I was just walking across the street from the office to have a late lunch at 2pm when John Watson rang with a problem. An Angel Flight pilot assigned to take Roy back from Archerfield had encountered bad weather on the way to Archerfield and consequently pulled out. Roy had already been dropped off by Earth Angel Sue Runge, and was waiting for a replacement pilot. Could I help?
About and hour later I arrived at the airfield, waved hello to Roy in the terminal and set about getting the aircraft ready for our flight. This was accomplished in about 20 odd minutes and I invited Roy to come aboard.
We headed north via Kilcoy and Gayndah before turning left and doing the last 90 odd miles into the late afternoon sun. We elected to stay down at 8,000' as there was significant cloud just above that height. So we had smooth sailing for most of the way.
Leg 2: Theodore to Archerfield
Roy was appreciative of the fact that I wanted to get home soon, and having witnessed me in the past trying to start a heat soaked engine, offered to alight with the engine just ticking over. He thus scrambled down the wing into the waiting arms of his wife Juanita. They both waved me farewell as I blasted off to the east and then south.
I spent the last 30 or so minutes of the return flight in the dark and landed at a very lonely Archerfield aerodrome, a bit tired, but nonetheless pleased with having been able to help Roy at such short notice.
Summary
I was back on the ground in Archerfield after having
spent 3 hours and 30 minutes in the air and taxiing