark... First Solo this morning.

The plan was to stop here...and tick it off the Bucket List (Reach a good enough standard to go up/around alone)

- Never thought I'd have so much pure fun at 60+.

Congratulations - the enduring impression of my first solo is how much better the Victa climbs with only one on board!

John

You're not wrong !
Only 20 or seconds from starting the 'rolling' radio call..to airborne, and I was really gentle on opening the throttle. (gravel runway)

Shortest 5 mins 44s of my life.

I was SO tempted to find an excuse for a Go-Around Good thing I did'nt, as my SI and CFI were two steps ahead of me..

Nice view out the RH window...

Victa ? I've heard of hotted-up lawnmowers, but flying one ?

I'm Impressed.


(Sorry, 8 hours later and I'm still grinning..........)

Originally Posted by superquag

Victa ? I've heard of hotted-up lawnmowers, but flying one ?

I'm Impressed.


(Sorry, 8 hours later and I'm still grinning..........)

The Millicer Airtourer was mass produced by Victa Ltd from 1961 to 1966, and a fleet of them was used by Hoxton Park Flying School, where I learnt to fly in 1966.

The Victa Airtourer designs and the prototype Aircruiser four seater designs and tooling were sold to AESL after the then federal government declined protection, and AESL (in NZ) continued production, developing the Aircruiser into the Airtrainer.

John

Another example of home-grown Good Design.... treated with contempt by the political powers-that-be.. We don't want to consider any murky conspiracy theories about the Australian Govt and certain overseas aircraft manufacturers...

From fading memory, did'nt the fuselage - roof-line - make a useful contribution to lift ?

Originally Posted by superquag

Another example of home-grown Good Design.... treated with contempt by the political powers-that-be.. We don't want to consider any murky conspiracy theories about the Australian Govt and certain overseas aircraft manufacturers...

From fading memory, did'nt the fuselage - roof-line - make a useful contribution to lift ?

The roofline from the windscreen cowling back was certainly approximately aerofoil section, and yes, it was claimed to produce lift, but personally I always rather doubted the claim.

Compared to contemporary competitors, notably the C150, it had high wing loading, which it got away with by full span flaps - ailerons also acted as flaps, and the flaps as ailerons, and there was a split flap under the fuselage. Also, unlike the competitors, it was stressed for aerobatics (+6 and -3g from memory), and approved for spinning, although limited to, I think from memory to two turns, as otherwise it would exceed VNE during recovery. They did not really spin properly, but a spin would rapidly change into a spiral dive - recovery was easy.

Dual controls comprised a control stick beween the seats, with a throttle and handbrake at each end of the panel. Flap lever on the left only. Springing was similar to a Cessna for the main gear, with the nosewheel sprung by the front strut out of a Ford Consul, with very direct steering from the rudder pedals. No toe brakes, and adjustable pedals, as the seats were fixed, fuel tank under them. Access to the cockpit by a sliding canopy that could be opened in flight.

Flying a Victa compared to say a Cessna is like driving an MG B compared to a Commodore.

John

So the centre-mounted double-stick is an old idea.. and two throttles. - My LH is covering one, force of habit and club proceedure under 1,000' AGL (take it off and Satan pulls it to idle...)
A flight-openable canopy kind of disposes the 'lift' idea.
Even with my limited experience I agree the Cessnas as being typical Yank-Tanks.

The Jabiru isn't rated for fun-attitudes, - an old (?) biplane is used to introduce the vict... er, sorry, 'Students' to 'Interesting Stuff'.

Looking forward to it... I think.

First Solo should come with a Health warning.. still got a silly grin on my dial, and almost worn out the flight-video.

Been flying about 45 years- started in gliders, got RPL and tug-plane endorsement so could do both (Pawnee tug). About 150 hours aero-towing (about 1500 take-offs and landings) during uni because the bloke on the other end of the cable was paying .
Got to instructor level in gliders and got my diamond badge, then ran out of things to do (not very competitive so comps didn't attract). Have had shares in a Tiger, a Piper 140, and a Kestrel 17 glider. At one stage we were a three-aeroplane family (but the shares didn't even add up to one complete aircraft!). Then sold the lot and bought an aircraft we could afford to own ourselves- an Auster J1 (Gypsy Major). Have pedaled this all over the country on various holidays. Destinations have included, Ayers Rock, Alice Springs, Serpentine and the banks of the Swan (Langley Park ), Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Forrest, Broken Hill, Longreach, Rockhampton, Bankstown, Armidale, and various locations in NSW and Vic.
Great touring machine, carries a good load with two up, lands anywhere, can run happily on unleaded,bit slow and very noisy, but very cheap to own and maintain. No fancy instruments, no expensive hydraulics or electronics.Not even a starter motor so no big battery or generator/alternator to worry about.
And, of course, it was made in England,so naturally it leaks oil. It and the SIII live in the same shed, and we love them both...

Coop
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