Cabri G2 Bell 505 R44 Cadet 21ST CENTURY HELICOPTER AN OBJECT OF DESIRE THE BEST OF ALL WORLDS AOPATHE VOICE OF AUSTRALIAN GENERAL AVIATIONPILOTAug-Sep 2018 | Vol 71 No. 3 | $9.95 Collective Fun Th e exciting world of helicopters Bell Jetranger X & Robinson R66 TURBINE TEST FLIGHT REVIEWS Tecnam P2010 & Vulcanair v1.0 THE ITALIAN TRAINERS ARE COMING Rotary: Try it, you might like it A FIXED WING PILOT’S PERSPECTIVE BECOME A MEMBER OF AOPA AUSTRALIA TODAY | www.aopa.com.au/membership TM AOPA PILOT AUSTRALIA CONTENTS www.aopa.com.au | August - September 2018 | Vol 71 No. 3 FLIGHT TRAINING 66 ROTARY STEPS Gaining your helicopter licence 70 BANKSTOWN BELL 505 Flying School Review JET RANGER X 14 MARKETPLACE FEATURE 84 CLASSIFIEDS A Legend Reimagined 86 BUSINESSES 14 TRY IT, YOU MIGHT LIKE IT 86 SERVICES Th e world of rotary fl ying 52 BEECH REDUX AOPA AT WORK AIRCRAFT REVIEWS 24 Refurbishing the BE76 Duchess 4 EDITORIAL 24 BELL 505 Try a little kindness Object of desire MEMBER COLUMNS 67 THE STATE OF GA 5 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 30 R66 TURBINE Chris Campbell AOPA spirit alive and growing California Dreaming 46 72 HANDSOME 6 PRESIDENT’S REPORT 34 GUIMBAL CABRI G2 1965 Beechcraft C33 Debonair A call to action State of the art rotary GA 75 MID-WEST AERO CLUB 7 NEW MEMBERS 42 R44 CADET Th e Gem of Geraldton Welcome to AOPA Fun Fun Fun 48 FLYING SOLO 8 AOPA AT WORK 46 TECNAM P2010 Norfolk Island 1996 Executive Director’s Update Th e Italians’ are coming 8 MEMBERS LEGAL FUND 56 AEROPRAKT A32 VIXEN Helping to protect GA Redefi ning fl ight training 11 SUNSHINE COAST 60 VULCANAIR V1.0 AOPA in Queensland Flight school game changer The Bell 505 Jet Ranger X is Bell Helicopter’s new five-seat aircraft designed 8 GETTING GA GOING for safety, efficiency and reliability through the use of advanced avionics AOPA Director Ross Harrison technology. It incorporates proven dynamic components, advanced aerodynamic design, a dual channel FADEC Turbomeca Arrius 2R PROFILE engine and best-in-class value. 10 TONY TAGGART FCA 60 Cessna 200 owner For more information please contact: The New Industry Leader 77 STATESIDE: MIKE SMITH COVER PHOTOGRAPH GA Business in the USA Chris Barry - Aircraft Sales - New Zealand Robinson R44 Cadet KG Tel: +64 6 329 3390 Helifl ite’s new demonstrator two seat R44 Cadet on display at Bankstown airport. 125+ kts (231 km/h) 306 nm (566 km) 1,500 lbs (680 kg) 2,000 lbs (907 kg) Mobile: +64 27 808 3335 Max Cruise Max Range Useful Load External Hook Load Email: [email protected] 42 August- Septemebr 2018 AOPA PILOT AUSTRALIA | 3 8 1 - 7 / N V A Z N / P H AOPA AT WORK | EDITORIAL AOPA AT WORK | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Editor’s Perspective Letters to the Editor AOPA Australia Editor, Paul M Southwick Have your say with AOPA Australia Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] E33C Aerobatic Bonanza Why i’ve joined AOPA Don’t give up on med reform In this issue we take the unconverted fixed wing THE ITALIANS ARE COMING! pilot on a rotary wing journey of discovery, with the In reply to the editorial in the Jun/Jul 2018 As someone who has been exposed to the Ben and team, do not give up on the push editor as a guinea pig. There is a strong theme of passion in our “The edition. I had helped Bill Arkell, who was industry for the best part of the last 30 for medical reforms. Why should we be Italians are coming” reviews of two very different, at that time a farmer at Yandanooka, (50nm years, I joined AOPA a couple of weeks ago forced to sell up and out of GA to then be It starts with a degree of derision, ignorance, and but significant aircraft for Australia - the Naples SE of Geraldton, WA), move his Beech- because I can see how hard AOPA is work- thrust into the RAAus where we are ex- doubt, but ends with total addiction. Seriously sourced, tough little Vulcanair V1.0, a 172-lookalike craft C33 Debonair, back to the farm in ing on behalf of all general aviation indus- posed to fees to be considered safe? Same folks, our introduction to rotary wing flying, and trainer, that seems perfect for Aussie flight schools; May 1979. Naturally, over a beer, we got try participants. For the first time since my aircraft, same airspace and same pilots - its “Beware... helicopters are highly addictive and the classy high-quality tourer, the Tecnam to talking aircraft, and he mentioned being father was a member in the early 1990’s I a farce! Keep at it. P Twenty Ten, which scored an irrefutable and very interested in an aerobatic version of can see an organisation in AOPA that is TONY TABART and you may not be able to go back!” undeniable perfect ten out of ten in our test flight. the ‘33. It so happened that I was already publicly out there sharing information not AOPA #4847544195 getting to fly some of the world’s best helicopters, THE ACT MUST CHANGE booked to fly to the USA in July 1979. It withholding it, holding the government with some of the world’s best pilots, dispelled many resulted in Bill asking whether I’d be inter- and regulator to account and more impor- Mildura GA expansion We feature a summary of the Wagga Wagga general I’m just back from Mildura where I spent a myth and left us wanting much more. ested in meeting up with a prospective ‘33 tantly demonstrating leadership. If it wasn’t aviation summit and Ben Morgan tells us what’s seller in Van Nuys, California, as I’d accu- for the transparency and visibility that yesterday with the local member – Peter We take you on a trial flight out of Bankstown; up next in AOPA Australia’s advocacy on behalf of mulated over 700 hrs experience on most AOPA is showing now, let alone the urgen- Crisp (a pilot). When I arrived I had a and down Sydney harbour and over the bridge at pilots, businesses and others in general aviation in of the Debonair and Bonanza models. So cy that Ben Morgan has brought to AOPA tour of Mildura airport with Peter & the 500 feet in a jet-powered Bell 505; over LA and Australia. in July, I drove myself out to Van Nuys, (a I wouldn’t be anywhere near as informed airport manager – Bill Burke. Part of that Hollywood in a Rolls Royce turbine-powered YOUR STORIES brave act!), and visited the Van Nuys FSDO as I am now. I’ve had my own issues with was looking at the first of the new 172’s Robinson R66; and down the Waimakariri River. of the FAA, where I was issued a US PPL on CASA AVMED in the past (LASIK and the for the Chinese flying school that is about As usual we are proud to profile some of our near Christchurch. at 50 feet in a French-built the basis of my Aussie CPL. surgeon was a consulting DAME to CASA to open. The Chinese currently have: The members and carry their stories - stories all about two seat Cabri. We show pilots who may not have Then I met with the owner of our subject and they wouldn’t accept his post op report first 8 of 46 C172’s, 2 x Diamond Star their passion for, and pure joy experienced in considered rotary before, just how enjoyable and E33C Bonanza, and we took it out for a and sent me to a range of less experienced twins, plus they are in the process of buy- highly addictive helicopters can be. general aviation. ing either a citation or Mustang. They BELOW test flight east of Van Nuys. Pretty impres- ophthalmologists at a cost of nearly $1000 Piloting the Bell 505 Rotary is of course also a great career option, even If you would like AOPA Australia to feature your sive airport, with some impressive traffic to get the same report my own surgeon was have bought 4 x AOC’s. They will be es- demonstrator along the without fixed wing experience, and we tell you story, business, product or service - drop us a line as well! I duly phoned Bill and favourably prepared to give them in the first place) tablishing a maintenance base at Mildura. Sydney Paramatta River. what’s involved in getting your licence. on (02) 9791 9099 today! commented on the aircraft. The upshot of before allowing me to fly again after nearly They have also bought the “Overlander it was that Bill purchased that aircraft, had a month grounded. I thank Ben and the Motel” in Mildura for students and are it placed onto the Australian register as AOPA team for their hard work and com- negotiating on another. I was told they VH-KZA, and then flew it out of the Ger- mend the Board for the direction the asso- are expecting 120+ full time students. I aldton-Dongara district for many years. ciation is now headed. discussed if this would trigger the need RALPH BURNETT ANDREW WHITEMAN for a Control Tower at Mildura and kind AOPA #6150 AOPA #50325 of got blank looks and vague answers. I didn’t get the feeling that they have tak- Low Cost ADSB Success! RAAus vote against GA medicals en this up with Airservices Australia yet.