Mission 1558 - Roma to Archerfield

Background

On Tuesday the 9th of January 2007 I flew Mission 1558, making it my 54th Angel Flight.

The mission description from Angel Flight was:

SUBSEQUENT TRIP REQUEST: (20th Angel flights)

A 5 year old resident of Roma requires treatment for ?Hurler Scheie Syndrome?(Inherited enzyme deficiency) at the Royal Children?s Hospital.

Due to the distances involved and the frequency of treatment, air transport would greatly reduce the travelling time and amount of discomfort experienced by the patient and also help alleviate the financial burden on the family.

I had carried Chloe on her maiden voyage, Mission 1178, in August and again in September on Mission 1269 and October 2006 on Mission 1376

Leg 1: Archerfield to Roma - Delayed departure

I was due to take Chloe and Joanne back at 8:00 in the morning. This would have meant getting up with the sparrows again. While I was prepared to do that, I was not prepared for my second son, Harry, to come down with a severe stomach bug in the middle of the night. So Heather and I spent a significant part of the night cleaning bed linen and comforting a little boy. On getting up Heather needed a little help getting ready for the day with the other two boys. Seeing that Joanne was now staying with friends in town, I rang her up and asked her to delay the flight by about an hour. She readily agreed.

With a new parking sport ar Archerfield, right across from the terminal, I saw them arrive as I prepared the aircraft for the flight. The weather, looke a little inclement, but, once we got under way it soon cleared up. By the time we had crossed the ranges it quickly petered out.

I had Chloe and Joanne on the ground a little under two hours after take-off.

Leg 2: Roma to Archerfield - another milestone

After making use of the facilities at Roma, I got airborne again some 10 minutes later, and had an un-eventful flight back home.

While doing the post-flight paper work, I discoverd that on the way home my trusty steed, FWL had accumulated its 8,760th hour, marking an entire year in the air over its 38 and a half year life.

Summary

I was back on the ground in Archerfield after having