Tim E

Winsor68's post reminded me of two coincidence stories I thought might be interesting to share..and see what other people have also experienced. Story 1. Back in the 90's the day before my big trip to the NT and W.A, I went and got a good fix up massage here in wangaratta from my local masseur Frank. Frank often told me stories of the war and also about the large part of his life he spent growing up in W.A. Frank was born and bred in a big timber town called Manjimup, south of Perth and later went on to be a successful footy coach there. On about the third day of my trip into W.A , I went on a mini bus tour along some isolated beach.up north near Carnarvon or Exmouth somewhere. A 4WD pulled up and I started talking to this chap who had just driven 24 hours across country to get to the beach..started talking with him and mentioned Frank. Turns out this guy was his best mate as a kid and lived next door to him in Manjimup! Story 2. When I got back from this trip, I mentioned to Frank I had visited my uncle's grave at Victoria River cemetery in NT, south of Darwin on way to Katherine. Frank's unit used to do coaswatching etc up in NT. I told him the story of how my Uncle Bob had drowned trying to rescue a fellow soldier when their craft overturned on the flooded Roper River. To my amazement, Frank said. "Oh I remember that. My unit got there about half an hour after it happened. The officer should never have made them cross that river in flood!" Two real "co-incidences", both involving this elderly gentleman from Manjimup..and later on Waangaratta, and me. I wonder what other stories others have to add to Winsor 68's story and mine? Looking forward to hearing them Tim

That is a wonderful and amazing story winsor68 . Things seem to happen like that don't they. You have just given me an idea for a new thread on amazing coincidence things like that.

trying to pm you....

I'm sure she would have enjoyed meeting you Robbo..and when she said she came from Wang you would have asked if she knew me and you both would have laughed at how small a world it is.!

Its a small world Robbo! Hope you said "Hello" to each other!

Yes both sound like good possibilities Glenn and Kaye..just reading up on vortices and contrails here and the differences. Most interesting and educational for me. The wind here seems a light northlery Kaye so if it was from that direction when she flew over, seems like the unprotected side of the craft. Thanks. Cheers Tim

LOL..or maybe he was checking if my washing was on the line! :) Yes for some reason that flight. Maybe I'll get a letter from Qantas next week asking why I havent mowed my lawns recently! LOL Yes(I'm sure its that flight) often flies a bit lower than others around same time like UA 840 etc. Is the main reason craft go up high to do with fuel consumption. I guess on shorter trips though a craft would expend a certain amount of fuel getting up high so assume there would be an optimal height on each trip e.f. Mel-Sydney or would that vary according to winds, clouds, air temp etc?

Just had two big ones overfly here..I am guessing (from melair.com) that the first was QF 093 on her way to Sydney-L.A. She was flying a bit lower than some of the other flights (she seems to do this on occasions) ..got a good view with binocs..no obvious contrail as she was low but instead I saw a thin stream coming out of the left hand wing tip (not near any of the four engines) I saw this once before last year..(not a visual illusion)..anyone help with what was happening there? And any ideas why she so often seems to fly lower than other flights at similar time of day on same day? Thanks. Tim

Much as I often say I love everything Irish..thats not quite true..that bloke Murphy and his Murphys law has a lot to answer for! Seems like he diddled you Pricey! Bad luck ! Oh well..it will be re-opening again. I'd be writing a letter to Mr Murphy if I were you. I have quite a stack of them here I should send..if only I knew his address.

Loved the :eek: icon Darren! LOL Guess after a while it all becomes second nature but having so much new "stuff" thrown at you initially can be exhausting trying to take it all in at once.

Thanks Kaye..thought that might have been the case.

Sounds great Darren..appreciated.

Hi Darren. Will be interesting to compare the layouts compared to Air New Zealand on the A320's.... the amount of room given to business, premium economy, economy etc plus the seating widths and leg room. Looks like hot competition for Air New Zealand...not only with the craft but with the flight crew! :) Guess they will also have a pricing strategy too with different types of fares..flexi etc. Will be interesting to see how both market their products. Would love to see the seating / interior layouts when they become known if you are able to post them?? Cheers Tim

Just noticed I called the UA 840 plane a big boy. Have a feeling ships are girls aren't they?..How about planes..wonder if they are either / both boys or girls?

Hi Pricey..the two colour chemes had always fascinated me too..as UA 840 flies over my house every day it was one of the few big boys that I used to be able to spot here in Wangaratta..I was always determined would fly on it one day! I did some research a year or so ago on the colour schemes and found some info..if i still have it or the site I will pass it on.Tim

Thanks mate..yes its one of the things that make teaching so rewarding..and great to see them go on into a happy life and career. Funny to think she probably flies overhead here in Wang (where she has lived all of her life till now) several times a week. One thing I mentioned to her was when I was on a US Airways flight from Philadelphia to New Haven, I sat up in seat 1 A (as a reward for a late US Airways flight missing my original connection)..and got to talk with the FA there..we had a great conversation through the flight..and she said that she had never flown before she took on the FA course! See attached thumbnail..Liz my US Airways FA Phil -New Haven last September. Ferne said some of her co trainees were the same..never flown before. Oh..in addition to her FA career , she also mentioned she has started her pilots training course at Moorabbin..I think she said someone from VB does a some of the training there..she says she can't wait to get her licence! Lucky girl! [ATTACH]17868[/ATTACH]

After my grump about Jetstar before, I ran into an ex student this evening. She gave me the great news she is working as a flight attendant with Virgin Blue..and loving it. She said they were a great company to work for and she is so happy to be doing a job she just loves. I'm sure you would relate to that Darren! One of the privileges of teaching is having ex students running up and saying "Hello" and wanting to hear about you and to tell you how they are going. P.S I'm sure Jetstar does a lot of things well..just the reported PR incident didn't go down well with me at all..I think they handled that one badly.:frown: If you come across a happy Virgin Blue flight attendant named Ferne, tell her I wrote all about her on TAA! P.S When I mentioned I was keen to fly VA to Los Angeles one day soon, she said she had been on the plane a couple of times and that I'd love it!

Wow! What great report Strawberry Muppet! Loved all the detail ..made me feel that I flew part of the trip too. Thanks for sharing.

Hi Pricey..might also pay to time your arrival at times when some of the bigger boys are landing or departing. I often go out between 10 a.m and midday and you get a few of the big boys taking off around those hours. www.melair.com then "flight information.".then click international departures or domestic arrivals etc etc so you can get times and plan. Good luck! I like Operations Road at those times but also enjoy the carpark on corner Sunbury Road and Oaklands Road for 16/34 stuff...nice havibng them come in or take off overhead. Operations Road is good to hear the whine of firing up and thundering down runway and liftoff side on view. Cheers Tim

Goodonya Darren..great to see you doing what you want to do...a great way to live. Cheers Tim:smile:

Up here in Wang (aratta)..its been in 40's last three days..Fri Sat Sun Monday will be 44 44 43 39 respectively, according to forecast...lucky I've acclimatised!

Very pleasing news Chris..very happy for you. Tim

Do you think the length of this runway would suit our lawnmowers chaps? Hows the reverse thrust on yours Chainy?..wouldn't want the mower to end up in the drink! I think Jack's mower was the best though...well done Jack on finding that. Dare I say it but Jacks mower plane was "a cut above the rest"? [ame=http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=kIuS4qx9WE4&feature=related]YouTube - Shortest runway in the world?[/ame]

Yes Chainsaw..what a great feeling lowering the undercarriage..wouldnt want to fiddle around with the undercarriage if it got stuck half way though! LOL Sounds like we have our own versions of Flight Sim! Can you put it on autopilot Chainy? The light switch / toggle could also have a thousand uses on the ride on plane. Can yo uimagine going in to your local dealer and asking for a John Deere A 380?

The grass up here gets pretty long Glenn! ..so does Chainy's when he gets too busy on planeplotter sometimes!LOL Seriously Chainy, I know you keep your lawn well under control like a bowling green..not like that here though!