Our small but intrepid band of budding aviators led by Duty Instructor Barry McCarthy, Instructor Mick Moloney and Tuggie Mike Grady met this morning under unpromising skies.  

 

An inversion blanketed YCAB with haze down to about 2000 ft with the addition of smoke from ther Straddie bushfires.  Hence DI'ing of GYK and CQC and the movement to Runway 12 occurred at a leisurely pace in the forlorn hope that conditions might improve.  Mick Moloney took Lehi Reeves on the first of two training flights (critically scrutinised by Mum Lyn), and achieved identical times on both occasions -twelve minutes.  And really that was the story of the day.  Our other participants - Alan Graham, Mike McCluskey and son Keenan - patiently waited for the skies to open, but hope did not triumph over experience.  In the meantime the gathering degenerated into a joke telling session, and I am obliged to report that Billy Connolly's reputation as the last competent stand-up comedian to grace YCAB remains intact.  Ultimately we surrendered to the conditions with Mike taking Keenan in CQC for what proved to be the flight of the day at nineteen minutes.  Barry and Alan then flew a thirteen minute mutual, before Barry and yours truly ended the misery with another thirteen minute tie-down flight.  Stumps were drawn at about 1430 with drinks in Kevin's hangar - thanks for the shout Alan.  

 

 

We departed an airfield increasingly enveloped in haze and smoke - see the following photographic evidence.

 

 

For the statistically minded:  GYK  4 flights for a total of 50 minutes;  CQC  1x 19 minute flight  

 

Safe flying,