Dear Family,

 

I would have written sooner but with 3 days of inviting skies ...

 

 

View to the northwest along the runway at DDSC's McCaffrey Field (Jondaryan).

 

... we have all been a tiny bit busy.

 

Mick Moloney and I arrived at DDSC on Sunday evening, meeting up with our coach for the week, Robert Hart, and DDSC soarers Mike Codling and Jeremy Thompson. After a quick setup it was off to the Bowenville pub for dinner. Priorities !

 

Monday’s intentions were pretty straight forward – refamiliarisation with all things DDSC and clearing of the cross-country cobwebs. Mick laid claim to the Hornet and I set up in the LS7 for a couple of hours of soaring under the local mid-week 7,000ft airspace restriction. Bowenville declares Monday evenings a meal-free zone so we trekked back to Dalby (by car this time) to satisfy the dinner hunger and thirst.

 

 

Mick Moloney.

 

 

 

Robert Hart and Mick Moloney.

 

 

 

 Robert Hart and Mick Moloney (again).

 

By Tuesday fellow Caboolture member Kurt Pearce had joined our band of merry men. Kurt hopped into the Duo Discus with Robert for orientation and initial cross country training flights, ending with Kurt solo in the sparkling new machine. I had aspirations of finally officially declaring and completing my Silver ‘C’ tasks so, with the logger set up, headed out to Jimbour and back for a 104 km task, only to cop heavy sink down to the strip before I could shoot away again. No five hours this flight. Mick also headed out Jimbour way, relishing the wide open spaces and 10,000’ ceiling for a few hours.

 

Jeremy and Mike had tasked out for the day with Jeremy cruising home in the afternoon but leaving Mike with a low track over Dalby on the way home and a decision on continuing or putting down on the asphalt. The paddocks around here are still very sodden from recent rains so outlanding in fields is the second best option to putting down onto maintained airstrips. JoeyGlide is currently on at Kingaroy and DDSC’s Astir Jeans was put down into a wet paddock a few days ago. It was unmovable overnight and the next day it took an army of 30 helpers and a convoy of cars to get it out and trailered back to base for a major scrub down and cleanup. Mike decided Dalby a better option so a phone call later we hooked up the trailer and all headed out to Dalby airstrip for a derig and a second evening in town. Thanks for the beers Mike.

 

On Wednesday morning Robert, weatherman to the stars (or at least, weatherman to us) declared the day was showing excellent soaring potential so Kurt and I set up our loggers for a crack at our Silver ‘C’ tasks and Mick planned to head down to Millmerran. Another Caboolture stalwart, Alan Graham, who had been kicked out of bed at 4.00am rolled into camp well before 9am briefing time. As with Kurt it was Alan’s first time at DDSC so Robert introduced him to the wide world of DDSC flying and to the Puchacz. Alan completed the day with solo flight in the two-seater.

 

 

Kurt Pearce before his badge flight.

 

 

 

Let’s try that Silver ‘C’ again (David Higgs).

 

 

 

3,500 ft ceiling? No way Jose!! (Mick Moloney). 

 

 

 

Alan Graham enjoys soloing the ‘Pooch’.

 

Kurt and I managed our distance, duration and height gain to bag our Silver ‘C’s. I managed 6 hours to 9,000’ cruising between Jandowae and Tipton. Unfortunately Mick had mechanical issues with the trim in the Hornet and had to cut short his trip. Needless to say the local pub was the logical place to celebrate the badge achievements, Puchacz conversion and Kurt’s first legal beer – happy 18^th birthday.

 

 

Leon arrived last night to share the last couple of weekdays and then put in some instructing time on the weekend.

 

Today is overcast with strong winds and has been declared a no-fly day but tomorrow is looking like another day under the clouds. We’re off to Oakey to check out the sights.

 

 

Ya‘all shoulda been here !!

 

 

Cheers,

 

Silver David (Higgs)