Mission 4808 - Theodore to Rockhampton and return

Background

On Friday the 18th of December 2009 I flew Mission 4808, making it my 126th and 127th Angel Flights.

The mission descriptions from Angel Flight was:

SUBSEQUENT TRIP REQUEST:

A gentleman from Theodore has oncology appointments in Rockhampton for treatment of bowel cancer.

The road journey is becoming difficult for him and an Angel Flight would be of great benefit

I had previously conveyed Phillip and Gigi on mission 4141 in May this year. That, too, had taken us from Theodore to Rocky.

Archerfield to Theodore and Rockhampton

I got airborne about 9 o'clock heading north to Theodore. Just north of Kilcoy I was cleared direct to Theodore where I arrived about an hour and a half later.

Phillip and Gigi were already waiting for me with Juanita Goodland overseeing it all.

When the conditions are smooth I am always keen to take the credit for the pleasant flight. When it is rough, I always blame the weather. The forecast had indicated scattered cumulus clouds, and that is exactly what we encountered on the way toward Rockhampton. Unfortunately the base of this was at 5,000' and it went up way over our heads. So there was no escaping some constant light to moderate turbulence.

About halfway there Phillip requested a sick bag, just to be on the safe side. Luckily he did not have to make use of it, but nonetheless and I got to blame the weather.

Arriving in Rocky about three quarters of an hour later we found Earth Angel Wayne Pederick waiting for us at the Rocky Aero Club. I left Phillip and Gigi in his care and agreed, that, should the visit at the hospital prove to be shorter than anticipated, we could depart earlier too.

Rockhampton to Theodore and home to Archerfield

Having just refuelled the aeroplane with AvGas and myself with a freshly brewed cup of coffee at the aero club, I got a call from Phillip: They were already finished and heading back to the airport. This meant that we were heading home an hour and a half early.

The flight back was not much better; the building heat had increased the clouds somewhat. The only positive was that, again, we were cleared direct to Theodore, cutting about 5 minutes off the flight time.

Phillip did not request a sick bag this time, but, I am sure, was nonetheless glad to get his feet back on terra firma after another three quarters of an hour in the air.

The flight back home was as as rough, if not rougher than the other legs, again no level affording any respite from the turbulence.

I touched down roughly an hour later, sweating profusely, but still happy to have made a difference today.

Summary

I was back on the ground in Archerfield after having