The positive spin on today’s gliding operations is
that flight numbers were up 100% over last Saturday.
The reality is that’s four flights against two.
Two of those flights were AEFs for a pair of
visitors from Taiwan who work on jet maintenance
for China Airlines, and who were fortunately keen
enough to stick around to help the duty crew pack
up in the 20 knot wind which caused an early halt
to soaring.
AEI Neil Muspratt had an earlier passenger who got
flight of the day at 34 minutes.
And Duty Pilot Tim Williams was endorsed to fly
private passengers after enduring a short flight
with the passenger from hell.
Two flights launched from RWY30 and two from 06
after some crosswind antics convinced even the
most diehard power jockeys to follow the wind.
Thanks to Steve Bowtell for handling the
conditions in the tug, to Nathan Bowtell for
valuable assistance in setting up the flight line,
and to Arthur Mailey and Shane Tuck for spending
another of their Saturdays on the fit out of the
new Pie Cart.
Flying tomorrow will have the added attraction of
the Warplane Museum’s Wings’n’Wheels display
event, which they were busily starting to set up
as we departed. If you’re planning on Sunday
soaring, come out early!
