FTX Auckland in P3D...

[dfarrow]

Peter ,
You lasted longer than I , last ''gripper'' flight end of Nov. with dear old Ted Barber ; hauled off to a 737 course at 24 hrs notice . European rules had kicked in so did 2 yrs past 55 , the last as 1/2 time . BA bought my keys to their Boeings in Aug.09 , since when I've been instructing in singles for 3 days a week ; and a share in a Rollason Condor ( be good to have one in fs09 ! ) Been privileged to see the seasons change from the skies over Wessex , 'cept it's been rain , mizzle , gales and hill fog since mid Dec.
Clive is an old neighbour , so know Vic vaguely as I did not do 111's ( he was well at Clive's Christmas party a year ago ). Nig Stokes and Rog Andrews organise a ROFFs ( retired old f###s fly-in ) every Tues. so sometimes get to see Clive and his ''victim'' ( often Kay ) at these . If you are ever N Daarset way look us up , or are you near Bolt Head ? 'cos am still trying to get there with 't Condor . ( Did find your place on fs when Jonesy ? had guessed it , but memory has lapsed ). I'm sure you have many exciting sailing stories as well .

ATB dave f .

[speedbird591]

Ah! The hangar doors are open, I see. it can't be helped when there's more than one Nigel about

I hope you're not too close to the north Dorset border, Dave. We don't want your noisy aeroplanes buzzing over West Wiltshire, disturbing our peace and quiet, thank you very much! But then again, I do often work my noisy little diesel trains down through Maiden Newton and Dorchester to Weymouth, which upsets the wildlife a bit

I don't remember the Moshulu, although the name sounds familiar. I'm sure I would have come along if it had been that trip as I'm fascinated by the sailing clippers. I've read some Eric Newby (e.g. A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush) so on yours and Peter's recommendations I popped off to Amazon and bought a 'very good condition' copy of The Last Grain Race for one whole penny plus postage! Bargain

I found a couple of my old snaps of the SeaBee Goose for you.




I also found a video on YouTube (not mine!) from 1988.

http://youtu.be/pJunmmcNBL0

Ian

[dfarrow]

Ian , apologies for late reply ; been away for last few days . Yep we do compete with the tractors for noise , and regularly on trial lessons get to Cerne Abbas , just East of Maiden Newton . More often in general handling we're looking down on the Salisbury - Sherborne line , mind would not be able to catch you if I'm in 't Condor . Sounds like you get to see the seasons change in bootiful places too. A couple of drivers from your Salisbury base have flown with us .. one Pete ? another Naarfick Booy is a glider , microlight and Piper PPL . A LH CSD mate Tim Ambler also aviates in the area and is our vintage .
Hope your ''grain race '' has turned up ..and worth 't penny . if printed by ''Jarrolds of Naaridge '' , it might be an original printed by my dad .There's several other good Newby's around , '' Love and War in the Apennines '' being one .
Ian , brill video . I never got to Waiheke on the Goose , they only had 2 spare seats so the 2 gurls that came along went . Did get to Bay of Islands in the Widgeon ( main photo and not a Gosling as I thought , part of the Goose ( with radials ) is on right of main photo) . Had to come back with Mt Cook on a Twotter , but a great trip all round . On t/o 'twas more like a sub as a wall of water seemed to cover us until up on the plane . Was on an empty sector so luckily got a go , only one yoke that had to be swung from left seat to right seat depending on who was flying ... swinging it back to the skipper on short finals ( water so wheels up and checked up several times ) got a bit sweaty !

All the best for now , and 'scuse the Norfolk dialect ,

Dave f .