Avalon Report
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Melbourne
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Went yesterday. Flight into YAVE was straightforward. Seemed as though not many took the opportunity to fly in though. Not sure if it was the hot weather, threat of ramp checks or the appalling condition of YAVE surface that kept people away! The commercial guys seemed pretty busy flying people in and out. Crowd was huge as usual despite the heat. Very glad to be flying out at the end of the day looking at the massive queue of cars trying to get out of the place. There would have been people still barely out of the car park by the time we were back home washing the dust down with a cold one.
As others have said, volunteers did a fantastic job in pretty trying conditions over the public days. Airshow itself was ok. There were a few flat spots where not much was happening, and there wasn't much I hadn't seen before but all in all it was worth going. I put Sunfish's concerns behind me and soaked up the raw power and aerodynamic capability of the military jets. Never gets old for me. I must admit I actually missed the completely over the top American commentary you normally get on the F22 display (had an aussie substitute).
Just back on YAVE - any danger someone could run a grader over the surface at some stage prior to the next one..?? Thought the undercarriage was going to give way taking off out of the place..! No sign of any ramp checks yesterday. Maybe the lack of numbers made it not worth turning up.
As others have said, volunteers did a fantastic job in pretty trying conditions over the public days. Airshow itself was ok. There were a few flat spots where not much was happening, and there wasn't much I hadn't seen before but all in all it was worth going. I put Sunfish's concerns behind me and soaked up the raw power and aerodynamic capability of the military jets. Never gets old for me. I must admit I actually missed the completely over the top American commentary you normally get on the F22 display (had an aussie substitute).
Just back on YAVE - any danger someone could run a grader over the surface at some stage prior to the next one..?? Thought the undercarriage was going to give way taking off out of the place..! No sign of any ramp checks yesterday. Maybe the lack of numbers made it not worth turning up.
Last edited by IFEZ; 4th Mar 2019 at 01:10. Reason: Minor changes
Just back on YAVE - any danger someone could run a grader over the surface at some stage prior to the next one..?? Thought the undercarriage was going to give way taking off out of the place..! No sign of any ramp checks yesterday. Maybe the lack of numbers made it not worth turning up.
Anyway, decided not to go this time. Looked at the forecast and figured I was definitely over the summer temps. Was in Melbs, but took a left turn at the appropriate spot, hopped on the boat and went to Tassie. Standing on Blanche beach just out of St.Helens late last week it was 18°C, the cloud was scudding past at 500'AGL and there was a stiff 15/20 kts blowing out of the east. Beautiful!
Evertonian
Off topic but for any ex ADF guys, today was the last PC-9 Roulette demo before the change over to the 21.
Bankstown in 2000 watching the Roulettes is why I joined. Holding a category on it was something else again. I can't be alone in feeling a bit nostalgic at that.
Bankstown in 2000 watching the Roulettes is why I joined. Holding a category on it was something else again. I can't be alone in feeling a bit nostalgic at that.
I kid, I kid! I thought the Roulettes did their usual best yesterday. Took far to many photos of them but it was nice that the PC21's held off initially so the 9's could have a good send off! Well done Roulettes!
Unless you have the maintenance records (the books) you have no idea of the time/cycle/stress history of the major components of the aircraft that includes most of the engine e.g turbine disks, spars, landing gear etc. That in my experience means they are scrap metal. I know of no loophole that gets you out of that situation...... and i’m not blaming CASA either.
You would need to have a whole container load of brand new spares complete with release notes and the current maintenance manuals to maybe make it possible to legally get one into flying condition, but maybe that is the plan.
You would need to have a whole container load of brand new spares complete with release notes and the current maintenance manuals to maybe make it possible to legally get one into flying condition, but maybe that is the plan.
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
Join Date: Jun 2004
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I know of no loophole that gets you out of that situation......
Did anyone see how much they went for ?
$110k eachish, all going to South Africa.
Join Date: Jan 2015
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Sunfish,
I know a 4 seater aircraft that had a wing replacement (with a second-hand wing) that wasn't properly documented and was only found out after the previous 9 or 10 maintenance organisations plus with a paid independent pre-purchase inspection had missed the omission entirely.
The only supplier of such wings made a declaration that they had never shipped out any spare second hand wings with more than 3500 hours on them, so that was taken as the base value at wing replacement and carried forward.
I think this took quite a few months of negotiation with CASA but at least had a happy ending. But it was only one component.
I know a 4 seater aircraft that had a wing replacement (with a second-hand wing) that wasn't properly documented and was only found out after the previous 9 or 10 maintenance organisations plus with a paid independent pre-purchase inspection had missed the omission entirely.
The only supplier of such wings made a declaration that they had never shipped out any spare second hand wings with more than 3500 hours on them, so that was taken as the base value at wing replacement and carried forward.
I think this took quite a few months of negotiation with CASA but at least had a happy ending. But it was only one component.
You would, perhaps, be surprised what you can do under Experimental and Limited Categories of CASR Part 21.
Tootle pip!!
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I didn't get to go, but from the sidelines I note that the GFA member forums have been running pretty hot about not fronting up and having a stall at Avalon... Moderate discord on failing to attract new members and interest to the sport ensues.
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Poppa, the first 52 took out 6 lights on landing, the flypast one that returned took out another 4 and then the original one took another 1 when it finally departed. all in all not a bad effort haha
Join Date: Mar 2018
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This was my first Avalon airshow but the overwhelming ADF presence didn't go unnoticed. I was all in for GA/civilian things and while I expected some military equipment, I was surprised to see such a strong detachment. Most visitors seemed to enjoy that thoroughly though so I suppose that's what they were primarily after.
Has Avalon traditionally always been an airshow with a strong military/defence component? Is Avalon some kind of showcase for the Australian taxpayer?
Has Avalon traditionally always been an airshow with a strong military/defence component? Is Avalon some kind of showcase for the Australian taxpayer?
Yawn.
You all sook about ticket prices now. Imagine how much the show would cost if you had to fill all the ramp space and flying schedule slots provided by the ADF.
More likely the show just wouldn’t happen.
Sunfish, you can criticise foreign policy if you’d like, you’re more than entitled to do that, but your misguided rants about the evil ADF are growing extremely tiresome, given that they have no basis in fact. Frankly given your apparent previous service I’d expect better. You should know the the members are the military itself do not chose what operations or tasks they find themselves involved in.
Almost all of the crews involved with Avalon (fast jet aside, obviously) have been heavily involved with disaster relief and assistance to the civilian community. I know I have been.
You all sook about ticket prices now. Imagine how much the show would cost if you had to fill all the ramp space and flying schedule slots provided by the ADF.
More likely the show just wouldn’t happen.
Sunfish, you can criticise foreign policy if you’d like, you’re more than entitled to do that, but your misguided rants about the evil ADF are growing extremely tiresome, given that they have no basis in fact. Frankly given your apparent previous service I’d expect better. You should know the the members are the military itself do not chose what operations or tasks they find themselves involved in.
Almost all of the crews involved with Avalon (fast jet aside, obviously) have been heavily involved with disaster relief and assistance to the civilian community. I know I have been.
Last edited by junior.VH-LFA; 7th Mar 2019 at 08:02.
Avalon Airshow is the biggest recruiting drive for the military for the year (or at least every second year). It is also the biggest defence showcase in the Southern Hemisphere for military spenders.
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Much preferred the airshows of past where you could land on Avalon main and taxi to a designated GA parking area off to the side of the runway. Much more civilised than lobbing into some clapped out piece of Buffalo country full of rabbit holes, massive divets and various bits of Jabiru scattered hither and to across the field.!
Evertonian
I don't understand how people can drag themselves out of bed in the morning with all that angst ridden guilt they carry. Must be tiresome...it certainly sounds like it.
I'm more than happy to get up close & personal with the people & equipment that work towards our Defence.
I'm more than happy to get up close & personal with the people & equipment that work towards our Defence.