And the pleasure began from the moment Qantas Captains Andrew Foxton and Rob Ford opened the door to the massive flightdeck of the A380 simulator.
These dimensions are afforded by virtue of the actual flightdeck being positioned ‘between levels’ with its floor space dictated by the width of the main deck below. It is so large in fact that the physical dimensions of the simulator’s flightdeck had to be ...
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Today’s the day!
It’s dark here, but I can see stars out my window. My fingers are crossed that the weather will play the game so that ‘There and Back’ will make a a scheduled departure at 10am.
One last ‘Thank You’ to everyone for their messages of support and donations thus far. Also, to my family and friends and the engine room team of Rob, Buckets and Hayley. Thanks to all.
Now ...
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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 a lot of effort.While the cover was adorned with an array of ...
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Yesterday was quite a day! So much so that the first spare minute to blog about ‘There and Back’ this morning came today!
Firstly, through a combination of cheques and online donations, a further $1,000 has been contributed to the Royal Flying Doctor’s cause. This amazing degree of generosity sees the total donations pass $3,000 and work is underway to have the website reflect the total sum raised ...
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With eight days to go, my eye is warily cast over the synoptic charts of the approaching weather systems.
The month of May was selected as it has generally friendly weather patterns characterised by big happy high pressure systems loitering in the Great Australian Bite. Meanwhile the dry season is in full swing across the northern reaches of Australia. All in all, a favourable situation. Yet, the ...
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As ANZAC Day dawned for another year, it once again called forth thoughts of those who have served and those who actively serve today both at home and abroad.
The day has always held special significance in our home and will again this year. Though my late father was never one to march, he would pay his respects quietly at the Dawn Service each year. He and ...
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The interest in this around Australia flight continues to grow and I’d like to thank evryone for the growing list of emails of support. I am making a genuine effort to answer each and evry one and to date I think that has been achieved. Also, a very special thank you to everyone who has donated to the Royal Flying Doctor Service through the online facility on the ...
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Today marked 100 years since Harry Houdini took to the skies under power at Digger’s Rest in Victoria. That flight , in a Voisin biplane, set Australia on a very distinguished course as the young nation went onto become a pioneer in aviation with names like Hinkler, Kingsford Smith, Bonney and the Smith brothers all making their own indelible mark.
This centenary landmark is being marked by a Festival of Flight ...
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As the countdown to departure on May 5th continues, the Bundaberg News Mail continues to support ‘There and Back’.
Bundaberg is central to the centenary flight in so many ways. It is the home of the Jabiru Aircraft facility and the town which gave us the aviation pioneer, and my boyhood hero, Bert Hinkler.
Follow the link below to see the latest article in Bundaberg’s local ...
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Hi All,
Well the ‘There and Back’ Jabiru was completed and ready to test fly this week. Unfortunately, the weather intervened and the first flight was not possible as evidenced in this photo from the team at Jabiru.
With the aircraft ready and other aspects of organisation in full swing, the around Australia flight now seems to be just around the corner. The days to May 5th are counting down.
Importantly, ...
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Hi All,
I’m just back from Bundaberg where the plans for ‘There and Back’ are coming together.
There was the opportunity to fly a Jabiru J230D, the aircraft type that will feature in ‘There and Back’. All-Australian and a great performer, it is the ideal aircraft to celebrate the Australian centenary of powered flight and remind folks about the accessibility of aviation in this great country.
Plans at the Jabiru aircraft company (Continue Reading →
Well, the Southern Hemisphere summer is upon us and for those flying it means giving a wide berth to those towering Cumulonimbus and the associated storms.
This shot of a storm is almost ‘text book’ in shape and was caught just north of Brisbane recently. It serves as a timely reminder of the power of nature and the respect it must be shown by those who venture into ...
Continue Reading →It’s always great to announce another sponsor coming aboard ‘There and Back’ and on this occasion there are two!
Hawker Pacific and David Clark have kindly offered to supply equipment that will make the journey around Australia, both safe and comfortable in the form of a life jacket and noise-cancelling headset. The David Clark headset is particularly significant as I have previously owned the same pair of David Clark H10′s since my general aviation days in Kununurra over 20 years ago.
My ...
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Once in a while you get the opportunity to tear up the sky in something a little out of the ordinary. Ain’t it great!
As the four flat blades slowly turned, reality was slowly sinking in. I was strapped in, low and tight, in the rear of a World War II vintage fighter; the Mustang. As the vapour searched for spark, the Merlin engine pushed the blades to an ever-increasing ...
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For all of you following ‘There and Back’ via the website and Twitter, here is the planned route for the flight in May. It will be going up on the ‘Route’ page of the website with a modified map shortly, but for the moment, here are some details. While this routing has been drawn up, the confirmation of speaking engagements may alter the final route slightly. As it stands, the route will comprise of 13 stages with a rest day ...
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‘There and Back’ is happy to announce that it will departing from Bundaberg, Queensland to commence the around Australia flight.
Bundaberg is the ideal choice on so very many levels. Firstly, it is home to our magnificent sponsor Jabiru Aircraft and will be where the ‘There and Back’ J230 will be built.
Historically, this friendly Queensland township is also the home of pioneer aviator, Bert Hinkler. Hinkler’s ...
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