01-Feb-13 Friday at Caboolture

Friday at Caboolture

01-Feb-13

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From: Barry McCarthy
Date: Fri, Feb 1, 2013 at 8:39 PM
Subject: Friday At Caboolture
To: members@glidingcaboolture.org.au

Somewhat of an “interesting day” to say the least.

Setting up at Runway 06

(photo provided by Judith Smith)

With regular Friday Flyers .i.e. Bob Hainsworth on a cruise, Arthur Mailey in Sydney, Charles Hoch “absent without leave” it was left to Bob Turner (L2 when you are Duty Instructor not rostered), John Knox In SPA and Judith Smith Duty Pilot to get flying under way....yours truly also arrived with wife Lynette to “unwrap the very wet gliders” and remove the “non paying residents” i.e. millions of ants. Others present to get flying under way included Kevin Rodda, John Nestor, Ken Mitchell, Shane Tuck, Alex Horvath, Karl Bodi and that great Club stalwart “Bernard (Speedy) Gonzales...not to forget Bert Persson who also came to lend a hand.

Tug trouble

(photo provided by Judith Smith)

Anyway we managed to get CQC and GYK down to Runway 06 just before 10-00a.m. and managed TWO flights before SPA decided to “spit the dummy”......John tried, as did Bert and Karl but despite all efforts SPA just would not start...SO...a phone call was made to Flinders Aviation at Redcliffe and after about an hour a LAME arrived and it was discovered “WATER IN THE FUEL”....not being a technical person I kept clear of the “goings-on” BUT eventually the gathered crowd managed to get SPA’s engine started and after a few “test circuits” by John Knox it was into the air again approx. around with midday.

The culprit - the fuel drain revealed we had some fuel in the water!

(photo provided by Judith Smith)

All the useably lift had disappeared with the emergence of the “local” sea breeze but we did manage to continue training for John Nestor, check flights for Ken Mitchell and Shane Tuck resulted in the latter two continuing their individual progress as now Solo Pilots.

Unfortunately we were not able to fly the AEI due to the problems and lengthy delays in getting SPA into the air BUT our visitors were very understanding and will re-book with Garrett in the next couple of days.

Brief statistics for the day are:-

GYK 7 flights 1 hour 27 minutes

CQC 2 “ 33 “

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Totals 9 2 hours

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For the weekend crews........please note the glider covers are still a bit damp all despite all our attempts to dry today AND over night the ANTS will no doubt try to re-enter so good luck.

BUT

Flying conditions look much better for Saturday and Sunday.

Safe Soaring,

Barry McCarthy

On Behalf of “The Friday Crew”.