2010 January | Fly Me Friendly

Tweets Posted on 2010-01-30

Falcon124 | January 30, 2010 | 10:50 pm

Heard a Harvard roaring over in the arvo – now listening to the drone of a DC3 in the evening – happy :) #
Light of the blue moon bathing our house while Mars rides shotgun nearby – the beauty of the skies :) #
Winds picking up, temperature high – no flight tomorrow – a few beers & now to bed to remember what is this thing called "sleep" ! :) #
Strong winds that were predicted last night have definitely hit – glad we cancelled – I've been exploring this thing called a "sleep in" :) #

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Tweets Posted on 2010-01-29

Falcon124 | January 29, 2010 | 10:50 pm

At the hotel waiting for our passengers #
At Goshes Paddock – winds are shifting – it's anyone's guess how this'll work out :) http://myloc.me/3jGCn #
At Yarra Bend – looked like a satellite heading north http://myloc.me/3jI6U #
At the top end of Fawkner Park waiting to see if they're landing here or Albert Park http://myloc.me/3jLh0 #
Flight over – wound up at Albert Park – now back at the shed after refuelling & cleaning #
RT @pcdu: Word is that Tanker 10 (the DC10 water bomber) is doing a demo retardant drop in the fields east of Avalon airport at 14:00 today #
Waa hoo! :) RT @t0r0nad0: Popped the question to @trigrlheather this morning – she said yes! We're engaged! #

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Tweets Posted on 2010-01-28

Falcon124 | January 28, 2010 | 10:50 pm

RT @pcdu: Can't record next @PCDU episode yet – @SteveVisscher has PSD (Post Simulator Depression) & @Falcon124 is a hyper busy balloonatic #
Weather is crap (winds, low cloud, drizzle) so we're cancelling – heading back to bed for some much required sleep :) #

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Tweets Posted on 2010-01-27

Falcon124 | January 27, 2010 | 10:50 pm

At the @FlightExpQV open night, interviewing staff & guests about flying the 737 simulator – may even get another flight :) #
Awesome @FlightExpQV – people really enjoyed themselves – @stevevisscher & I got to do a circuit of KLAS by ourselves – I was his copilot :) #
Winds aren't too bad but cloud likely to roll in – we're going to try & see if we can sneak one in #
Winds backing off but cloud thickening & lowering – maybe we get a chance today… #
At the hotel to meet our pax – cloud still thickening up but we might still be able to get away with it :) #
Launched at Fawkner Park – winds shifted – looks like Fairburn Park or Footscray near the uni #
Winds are all over the place – right now I'm at Royal Park waiting to see if they can make it in here http://myloc.me/3g8xL #
Mission accomplished – another group of happy passengers – pilot had to work hard on this one – now to refuel & put it back in the shed :) #
I was looking up ICAO codes, honest :) RT @pcdu: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2750800&l=161895b005&id=99032359158 #

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Tweets Posted on 2010-01-26

Falcon124 | January 26, 2010 | 10:50 pm

Heading to the hotel to meet our pax – low cloud, winds tending on the high side & changing speed – not real stable – dunno if we'll fly :( #
Cloud lifting but winds still high & direction not great to target Essendon airport's big grass areas so we've cancelled – bummer :( #

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Tweets Posted on 2010-01-25

Falcon124 | January 25, 2010 | 10:50 pm

On the road again – heading to Geelong as part of the Picture This Ballooning crew – we're going to try to tether the Carlton Pot of Beer :) #
Passing Avalon Airport (YMAV) on our way to Geelong http://myloc.me/3bBqT #
Near the beach where we're doing the tether – waiting for our access to be confirmed http://myloc.me/3bFYg #
It's been a warm day & there's some very interesting scenery walking around :) #
Turns out 4 of the amazingly attractive ladies seen this week at the hotel when meeting pax are well paid & with the Russian team *coff* #
We're on the beach & are trying to establish crowd control :) we'll start cold inflate during the fireworks and try to stand it up after #
Temperature dropping fast, fireworks 10 minutes late – oh well, the hot chips have arrived – woo hoo – snack time :) #
Fireworks are GO #
Ever seen a beer this big? :) http://tweetphoto.com/9556418 #
All done – night glow over – balloon has been packed away & the obligatory crew meal at Maccas has been eaten – home time :) #
At the hotel to meet the pax – winds are variable – oh joy :/ #
At Goshes Paddock watching a pilot balloon to figure out what the winds are doing http://myloc.me/3cvzo #
Balloon launched at Mayer Park – now heading to Bulleen – let's see if the winds cooperate today :) http://myloc.me/3cAhm #
At Yarra Bend – layers of winds at very different speeds & directions – we've got balloons going everywhere :) http://myloc.me/3cBom #
3 balloons heading to Fawkner Park, 2 to Royal Park & my pilot's aiming for here @ Yarra Bend http://myloc.me/3cBPr #
All done – now to head home for some food, a beer & a siesta :) #
Listening to the Unusual Attitudes podcast – it's the Derek & Clive of aviation podcasters :) :) #
Home again at last after an intense 36 hours: crewed balloons, ran errands, cat nap, crewed a night glow tether, cat nap & crewed again :) #
Just heard the roar of an F18 doing a demo – came from towards the city – yup, Australia day celebrations are in progress :) #
People in the park having BBQs in the sun – yup, it's Australia Day :) #

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Tweets Posted on 2010-01-24

Falcon124 | January 24, 2010 | 10:50 pm

What a day – up to crew at 0230, a friend's son's 1st birthday party then a 270km 4 hour drive – crewing again in the morning so bed time :) #
Weather looks good – let's go fly some balloons :) #
Upper winds may not be right for Essendon – boo :( #
Just laubched them :) http://myloc.me/3aLgJ #
Now at Essendon airport (YMEN) waiting for the balloons to arrive – surrounded by bizjets, skycranes, DC3, lighties and choppers – yay :) #
Here's Essendon tower (YMEN) http://tweetphoto.com/9497953 #
Balloons landing at Essendon http://tweetphoto.com/9499269 #
Flight over – about to refuel http://myloc.me/3aPQA #

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Tweets Posted on 2010-01-23

Falcon124 | January 23, 2010 | 10:50 pm

Winds are higher than expected but showing signs of dropping a bit – we're going to give it a whirl :) #
At the hotel to meet pax & dodge the drunk hotel guests returning from a night out – always gets "interesting" during the tennis :) #
Mind you, thanks to the Australian Open tennis, the quality of the drunk clubbers coming bacl to the hotel has certainly improved – oh la la #
At the hammerthrow paddock (aka Goshes paddock) near the MCG trying to figure where to launch from http://myloc.me/38Ixh #
We took off at fawkner park – now at Essendon airport (YMEN) where the guys are targeting #
There are 3 (yes, 3! :) Ericsson Skycranes parked on the ramp at YMEN – wow – plus a DC3 #
Picking up Nykolai in Wonthaggi where he's been visiting friends http://myloc.me/39fs9 #