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John's 1st Aircraft - A Cessna
150B at Lakes Entrance, Victoria
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John on a training Flight
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| In 1970 I bought my first aircraft
a Cessna 150B, VH-WCH. The aircraft was distinctive from later C-150's
as it had a straight tail. The Aircraft was the only C-150 in Australia
fitted with long range tanks, had 8 hours endurance and could fly
Melbourne to Sydney, non-stop. I flew WCH all over eastern Australia, and
even across the sea 3 times to Tasmania and a number of times into Kingsford-Smith
International in Sydney. The aircraft is still flying and is based in Balmoral,
NSW, |
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WCH At Melbourne Airport
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WCH Taking off from Leongatha
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Checking the Cessna's Oil
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Aviation Adventure
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Auster J5B VH-SNK
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| In 1975 I bought my self a new aircraft
an antique four seat British Auster J5B, built in 1955. There was only
one catch the aircraft was stationed at Corfield, Queensland. Just on 2000
kilometres from Melbourne. Being and old aircraft the Auster had a cruising
speed of 150 km per hour, which translated into 13+ flying hours, not taking
into account the many landings for refuelling. I booked on the Thursday
evening to fly to Brisbane. Next morning taking the Folker F-27 service
to Longreach, then a small Twin-Otter to Winton. |
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Mum Nancy comes along
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| I had deliberately not told my mother
of this adventure as she would "worry herself sick" Two days
before departing my mother found out from someone in the family and was
on the phone. I said |
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| to her why don't you come along,
if we crash you will be there and not sitting at home worrying. To my surprise
she decided to join me. |
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Flight Preparation
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| I was buying the aircraft sight unseen
although the owner had sent me a small photo. He told me it had no radio
- this I would need if I was to fly into Moorabbin Airport, Melbourne.
In those days the rest of the trip you could get away with out a radio.
Just submit your flight plan at the public phone at the airstrip, then
call again after you had landed. I had an old "Bayside" radio I had taken
out of the Cessna when I bought a new one. I wired it up with 2 x 6 volt
lantern batteries and made an antenna from a coat hanger. This I would
install on the wing strut of the Auster with sticky tape in order to get
into Melbourne. |
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We Fly in to Winton
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| The Friday we were off to Brisbane,
Mum and I had dinner and we got an early night. Next morning we were up
at dawn for the flight to Winton. The owner flew the aircraft down there
from his farm in Corfield. We arrived and met the owner and had a pleasant
lunch at the local pub. We filled out all the change of ownership forms
and handed over the cheque. |
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John's Seat
