On Tuesday the 29th of June 2010 I flew return Mission 5397, making it my 138th and 139thAngel Flights.
The mission description from Angel Flight was:
SUBSEQUENT TRIP REQUEST:
A single mother from Tamworth has three children with Pierre Robin Syndrome.
This trip her eight year old daughter will attend clinical appointments.
Archerfield to Taree
You may well ask why Taree features in this flight. The answer lies in recency requirements. I had to perform at least another 2 night landings before this mission as I would be landing back in Tamworth in the dark. I can only do this with passengers aboard, if I have done 3 landings and take offs in the preceding 2 months. So I would have to do a special flight to get that recency.
Since my parents live in Taree which is, sort of, on the way to Tamworth, I decided to fly to Taree on the night before, do my take-offs and landings there and then hop across the mountains in the morning.
The flight to Taree and the landings went without a hitch and I had my father there to help me tie the plane down for the night.
Taree to Tamworth
The flight to Tamworth was in glorious conditions and about three quarters of an hour later I landed there, taxied to the parking bay and started looking for my passengers.
I did not need to look far. Gabrielle, her mum Sharon, and brothers Christopher and Nicholas were all eagerly waiting behind the fence. Christopher in particular, was cavorting and carrying on, as only a ten year old boy can.
Tamworth to Bankstown
Having installed all my passengers across the three rows, we got going, but were somewhat delayed by the amount of traffic in the Tamworth control zone. About 10 minutes after take-off we finally passed over the field heading in the desired direction.
Conditions were smooth and about an hour and a half later we turned final for runway 29R. Waiting for us at the Schofield's Flying Club was Earth Angel Russ Weekley, who took my passenger to the Children's Hospital.
I went in hunt of a toilet, some AvGas and a hamburger before settling down to do some work on my laptop computer in the flying club.
Bankstown to Tamworth
About four and a half hours later my charges re-appeared and I escorted them back aboard. Carrying out the Bankstown Instrument departure we headed first toward Richmond and then north to Tamworth.
The sun set soon after take-off and we spent most of the time in the dark. Somehow, despite my best efforts, Tamworth hove into view and I even managed to find the runway.
Gabrielle and family were home. I farewelled them at the fence and got back into my steed.
Tamworth to Archerfield
I was again delayed a little getting out of Tamworth - this time it was a handful of arrivals. But once on the way I had terrific tailwinds so that a little less than and hour and a half I was back on the ground in Archerfield.
Summary
During these flights, we
covered 995nm (1,840km or 1,146sm)
did 5 take-offs
did 5 landings
spent 6 hours and 36 minutes tumbling in the air and bouncing on the tarmac
