Sirrus

Excellent. Separate threads for each route, 5A and 5B, would keep things simpler, and those who want to be untimed on each route could be included in that routes' thread, and those opting for Group 5C, might also need a separate thread. And being as he did such a good job on the R66 Rally, I propose PhrogPhlyer as the Group 5A OGO. (He may hate me for suggesting him, but he's good at it and puts up with idiots like me).

Those of us who have families and like to celebrate Christmas and we who celebrate Hogmanay/New Year in the traditional manner will be in no fit state to fly anytime before Jan 6th. (12th night). Also there should be two threads, one for the West-East Trans Australia Rally and one for the East coast route. That way timings for legs would not get confused. Being as I suggested it, if all the entrants agree to it, then we should try it. I would also like to fly the aircraft I want, like an English Electric Lightning, not be constrained to fly something else, and I would submit only one time (V=+ or -number) for each leg.

My contacts tell me that at least one team has been out recceing the route...

Summer in Australia and ... ...the last flyable Shorts Belfast gets its feet wet along with at least one of the Navajos I looked at. Cairns Airport under flood water. Now who suggested an East Coast Rally, or was it meant for seaplanes?

It is late Monday morning and I'm sitting in my office on Herengracht, thinking about lunch, when the intercom buzzes. "Ya, wie is het" I ask - I rarely get the chance to use what little Dutch I have as Amsterdammers love to show off their English - "Can we come in please, Cirrus?" asks a voice I recognize. I push the button to open the door and they come on up the stairs. Connie Bruton comes in first, followed by Sean Beckett. These two used to be part of a sales team that included yours truly, and the pair of them could probably sell ice to Eskimos. They have coffee and we talk of the "old days" for a while until I ask "Well guys, it is nice to see you but why are you here?" A look passes between them and Sean asks "How was Australia?" I start " I'm thinking of entering this Trans-Australia Rally that should happen in the New Year and I went to have a look at the proposed course, to find something suitable to fly it in, and to see what was for sale." "And what did you decide?" asks Connie. I tell them I looked at several twins including a KingAir 250... a Piper Chieftain... a P68... as well as some singles, like this Cessna 185... a Diamond DA40... and a Jabiru 170 "And...?" Sean again. I say " I haven't decided anything yet. So far there is no start date, no finishing date, and folks are still flinging ideas into the pot. They could even turn it into a tour around Oz. These guys aren't indecisive, they just haven't made up their minds about what's best, what will get as many entrants as possible into the event. These events aren't just thrown together overnight. If you remember the old King's Cup races, the organizers started to organize the next year's race a week after this years race finished!" They nod and look at each other again, Sean starts "We'd like you to fly this for us in the rally when, or if, it happens.." Connie pushes a folder across the desk and chips in " We want to push sales in Australia, to feeder airlines, charter guys, maybe even the Coastal Patrol and you've had some flights with them." I shake my head and respond "I've been up with AMSA and the Customs, so I know a couple of guys that might be useful." "So you could help?" Connie again. I lean forward "I won't make a decision until after Christmas and then only after the organizers have a definite route, and a start and finish date. Leave this lot with me..." I gesture at the folder on the desk, "...and I'll let you know. Now, how about lunch?"

Somebody once stole G-BMFH, a Dornier Do 27 on Dec 7th 1987, from an airfield in Southern England! He/she/they were never caught. BTW this FS9 model will hit a top speed of 151 knots and cruise at 111 knots.

Melo, you will need MWGraphics DXTBmp that will convert DDS files into bmp files. Then, when you've finished with them, you reconvert them back to DDS files with the same DXTBmp program. As a start, just practice converting from DDS to BMP, save it, and then reconvert to DDS and see what happens. Good luck.

I guess I should report this, but when I was up at Caiguna, this chap turns up. Federal Police, he says, and asks me for some ID. He gets my passport, drivers licence(due for renewal mid Jan 2024) and my rental agreement. He Hmms and hands me my stuff back. "This yours" he says waving a thumb at the wreck. I tell him no and that it was here when I got here. He Hmms again, and gets back into the 4x4 and drives up to the John Eyre Motel to ask more questions up there. I get back into the F150 and head East.

...hence the "Rally" name, which is still OK with me. It was just a suggestion to attract more entrants. I have no objection to using PP's timing on this rally. We should also agree that all entrants should finish, no matter how long it takes. (That may be too long but you get the idea.) The only snag I can see with Australia is... ...you have to be either a Holden person or a Ford person. Is that a Chevy 3100 with my (rented) F150?

It jars a little with real world timing where if you are ahead of your ETA, i.e. early, then your V would be negative; correspondingly if you were behind your ETA, then your V would be positive. So it would allow some competitors to make up time and results would be much closer. Real world races such as the MacRobertson Race, the Sydney -London record attempts, and the London - Cape Town record attempts all used such a system. Obviously it would an adjudicator who knew (-1) + (+1) =0. Just a suggestion.

I'm busy evaluating a whole range of twins and singles, but one of my friends suggested this... It has the range - it could even carry it's own fuel bowser - and doesn't mind a little harsh treatment. The RAF used to put these down on a very wet sandy beach, so...

flyawaysimulation.com/ has the better Rob Richardson one made for FSX. A slow download, it will take you 3 minutes to download. Good luck.

Probably more than a couple, like one of these... ...or its replacement... ...or an alternative... ...or warbird... ...or two... ...or a classic (should be warm enough down under)... ...but we should not forget a home grown variety... ...a GAF N22B Nomad. A much nicer alternative to a Twotter.

A guy called Jarrod Lindemann has a 1930's Waco biplane with a General Electric CJ610 (J85) jet engine with 3,000 lbs. of thrust attached to it. It looks, and sounds, awesome.

Tim Conrad's Fieseler Fi-156C Storch is available for FSX at Simviation.com. Hope this helps.

I would suggest an extension to the time limit so that Bossspecops can finish the task, if, of course, nobody objects.

My mathematics tutor always taught me that zero/0 is not a number, it merely signifies the absence of an integer and separates the sum of positive numbers from the sum of negative numbers. Technical or what? She also had a proof that 2+2=5!

History has a nasty habit of repeating itself, usually because those in charge of us believe they know what is best for us. As Edmund Burke once said "quis custodiet ipsos custodes".

Not more nuns?

The cowl flaps should be open as well. One of the VA's I was in always had cowl flaps open full and engines were throttled back to 75% with mixture being "leaned off" occasionally down to 50%. Damage to engines incurred the wrath of the Fleet Manager who could swear in three different languages, none of which said anything nice about the unfortunate pilot!