There and Back dedicated to Aviation, Airmanship and the Craft of Flying - by Owen Zupp & Robert Brus

While the flight ‘There and Back’ has concluded, the journey is just beginning in many ways.

So after all of the planning, the day of departure finally comes tomorrow. And I can’t wait! Today was spent attending to all manner of details. There was practice at changing a wheel and ensuring that the cowlings held no mysteries about what lay beneath. Then there was the media. The phone started at 7am [...]

With ‘two sleeps’ to go until departure, sleep is a treasured item. Today was spent at Jabiru’s facility and my first meeting with the ‘There and Back’ Jabiru J230 in its new scheme. The day was spent familiarising myself with the various small details relating to the aircraft that, if overlooked, could lead to inconvenience [...]

Over the last few days I have received lots of support and good wishes from folks as far afield as Africa. However, I received a very special wish from a little 6 year old girl from Bowral NSW named Ava. It came in the form of a card made with a lot of thought and [...]

With the days to There and Back’s departure on May 5th down to single digits, the interest from all quarters seems to be spiralling upwards. However, rather than a peak of frenzied activity, this coming week is really an opportunity to double check the preparation and attend to the growing media interest . It is [...]

Another milestone has been surpassed today when donations reached the $2,000 level! Thank you to all those who have contributed. As departure looms on May 5th, this is a great start that can only be built upon further when the Jabiru’s wheels leave the ground at Bundaberg in 12 days time. Thanks so much to [...]

Captain Harry Butler’s Red Devil As disappointing as yesterday’s announcement of the closure of Woomera’s airspace may be, there is no denying that when one door closes, another opens. My route will now head south from Streaky Bay to Port Lincoln on May 13th. The next day I will pay a visit to Minlaton, the [...]

Thanks to every one of you we’re well on the way to our target of $10,000 for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The May 5th departure is still some weeks off, but the interest out their in the community is evident by the emails, phone calls and donations that are coming in. EVERYONE can play [...]

This rather average paddock is the site of a rather significant event. The pine trees in the distance provided the backdrop to Harry Houdini’s first powered flight at Digger’s Rest Victoria on March 18th, 1910. Driving down the road, if you blink you’ll miss the historic marker. Yet with a breeze blowing and a QANTAS [...]

Hi All, Despite the weather’s best efforts to spoil the show, the flight test program for the Jabiru J230D is now complete! The aircraft is all set and ready to go and will make the trip to Temora for Natfly, which will provide an excellent opportunity to confirm performance and planning figures. The attached photo [...]