First Solo. 41 Years On.
First Solo – an event that few aviators ever forget. Through planning or good fortune, I have generally flown on the anniversary of that first flight. On the 25th anniversary, I organised to fly a light aircraft in Queensland where I was on holidays. …
The Final Boeing 747.
This week the final Boeing 747 rolled off the production line at Boeing’s Everett facility in the United States. Its bare metal fuselage covered in a green vinyl coating, belying its future colours as a freighter for Atlas Air. In an era of inbuilt obsolescence …
On Reflection.
On reflection, there are many magnificent memories that come to mind after forty years of flying. Surprisingly, one that always rises to the surface is not a memory that you would necessarily expect. My father was my flight instructor and the expression “tough but fair” …
Boeing 747. The Special Edition.
Hi All, Firstly, an apology. Those on my mailing list will be aware that I was on the cusp of releasing a limited edition of 100 copies of “Boeing 747. Farewell from the Flight Deck”. This edition featuring a hardcover, colour images and a bookplate …
Grounded.
Grounded. To someone that is passionate about aviation that single word is both daunting and alien. And yet that is my current reality. Following my annual pilot’s medical, a condition was detected that called for me to undergo major surgery. Now, two weeks on, I …
Echoes of First Flight.
I could almost hear the echoes of my first solo flight, although the Bellman hangars and operations bunker pre-date me by decades as their roots turned soil in the dark days of World War Two. However, many of the landmarks that set the scene of …
The Best Seat in the House.
It has been called the best seat in the house and as the four engines hummed hypnotically through the night sky over the Pacific, who was I to disagree? While Honolulu sat only a matter of miles away, the passengers on board the Boeing 747 …
A Tale of Two Cities.
It was the best of times. It was a tale of two cities. With my time in the aviation wilderness imposed by COVID behind me and my command training on the Boeing 737 completed, the sweat-sucking sun of Darwin was a pleasant source of relief. …
Cherished Words.
Dad, Jack and Col survey dad’s damaged “belly” tank that had taken hits from ground fire. (Korea – 1952) An Australian fighter pilot of the Korean War recently passed away. He had flown with my father in those frigid skies and in recent years shared …
The Journey.
It’s a cliché but it’s true – It is all about the journey. In becoming a Boeing 737 Captain last week I achieved a goal that had been lingering for thirty years. It was originally a goal that could easily be obtained within a decade …
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