Photos...todays commute.

[Guest Maj Millard]

Went down to Shute harbour airport at Airlie Beach during the week, to help them out with some aircraft that were damaged during the recent Cat 3 cyclone, Ilui.

 

Air whitsundays' Cessna Caravans and DH Beavers (all float equipped) were parked out in the open into the oncoming winds (approaching 300 kls per hour) as there was not enough hangarage for them all.

 

They did fine in the initial onslaught, but after the eye passed over, the winds came from behind the aircraft, and did the damage.

 

The Caravans suffered broken and stretched rudder cables, and all aircraft suffered misc other damage to control surfaces, but nothing that can't be fixed.

 

Flew back up the coast today to Townsville with a nice 18-20 kt tailwind (85-90kt GS). Dropped into Ayr airport to check on some friends, one of whom owns my old 582 Drifter .

 

Perfect day, the weather seems to have turned up here for the better, and everything is green with all water holes and dams full, after the very adequet wet season rains.

 

The boys at Ayr are getting pretty organized, with a nice new hangar, and I plan to drop in on them more often. Their area a bit away from the main airport is a lovely spot that is shared with the local skydivers. Ayr is just South of Townsville on the Mighty Burdekin River which is Australias' second biggest river, and is primarily a Suger cane producing area.

 

I'll be flying back to Shute Harbour Monday morning (120 NM)for the week, so more photos to come. Hope you enjoy todays.......................................................Maj..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[pudestcon]

Great photos Maj,

 

Jeez is that you??? And you have the audacity to comment on my Avatar;)

 

Pud

 

 

[Tomo]

Great stuff Maj.... :thumb_up:

 

 

[dazza 38]

Nice photos major.

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Thanks Gang, I'm going to try and steal the daughters' digital camera this week which takes a better photo, and I'll get some shots of the action at Shute Harbour....................Maj..

 

 

[frank marriott]

Ross

 

We have an Aero Club Fly-In to Shute Harbour on the 15th May. I don't know how to send you a PM so if you are interested contact me & I will forward you details. Have 6 aircraft going so far.

 

Frank

 

 

[pudestcon]

Hey Pud, I reckon Ross took that photograph of himself just so that you specifically would have a good day:roflmao: .David.

 

PS Jees Ross, That guy sure looks after your old Drifter. I have never seen a fabric plane so well wrapped up. How often does he have to replace the covers. Your Lightwing looks bloody nice as well.

And a good day it is too David,

 

Looking forward to more photos from you Maj

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Thanks Pud,

 

Frank, I will put the date on the calender. I'll probabily be still down there with the amount of work they have, I'll let you know OK.

 

David Isaac, Yes I was pretty impressed also with the covers. I always kept the Drifter hangared, and the new owner wants to keeps the skins ok also. He may end up in a hangar one day as he has just moved the aircraft over to that airport (Ayr). The sun up here is vicous. Ken (KB59 forum name) has just got his RAA license, so he really likes the aircraft now, and has been doing some nice local flying. Yes I love the Lightwing, and would only have sold that Difter to get it. Actually that is the first time I think the two "Miss adventures" have been together.The Drifter is the original "Miss Adventure", and the Lightwing is now "Miss adventure 2".....................................................Cheers Maj..

 

 

[blueshed]

Hi Maj

 

Thanks for Z pics Looks Just Fantasic!

 

 

[KB59]

HI All

 

I just got in from a 2.1h local fly in the Drifter that Maj posted at YAYR yesterday.

 

Good flying in NQ at this time of the year.

 

Stats from my flight today

 

No Wind

 

No Cloud

 

Clear air ( at least 30nm )

 

22 degrees at takeoff ( 7.15 am )

 

Just perfect

 

To follow on from Maj pics thought you might like to see some shots I took today from 1500` of the country up this way just at the end of our wet season ( we hope )

 

Kb59 ( Ken )

 

 

 

 

 

 

[KB59]

Hi Dave

 

I knocked the covers up myself but they are only made out of the sliver polly tarp. The material came with a 12 months sum protection so I hope to get a year out of them. I know there are a couple of different grades in the material.

 

A coat of roof sliver will help but you have to wait a couple of months first to get the shine off the material.

 

The material only cost around $150 and a weekend on the sewing machine so a new set of covers a year is better than a new set of skins a year.

 

KB59

 

 

[Guest ozzie]

Hey Major, some shots of the airport and Airlie be good i'd like to see how much it has changed since 2002.

 

ozzie

 

 

[peterholmes]

gidday millard

 

your photos are congested with bits of your aircraft, need to get a trike as a better camera platform, mate, flew to ayr on friday then the "towers" on saturday, fantastic weather, had all the DTA's out for a change, when are we going for a spin????????

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Ken, Great shots, I'm happy to see you got up today. Do you know how happy it makes me to see a photo with that wingtip in it again, and one that I didn't take !!

 

Ozzie, you wouldn't know the place mate, I was on the fence about the whole thing myself initially, but now that it is all done I kind of like it. Yes I will definitly get some shots this week and post them. Boy the DH Beavers sure get off the ground quick now on the new asphalt. I was chatting to Chook the other day and he said to say Hi. Bit funny taxying out though, doing your take-off checks while somebody sits in his lounge room not 50 mts away, watching you, and sipping wine !.

 

Pete, Framing one's photos with bit of a 'real' flying machine is whats' called "artistic expression". You've got to have a real flying machine before you can do it. We'll fly soon OK.

 

As all of you who flew up here this weekend know, the weather right now is bloody fantastic. Pity I have to endure another 2 hours of it again first thing in the morning ! ..Maj

 

 

[Guest Wigg]

Heard on the radio driving home late yesterday that it was snowing at Mt. Bulla looks like winter is setting in early.

 

 

[Guest ozzie]

Major

 

When Kevin Bowe owned the place i had two blocks tagged for myself. But when his decided to sell up the new owners changed the game plan, real shame they'd be worth a bit now it is all finsihed.

 

Chook now there's a 'Lad'!

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Don't know what the first house cost Ozzie, but the one going up now is worth 1.9. Seems like the price of entry is one mill min which is why I'll just be visiting................................Maj..

 

 

[Guest ozzie]

Bit to 'double bay" for me now. Have they done any development on the funnel bay beach just off the north end? It was nice to jump onto the beach and have a BBQ at the end of the day. always looked prime for a seculded resort.

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Yes Ozzie, they were doing a resort thing in funnel bay. They made them do all sorts of rock drainage canals and landscaping etc, but that is as far as they got. They've gone belly up now, and you can't even see where they've been , as it is all covered in long grass again......................................................................................................Maj..