AV8A

Thanks for the update, I look forward to reading about it.

I was enjoying that, did Laurie finish his trip?

Err - no serious was my obvious intention. If i key the mike on a police frequency and tell them what I think of them - I will have a knock on the front door in less than 15 minutes or atleast have cops driving up and down my street.. A mobile phone will periodically try and ping a repeater tower. When it does that it sends the phones sim id - that way towers can direct incoming calls to the nearest tower to initiate the call. It's not rocket science.. And yes if they had a dedicated and active EPIRB the results would have been more efficient. But a phone is doing essetially they same thing..

Yet it still it took them 3x days to get some kind of a fix with 2x search planes and 14x helicopters and a relatively small nomintated search area... Unfortunately in this case it didn't matter - but it would be nice if they could get their act together in the future. /end of rant RIP guys.

Bugger. In saying that - surely a mobile repeater could be flown over the search area and see if something pings it. I was trailbike riding at Kia Ora the weekend before last - Telstra coverage was good to the north east of Gympie.

Just an idea. Assuming one or serveral passengers had mobile phones - its unlikely they were turned off for a short hop. Why not try and see if any of these are hitting local towers and possibly be triagulated?

Just plain dumb luck really. Glad no one was hurt! (too seriously). Sure its easy to point fingers and what not. But at the end of the day I keep hearing in my head - : "Charter boat? How did you NOT see a charter boat?"

Herbie Lives! Should of taken it as a sign of things to come!

I was having Dejavue - a little old C150 at Avalon use to do this to me all the time!

A ballistic chute is an option on these - did Peters demonstrator have one?

Another link http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/06/24/3252714.htm - It was a Super Petrel. Very sad news indeed!

from - http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/aussie-pilot-dies-in-german-blimp-crash/story-e6frf7jx-1226074436627 SNIP - "An Australian blimp pilot died in a fiery accident in central Germany but saved the lives of three passengers after ordering them to jump to safety, the German tabloid Bild reported today. Onlookers in the town of Reichelsheim, near Frankfurt, reported hearing a loud engine noise from the Goodyear blimp during an event yesterday evening. The smell of gasoline was reported, and then the four-seater blimp's engines caught fire. With the blimp hovering two meters (six feet) above the ground, the pilot yelled at the passengers to jump off. It then shot 50 meters up into the air and exploded, before plunging back down in flames." I just seen this sad news on the telly. My thoughts and prayers to the pilots family.

Hold my bag for me when you get you medical and you might also be eligible for FREE accomodation and meals indefinitely!

I have been thinking of this bloke the last few days and have been meaning to PM you Swanny. Glad to hear things are on the up! :thumb_up:

Too bad the Foxbat has shrunk - I am yet to try the new one myself. I spoke to you last night btw