What`s Happening???

[farri]

Well, they`re still drawn to a flight in the Drifter!... Today I got a phone call from my brother-in-law, saying a friend of his was up here from down south, he would like to go for a fly and would I take him, absolutely, I said.

 

Back on the ground, I asked Ben what he thought of our flight...I quote! " Best flight I`ve ever had and I`ve had plenty".

 

 

Frank.

 

Ps, Just checked my facebook page and this is what Ben has posted there.

 

Great experience - what a way to go - thank you once again Frank - I thoroughly enjoyed the flight. Cheers Ben.

 

 

[farri]

Here`s something different! A couple of days ago Antony Roth, a Deeral local and very talented writer-illustrator, created these illustrations of me and the local area I regularly fly over! he then posted them on my facebook page and told me he wanted a glimpse into what Drifter flying was like so I told him for that he would need to come flying with me and this afternoon he did.

 

 

 

 

 

Frank.

 

Ps, I think the illustrations are great!

 

Pps, I`ve also taken Antony`s father, Kurt, flying!

 

 

[farri]

This afternoon I got a surprise visit from our son Michael! " Dad, I`m going to High Island to chase some Mackerel, want to come?" Well! I went flying on 4 days last week so I reckoned it was time to give flying a break and go Mackerel fishing with my son... "Yep, I`m coming." This is what happened!

 

This was the first one and it was around 15 kg! We ended up with 4 around the same size and Yes! I did catch one.

 

 

 

 

Time to start heading home!

 

 

Franco.

 

 

 

[mnewbery]

Sushi anyone?

 

 

[farri]

The view from 3000 feet, this afternoon!

 

Franco.

 

 

[WayneL]

While in North Qld on Holiday My wife and I arrange to meet up with Franco and his wife. Franco took me up in his drifter to see the local sights. What a stunning landscape he has to fly in, Beaches, cane Fields, rivers & mountains all within a few miles of his home strip. It was nice to see green again after the tans and browns, the colours of drought and frost damage around my home field on the Darling downs. Had a great day Frank, thanks for the hospital

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[farri]

I`m writing this because I`m so impressed with the effort Wayne Langley and his wife, Sharon, went to, to come and meet my wife Frances and Myself, have a look at our plants and gardens and for Wayne to have a fly with me.

 

I got to know Wayne, as Rusty Gear, on facebook but had never met him in person! My wife Frances and I are keen gardeners and I post photos of our plants, flowers, and people I take flying, on facebook! Wayne being both a keen pilot and Plants` and Flowers` enthusiast views my photos and we often have a chat online! on Thursday of last week, I got this message from Wayne!

 

Hello Frank, my wife Sharon and I are spending the next 4 nights on board the Pacific Eden out of Cairns. Will be back in Cairns Tuesday and are due to fly back to Brissy at 3:35pm so we have a few hours to amuse ourselves. Would love to visit you and Fran if possible. If I can hire a car and get away by 9am but we would have to leave about 1 pm to get back for check-in etc. Just a thought, if you free.

 

Kind Regards,

 

Wayne Langley ( Rusty Gear)

 

 

 

I replied and told Wayne they would be welcome and gave him directions to our place.

 

 

 

Franco.

 

Ps, Following a week of 20+ kts of wind, yesterday was a perfect flying day! Today the wind got back up around that again so I sent Wayne a message telling him he was meant to have the flight with me, yesterday! His reply! " I ordered it that way, Frank "

 

 

[farri]

While in North Qld on Holiday My wife and I arrange to meet up with Franco and his wife.

Hey Wayne! You weren`t there when I started writing my post! What a coincidence! Great photos and a pleasure taking you up.

 

 

[WayneL]

And I thought you were adding your bit after reading mine...

 

 

[pmccarthy]

What a lovely environment and lifestyle.

 

 

[farri]

And I thought you were adding your bit after reading mine...

and I thought you mightn`t post so I better put you up there for all to see !!! Cheers.

 

 

[Methusala]

While in North Qld on Holiday My wife and I arrange to meet up with Franco and his wife. Franco took me up in his drifter to see the local sights. What a stunning landscape he has to fly in, Beaches, cane Fields, rivers & mountains all within a few miles of his home strip. It was nice to see green again after the tans and browns, the colours of drought and frost damage around my home field on the Darling downs. Had a great day Frank, thanks for the hospital

Thanks Wayne for posting your stunning images taken from Frank's Drifter. My wife and I were in Cairns this week. Frank and Frances treated us like kings (as usual) and I was accorded the extraordinary privilege of taking the front seat (after an audition). Frank shows us the true delights of ultralighting to which I'm addicted. Recreational aviation is not necessarily the same as this. When I want to travel I use cars, airliners, trains etc. Flight like this is the true expression of freedom and adventure.

 

While in Cairns we were also able to catch up with another group of aviators as well as reef gazing and visiting the Atherton tablelands. I recommend all southerners take a trip up there at least once a year. It truly relaxes and invigorates your winter depressed soul. Don

 

 

[farri]

Frank shows us the true delights of ultralighting to which I'm addicted. Recreational aviation is not necessarily the same as this. When I want to travel I use cars, airliners, trains etc. Flight like this is the true expression of freedom and adventure. Don

It`s what I`ve always been about right from the start, way back when and for me it will continue to be for as long as I continue flying!

 

I see it as a privilege and an honour that guys like you want to fly with me... Thank you, Don! Much appreciated.

 

Frank

 

 

[Methusala]

 

This is why Driftering in Canberra is not on in winter. Don

 

 

[M61A1]

You got clear skies....what's the problem?

 

I went out this morning for the fun of it. Bloody cold, nearly 100kts ground speed one way, and when landing, I touched down at about walking speed.

 

 

[WayneL]

nearly 100kts ground speed one way

You must have been getting set to look in your rear vision mirror going the other way!

 

[flyxpl]

New member to forum . I have been flying my amphibious Drifter for about three years now it is my 10th airplane / ultralight . Finished my seaplane rating in Florida this spring and have been enjoying the Drifter on the water this summer . My Drifter is a MU582 with flaps built in 1987 . I found this forum while researching modifications that have been made to Drifters . Pretty happy with my Drifter as it , but wanted to research the option of putting the 582 upright sitting higher to get larger then a 60 inch prop on it . All my water flying has been solo so far and I was thinking the advantage of a larger prop may be beneficial with a passenger on the water . Are their any plans on the net for top mounted engine ?

 

 

[farri]

Are their any plans on the net for top mounted engine ?

Take a look here.....Rotax Top Mount Kit for Drifter

 

Frank.

 

 

[facthunter]

I've flown them in about 0 degrees. Whatever you wear the cold still gets in after a while. You aren't moving enough. nev

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

It`s what I`ve always been about right from the start, way back when and for me it will continue to be for as long as I continue flying...

Frank I enjoy reading all about the adventures of Babinda Air Tours and, as you'll remember, I've been threatening to conduct a personal inspection.

 

The risk of my arrival at your door is greatly increased in the window 4 till 11 September.

 

Are you likely to be about?

 

I might even convince a couple of garden-crazy sisters to tap along, if that's alright.

 

 

[farri]

The risk of my arrival at your door is greatly increased in the window 4 till 11 September.Are you likely to be about?.

At this time, Yes! You`re welcome! just let me know in advance. Crazy gardeners welcome also.

 

Frank.

 

 

[farri]

Frank I enjoy reading all about the adventures of Babinda Air Tours

In that case, just for you ! here`s what happened recently!

 

This is Lynda Gregg, one of our local`s and this was Lynda`s second flight with me. Mark, Lynda`s husband and Trike pilot, has flown with me also...This year we`ve actually been getting what us northerners` call a winter so being rugged up was the order of the day.

 

 

I`ve copied from my facebook timeline and pasted! Lynda posted, " I received a kind invitation from Franco to go flying this morning, and it was sublime, thanks Franco.

 

This is Patricia ( Trish ) Albert, a neighbour, 2 doors up the road from home here. I took Trish`s husband, Rodney, flying with me a little while ago and since then Trish had been watching me fly...This was Trish`s first flight!

 

 

Trish posted! Patricia Albert What a surprise, thank you so much for the photo Frank. After admiring 'Drifter' from the ground for so long, I never actually realised it didn't have sides! So you can imagine my surprise (or horror) when I turned up at the field. "What do I hold on to?", kept racing through my mind. At that point I asked to have my belts tightened more!! The views were stunning, in fact overwhelmingly beautiful, as the photo shows. What an absolute joyous and exhilarating experience - thank you kindly to Frank for his expert piloting.

 

Second.

 

On her second flight,Trish posted! Patricia Albert Thank you kindly Frank for the thrilling safe trip - what a privilege to be up high in the air close to spectacular mountains and rivers. The chill and wind factor together with perfect sunshine.

 

This is Aimee Hind. Aimee`s father and two of her brother`s, have flown with me in the past.

 

 

Aimee`s father, Marty, wrote on my fb timeline! Marty Hind Thanks Frank for taking Aimee much appreciated.

 

Franco ( Frank )

 

Ps, I always ask for permission to take photos of those I take flying and permission to post them here and on facebook...As I fly regularly and have a spare back seat, I don`t charge but I do sometimes accept money towards the running costs, if it`s offered.

 

 

 

 

 

[Kevinsue]

Hello Frank,

 

After recently watching some YouTube vlogs of people’s adventures with their ultralights, its rekindled my fascination for the sport and especially the venerable Drifter. I was fortunate to go for a fly with you probably now a couple of decades ago.

 

My then wife was keen for a flight but unfortunately she was too light for the front seat and after an abbreviated circuit, was back on the ground saying she felt naked sitting on a pole up that high! It was fortunate for me because I went up and used her remaining time and had a fascinating flight. We were even lucky enough to get a good look at some migrating humpbacks out from Russell Heads! My youngest son also went flying with you and later went on to make a career in aviation.

 

After thoughts that kept randomly popping into my head of maybe getting my hands on my own Drifter, I searched the Internet for any instructors that were still doing training on the type. Unfortunately it seems that the flying schools that are operating in FNQ use mainly Jabiru’s and Gazelle’s which was not really what I had in mind.

 

After stumbling onto this website, I was pleased to find that you were still a very active flyer up this way. As I live about 20 minutes drive north of you, I’m hoping that I can catch up with you for a chat about all things Drifter when you have some spare time and maybe get to look at your machine once again in the flesh after all these years....

 

Best Regards....Kev

 

 

[farri]

Hello Frank, After stumbling onto this website, I was pleased to find that you were still a very active flyer up this way. As I live about 20 minutes drive north of you, I’m hoping that I can catch up with you for a chat about all things Drifter when you have some spare time and maybe get to look at your machine once again in the flesh after all these years....Best Regards....Kev

G`Day Kev, Very pleased to read your post! Yep I`m still flying and still enjoying it, please do come and say G`Day, just give me a call on 40675253, in advance; you`ll also find me here, Franco Arri or Private Message on this site.

 

For flight instruction in a Drifter, contact Wane Cutter of Cutter Aviation, Ph.0458 118 938, [email protected] , As far as I know, Wayne is out at Abergowrie, west of Ingham.

 

There`s also, NQ Recreational Aviation, Flying School Townsville & Region

 

Regards, Frank.

 

 

[Kevinsue]

Hi Frank,

 

Thanks very much for the reply and information and look forward to catching up with you in the very near future.

 

Regards...Kev