More flying

D took me flying two days in a row, and it was incredible.  On Saturday, we flew around the Glasshouses and then over to Bribie Island.

Beerwah (L) and Coonowrin

The other side of Beerwah

Coonowrin (front L) with Tibrogargan directly behind it

Algae bloom and blue jellies off the coast of Bribie

There are many more pictures of the flight but these are all I have on my phone.  After flying, D reported to the CFI that the engine was popping a bit, so on Sunday we took out and cleaned all of the spark plugs and as our reward we were allowed to go for a free test flight, so off we went to Bribie again.  This time we took a passenger!

She wasn’t particularly appreciative of the steep turns

At some point I am going to learn to fly the aeroplane better - a Cessna 172RG.  So far I have taken off and done all of the things except for the landing - which it has been interesting to observe the steep profile and low flare height!  Sorry, Terry, they made me into a jet pilot... maybe next time...

We also climbed the Glasshouses again (obviously) which was a lot harder than simply flying around them!  But still exhilarating to get to the top.  

Tomorrow, I have my first recurrent sim, and in true Kate fashion have been procrastinating terribly when it comes to studying.  D has done his best to encourage me but things like baking H a burnt steak cake have got in the way.

Steak cake - we did blood red cake inside to look undercooked

The ensuing hilarity when he cut into its redness 

Now, I am sitting on the aircraft waiting to fly to Townsville and the captain keeps telling me my thumbs are going to fall off from typing so fast, and wants to know if he features on this blog.  Well, now he does.  You’re welcome.

In other news, I have my first recurrent sim tomorrow and that is slightly terrifying... watch this space...

PS did I mention I have a boyfriend?  And he is the best thing ever and it has only been two weeks☺️

Happenings

G’day folks 

My name is Kate, and very occasionally I post blogs of my adventures in Oz.  However, I am a terrible blogger and so these blogs are infrequent and usually rushed.

This month has included flying, hiking, flying, hiking, oh yes, and a new boyfriend.  Let’s not forget that!  So, I should probably add in getting fish and chips with him, wandering around the city, visiting Southbank, introducing him to my mountains, and much much more.

We went on an amazingly beautiful hike to Flinders Peak, which is near Ipswich, and because he is also an amazing photographer, got some rather more spectacular photographs than normal. 

The mountainside was covered with cacti, with their flame red flowers.

Credit must of course go to D for this photographs!

Even Lily got to come on this hike, and she enjoyed bounding up the rocks and only needed help a couple of times.

(I took this one...)

(And I took this one because D hasn’t yet worked out how to take a photograph without it looking like he took it... ha) 

D is a quick learner though. and worked out fast that the way to a girl’s heart is through her dog... and climbing... and flying aeroplanes (hence the Harvard...) and indeed tomorrow we are renting a Cessna to go for a spin.  (My request is to fly around the Glasshouses!)

Lil had to be carried back down the mountain as she was pretty exhausted after such a big hike.  She then slept the two hours home and the rest of the day at home!

Did I mention I have a new boyfriend?  He is lovely, and gentle, and kind, and the nicest person ever, and I do think I rather like him.  

Tomorrow, firstly we are going flying, secondly we are going climbing, thirdly, I am then going to abandon D to go Christmas shopping with Amanda, and fourthly we are doing a household raclette evening (plus D of course). 

Such fun 😍

PS: I have a boyfriend, and he is rather lovely.

Warbird

Wow.  October has gone already, and it went on an incredibly high note.  My new friend, D, works at Caboolture Airfield as the chief engineer, so he has Friends in High Places and so on, and he organised me a flight in a Harvard (SNJ).  I could not have imagined how much fun it would be!

I got to wear a flying suit and a helmet (apparently Insurance requires it anyway) and we flew out over the coast - I got to climb out and do an attempt at a steep turn.  The climb out was fine once I remembered what the rudder was for, but my steep turn was terrible!  I definitely need some practise in flying aeroplanes without instruments...  Then Brett (the pilot) did a much better steep turn, plus a loop and a couple of barrel rolls and did a low pass (500’) over Bribie beach all of which was absolutely incredible, and then we flew back to Caboolture.  He seemed to expect me to need sick bags but I was having a great time!  

D got some great photos of the experience 

To say I want to do it again is an understatement.  I absolutely loved it, and I can’t wait for my next aviating adventure (D has promised to take me up in the Chipmunk as soon as it is fixed) and maybe I will start doing some light aircraft flying... who knows.  It depends how I want to use my savings!

Me, with Brett, the pilot.

Ah it was fantastic.  None of this automation nonsense and glass screens and auto throttle etc etc that we have in the 717, but REAL flying, and ah the bug has hit me again...


Proof that we were upside down

And now I must ferry a 717 from Canberra to Sydney, so at least I do have SOME fun at work😬

Oh, and yesterday we got caught in storms going in to Canberra, and here is the map of what we flew:

Which I cannot identify, for obvious reasons, but first they made us hold at Razzi, and then they decided to change from 35 to 17 due to the wind swinging around with the squall line passing, so they got us to orbit twice at Razzi and then proceed along the star for the Vor 17 approach (re brief #1).  None of which was even remotely likely to work out as the prevailing wind was 330/20 and just because it had momentarily swung around to favour 17, did not mean it was going to stay that way!

Surprise, surprise, half way to the approach we were told the wind had swung back to 330, and we had to then break off to go south for the 35 approach (re brief #2) and then Approach forgot about us and by the time they gave us further descent the glide slope was full deflection below us and we had to discontinue and go all the way around again (re brief #3) ... so that all got very busy!  Especially as with the 717 you can’t just quickly brief the approach you have to program it all into the FMS which takes awhile.

Anyway, like I said, I now have to ferry an aeroplane to Sydney so I should probably go get dressed... the fun continues 😝