LOWVELD AERO CLUB ESTIAAN MINNAAR

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1 ESTIAAN MINNAAR OBTAINED HIS PPL Estiaan Minnaar has just obtained his PPL on 18 August We want to congratulate him and wish him the best for the future. 1

2 Thunderstorms A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm, lightning storm, or storm, is a form of weather categorized by the presence of lightning and thunder. Along with this, these storms are often associated with heavy rain or hail. A lightning storm is a Cumulo-numbus cloud, with a build up of different electrical charges. Flight conditions may include moderate to severe turbulence, icing, possible lightning strikes, and severe wind shear at low levels. There are approximately 16 million thunderstorms a year around the globe. Requirements Strong atmospheric instability through a deep layer of air Moist air or an adequate moisture supply A trigger action which causes the initial upsurge of the unstable air A mechanism that will produce sufficient electrical charge differences. Stability Stability refers to what an air mass will tend to do if it is pushed up by a 'trigger'. Stable air = if an air mass is disturbed, it will tend to return to its original position Unstable air = if an air mass is disturbed, it will tend to keep going. E.g. if air is pushed up as it passes over a mountain range, it is stable if it subsides once it crosses that mountain, and it is unstable if continues to rise after it passes the mountain. 2

3 Moist air The moisture in air depends on the surface it is above. If air is over an ocean for example, moisture will evaporate into the air mass, making it more moist. Triggers A trigger is something that pushes an air mass away from its path of travel. This could include: Air passing over a mountain range The sun heating the ground, causing the air above it to rise A front, pushing the warm air upward In all these cases the air gets pushed upward. 3

4 Electrical Charge Differences in electrical charge can occur when air particles rub against each other. The cause of electrical differences in thunderstorms is highly debated at present. Lightning is the atmospheric discharge of electricity. This is accompanied by thunder. Lightning can travel within the cloud or between the cloud and the ground. Lightning can travel at speeds of 60,000 m/s, and can reach temperatures of 30,000 degrees Celsius. Stages of a Thunderstorm A thunderstorm will go through 3 different phases in its life cycle. 4

5 Precautions for Flight in Thunderstorms The golden rule, for both comfort and safety, is to avoid thunderstorms whenever possible. However greater understanding, modern design and improved techniques allow most medium and large passenger jets to fly through thunderstorms provided some basic rules are followed: 1. Choice of height Fly above them if possible. Avoid flying under the base of thunderstorms unless you are happy the visibility and turbulence are acceptable. Light aircraft should avoid areas of thunderstorms and should land as soon as possible to wait for thunderstorms to pass through the area, rather than flying through them. 2. De-icing equipment It is prudent to switch all anti-icing or de-icing equipment on at an early stage, rather than waiting for icing conditions to become apparent. 3. Airspeed This should be reduced to below minimum turbulence penetration speed. This speed is published in the aircraft flight manual. 4. Security Make sure passengers are wearing their seat belts and that freight is securely strapped down. 5. Flight controls In some aircraft it is advisable to switch off the autopilot. This will depend on what is advised in the aircraft flight manual. 6. Tracking A line of thunderstorm clouds should be crossed as close to right angles as possible, so that minimum time is spent within them. 5

6 7. Radar Use airborne radar if equipped. Aim to fly between storms or avoid them altogether, rather than flying straight through the middle. **** 6

7 Helicopters are for the rich... or the enlisted. For the flying types!!! I remember when sex was safe and flying was dangerous. We have a perfect record in aviation: we never left one up there! Helicopters don't fly... they just beat the air into submission. If something hasn't broken on your helicopter, it's about to. Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity or neglect. - Flying isn't dangerous. Crashing is what's dangerous. One of the most important skills that a pilot must develop is the skill to ignore those things that were designed by non-pilots to get the pilot's attention. It's always better to be down on the ground wishing you were up in the air than up in the air wishing you were down on the ground. Stay out of clouds. The silver lining everyone keeps talking about might be another aircraft going in the opposite direction. Reliable sources also report that mountains have been known to hide out in clouds. Always try to keep the number of landings you make equal the number of take-offs you've made. A meteorologist is just a common person who went to school long enough to be paid to guess what the weather is going to be. Aviation is not so much a profession as it is a disease. It's a good landing if you can still get the doors open. Passengers prefer old captains and young flight attendants. A thunderstorm is never as bad on the inside as it appears on the outside. It's worse. I know there's a lot of money in aviation because I put it there. It's easy to make a small fortune in aviation. You just start off with a large fortune. A male pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying, and about flying when he's with a woman. 7

8 NEWS FROM THE COMMITTEE Our Committee members are: KERRY PALERMO CHAIRMAN MICHIEL JANSEN VICE CHAIRMAN COBUS VAN RENSBURG EVENTS CO-ORDINATOR KOBUS JACOBS FACTOTUM THOMAS NEL SAFETY OFFICER PIETER PRETORIUS TREASURER BRIAN MONTHE CFI The Monthly Club Meeting will be held on the first Wednesday of every month!! This meeting will also serve as our monthly safety meeting as required by SACAA. We will also be giving a brief update on the club s financial situation. Please make every effort to be there as this is your opportunity as members to have your say. The next monthly meeting is on 3 September 2014 There is a designated address for the committee that must be used to air all grievances. This address is as follows: committeelac@myconnection.co.za All members must PLEASE pay their outstanding membership fees for the year, the Club s finances depends on you. All outstanding membership fees are due before 10 Sept or will be cancelled. There will be braai packs available at the bar on Wednesdays and Fridays. Every member must take his glasses and dishes back to the kitchen before he leaves. The last one out of the clubhouse must make sure the windows are closed. (Please make sure the cats are outside). This is good airmanship and etiquette. REMEMBER THE COMMITTEE MANAGES THIS CLUB ON YOUR BEHALF; YOU ARE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUCSESS OF YOUR AEROCLUB. 8

9 INTERESTING FACT Victor Uys Cockpit view during instrument approach through thick cloud PUT...Sound On and Full Screen Known as the land of the long white cloud, so if you fly into NZ you could well encounter this scenario. This must be the South Island...even more south than Christchurch Hold on to your seat. This is spectacular. I often have wondered why the airline industry doesn't have a live video feed from the aircraft's nose streamed into the cabin in order to amuse and bedazzle their weary travellers. This is the descent into Queenstown, New Zealand. It must take great faith in your instruments to pilot an approach like this but the rush must be amazing. d1 9

10 AIRCRAFT FOR SALE FOR SALE ZS-FEK Piper PA Cherokee 1967 R NO VAT Contact Tony or John on or R Exterior Details: OVERALL WHITE WITH RED AND SILVER STRIPES Repainted in 2012 Interior Details:l: Fully Refurbished in 2012 Hours Hours: Total Airframe Hours: 9895 Total Engine Hours: 1549 SMOH Total Prop Hours: 255 SPOH Avionics: General Information: General Information: 2000 TBO 0320 E2C LYCOMING 160 HP NEXT MPI DUE 20 JUNE 2015 MAGS OVERHAUL DONE 2013 NEXT +/ NEW LONG LIFE BATTERY REAR TYRES ARE ONE YEAR OLD, FRONT BRAND NEW NEW STROBE BEACON LIGHT FULL LOG BOOKS AVAILABLE AT AMO (Hangared at Nelspruit) Avionics: 6 PACK, TWO RADIOS ICOM TRANSPONDER ADF SUITABLE FOR VFR 10

11 AIR BRAIN TEASERS IDENTIFY THE FOLLOWING AIRCRAFTS

12 SMILE!!! THE FUNNY SIDE OF FLYING 12

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14 ENTERTAINMENT 14

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16 Danie Terblanche with Duane Vermeulen, Bakkies Botha and Francois Louw 16

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18 The life of a Pilot!!! 18

19 Congratulations!!!! Duncan McGee went Solo!! 19

20 LAC CLOTHING LIMITED LAC CLOTHING FOR SALE. PLEASE COME AND VISIT THE OFFICE FOR MORE INFORMATION. WIND CHEATERS (STONE/GREEN) R 285 BEANIES (BLUE/STONE) R 70 SHIRTS (LONG SLEEVE/SHORT SLEEVE) GREEN/BLUE/STONE R

21 CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! Gerrit Kroon Charmaine Jackson Craig Todd SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS 05 September 06 September 10 September Charles Burger 12 September THANK YOU TO: Marthinus Olivier 13 September Photo s received: Pugs Steyn 22 September Ruby Wilson Andrew Herbert 23 September Pieter Kritzinger Jarrod Brickhill 28 September Greyling Jansen Willie du Plessis 30 September Johan Swart Janus Erasmus Answers of the air brainteaser!! 1. Mosquito Fighter- bomber 2. Aichi D3A Val 3. Akutan Zero 4. Bugatti PLEASE SEND US YOUR COMMENTS OR PHOTOS TO flylac@myconnection.co.za 21