The Last Minute Hitch: 17 June 2016
Yesterday I was admiring the cover of the July-August issue of Australian Flying, and reflecting on the skill that it takes to get a photo like that. Finding a stunning image for the cover is one of the most difficult things I do for every edition; there are maybe 10 photographers in Australia that I consider good enough to get a cover shot. One of them is the man who took this shot: Rob Fox. Somehow he knows exactly where to put the subject plane to show it off at its best and has the talent and experience to get it just right. In short, if you want a magnificent shot of your pride and joy for the wall, make Rob Fox your first port of call. And tell him you want it on the cover of Australian Flying!
I am pleased to say that July-August 2016 is on the shelves now. Inside is some good stuff by our contributors including a look at the Outback Beds syndicate by Shelley Ross, sage advice on the realities of aircraft ownership, a profile of the Quest Kodiak, CPL training the old way and the value of an instructor rating. This issue also winds-up Jim Davis' Masterclass series. From September-October, Jim will be taking walks back through his own logbook to see how his years in aviation have taught him the lessons he so freely shares today. Something to look forward to very much!
Now it's time for you to have your say about aviation reforms. There are plenty of industry experts out there that are keeping tabs on what's going on (or not going on), but now we want to know from you where you think the program is at. When you get a chance, have a look at our very quick Reform Progess Survey and match your mood to the four statements provided. We'll keep it open for a week and let you know the results in The Last Minute Hitch on 24 June.
BIg congratulations to all those aviation types who were recognised in the Queens Birthday Honours List! The big one is Safeskies President Emeritus Peter Lloyd, who has been elevated to a Companion of the Order of Australia. If you look through this man's resume, you can see why he's been given the highest honour you can get for an Australian (since the knights and dames were scuttled again). Is there anymore one person could do to serve aviation?
Australia's own general aviation awards are the Australian Division of the Royal Aeronautical Society's (RAeS) Wings Awards, run in conjunction with Australian Flying. These awards were created simply because there is nothing in Australia to recognise the hard work and dedication many people put into general aviation. Without them, let's be honest, there would be no general aviation, because they lay the foundations and continue to be the supporting framework of the community we all enjoy being part of today. They made and continue to make it happen for the rest of us. If you want someone to be recognised, get your nomination in by 1 July 2016.
And speaking of the RAeS, happy 150th birthday to them! Remarkably, this organisation was founded as the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain in 1866. The sharp-eyed amongst you will notice that means they were around 50 years before powered heavier-than-air flight was finally achieved. The RAeS now has over 22,000 members world-wide. The Australian division is marking the milestone at Admiralty House, Sydney, with a gathering of industry notables as guests of the Governor-General on 8 July.
May your gauges always be in the green,
Hitch