Australian long weekend: I flew from Sydney/Bankstown to Stonefield YSFG near Adelaide for the 50th anniversary of The Adelaide University Gliding Club, which is where I learned to fly in 1999.
"Proper IFR" for the first part of the trip to get there: Crossing the Great Dividing Range, using pilot-calculated lowest-safe altitude with an IMC ceiling set by the freezing level. Flew the approach into Narrandera YNAR and became visual shortly after the IAF. Half an hour later, after refuelling, runups and taxi, it was CAVOK for the rest of the trip, but still with a 25 knot headwind the whole way.
Coming back yesterday: Big high pressure system dominating the South Eastern part of the continent. Mild conditions, freezing level above 10,000'. Easy cruising above a broken cloud layer at 7000' the entire day. ATC giving me track shortening. Perfect flying.
The 50th anniversary included operations with a
Long Wing ES-52B "Kookaburra" that was older than the club. Amazing that these things are still airworthy. The same one will probably be back for the club's Centennial in 2076.
There was a pretty large turnout at the 50th festivities. People who were stalwarts when I started but which I haven't seen for 20 years, it had a real "We're gettin' the band back together!" feel to it with all the familiar faces.
So much of the best parts of my life began with a trial flight at that club. I was immediately "hooked," and went back almost every weekend for more than ten years. Learned cross country navigation, did a handful of 300km flights, got an instructor rating and served a few years as Chief Flying Instructor. Then kinda went, "What's next?" and gave GA a try, before falling into Experimental by acquiring an RV-6. So many wonderful experiences over the last quarter-century, all starting with that one trial flight. Pfwoar.
- mark
- mark
