Maybe the weather discouraged members other than the usual suspects from flying on Friday or maybe the thought of only a few shopping days to Christmas was a deterrent, or maybe, just the demands of work life accounted for the small crew present today. Barry McCarthy had only to supervise Bob Hainsworth checking on vehicles, Arthur Mailey busy with the DI of CQC, Ken Mitchell learning the ins and outs of the DI of a Blanik and Ged Terry waiting patiently for us to move to the flight line. Karl Bodi was easing SPA from her hangar and checking she was ready for her day’s activity.  

 

Despite hopes that 06 would be the runway for the day, the wind stayed straight up 12, so there we went, though we could have had the whole place to ourselves had we so chosen as time to tow CQC and GYK arrived. Very little GA activity was seen all day. As for the sky, it seemed to offer some hope even if cloud base appeared to be a little lower than we would have wished but at least the forecast showers were holding off. Launched first was GYK with Ken Mitchell and Barry at 09:52.  We were not going to waste more time than necessary, just in case the showers chose to put in an appearance.

 

Still shower free by noon, we contemplated the situation as Steve Bowtell arrived. Everyone had had at least one flight, including Ged Terry who made use of GYK for a time, and dark cloud over the ranges caused us to check on the progress of forecast possible storms. Satisfied that an immediate downpour was unlikely, Barry and Ken took GYK for another flight to the tie-down point, made somewhat difficult I gather by such difficulties as instructors are prone to generate for student pilots.

 

Bob and Ged brought CQC back later after a 50 min flight and it was put to bed too while Arthur and I chatted to Bert, who came out to check that his friend, Ged, was managing to get a flight, before we got the van back to its spot beside the containers. Longest flight of the day was in CQC for Arthur Mailey and me at 57 mins which left Arthur complaining he could have stayed up there for another three minutes quite easily had he known how close he was to an hour. Imagine the complaints had Bob and Ged managed an hour!

 

CQC was put to bed after 2:20 from three flights and GYK’s five flights added a total of 1:42 to its time. After paperwork was completed and containers closed, we all settled down in a cool spot in Kevin’s hangar before recovering sufficiently to make a move to face the Christmas traffic and head home.  

 

Please note that Bob will have advised every one flying tomorrow of the state of the vehicles.

 

Finally, Everyone, enjoy a very Merry Christmas and some great flying at Caboolture, and above all, please stay safe

 

 

Judith

On behalf of the Friday crew