Guest Maj Millard Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 I was passing by Bowen NQ airport late yesterday, when I noticed a strange Lightwing parked there. Being a Lightwing owner it didn't take much for me to turn into the airport, and investigate. There I found Dave Bailey sitting under the wing of his GA Lightwing. He sat on a little collapsable chair, sourrounded by his swag, portable gas stove, and folding bicycle, which he had used to ride into town on for supplies. Dave is no spring chicken, and started his adventure from Jamestown SA. He arrived in NQ via longreach Charleville, Clermont etc. He's generally heading towards Broom, with no set route or schedual. He waits for the pension money to be put in every two weeks, fills the lightwing up, and away he goes !......There's not a lot of room left in the Lightwing when Dave is packed up ready to go !!............ After some discussion with me at Bowen yesterday, Dave flew into Montpelier Airpark Townsville NQ mid-morning today, and his LW is tied down currently in front of my hangar. I helped him fuel up today, and I'll bring more out for him in the morning. He is currently visiting in Townsville with his ex-wifey and 11 year old daughter. What's amazing about this you ask ??..............well Dave is a survivor, and lacks full usage of his legs. A few years back he contracted a bad case of food poisioning bought on by consuming a bad piece of chicken !...he spent a year in hospital paralized, and when released spent another couple of years in a wheel chair, before he could even walk again !.........when he could walk again, he decided to buy the lightwing and go flying !!!!!! He cannot fuel the LW in the normal manner, and has to syphon all the fuel up into the wings, so it was a pleasure to fuel for him today, and I'll do the same for him tomorrow. The LW has double the normal fuel capacity, so once he is full he's got quite a bit of range. Dave originally lived in the Townsville area, and was trained to fly by Pat McGrath years ago. Pats now hung up the headsets, but I called him today for a good chat, so hopefully the two can touch base again before Dave departs. If you have the pleasure of running into Dave on his travels, take the time to have a chat, you'll be richer for the experience, and may some of his great UL spirit remain with you !.... ..................................Maj...
facthunter Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 Sounds like he knows what he wants. Happy flying Dave!. Nev
Guest Maj Millard Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 Took photos today, will try and post tomorrow........................................................Maj...
Guest Maj Millard Posted June 18, 2012 Posted June 18, 2012 Update.:...Dave spent a pleasant weekend at Montpelier Airpark at Townsville, with some local senic flying, including some flights with his young daughter who lives there. They also did some bike riding together, Dave on his collapsable Lightwing-transportable bike !...I offered him the hangar Saturday night to camp in, but on our arrival early Sunday morning he could be heard loudly snooring wrapped contently in his swag, under the wing of his aircraft. He said he would fly back to Bowen today (Monday), both to pick up medication, which he has posted to him in Bowen, and to also fly the Whitsundays for some photos !...Got to love this guys' spirit !!!.............................................................Maj...
Guest Maj Millard Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 Daves' back at montpelier, called me this afternoon !!...Appears he's been up to Port Douglas north of Cairns spending some quality time with his daughter. He may head down to Bowen again tomorrow (that's where I first ran into him) to pick up some medication he's had sent there. Don't know what's happened to the trip to Broom ??...................seems he likes this area better !!!????....Ah well, we can always use another nice Lightwing around here............................................................Maj...
farri Posted July 15, 2012 Posted July 15, 2012 G`Day Ross, Please tell Dave that if he flies over my field without coming in, I`ll be very disappointed! There is plenty of room here for his swag and he is welcome. I`ll help him fuel up, if needed. Home Strip 17.13.110 .....145.56.087 Frank. 1
Guest Maj Millard Posted July 16, 2012 Posted July 16, 2012 Will do Frank, he just said he probabily flew over your place recently, and is planning to get up that way again, so he may well drop in..I'll make sure he gets the co-ords..................................................Cheers Ross
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