Tomo

No you're just showing off Louis!

You'll be right Ryan, it will be de-active! But if you want to be double sure, just listen to the ATIS on 124.3 or there's a phone number in the ERSA as well. Not sure who's doing the displays this year, but Tony Blair did a great job the last couple years. Shaping up to be great weather this weekend, so should be pretty good. Just a pity I can't make it tomorrow. Worth a visit if you've never been before, and besides how often do you get to land on military airfields I took the Drifter to the fly-in one year.

Hey, don't forget this is on this weekend! I probably won't be able to make it, though there is a veerrrry slight possibility I may fly over on Sunday afternoon, but that's about it unfortunately. Brochure link here - http://www.161recceflt.org.au/MAAF/2012%20Flyer%201.pdf

Yay! So when are we going flying next?

So sad, always hits pretty hard especially when you were just talking with them a day before...

Really thinking outside the box here, but what's the chances it went out to sea? Reports were estimating he was in cloud for 2 hours or so... so at 100kts cruise (?) that's a fair distance. I'm sure they would have thought about that, but it's really starting to get frustrating to hear no trace has been found yet!

That's good to hear Matt, I was phoned to see if they could use it.

They got 14 choppers going now

Sounds pretty normal for a 618...

It is a Lexus after all... Bit like Mack trucks, it's all in the name... buy the same part for an International or something, and it'll be less than half the price!

Yeah that was Dexter, I had some fuel in there for him to top up on his return trip home. So that's why you didn't answer your phone.... to busy tearing around in a pressurised 210, you're as bad as me.

Pretty much everything we already know, but just another version http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/search-on-for-missing-plane-between-kingaroy-and-maleny/story-e6freon6-1226486050351?from=trendinglinks

A Dornier is due around 7pm apparently to help in the search. If anyone has any information regarding who was on board and you're willing to pass it on, could you PM me or something so I can pass it on? Have had a few calls asking if I knew anything.

You really could have! Would have been great to catch up, but anyway, next time hopefully.

Bit of a story over here - http://www.recreationalflying.com/threads/monto-2012.48144/#post-243398

Well, as you would already know (and if you didn't, you do now ) I went to Monto yesterday (Saturday) and had a good time! Started off with an early start from the farm and over the ranges to Kingaroy to pick up some mates there - one who is disabled and in a chair. Also fuelled up at the Roy, which is always scary in this thing.... Departed the Roy and inbound Monto about 45 min later... the radio was non stop but upon arrival over head it didn't seem as busy as it sounded and we fitted in and made a landing, then was shown to our parking spot for the day. Unloaded and we all went our various ways... caught up with Dexter and his Zephyr, Reg the Savannah man, and his faithful co-pilot/(salesman ) Steve - Rankamateur, Neil - Ballpoint246niner, Bill and his beauty blue Sav (well it has blue on it!), not to mention all the others I can't remember the names of, Sorry about that! Slarti of course, Mick the Skylark man, Mark - Kyle Communications, ah who else? Hmm... I missed Maj and Hongie by about 15 minutes as I had to leave a bit earlier than planned to beat the weather back home. Dexter took me for a fly in his great little Zephyr during the day which was great fun, had a bit of a play around there - might make a small video up of that when I get a chance. Had to leave around 2ish and head back to the Roy, made a bit of a grand departure by accidently hitting a runway light with my right wheel... slightly embarrassing, and sad to say the light didn't fair to well at all, obviously didn't like 1500 odd kgs knocking it off it's legs!! Not even a rub mark on the tyre though... they just don't make the lights like they used to, I'm sure of it! Anyways, after confiding with the unicom chap about my misfortune, and telling them I'll organise a replacement, we set off bound for the Roy! Landed there a bit later with a 15kt cross wind according to the AWIS, didn't really feel like it, but it was pretty gusty! Dropped off my mates there and we left for home, arriving not long after. Put the plane away in the hanger and it started raining... so was pretty happy we made that, and timed it right! Gotta love modern technology and weather radar eh? Got a few photos, but not as many as I would have like, kept getting distracted and catching up with people! Was a great day though, and it was hard to leave so early in the piece. Pretty decent aircraft turn up if you ask me! Dexter's Zephyr Lightwing? Karatoo? Trike Foxy Storm! Neil's neat looking Sav S Bill's Sav Tecnam twin Tecnam tail drager... now it is pretty neat plane! Cargo pod makes it look a bit 'interesting' though! Some of the aircraft line up, and the C206 Very tidy Skyhawk! Saw this and thought it could be FlyingVisla and co's? Reg's red rocket! Lovely old machine - talking about the plane, not you Bill! Monto township Instrument panel of the Zephyr Sitting under the shade... of a Savannah's wing, while the trees sway and birds sing... ? Hope that it's interesting enough to read - must have been if you got this far! Cya round!

Just got home from a great day at Monto! Will try and get a few photos, stories up in the next little while!

Flight plan done, weather looks like it should hold for tomorrow for a bit... so it's all on for a early departure, via Kingaroy to get some Avgas for the thirsty C206 and pick up a couple mates and on we come... hoping to arrive around 8.30 ish. Keep an eye out for me... bringing a disabled mate in a chair, so if you see a wheel chair getting pushed around I probably won't be far from it! (I'll be wearing a shirt with PNG flag colours - Red/Black/Yellow) I'll probably have to leave around 3.30-4pm ish though. See you there!

Yep thought you mightn't... that's okay, I hand start the A65 too

Nice! You'll probably find it will start a lot better if you give the throttle a quick pump before you hit the starter. And yeah, I have always started them with a bit of throttle.

I think the place you'll have the most interesting play with the weather is along the ranges. Generally once you're west you can dodge any small patches of rain. Just keep and eye on it, and a back door open and you'll be right. I can almost guarantee it will be windy though, so keep that in mind. You'll have fun. Camels are funny animals!

What engine has it got in it?

Goodness, that's a flash looking contraption you got there Doug!!