Club Calendar May 12 - Club CompetitionMay 25 - Member & guest BBQJune 2- Club CompetitionJune 22 - Member & guest BBQ

July 7 - Club Competition July 27 - Member & guest BBQ August 18 - Club Competition &

Christmas in August

MRAC Committee President: Jon Forest Vice-President: Marj Gillespie Treasurer: Richard Wilson Secretary: Marj Gillespie Committee Members:

Vaughan Durkin Max AkersRussell JonesGary Tonkin

CFI: Mike Nolan Club Captain: Vaughan Durkin Safety Officer: Neville FrenchMRAC News: Kerry Nolan

MRAC NEWSThe Newsletter of the Manning River Aero Club

Patron: Beth Weeks

May 2018

Issue 7

Welcome to the seventh issue of the MRAC News. STOP PRESS! STOP PRESS! Trainee pilot Tallulah Greaves (Tully) has been awarded a Royal Federation of Aero Clubs scholarship to complete her RPL/PPL training. Tully was chosen from 15 applicants.

Congratulations Tully!! Read more about Tully and her first solo in this issue.

In this issue: - How much do you know about the workings of an autopilot -

our CFI explains some of the vagaries on page 2- The club Cessna engine story on page 3- Tully and Taj Greaves first solo on page 4- A note from our Treasurer on page 4- The RFACA Conference 2018 on page 5- Christmas in August at MRAC - your Invitation is on page 6

(note change of date)

- Australian Aviation Firsts begins on page 7

NOTAM for MRAC Pilots IHK Hire Rate

IHK's engine rebuild is complete. However for the first 25 hours it cannot be used it for circuit training/operations.

To expedite the engine run in, the Committee has decided to reduce the hourly rate by $25.00.

This will be in place for the first 25 hours flight time in IHK or three months, after which time it will be reviewed.

MRAC NEWS - May 2018 Page 2 of 8

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From the CFIKnow your Autopilot

In 2015 a Cessna 172S (same model as VH-IHK) piloted by a student on a solo navigational training flight was on the third leg of the flight at approximately 3000ft when it started to descend rapidly. The aircraft impacted rising terrain at about 2200ft above mean sea level and was destroyed. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The aircraft had impacted terrain in level flight with a slight right wing low attitude.

The accident investigation concluded that the likely cause was that the autopilot was on and that the pilot manually manipulated the controls. As a consequence the autopilot re-trimmed the aircraft against the pilot’s inputs and, given the low height the aircraft was above the rising terrain, the pilot had little time to diagnose, react and recover before ground impact.

The ATSB safety message is: Pilots should be aware that if automation is not performing as expected, then the safest option under most circumstances is to disengage the system and manually fly the aircraft.

The club’s Cessna 172S VH-IHK is fitted with a Bendix/King KAP 140 2-Axis Autopilot. All MRAC pilots should be aware the aircraft checklist has a section in the Pre-take-off checklist which requires that the pilot performs a serviceability check of the autopilot, regardless of whether or not the pilot intends to use the autopilot (see extract below).

This pre take-off check includes the pilot ensuring that they can override the autopilot should it be accidentally turned on during flight and that they can turn the autopilot off in this situation.

MRAC Checklist – Cessna 172S VH-IHK

PRE-TAKE OFF

Park Brake ONThrottle 1000 RPMFuel ON BOTH & QUANTITYFuel Cut Off Valve CHECK INFlaps SET AS REQUIREDFlight Controls FULL, FREE & CORRECTTrim CHECK MANUAL & ELECTRICAuto Pilot ON

MANUAL OVERIDE - CHECKPRESS HDG – CHECK BUGA/P DISCONNECTTRIM - RE-SET FOR TKOF

Formal training in the use of the KAP140 autopilot fitted to VH-IHK is included in the MRAC syllabus of training for the private pilot licence. Club pilots who do not know how to use the KAP 140 or would like a refresher on it operation, may arrange a briefing and dual flight of 1 hour with the CFI.

The full ATSB report into the accident: Collision with terrain of a Cessna Aircraft Company 172S, VH-ZEW, at Millbrook, Victoria on 8 September 2015

The Wright Brothers created the single greatest cultural force since the invention of writing. The airplane became the first World Wide Web, bringing people, languages, ideas, and values together. — Bill Gates, CEO, Microsoft Corporation.

MRAC NEWS - May 2018 Page 3 of 8

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Take to the Skies in IHK IHK is waiting patiently in the hangar for a pilot to come and take her flying. The rates

are good (refer page 1), and even better for the first 25 hours of flight with the new engine. The aircraft is clean, serviceable, ready and waiting for an outing on a clear and sunny day.

Why not make a date and take her out for a spin, bring your friends and share the experience and the wonders of flight!

The club Cessna 172, VH-IHK has a Lycoming IO 360 L2C horizontally opposed 4 cylinder engine.

In the normal course of operations the engine is required to be disassembled and rebuilt replacing all worn parts at 2000 hours on Tacho time.

At the last 100 hourly inspection and oil change, metal particles were detected in the old oil filter. This resulted in the aircraft being subject to further inspection/oil changes at subsequent 10 hour intervals.

At the first supplementary inspection, the metal particles were present again and the maintenance engineer declared the aircraft unserviceable, requiring an immediate engine overhaul.

Fortunately the engine was only 60 hours from its full 2000 hour life so the impact financially was not as bad as it might well have been. The aircraft hire rate includes an allowance of about $22.50 per tacho hour to provide for engine overhaul expenditure, which occurs about every 7 to 10 years at present utilisation rate. Funds are held in bank term deposits.

The rebuild was completed in about 6 weeks. In the interim, the club cross-hired a C172 (VH-WXA) from Extreme Veloctiy in Port Macquarie (the maintenance organisation undertaking the engine rebuild).

VH-IHK was returned to service just after Easter however engine manufacturer recommends that the engine be run at continuous high power settings for at least the first 25 hours and on a particular oil blend. The ramification of this is that the club cessna cannot be used for ab-initiotraining or competitions where repeated short flights and circuit operations are conducted. It can, and has been used, for navigation training and private cross-country flights.

As a special incentive to club members to fly the aircraft, the hourly private hire rate has been reduced by $25 per hour until the first 25 hours have been flown. VH-WXA is available at the usual hire rate. Bookings can be made for either aircraft via the club booking sheet.

The following is for those who have more mechanical interest.

The engine was removed and disassembled.

The damage was mainly due to wear on the face of two of the cam followers and the considerable wear to the related camshaft lobe. There were other issues including a broken Tacho cable drive circlip and engine block abrading at the end of the camshaft.

The engineer attributes the camshaft problem to the humid coastal environment, change of camshaft metal composition in later manufactures and the upper central location of the camshaft with crankshaft providing splash feed lubrication.

Our intermittent use may exacerbate the camshaft lubrication problem.

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What has been happening to our Cessna

Can the magic of flight ever be carried by words? I think not. — Michael Parfit, Smithsonian magazine, May 2000

Worn Lobes

MRAC NEWS - May 2018 Page 4 of 8

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Tully Greaves and her brother Taj began their pilot training with MRAC in 2017. They are both studying for their year 12 at the moment and fitting in flying training between study and working at McDonalds. Both Tully and Taj want to join the defence force.Tully and Taj have flown their first solo flights, Tully on 29 December 2017 and Taj on 19 December 2017, Tully has also passed her BAK theory for the RPL licence, well done Tully.

Following her first solo, Tully wrote:What I felt when first going solo.The thought of going on my first solo flight was very nerve-racking for me as this was something that was a little out of my comfort zone. However, I knew that once I felt confident in my abilities to fly the plane all of my worries would fade away and I would enjoy myself while doing the circuits, solo. On the day that I went solo and Mike Nolan asked if I was ready to try one circuit by myself, I was both nervous and excited. As I let Mike out of the plane and he gave the right to go, all my worries went away and I thought of everything my instructor told me to do each part of the circuit and as I landed, even though I can definitely say it wasn’t the greatest landing I felt so confident in myself and my abilities to fly. I have always

enjoyed telling people that I am learning to fly and watching their reactions of pure shock to many that I was learning to fly before gaining my red p plates to drive on the road all thanks to my wonderful instructor, Mike Nolan. - Tallulah Greaves We also have several other students who are approaching first solo, Derek Watkins and Rohan McLachlan. We look forward to hearing about their experiences in the near future.

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First Solo

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From the Treasurer - Flying Account Payments

Dad, I left my heart up there. — Francis Gary Powers, CIA U-2 pilot shot down over the Soviet Union, describing his first flight at age 14.

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Two bundles of keys are being held at the Clubhouse on the office window sill.The first has tag Caravan and is contained in a black plastic holder marked West Alloy Diecastings Limited and is stamped MC19.The other has 6 bright keys and two bronze keys, tag but no name, Several bright keys are marked FTT Security Locksmiths 1800 680 280.If they look like yours please collect.

Lost and Found

MRAC NEWS - May 2018 Page 5 of 8

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Royal Federation of Aero ClubsFlying Training Conference & Australian Light Aircraft Championships

The week commencing Monday 20th March 2018 saw a hive of activity in general aviation at Rutherford when pilots and friends from all states of Australia gathered for two major national events.The week’s activities commenced with the Annual Conference of the Royal Federation of Aero Clubs (RFACA), which was held at Club Maitland City on Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st March 2018. ACM Sir Angus Houston AK, AFC (Ret’d), Chair of Airservices Australia, Greg Hood, Chief Commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Board and speakers from other Aviation Organisations were among the presenters. The RFACA is the only organisation in Australia dedicated to representing the interests of Aero Clubs and the Flying Training Sector of the aviation industry.Mike and Kerry Nolan represented the MRAC at the conference.

The second event of the week was the Australian Light Aircraft Championships (ALACs), held at Russell Field, Rutherford Airport on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th March 2018.These Championships are the only National Flying event of their type, encompassing all facets of powered aircraft flying. They were first held in 1957 and have been conducted annually by the Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia in a different State for the past 60 years. Competition flying, which is a proven method of improving a pilot’s

standards and maintaining currency, is widely promoted throughout Australia by the RFACA on a Club, Interclub and National level, leading up to the National Championships.The winners of the Australian Light Aircraft Championships compete at International level in the Wings International Flying Championship between Australia and New Zealand. The Treva Weeks Memorial Team of Bruce Harrison and Angus Laurie did not arrive on Friday due to weather but they managed to get through on Saturday morning. The RFACA kindly allowed them to compete in the Forced Landing event (which was flown the day before) prior to them competing in the Spot Landing on Saturday so they didn't miss out on any events.The weather certainly played havoc with all events but fortunately they could be flown between the rain and low cloud.Next year the Conference and ALACs will be held in Perth. Why not make this your annual holiday and come along and compete? You don't have to be an ace pilot it is fun and a very social event catching up with old friends.

Formation Flying is one of the competitions at the ALACs

Greg Hood, Chief Commissioner, ATSB

Royal Aero Club of WA - Hosts for the RFACA conference in 2019

When gliding operators have attained greater skill, they can maintain themselves in the air for hours at a time. — Wilbur Wright, 1901.

MRAC NEWS - May 2018 Page 6 of 8

_____________________________________________________________________________I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things … — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Christmas in August

MRAC NEWS - May 2018 Page 7 of 8

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Australian Aviation Firsts

More than anything else the sensation is one of perfect peace mingled with an excitement that strains every nerve to the utmost, if you can conceive of such a combination. — Wilbur Wright

Year Aircraft Aviator(s)

1917 B.E.2c Frank McNamara (VC)

1919 Vickers Vimy

Keith Smith, Ross Smith

Location

Gaza

Hounslow to Darwin

Event

Victoria Cross for Australian Aviator

England to Australia

Date

20 March 1917

10 December 1919

1928 Avro Avian Bert HinklerCroydon Airport to Darwin

England to Australia Solo

22 February 1928

1928 Fokker F.VII

Charles Kingsford Smith, Charles Ulm, James Warner, Harry Lyon

Oakland to BrisbaneNorth America to Australia

19 June 1928

1928 Fokker F.VII

Charles Kingsford Smith, Charles Ulm, harold Litchfield, Thomas H. McWilliams

Richmond, New South Wales to Christchurch

Australia to New Zealand

11 September 1928

1928 Lockheed Vega

Hubert WilkinsDeception Island to Deception Island

Antartic Continent - first flight over

20 December 1928

1930 Gipsy Moth Amy JohnsonCroydon Airport to Darwin

England to Australia - first solo female

24 May 1934

1930 Fokker F.VII

Charles Kingsford Smith, Charles Ulm

Oakland, California to Oakland, California flying west

Circumnavigation of Earth via Australia

4 July 1930

1931 Acro Avian Guy MenziesSydney Airport to Hari Hari, Westland

Australia to New Zealand solo

7 January 1931

1937 Klemm Kl32

Maude (Lores) BonneyArcherfield to Cape Town

Austrlia to South Africa, solo via Asia

18 August 1937

1948 Avro Lancastrian

L.R. AmbroseSydney Airport to Palmietfontein Airport

Australia to South Africa via Indian Ocean

20 November 1948

1951 Catalina Patrick Gordon TaylorRose Bay, New South Wales to Valparaiso

Australia to South America

27 March 1951

1983 Bell 206B Jetranger III

Dick SmithFort Worth, Texas to Fort Worth, Texas flying east

Circumnavigation of Earth by Helicopter solo

22 July 1983

1989 Boeing 747-438

David Massey-Greene, George Lindeman

London Heathrow Airport to Sudney Airport

England to Australia non-stop

17 August 1989

Australia has always been a pioneer in aviation. The following is a list of Australian Aviation Firsts that are recognised internationally. Next issue of MRAC News - National Aviation Firsts.

MRAC NEWS - May 2018 Page 8 of 8

_____________________________________________________________________________The soaring pilot makes an aerial excursion, not an incursion. His passage leaves a whisper, not a shriek. — Richard Miller, 1967.

Year Aircraft Aviator(s)

1989 Piper Saratoga

Gaby Kennard

1996 Space Shuttle

Andrew Thomas

Location

Sydney to Sydney flying east

Kennedy Space Centre to Shuttle

Event

Circumnavigation of Earth, solo female

Space flight

Date

11 November 1989

19 May 1996

2013 Cirrus SR22

Ryan CampbellWollongong to Wollongong flying east

Circumnavigation of Earth, solo teenager

7 September 2013

Australian Aviation Firsts cont.

Frank McNamara (left), Kantara, Suez Canal, Egypt c. May 1917

Arrival of Sir Ross Smith's Vickers Vimy at Mascot, Sydney, NSW. 14-02-1920.

Bert Hinkler returning to Brisbane after his solo flight London to Brisbane, February 1928

Charles Ulm and Charles Kingsford Smith c. 1930

Maude (Lores) Bonney in ‘My Little Ship” on her Australia - South Africa solo flight

Hubert Wilkins Lockheed Vega at Deception Island in December 1928

Amy Johnson and her Gipsy Moth c. 1934

Gaby Kennard landing in Sydney in November 1989

Ryan Cambell with his Cirrus SR22 in 2013