What`s Happening???

[kevb]

Frank, that is a good set of tracks, a 5 metre croc is a massive animal and I have seen several up here over the years that would have to be around 3 to 4 metresor bigger. The traditional land owners want to introduce controled hunting up here and I agree with them as the croc population has exploded over the last 10 or 15 years or so. I have had a 3 metre croc come and chew on my boat prop on an overnight trip in a billabong, lets just say I beat a hasty retreat and the beers got a flogging after that. I think a controlled cull that benefits all parties may be the answer and it will make life a lot safer for everybody. I 've had a few mates over the years that have had a few close calls and it seems to be getting a lot more common. Lets hope that things are sorted soon.

 

 

[farri]

I have had a 3 metre croc come and chew on my boat prop.

Kev, Coincidently, the other day when I got back to the boat ramp, there was a guy there, we got talking about Crocs and he said a big one up at Darwin that was biting outboard motor legs has been killed...Know anything about that?

 

Frank.

 

 

[kevb]

Hey Frank,

 

No I don't know anything about that one, I have seen a few over the years that have been shot however I don't really believe that that is the way to go. I'm not a big believer in killing an animal for no reason. I do believe that they need to be culled, as it seems to be wall to wall crocs at the moment, however it I think it should be as humanely as possibly and if the local communities can benifit that can only be for the better. Adelaide River crocs are the ones that used to make me very nervous, they would come right up beside the boat and would come right along side and I can tell you that a 3 metre croc making eye to eye contact made me pucker. I spent very little time in that area, however it is one of my favorite places to take people in the Drifter to go croc spotting.

 

 

[bexrbetter]

they would come right up beside the boat and would come right along side

Another reason for culling, they work it out after a while and stay away. They are brazen now because there's no risk.

 

 

[kevb]

Yup, even with the bank fishing I'm doing with the Drifter at the moment the sneaky buggers will come right up to the bank, they have absolutely no fear of man at all. I'm always very aware of crocs up here but some of the people that I have seen over the past few years make me wonder. I can't believe that more haven't been taken. You have to remember that these animals have been at the top of the food chain for a very long time.

 

 

[farri]

This is Peter Ellis, from Cairns...I met Peter for the first time, two weeks ago, at a friends wedding, we got talking, I told him I fly Ultralight aircraft and if he would like to have a fly, to come and see me, he did so I took him up, this was his first flight in an Ultralight and he`s been back for another fly since then.

 

Saturday, 7.10. 2017 is 'World Ultralight Fly-In' day, I will be taking part and flying so I`ve offered Peter the back seat, he`s jumped on the offer and reckons he`s caught the flying bug.

 

 

Franco, (Frank).

 

 

[farri]

This is Ben Colman and Gemma Blakie, from the UK ...Ben and Gemma have been staying in Cairns for several months and now it`s time to move on, so, Ben wanted another flight with me and Gemma didn`t want to miss the opportunity of having her first flight in a Drifter.

 

 

 

 

This is the aircraft that Ben owns and flies back home.

 

 

Frank.

 

 

[SSCBD]

Hi Frank - You on the beach again!

 

Where are the crocs?

 

 

[farri]

Yesterday I had the pleasure of taking, Gary, (Garfly on this forum) for a flight...Not the first time Gary has flown with me.

 

 

 

Frank.

 

 

[Garfly]

This is the view from the other side. ;-)

 

To go aloft with Frank is to be reminded of why we fly; a man totally at-one with his wings. A condition for all pilots to aspire to! It's partly his innate ability but also, as he says, because he flies very often from his home strip at beautiful Deeral, south of Cairns, and he reckons he makes every flight a training flight - despite his many decades instructing others, especially in the early days of ultra-lighting in Oz. He's still as keen as the day he started and always has heaps of wonderful tales to tell of the old AUF days. Thanks again Frank for another fantastic flight - and the stories!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[farri]

Thanks again Frank for another fantastic flight ]

Gary, Thank you for coming to say G`Day and being part of the flight, I enjoyed it as much as you! I hope we get to do it again some day and I also hope I get to fly with you in your Skyranger...Don`t leave it too long.

 

Frank.

 

 

[farri]

This is Andre and Marisa Buhr, over here from Germany, for a short holiday...First time in an Ultralight,for both of them.

 

 

 

 

We spotted this Croc,gently swimming up stream, on the surface of the Mulgrave river, 750 mts north of my main strip...Andre took the photo...The croc looks small because I was at 700 feet agl but it would be well over 3 mts...A Tinnie going down stream went past it about 10/15 mts away and the Croc just kept gently swimming...It went to the bottom when I circled around it for Andre to take the photo.

 

 

 

Come on Drifter fliers! What`s happening in your neck of the woods?

 

Frank.

 

 

[sandman]

Hey Frank, I have just looking at your latest posts and wow some nice scenery up there but noticed also the very faded top side of the wing compared to the red on the bottom, just putting it out there.

 

 

[SDQDI]

I agree sandman! He needs to do more inverted flying:thumb up:

 

 

[sandman]

Lol SDQDI, it looks a nicer red on the bottom too, (poor English).

 

 

[farri]

Hey Frank, I have just looking at your latest posts and wow some nice scenery up there but noticed also the very faded top side of the wing compared to the red on the bottom, just putting it out there.

Hey Sandman! Full marks for your keen eye...........

 

This is the fourth set of skins I`ve fitted to my Drifter...I keep them treated with Amourall but I do a lot of flying and that means a lot of hours out in the full sun and that is Nth Qld sun, so it doesn`t take long for the top surface to fade and I wish it wouldn`t.

 

Do you honestly think I wouldn`t know when to replace the skins...There`s a big difference between faded and buggered...

 

Frank.

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

Yup, even with the bank fishing I'm doing with the Drifter at the moment the sneaky buggers will come right up to the bank, they have absolutely no fear of man at all. I'm always very aware of crocs up here but some of the people that I have seen over the past few years make me wonder. I can't believe that more haven't been taken. You have to remember that these animals have been at the top of the food chain for a very long time.

Kev maybe the crocs have high standards- or they aren't hungry when idiots tempt them.

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

This is the view from the other side. ;-)To go aloft with Frank is to be reminded of why we fly; a man totally at-one with his wings. A condition for all pilots to aspire to! It's partly his innate ability but also, as he says, because he flies very often from his home strip at beautiful Deeral, south of Cairns...

We often hear of the need to improve the profile of leisure aviation and attract more people to the sport.

 

I reckon Frank is doing his bit.

 

But... as an old fart, I just wish he'd stop torturing us with all those pictures of happy young people and the glorious country around Cairns.

 

 

[facthunter]

Shocking to view all that country resembling paradise and Franco just jumping into his plane when he feels like it. I'm not jealous though.... Much.. You must have carried more passengers than Monarch by now.. Nev

 

 

[farri]

We often hear of the need to improve the profile of leisure aviation and attract more people to the sport. I reckon Frank is doing his bit..But... as an old fart, I just wish he'd stop torturing us with all those pictures of happy young people and the glorious country around Cairns.

O.K, Don`t mean to torture anyone! ......I`ll stop posting photos if everyone has had enough of them...My objective is to keep some focus on the Drifter, show that the Drifter is alive and well for those of us who want it to be and that it is still in demand...I continue to fly, simple for the magic of flying itself and I still enjoy sharing it with others who want to fly with me.

 

I reckon Frank is doing his bit..

Thank you O.K! I`ve been doing it for 30+ years, one of my frustrations though is that over the years I`ve wanted to use the Drifter in helping under privileged kids, especially, indigenous kids, it`s never happened for various reasons, mostly, liability issues!

 

Shocking to view all that country resembling paradise and Franco just jumping into his plane when he feels like it. I'm not jealous though.... Much.. Nev

Nevil, On a serious note,you would never believe the blood sweat and tears it`s taken, over a lifetime, to have been able to hang on to our piece of paradise...We finally made it a few years ago and now no one can take it from us.

 

You must have carried more passengers than Monarch by now.. Nev

One hell of a lot, Nev!!! I was the first guy in this part of the country, to be able to legally take a passenger flying, in an Ultralight aircraft and instruct, also, the first to do a flying display, with the Drifter ( with CAA writen approval ) at an airshow, at Donington air park, west of Townsville.

 

Frank,

 

Ps, I`m not bragging, just telling it as it is.

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

O.K, Don`t mean to torture anyone! ......I`ll stop posting photos if everyone has had enough of them...

Don't you plurry dare, Frank! I have family in your part of the world and have spent some happy times there.

 

Too many picture of that country is barely enough!

 

 

[sandman]

Hey Frank, Like I said Frank, just putting it out there and yes I know that you would be aware of the fading just making comment, I wasn't trying to be a smart ass just a general observation ol mate.

 

 

[farri]

Hey Frank, Like I said Frank, just putting it out .

No problem at all S.M.....Just putting it out there!........Cheer and all the best to you.

 

Frank.

 

 

[farri]

Did some great flying today...This morning I took up Aude Blondel and Sebastian Charneau, both from New Caledonia and a first time Ultralight flight for both.

 

This afternoon, I took up my Grandson, Matthew Cheetham and Harrison Maunder, the boyfriend of my Granddaughter,Kristy Cheetham...Matthew has flown with me several times but a first for Harrison...It turns out that Harrison`s mum flew gliders for many years... I`ll have to introduce her to the Drifter.

 

 

Frank.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[M61A1]

Got no photos to show, but had some left over helium and some balloons. Had a ball for about half an hour. The little buggers are rather hard to burst in a Drifter, even if you do hit them straight on. Found the most consistent way to pop them was if they went just over the wing and through the prop disc.