Well just a little update. The number of students we have continues to grow. Numbering now 33 it is proof that plently of people want to learn to fly. This is great for the aviation industry. However it is also great for all of you that are learning as not too far down the track you will be off exploring the country.

The important thing is that you learn all that you can. Apart from the obvious training we give remember to always pick our brains for as much info as you can.

Make sure you speak lots with other pilots. The more you know and understand the more likely you are to enjoy many years of safe flying. That is what we are trying very hard to give you at Edge Aviation Flight Training.

We have several students Cross Country training and another couple just starting. We also have another couple close to their first solos flight. So it is busy busy.

Safety is our big thing at Edge. It is important to know that our organisation will not engage in unlawful or unsafe activities. Nor do we condone it, in any form.

Our aircraft are maintained by highly qualified people ensuring that the aircraft you fly are maintained to the highest standard. Us as instructors strive to make sure we remain current and up to date with all the latest training techniques.

We do not engage in unapproved maintenance, nor do we engage in poor airmaniship. We want you to be the same and this will help ensure your safety and many years of safe flying.

We are obliged not just legally but also morally to look after you and we will. So heres to mnay safe flying hours. All of those that are training with us keep up the good work, we are sooooooo proud of you all.

Those reading this that may be considering flight training, then we hope to see you soon.

Well we used to have a nice sign that showed where to find our Flight Training Facility. It was tasteful, unobtrusive, simple and blended with the scenery. Our good friends Michael and Ann Gumpold at Raeshaws allowed us to place it in their paddock. Thanks guys.

But guess what!!! Someone made an anonymous complaint about the sign. Now who would do that??? What was our business doing to hurt anyone else???

Well it seems that the person who made the complaint given that it was anonymous clearly does not have any balls or it would not have been anonymous.

Anyway because we love the Gumpolds sooooo much we removed the sign so as to not cause them any grief. And like my friends have said, if we provide the best service, a high standard of flight training and the best facilities to our students then we do not need a sign. I agree with that. So to heck with the sign. Besides we already have a significant number of great students and word of mouth is better than any sign.

If you come to Edge Aviation we will guarantee you the best. New aircraft, new and modern facilities, two great instructors that care about you and your training.

So if you are looking for us we are at the eastern end of West Sale Airport down near the passenger terminal. We have a new premises, well sign written thanks to Sale Sign Torque.

DON’T TURN LEFT AS IF YOU WERE GOING TO THE TAFE KEEP VEERING TO THE RIGHT AND IT WILL TAKE YOU JUST ABOUT RIGHT TO OUR DOOR.

So come and see us and we will do all we can to meet your flight training and other aviation needs.

Safe flying

Below is the offending sign.

Like I said I am very proud of my grandson Thomas. He is really interested in the aircraft, not that we have brainwashed him much!!!!!

I was saying in a recent article I wrote for Aviator Magazine that we need to let the kids near the aircraft if we want to ensure we keep interest in the industry. A few little finger prints are easy to clean off so let them get up close and personal, they love it as can be seen by Thomas in these photos.

We at Edge Aviation take great delight in announcing the safe arrival of a newest grandson Toby Dean How. Toby weighed in at 8lb 10ozs on Monday the 17th January at a respectable 8.56am. Toby is our second grandson. Thomas his brother is now approaching two and a half years of age and is an absolute delight.

I have attached some pics to show of this new little person in my life. I am so proud of my family, they are a great bunch of people and all are my best friends. I love you all.

So now you all can watch these two little men in my life grow with Edge Aviation.

Bob and I wish the family all the very best with years of enjoyment with these great little boys.

The Proud Nana

Well thought I was back in the groove with the blog and then I lost it. So here we go a few little things that need to be broadcast to the world.

We have a couple of student that have achieved their first solo. Andrew and Rohan Lay has been training with us for a short while and managed to achieve their first solo flights. Andrew has been training a little longer than his older brother and is about to complete his training to Pilot Certificate standard. So good luck Andrew with your final check flight. Rohan is ready now to continue his dual training and his next trip should be off on his Area Solo. So well done guys. We look forward to seeing you both complete this stage of your training then off on the navigation exercises.

Andrew (Left) Rohan (Right)

Well I have been a bit slack on the posts on this Blog so need to be getting my act together.

We have been busy with many aspects of Edge Aviation so it has been a bit head down. However when something lovely happens we just have to tell the world.

Gary has been 11 months trying to achieve his first solo. With business and family commitments Gary has found it difficult to maintain the continuity required to be able to keep the momentum in his training. He has persisted and come back every chance he has had and finally the big day arrived on Saturday.

Gary congratulations, this was a great day for both of us. I am a new instructor of only 16 months and have presented a number of students to my CFI for their first solo. Now being a Senior Instructor I can now make that judgment to send a student solo and Gary was my first. So it was a big day for us both Gary.

Now Gary can look forward to moving on with his training and start planning his holidays next year when he will complete his Pilots Certificate and Cross Country.
Edge Aviation, myself and Bob wish you all the very best and look forward to completing your training with you Gary. Well done.

Gary very proud.

Well about time I added to the blog! Bob and I had the pleasure of taking a new GA8 Airvan, manufactured in Latrobe Valley, up to Kununurra in the Kimberley Region. Alligator Airways in Kununurra had purchased 5 brand new Airvans to add to their fleet. Alligator conduct scenic flights in this region, particularly well known for their flights around the famous Bungle Bungles.

Once we delivered the brand new aircraft we were to return home with one of the Airvans that they traded in. With 8,000 hours on the old one it was in need of some TLC after having done many Bungle Bungle flights.

I have only done one other outback trip before but I have to tell you travelling from one corner of this country to the other is quite a treat. We have the most awesome country and scenery. Whilst I look forward to that trip to Paris or somewhere exotic, none of us should overlook what we have right on our own doorsteps. The enormity of this great land, its vastness and its unspoilt beauty. It is truly magic, breathtaking and just plain bloody wonderful.

We were gone for 8 days (had a little rest as well). Alligator needed the aircraft straight away for their peak season operations. So we had to push to get the aircraft up there, 14.7 hours flying spread over one and a half days. Quite a big push, but we got it there and Alligator Airways were happy to see it arrive. We struck head winds coming home, so the return trip was 17 hours. We travelled – West Sale to Mildura for fuel, Mildura to Broken Hill, fuel and overnight stay as tghere was no accommodation in Birdsville. Birdsville for fuel then on to Alice Springs for fuel. Tenant Creek was our next stop for fuel and then onto Kununurra. Coming home we stopped Tenant Creek for fuel, then to Alice Springs overnight and fuel, then off to William Creek and over Lake Eyre, William Creek for the night and fuel. Fuel was running short so we managed to get sufficient to take us to Marree to fill up for the next leg to Broken Hill. Overnigh Broken Hill and more fuel, then home to West Sale. Yes you are right, lots of fuel. But if you compare doing these trips in a light aircraft or trying to get there on commercial flights then I can tell you it is cheaper doing it yourself, even if you have to hire an aircraft.

If you get a chance to travel to Kununurra a flight with Alligator out to the Bungle Bungles is a must. It will rate as one of the higlights of your life. Lake Argyle, the Argyle diamond mine all from the air are spectacular. Alligator Airways are a great and very professional operator and I can assure you, you will be well looked after.

Ferry flights are not without there problems and I only wished that we had video of me trying to use the new Shell fuel facility at Tenant Creek!!! Apart from requiring a technology degree, a lot of patience and a sense of humour and some time to spare, what can I say automating things is not always the best. I could have trashed this fool fuel outlet.

Ferrying aircraft is fun but not always easy and if it can go wrong it usually does, fog delays, refuelling delays and aircraft problems all add to the fun and the experience.

I have attached some photos for you to hopefully enjoy and maybe this will inspire you to complete your training, or start your training and get yourself flying across this great land of ours. Our backyard is huge and extraordinary. Will attach some more later. Below is Lake Eyre and Lake Frome.

Well as I have said before the activity in the Flying School has far exceeded our expectations, which is fantastic. We will continue to provide a high quality of training and all the things that students expect. Friendly atmosphere, nice facilities and high quality training. It is important to us that you are happy at Edge Aviation. We welcome our new students and trust that your time with us will be fun and full of safe flying.

The number of students continues to grow everyday and we now have 17 active students. All are at varying stages of their training. We will be having our first ‘Wings Dinner’ this year and will keep everyone posted on the date for that event.

If we continue to grow at this rate we can see another possible new aircraft not too far away. We will see how it all goes. We have 5 students all starting Navigation training so we will all get to venture out of the local area. Many of our students will now experience cross country flight and truly feel the freedom that flying brings to their lives.

Some are influenced at a young age. I found this photo of my two children taken back in the 80’s sitting on the steps of a RAAF Hercules aircraft at Richmond RAAF Base in NSW. No wonder they both ended up flying.

It is all good fun. I have been scouting through my old photos so as I come across the funny ones will put them up for your entertainment.

Keep flying, keep your training going and keep smiling. Cheers Lorraine

Wanting to try and provide a good and useful site for fellow aviators we have just included weather links on our Flight Training page. So if you want to check out the weather for booking in your lessons or you are about to head off on that weekend away then this is a necessary and useful tool.

Don’t forget to take advantage of the nice weather when we have it and finish off your training. Winter is a great time to fly with smoother and usually more stable weather conditions. Keep your eye out for more web updates and improvements. Lorraine

Just over a week ago we added a further Jabiru to the fleet. As you may be aware we had purchased two brand new J160D Jabiru’s. These two aircraft have done 260 hours of training in the past less than a year. We are very pleased with the activity in the Flying School. So much so the success that our close friend Phil Linard decided to purchase a new J230D to put on line with us.

Our students will now have a great aircraft to step up to and a lovely private hire aircraft for their trips away. We have maintained a fleet appearance and the instrument panel in the J230 is identical to the J160’s. This means our students once trained will notice no other difference between the aircraft other than the extra performance and some subtle differences in the handling.

We look forward now with three aircraft to doing some Formation flight training, so watch this space! Below is a photo of Bob on the left (the CFI) and the proud new owner Phil on the right.

This is a sweet aircraft, come and check it out. Cheers for now. Lorraine