Curly
03-18-2013, 12:14 AM
Had a great weekend at the Aussie Shortwing Fly-In at Wentworth NSW. The weather was not kind (first crap weekend we have had for months) which kept a lot of aeroplanes on the ground all over the countryside, but those that did make it had a ball. We had a couple of ring-ins - a Maule (he had 35" Alaskan Bushwheels so we made an exception for him) from Adelaide as well as a really nice Aeronca Chief.
The spot landing competition was a hoot - gusty cross winds made it interesting. Saturday night was the highlight for me with a cruise up the Darling river on "The Wentworth", a purpose built cruiser. The river is only about 150 yards wide and they have floodlights set up to light up both banks as you cruise past. Some of us sat up on the top deck with a glass of wine, a cool gentle breeze, swapped "war" stories, renewed old friendships and watched the magnificent red gums on the river banks in the floodlights. After a meal and more red wine on the lower deck we were gobsmacked when the Captain handed the helm over to one of the crew members and jumped on the keyboard that was set up in one corner. His wife (catering manager) grabbed the microphone and they belted out a couple of brackets of songs from the late sixties, early seventies. Turns out they are professional entertainers and they were good at it.
The presentations followed and I was delighted to presented with "The encouragement Award" - and a threat that if I don't fly my own aeroplane to the next gathering I have to give it back.
I had intended to fly up on Virgin's kero burner and left home with plenty of time to get to the airport. Sadly it was not to be as a lady jumped in front of a moving train so the rail system was shut down and I missed the only flight for the day. So it was home, chuck the bags in the old Falcon and 71/2 hours later I got there.
Well worth it as it was a great weekend!
48004802480148034804
The spot landing competition was a hoot - gusty cross winds made it interesting. Saturday night was the highlight for me with a cruise up the Darling river on "The Wentworth", a purpose built cruiser. The river is only about 150 yards wide and they have floodlights set up to light up both banks as you cruise past. Some of us sat up on the top deck with a glass of wine, a cool gentle breeze, swapped "war" stories, renewed old friendships and watched the magnificent red gums on the river banks in the floodlights. After a meal and more red wine on the lower deck we were gobsmacked when the Captain handed the helm over to one of the crew members and jumped on the keyboard that was set up in one corner. His wife (catering manager) grabbed the microphone and they belted out a couple of brackets of songs from the late sixties, early seventies. Turns out they are professional entertainers and they were good at it.
The presentations followed and I was delighted to presented with "The encouragement Award" - and a threat that if I don't fly my own aeroplane to the next gathering I have to give it back.
I had intended to fly up on Virgin's kero burner and left home with plenty of time to get to the airport. Sadly it was not to be as a lady jumped in front of a moving train so the rail system was shut down and I missed the only flight for the day. So it was home, chuck the bags in the old Falcon and 71/2 hours later I got there.
Well worth it as it was a great weekend!
48004802480148034804