When I arrived at the airfield this morning, I was surprised to find a hive of activity. After all, Garrett's duty crew confirmation email indicated no member requests and no Air Experience Flights booked in at all. (I even bought my David Clarkes in case I needed to turn to the dark side).
 
Instead, Duty Instructor Barry McCarthy and Lyn had bought Lyn's daughter Eleanor and Jack Milgate. Tuggie Mike Grady indicated he had a possible AEF passenger lined up, Danny Gadza was keen for a training flight, and Chris Weir and Karl Bodi were busy working on the Libelle trailer. But never before at Caboolture, have I seen a man who looked more on a mission today than John Nestor. He already had  the covers off CQC and was chomping at the bit pointing out the abundance of good looking clouds above the airfield he needed for that second one hour flight required for his C Certificate.
 
As such, we quickly assembled at the Runway 12 threshold, and had John airborne (alone) at 9:10. The rest of us just watched as he made use of the thermals, firstly to the south of the field, and then when he had used those ones up, he made his way towards the north. As the magical hour mark past, we had in fact lost sight of him completely but we could hear the excitement in his voice as he acknowledged the call from Barry that he had his hour, and he could bring CQC back for the rest of us.
 
Congratulations to you John !!! He celebrated with a little jig next to CQC as I arrived in the Barina and a phone call to Ann as he walked the wing back to the flight line. A great effort John and very well deserved !! 
 
From there Mike Grady's friend John Taylor who had been looking a little nervous while he waited, took a flight with Barry. John was committed to the flight as he had posted his intentions on Facebook the night before, but was back rather quickly and a little unsure of whether he had enjoyed it or not. Shaken but not stirred, we all agreed (including John himself) that he would probably enjoy another flight now he knew what it was like, but alas, just not today.
 
The other flights of the day included twenty (odd) minute flights for Jack and Eleanor who had made good use of the waiting time by studying gliding theory, and a training flight for ex powered pilot Danny, all under the instruction of Barry McCarthy.
 
Karl Bodi then made the final glider flight of the day to return CQC to 06 and closer to the tie down area. We had the aircraft away and all the jobs done just after 2pm when we enjoyed a beer in the hanger on John.
 
One note for our trusty maintenance crew, the IS-28 now requires the l'hotelier couplings serviced/ lubed.
 
Stats for the day were fairly straight forward:
CQC had 6 flights with a total of 2 hours and 40 mins all towed aloft by Mike Grady.
 
All in all, a very successful and enjoyable day, although very hot !! Please remember to bring plenty of fluids to the field and be sun smart in the upcoming summer months. Please also make friends and guests aware of this too as it's something they don't often think about their first time at an airfield.  
 
Hope to catch you at YCAB soon,
 
Till then, safe flying and happy landings.