Items still making news from last month include the following;

The 'still missing' DC4;

Another Archerfield based aircraft is lost when it lands in a Melbourne Street;

And news just to hand - the record breaking Lancair IV has been sold

The Lancair IV is now Toowoomba based and used as a high-speed business tool travelling around the country at speeds close to propjet performance without the propjet price

. . . . . . this aircraft sets a new point-to-point speed record on just about every flight it undertakes reducing the old point-to-point times by almost half

. . . . . . it has been more than 50 years since an aircraft of this calibre has been able to rewrite the record books by such a large margin

The Royal Queensland Aero Club here at Archerfield operated the Piper PA32R Aircraft that landed on a Melbourne road last week

The young private pilot carried out a successful (but expensive) forced landing on the road when the motor vehicle traffic below stopped for a red light

. . . . . . unconfirmed reports have the engine failure as the result of the magneto drive shaft fracturing - this resulted in a complete and sudden engine stoppage - embarrassing at the best of times but especially so just after take-off

. . . . . . did the impulse coupling weights in the magneto contact the side of the case - a known problem requiring regular maintenance - which has in the past sheared shafts..!

. . . . . . as expected BASI and CASA are investigating

News finding its way down from Townsville indicates the DC4 had departed back to Archerfield on a ferry flight with 3 engines operational however shortly after departure another engine failed and the '4 was left with no alternative but to return to Townsville on the two remaining serviceable engines

. . . . . . the more engines you have the more chances there are for one of them to fail..!

The Arena Aviation 'Class of '99' were all out in their splendour and glory during the week for a photographic session on the tarmac

These new student pilots are part of this year's intake seeking a University Degree in Aviation from the Griffith University

. . . . . . the 'flying side' of the Degree is carried out at selected flying schools on Archerfield - possibility due to the 'fields close proximity to the University

There's a looming world-wide shortage of experienced pilots to fly the 'big jets' but how can this experience be gained if there is an acute shortage of jobs in the smaller light aircraft industry here in OZ?!

Due on the 'field this week for 'demonstration purposes' is the latest Cessna C182 from the Cessna Aircraft Factory in Wichita USA

The dealer for the Cessna is Flightline Aviation Ltd., on Archerfield

Details phone 3277 6955

While the 'good old days' have now long since gone - this new Cessna is expected to rekindle the interest for the small business operator and the 'Fly for Fun and Pleasure' markets

. . . . . . back in the halcyon days of the '70's, there were a number of new light aircraft arriving almost daily which created a strong demand for aircraft sales persons - including as well those associated (mandatory) requirements for light aircraft - the parts and maintenance personnel

Also "news making" to-day, was the demolition of one of Archerfield's airborne reference points - the chimney stacks at the Darra Cement Works west of the airfield

The Tower controllers used the cement-stacks for a 'visibility' reference and accessing the weather conditions and were an (eye)deal point for arriving pilots to orientate themselves as a reference point before entering the circuit area

One of the 'field's oldest and most venerable charter and flying school operator has called it a day and retired

Gordon Jenkinson has sold Sunland Aviation after more than 30 'fatality-free' years operation here on Archerfield

The business side of Sunland has been purchased by the Cirrus Aircraft sales operator - Steve Maltby - who will operate the flying school and charter business from the 'Southern Skies' (for now) building

The 'Sunland Building' has been purchased by the airport operator Archerfield Airport Corporation

The 'Southern Skies' building is expected to turn into a 'Sunland Building' thus making the Brian Westin owned 'Southern Skies' operation disappear from the scene

. . . . . . that's not saying Brian will vanish...

Barry Hempel is expected to depart to-morrow for Victoria in the MiG-15 where he is a participant at the Avalon International Airshow'99

The Airport Owner will be holding a public meeting to-morrow to explain the new airport master plan for Archerfield

A number of operators on the 'Field are becoming concerned about the future of their business/building(s) as most of them had to construct their own years ago when the Federal Government withdrew funding to most of the local airports around Australia

The meeting will commence at 1230 hrs at the A.A.C. Management Building and light refreshments will be provided

A number of ground leases will expire within the next year or so making it a 'catch-22' situation

Without the ground lease the building on it is almost worthless!
The cost of dismantling and transporting the building material to a new location and then re-erecting it would be about the same price as constructing a brand new building!

It's interesting to note that to-day CASA issued an Airworthiness Directive on Slick Magnetos no doubt due to the Piper PA32R Aircraft - as mentioned above - that landed on a Melbourne road

About 40 years ago Flight Manuals replaced the then official 'Light Aircraft Handbook' and now this 'predicament' is about to be repeated again substituting the current Manual with the 'Pilot Operating Handbook' for each aircraft which is issued by all the (current) aircraft manufacturers