Harley
the subject is about a Cessna 172, not an Auster, which bareley qualifies as an aircraft, certainly not a certified one, and certainly does not have a proper flight manual. it is a curiosity, like many antique/special interest aircraft has a very basic guidance document.
Sorry my old fruit, I'm going to have to take you to task on that one.
If your comments were a "wind-up" you'll be pleased to know it worked!
The Auster was the backbone of the charter fleet in Australia up to the early sixties when US$'s became easier to get and machines like the early Cessnas , Piechasers and Comanches took over.
The reason why the flight manual was brief was because at that time pilots were expected to KNOW the details of how to operate an aircraft and paragraphs on how to open the door and get it in seemed superfluous.
It was only when the Americans started making aircraft for the great unwashed that instructions on which part of the sky had to be kept in the windshield became necessary.
As Brian so eloquently pointed out, KNOWING the systems allows the POH to be interpreted correctly.
As for the suitability of "good quality motor spirit"...No, it is no longer correct, because what was GQMS then may not be now. The term is undefined in almost any technical context you care to name.
At least the qualities and requirements for Avgas ARE well defined.
Why don't you get a "real motorcycle" instead of a curio like a Harley
