Joining mid dowind.....

[Darryl]

Hello All,

I am a recreational pilot (mostly aerobatics these days) and fellow home simulator addict.

I am currently building an F-16 cockpit (yep, yet another one) and am in the early stages of planning and drawing out a Spitfire cockpit probably a XIV to go with RealAir's FSX model when it is finally released. I should have the blueprints for the spitfire this week.

The f-16 is currently set up for Open Falcon and I am also doing a control set for FS2004.

Most of my simulator flying has been GA but the L-39 Albatross that came out a little while back made me want a small jet as well...the F-16 fit the bill nicely as I didn't want all my gauges in Cyrillic!!

Real world I have time on C152, C172, Bonanza, Duchess, Tecnam (why bother??), Tigermoth (a buzz), Super Decathlon, Fuji and a couple of others but if I don't land 'em I don't log 'em.

That's me in a nutshell really.

Glad to be here, hoping to learn a lot and contribute as much as I can.


best regards and Happy New Year

Darryl

[Michael Carter]

Welcome to the forum Darryl.

I trained for aerobatics in a Decathalon too. First time I ever had a parachute on in an airplane.

Glad to have another military builder aboard.

[Matt Olieman]

Hi Darryl, and welcome. We've got a great bunch of builders that help or that may need help. Glad you can join in with our madness :)

[ozziesim]

Hi Darryl,

Good to see another Perth simmer here, welcome !

[Darryl]

Thanks for the warm welcome guys,

Boeing, over here we don't have to wear parachutes for aeros....which nearly cost me my life a while back...but that is another story. Most of my aeros have been in the C152 (on which I got the endorsement) but I did all the advanced stuff in the Super Deccy. I love her. I did some time on a Fuji as well, but that was just a sad little aeroplane! Hopefully next year will be a trip East to do the advanced course on a Pitts.


I will post some pictures of the F-16 in the near future.

thanks

Darryl

[Michael Carter]

Aerobatics in a Pitts would be great. At the Scott AFB Aero Club where I was taught all they had was the Decathalon. I was pretty impressed with that little airplane. Got my tail-dragger sign-off as well.

The instructor used to tell me if you see me leaving, try and keep up. Did yours have the pull-pins on the door hinges?

[Darryl]

the Decathalon. I was pretty impressed with that little airplane.

Did yours have the pull-pins on the door hinges?

The Deccy is wonderful. I was in love before the first takeoff. Having fought and scratched and bit a Tigermoth around the ground (nice in the air but operating without brakes is a chore) I loved the Decathlon's ground handling and lack of any nasty habits on takeoff. The first upward roll (something the C152 seems reluctant to do :D :roll: ) I was in hog heaven. It just got better after that.

Yes, the pull hinges were on the Deccy and the 152. The first time in the
C152 the instructor warned me that if the hinges were pulled the:

"door, aircraft and tailplane tend to develop independant descent profiles which is largely inconsistent with the objective of aircrew survival".

I still give them a good look and tug each preflight...just to be sure they aren't going to dislodge!

I also recall vividly the story of the "bent penny" and my preflight always includes a rigorous check under the seats etc for anything that might float around during neggies.

cheers

Darryl

[Michael Carter]

I learned to fly in a 152 and later, the 172 and RG models. They are very reluctant to go on their backsides. Even a chandelle in the 172 was always a chore to try and haul it over.

But, that's just the way they are designed; nice and stable, easily self-righting aircraft that will TRY to return to a balanced flight attitude.

That little Decathalon would do anything you wanted at the touch of the stick.

[Westozy]

G'day Darryl,

Welcome to MC.org, that makes 5 members from Perth now I think. I've done a few aeros myself in the C150 Aerobat and most recently in one of the Nangchang fighters at www.fciwa.com which was awesome. I did 3 years of GA a while back, (GFPT) and I built my sim to replace the expense. You're welcome to come and fly my sim if you want!

Gwyn

Gwyn

[Darryl]

I learned to fly in a 152 and later, the 172


Yep, sounds familiar. They now have the Tecnam here as an Ab Initio and in my humble it is a POS. I've only bothered to spend about 3 hours in her...got signed off, took it on a solo and took my wife for a ride. I'm definately not a fan. Sweet aircraft in still conditions but a real handful if the wind comes up.
AND feels and looks like it should be aerobatic but a 60deg bank turn makes the wings bend so bad the skin actually ripples! Definately not for this little Annus Africanus.

I've decided to pay more for private hire and stick with the 172. Nice aircraft the new ones...but they still don't like to land any better than the old models. They float better than a Dot Com in a tech craze.


Darryl

[Darryl]

G'day Darryl,

Welcome to MC.org, that makes 5 members from Perth now I think. I've done a few aeros myself in the C150 Aerobat and most recently in one of the Nangchang fighters at www.fciwa.com which was awesome. I did 3 years of GA a while back, (GFPT) and I built my sim to replace the expense. You're welcome to come and fly my sim if you want!

Gwyn

Gwyn

G'day Gwyn,

Love to take you up on that offer and to return the favour if you ever have a taste for something fast and deadly!!

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c17/KillratioDH/IMG_3324-1.jpg

FCIWA is THE business, great time to be had. Glad to see a couple of other guys around here who don't think aeros are crazy.

I'll PM soon,

cheers

Darryl