And thats ME !
From this to ....
THIS !!
Saturday, July 09, 2005
Friday, July 08, 2005
Who says its cold during Winter
It's only -1 degree in the morning and there is icing on the aircrafts , even on ground ;)
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
The Pinnacles
In the Pinnacles Desert, right in the heart of Nambung National Park, thousands of huge limestone pillars rise out of a stark landscape of yellow sand. In places they reach up to three and a half metres tall. Some are jagged, sharp-edged columns, rising to a point; while others resemble tombstones.
The raw material for the limestone of the pinnacles came from sea shells in an earlier epoch rich in marine life. These shells were broken down into lime-rich sands which were brought ashore by waves and then carried inland by the wind to form high, mobile dunes. Three old systems of sand dunes run parallel to the WA coast, marking ancient shorelines.
The oldest of these, known as the Spearwood dune system, is characterised by yellow or brownish sands. In winter, rain, which is slightly acidic, dissolves small amounts of calcium carbonate as it percolates down through the sand. As the dune dries out during summer, this is precipitated as a cement around grains of sand in the lower levels of the dunes, binding them together and eventually producing a hard limestone rock, known as Tamala Limestone.
Photograph showing the size of one of the Pinnacle rocks in relation to the height of a child
At the same time, vegetation that became established on the surface, aided this process. Plant roots stabilised the surface, and encouraged a more acidic layer of soil and humus (containing decayed plant and animal matter) to develop over the remaining quartz sand.
The acidic soil accelerated the leaching process, and a hard layer of calcrete formed over the softer limestone below. Cracks which formed in the calcrete layer were exploited by plant roots. When water seeped down along these channels, the softer limestone beneath was slowly leached away and the channels gradually filled with quartz sand. This subsurface erosion continued until only the most resilient columns remained. The Pinnacles, then, are the eroded remnants of the formerly thick bed of limestone.
As bush fires denuded the higher areas, south-westerly winds carried away the loose quartz sands and left these limestone pillars standing up to three and a half metres high.
Although the formation of the Pinnacles would have taken many thousands of years, they were probably only exposed in quite recent times. Aboriginal artefacts at least 6,000 years old have been found in the Pinnacles Desert despite no recent evidence of Aboriginal occupation. This tends to suggest that the Pinnacles were exposed about 6,000 years ago and then covered up by shifting sands, before being exposed again in the last few hundred years. This process can be seen in action today - with the predominantly southerly winds uncovering pinnacles in the northern part of the Pinnacles Desert but covering those in the south. Over time, the limestone spires will no doubt be covered again by other sand drifts and the cycle repeated, creating weird and wonderful shapes over and over again.
The raw material for the limestone of the pinnacles came from sea shells in an earlier epoch rich in marine life. These shells were broken down into lime-rich sands which were brought ashore by waves and then carried inland by the wind to form high, mobile dunes. Three old systems of sand dunes run parallel to the WA coast, marking ancient shorelines.
The oldest of these, known as the Spearwood dune system, is characterised by yellow or brownish sands. In winter, rain, which is slightly acidic, dissolves small amounts of calcium carbonate as it percolates down through the sand. As the dune dries out during summer, this is precipitated as a cement around grains of sand in the lower levels of the dunes, binding them together and eventually producing a hard limestone rock, known as Tamala Limestone.
Photograph showing the size of one of the Pinnacle rocks in relation to the height of a child
At the same time, vegetation that became established on the surface, aided this process. Plant roots stabilised the surface, and encouraged a more acidic layer of soil and humus (containing decayed plant and animal matter) to develop over the remaining quartz sand.
The acidic soil accelerated the leaching process, and a hard layer of calcrete formed over the softer limestone below. Cracks which formed in the calcrete layer were exploited by plant roots. When water seeped down along these channels, the softer limestone beneath was slowly leached away and the channels gradually filled with quartz sand. This subsurface erosion continued until only the most resilient columns remained. The Pinnacles, then, are the eroded remnants of the formerly thick bed of limestone.
As bush fires denuded the higher areas, south-westerly winds carried away the loose quartz sands and left these limestone pillars standing up to three and a half metres high.
Although the formation of the Pinnacles would have taken many thousands of years, they were probably only exposed in quite recent times. Aboriginal artefacts at least 6,000 years old have been found in the Pinnacles Desert despite no recent evidence of Aboriginal occupation. This tends to suggest that the Pinnacles were exposed about 6,000 years ago and then covered up by shifting sands, before being exposed again in the last few hundred years. This process can be seen in action today - with the predominantly southerly winds uncovering pinnacles in the northern part of the Pinnacles Desert but covering those in the south. Over time, the limestone spires will no doubt be covered again by other sand drifts and the cycle repeated, creating weird and wonderful shapes over and over again.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Happy Birthday to myself
Celebrated my Birthday in Perth. First time in my life that I am spending my birthday overseas.
Celebrated with my buddies , Gary, Kevin and Peter. Went to a Korean Resturant in China Town. Ate the spicy noodles. Kind of nice :)
Then went to Dome for chocolate shake and then back to school again.
Celebrated with my buddies , Gary, Kevin and Peter. Went to a Korean Resturant in China Town. Ate the spicy noodles. Kind of nice :)
Then went to Dome for chocolate shake and then back to school again.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Cleared my First Night Solo
Cleared my Night Solo.
The conditions were slightly better, compered to yesterday's gusty winds.
However, ended it off with a not so good landing :(
Spoilt the whole experience. :(
The conditions were slightly better, compered to yesterday's gusty winds.
However, ended it off with a not so good landing :(
Spoilt the whole experience. :(
Monday, May 30, 2005
1st night flight
Did my first Dual Night sortie tonight.
Was very pleased with my own performance. My instructor commented that it was a good effort.
Hope to clear my solo soon.
I must add, the night flight was a very enjoyable flight ! Nice conditions and a spectucular view of the night lights !
Was updating my flying hours into my log book . And WoW! I have a total of 131 Hours and 40 mins flying time.
Was very pleased with my own performance. My instructor commented that it was a good effort.
Hope to clear my solo soon.
I must add, the night flight was a very enjoyable flight ! Nice conditions and a spectucular view of the night lights !
Was updating my flying hours into my log book . And WoW! I have a total of 131 Hours and 40 mins flying time.
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Progress Progress Progress.
That is what it is all about.
Managed to complete all my Visual Navigation Solos yesterday. Yeah.
Will be flying my first Night circuits tomorrow night. YEAH !
Thus, a break for me today ( Sunday ). Max out my flying hours ;)
Help my friend tune his "Hunter" as it was having problem on the idie.
Managed to complete all my Visual Navigation Solos yesterday. Yeah.
Will be flying my first Night circuits tomorrow night. YEAH !
Thus, a break for me today ( Sunday ). Max out my flying hours ;)
Help my friend tune his "Hunter" as it was having problem on the idie.
Friday, May 27, 2005
Albany Trip
Yeah ! Did my Albany Trip . ok.. A bit on Albany. It is located on the South Coast of Australia. The whole journey is 413 NM. Which is about 764 km which is about God knows how many times from Jurong to Changi Airport. hahaha.
The flight time was 5 hours and had an hour of lunch and photo taking around the airport compound.
Its a real blessing for me that the weather has been good since yesterday as a high pressure system is just to the South of Australia. Some of my friends had to wait for a MONTH ! before they can go for this flight as the weather to the South of Australia is generally poor during the last few months. ( Due to active cold fronts to the South of Australia during the winter months). Thus, I am really Thankfull that I was able to go for this trip at the first try.
So.. Enjoy the photos.
The day started early in the morning. As the departure for the flight is at 0830H, I had to be in the Ops room at 6:30 am to do up the flight plan.
This was a shot of Darkness. ;)
A day break shot of the faithfull Cessna 172 which is going to take me safely to Albany and back :)
The most beautiful sight on route - The stirling Range. It is about 2500 ft about MSL. Thus , the flight had to be conducted at a minumum altitude of 3000 ft to clear the range.
Albany Airport in sight .. Can you make up where is the airport ?
A closer view. The orientation of the runway is 14/32 and a gravel strip orientated 05/23.
Touch down. And photo taking time ! The main enterance of the Airport. Its a private airport, thus, no international flights. Mostly used by the locals and visitors like us from afar.
We went across the road to capture this shot ;)
That's ME !
Group Photo time. ( From left to right - Me, Yap and Gerald )
( From left to right - Yap, Me and Gerald )
More reinforcement ! haha. ( Left to Right - Shehan, Me, Jackson and Gerald )
Refilling time and Off I went. To YBUN for 5 Touch and GOs :0]
The flight time was 5 hours and had an hour of lunch and photo taking around the airport compound.
Its a real blessing for me that the weather has been good since yesterday as a high pressure system is just to the South of Australia. Some of my friends had to wait for a MONTH ! before they can go for this flight as the weather to the South of Australia is generally poor during the last few months. ( Due to active cold fronts to the South of Australia during the winter months). Thus, I am really Thankfull that I was able to go for this trip at the first try.
So.. Enjoy the photos.
The day started early in the morning. As the departure for the flight is at 0830H, I had to be in the Ops room at 6:30 am to do up the flight plan.
This was a shot of Darkness. ;)
A day break shot of the faithfull Cessna 172 which is going to take me safely to Albany and back :)
The most beautiful sight on route - The stirling Range. It is about 2500 ft about MSL. Thus , the flight had to be conducted at a minumum altitude of 3000 ft to clear the range.
Albany Airport in sight .. Can you make up where is the airport ?
A closer view. The orientation of the runway is 14/32 and a gravel strip orientated 05/23.
Touch down. And photo taking time ! The main enterance of the Airport. Its a private airport, thus, no international flights. Mostly used by the locals and visitors like us from afar.
We went across the road to capture this shot ;)
That's ME !
Group Photo time. ( From left to right - Me, Yap and Gerald )
( From left to right - Yap, Me and Gerald )
More reinforcement ! haha. ( Left to Right - Shehan, Me, Jackson and Gerald )
Refilling time and Off I went. To YBUN for 5 Touch and GOs :0]
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
SUCKY
Cannot fly because was "bump" off due to lack of aircraft. It was SUPER WEATHER today. Clear blue sky. Nice winds. No clouds . But shit ! NO AIRCRAFT!
With this rate. God knows when will I be able to clear my Nav Solo. GOOD WEATHER GOOD WEATHER GOOD WEATHER ! Three more Nav and I will be done. No more SOLO NAV. Then it will be all Instrument Flying. Which means that I will be able to fly into clouds and this means that I can maximize my flying hours when winter hits us in ...err... 5 days !.
COmE ON !! Give me a HIGH ( Pressure system I mean ! )
With this rate. God knows when will I be able to clear my Nav Solo. GOOD WEATHER GOOD WEATHER GOOD WEATHER ! Three more Nav and I will be done. No more SOLO NAV. Then it will be all Instrument Flying. Which means that I will be able to fly into clouds and this means that I can maximize my flying hours when winter hits us in ...err... 5 days !.
COmE ON !! Give me a HIGH ( Pressure system I mean ! )
Saturday, May 21, 2005
Hail
For the first time in my life, I experienced hail. Was driving along to return a rented DVD when I heard "stone like sound" hitting the roof of the car. It was then I turned to look at the windscreen that I saw ICE !
Frightening experience as I thought to myself that it is a matter of time the windscreen will crack. A number of cars pulled to the side to wait for the weather to sub-side.
Overall, was still a nice experience.
Next week forecast is that we will have fine weather. Praying dame hard man !
Frightening experience as I thought to myself that it is a matter of time the windscreen will crack. A number of cars pulled to the side to wait for the weather to sub-side.
Overall, was still a nice experience.
Next week forecast is that we will have fine weather. Praying dame hard man !
Friday, May 13, 2005
Friday, April 22, 2005
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Cleared my First Navigation Solo
Cleared my Navigation Solo . Managed to do a Solo yesterday morning.
However, the weather was shit and I had to divert twice.Today's weather
looked much better . Going to do a longer navigation flight. Wish me
luck !
However, the weather was shit and I had to divert twice.Today's weather
looked much better . Going to do a longer navigation flight. Wish me
luck !
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Fog at Jandakot Airport
Woke up early today for a Navigation flight.
Check out the visibility. Can't see shit !
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
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