Fly Me Friendly

• Finished a day of mowing, ripping crap out of gardens & tidying the yard – I ache & I'm over this garden crap – time for a beer :) #
• Watching "Lawnmower Man" movie – 1992 classic – old school VR, smart drugs & graphics – like going to a very early rave in 92/93 :) #
• Just arriving – Southern Knights are doing their thing (4 ship aerobatic team flying Harvards) #
• Traffic is heavy – @stevevisscher wasn't expecting it to be this popular – oh well, we'll get in there yet :) #
• Chatting with RAAF Security crew – they've closed the base as there's no more space for parking – can still walk in tho, so we are :) #
• Chipmunk, 3 ryan monoplanes, T28, Hudson, DC3, PC9, PC21, 2xP51, P40, Spitfire, Yaks, JetProvost! C130 & lots more :) #
• Vampire is spooling up – beautiful sound & smell :) #
• Interviewed the chief test pilot from Pilatus who's here with the PC21 – also interviewed Jim Whally, ex RAAF, now flying the CA15 :) #
• Steve Death just took off in the Spitfire & will be flying with the P51 & P40 – now about to interview Jim Wickham about his Yak9 :) #
• Hanging out for the CA27 Sabre to fly (the Aussie version of the F86 with an Avon jet engine) #
• Sabre, Spitfire & Mustang in formation over the field as a RAAF PC9 spools up – wow! :) #
• Sabre is doing a great show – beautiful :) #
• Now hang out with @stevevisscher, @ATC_Ben & @twinck near the PC21 & commentary box as the Roulettes do their shots :) #

• Mowing lawns & ripping out all sorts of crap to tidy up the garden before we move out – listening to stacks of aviation podcasts, of course #

• Recorded a great chat with @FleetBuzz & Ben Sandilands (from Plane Talking on crikey.com.au) on QF & DJ results & future airlines in Oz :) #

• Up @twinck @maxcelcat @stevevisscher gates open at 9am – I'd say crowds would be picking after 10 – wish I could fly in & dodge them :) in reply to twinck #

According to Alan Joyce from QANTAS, the “Jetstarisation of QANTAS” is supposed to be over. Well, I have a problem with that as I continue to see evidence that, if anything, the “Jetstarisation” is increasing. I would not be surprised to find JQ branded high density A380s flying to the USA and/or Europe while QF dwindles to only a very few select routes.

Thanks to an opportunity presented by Shashank Nigam, I’ve been able to voice my concerns on his very well read Simpliflying site. This is not only getting my thoughts before a large audience, it’s also helping to promote the Plane Crazy Down Under podcast, which can only be a good thing.

The article provides a background on the birth of Jetstar, its growth to date and how it is destined to consume more of QANTAS’ mainline routes & aircraft. Head on over to Simpliflying and check out the article.

Thanks to Shashank for giving me the opportunity to gain further exposure to the global aviation world and helping to promote PCDU, it’s very much appreciated :)

• Crewing in the valley again – just launched http://myloc.me/42w2W #
• At Boisies Corner waiting to see how it develops http://myloc.me/42wYy #
• Finished the flight – rain came in just after they landed so we had a wet pack up & bogged one of the 4WDs getting out of the field – joy :( #
• All done – now to drive home & change into some dry clothes :) #

• Woo – ISS & Shuttle overhead Melbourne @ 20:42 tonight for 3 minutes in the far northern part of the sky – max elev = 31deg #
• About to watch Avatar – can't believe it's taken so long to get around to seeing it – also can't believe the price to see a movie – fark! #
• Kitt wants me to be her conscience & remind her to be a bit more cautious – cue Grant as a "bad news bear" (seen Avenue Q? :) :) #
• Back from watching Avatar in 3D – wow – amazing movie but the synthetic 3D left me faintly nausiated – go figure! #
• My diet is low on caffeine – only occasional energy drinks when need to work long hours – drank 2 big cokes today – still awake at 4am – DOH #

• RT @DMVanderhoof: Just got off call w/ @falcon124 & @stevevisscher who @profvanderhoof calls a cross between Monte Python and Spinal tap! #

• Just arrived at the shed out here in the valley – so dark out here away from the city – haven't seen the milkway in *ages* – beautiful :) #
• Beautiful day for a balloon flight out here in the Yarra Valley – fog on the hills & mist low around the river #
• Here's where we're waiting near the paddock the guys are targeting #
• Could see a couple of the city balloons flying in the distance – looks like a Westerfolds Park to Moorabbin flight for them #
• Stupid "add location" not working. Maybe this time #
• Another happy day in the balloon corps :) flight went well & the gusty northerlies started to kick in as we left the landing field :) #
• Clear blue sky & a single jet dragging a vapour trail right across it – beautiful :) #
• Home again at last & the sun is most definitely over the yard arm :) :) #
• Kitt gave in to temptation & picked up some hot cross buns – oh yeah baby! *so* scrummy :) #

• Interesting RT @FleetBuzz: CFM To Re-Engine Boeing 737, Sole Supplier Deal http://is.gd/8yCoF #