Friday flying report

20-Jun-14

The day started dull, cold, overcast and looking like more rain.  The only two people to bravely make their way to the airfield in the early morning were Garrett Russell and Ken Mitchell.  When Garrett and I talked at 09:00 he was able to confirm that Karl Bodi was on his way and that the sky looked good enough for training flights but that soaring was improbable.  Driving from Bribie Island to Caboolture showed a sky which was improving in front of me until I turned north into Aerodrome Road and saw the dark overcast.  However by this time the group had grown to include Judith Smith and Bob Hainsworth.  Bob was looking at the Pie-Cart which is decidedly lopsided and realised that the rear offside tyre was flat.  As this tyre had been flat before he decided to take it off and have it repaired.  In a remarkably short time he came back with a part worn tyre fitted to the rim, having paid the princely sum of $25 for the tyre and having it fitted.  I must get him to do the negotiations when I next need tyres.

And the bread knife was used for????????

Meanwhile the IS28 had been DI’d, and after much discussion RW 30 was chosen as the GA and helicopter people were mostly using that.  And off we set:-

Garrett and I took off to continue my conversion to the IS28. From 2,800 feet we descended in various turns through the cloud canyons, arriving after a mere 16 minutes at RW 12 which had become the GA chosen site.  Being unable to convince anyone else that it was their turn, I strapped myself in again and waited while Karl, Garrett and the newly arrived Steve Bowtell stood around SPA watching a helicopter perform auto rotation landings.  When it finally departed for Redcliffe, and Garrett and I took to the air again, I discovered why Garrett had not been anxious to take off in the gaps of the helicopter performance but had waited till all was clear as the tow was released at about 100 feet after which we landed straight ahead, stopping in the undershoot area of RW 30 but well short of the trees.  The tug and Barina came to join us as Garrett had decided to launch once more from RW 30.  Again as I was unable to pass the joystick I was in the front seat for the takeoff which we did as a wing down, a decision for which had been taken before the launch crew arrived but which we stuck to just to vary the flying.  I had been assured that cable breaks never come consecutively but my request for written confirmation of this was greeted by jocular remarks about verbal guarantees not being worth the paper they were written on.  So, into the air we went and at about 500 feet, just over the road at the north end of RW 30, the tow rope again snaked unexpectedly away from me and we made a brief circuit landing grass right on RW 24.  The roos were by this time congregating there, fortunately Garrett saw them and at his call of “Kangaroos” I closed the airbrakes to hop over them.

The sky was, by this time, dark and foreboding and devoid of lift so the remaining flyers decided to keep their powder dry for when they would re-congregate on Monday.  CQC and SPA were put away and lunch was consumed.  On the way home I ran through a light shower which confirmed our decision to call it a day, however when the time came for my evening walk with my partner the clear blue sky made me wish that I had stayed to achieve the elusive hour.  The remaining members of the Friday Crew adjourned to Macca's for coffee where Bob H received a discount.  Initially it was thought that this was a senior citizen’s benefit but it turned out that they give this to anyone in CGC livery.  Perhaps the profit which they make from Bert and Speedy’s lunch breaks allows them this element of generosity.