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Category Archives: Learning to Fly
Learning to fly, either ab initio or training for a new license/endorsement
The Lake 2012: Day 2: Brisk n Windy
Once again another “oh-dark-thirty” wake up and prepare for whatever the day could provide us. I grabbed my muesli bar & piece of fruit “first breakfast” before we all headed over to the briefing room to see what the weather … Continue reading →
Posted in balloons, Flight Notes, flying, Learning to Fly
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Tagged "drag landing", Angus, balloons, cancel, farmer, field, flight, Lake Cullulleraine, Mildura, TheLake12, wind
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The Lake 2012: Day 1: Back to the Burners
It’s just before 6am and everyone’s staggering into the briefing room for the first welcome & weather briefing. Morning briefing on Day 1 always starts a bit earlier & runs a bit longer so we can get the overview & … Continue reading →
Posted in balloons, Flight Notes, flying, Learning to Fly
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Tagged "drag landing", balloons, camp, flight, Lake Cullulleraine, Mildura, paddock, TheLake12, tree
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The Lake 2012: Day 0: It’s a Bloody Long Drive!
They say that every journey starts with a single step & my first step to get to Mildura was getting to the Picture This Ballooning shed before 6am to pick up the Toyota Troopy 4WD & balloon I was taking … Continue reading →
Posted in balloons, flying, Learning to Fly
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Tagged balloons, Bendigo, drive, Lake Cullulleraine, Melbourne, Mildura, The Lake 2012, The Mallee
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Going to “The Lake”
The Australian Ballooning Federation are working with the Mildura International Balloon Fiesta to host “The Lake” event at Lake Cullulleraine near Mildura in the “Mallee” region of north-west Victoria. If you’re wondering just where that might be, check out the … Continue reading →
Posted in balloons, flying, Learning to Fly
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Tagged ABF, balloons, bunk house, camping, hours, Lake Cullulleraine, Mallee, MIBF, Mildura, tent, The Lake, training
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The San Joaquin Siren: Another Great Pilot Story
I really enjoy reading aviation books (funny that) and especially (auto)biographies that give me an insight into the experiences of the times, from growing up to learning to fly and then on to surviving various aviation adventures. With that in … Continue reading →
Posted in Books, flying, Learning to Fly
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Tagged autobiography, aviation, biography, Burma, CBI, China-Burma-India, India, Japan, Lightning, P38, pilot, US Army Air Corp, USAF, World War 2, WW2, WWII
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2010-07-04 – Halo on the Clouds – Mildura – VH-BLQ (77)
This was my first flight with Pete Wright (my other instructor) and included a climb to 4,000′ AGL where we found ourselves above a thin layer of stratus, seeing our shadow on the cloud with a rainbow halo around the … Continue reading →
Posted in balloons, Flight Notes, flying, Learning to Fly
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Tagged balloons, cloud, halo, Mildura, Pete Wright, stratus, terminal descent, the voice, VH-BLQ
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2010-07-03 – Shifting Evening Winds – Mildura – VH-BLQ (77)
This was an afternoon flight where the light winds shifted dramatically part way through, making us reassess our route & target landing spot. I was at Mildura as part of the Australian Ballooning Federation’s “The Lake 2010” event Here’s my … Continue reading →
Posted in balloons, Flight Notes, flying, Learning to Fly
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Tagged ABF, balloons, change, Lake Cullulleraine, Mildura, Paul Gibbs, The Lake, thermals, VH-BLQ, winds
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2010-07-03 – First Lesson – Mildura – VH-BLQ (77)
This was my first instructional flight in a hot air balloon. I was at Mildura as part of the Australian Ballooning Federation’s “The Lake 2010” event Here’s my notes from the flight: Paul’s FICOM check process Cold, crisp conditions with … Continue reading →
Posted in balloons, Flight Notes, flying, Learning to Fly
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Tagged ABF, altitude, balloons, Exciting, first flight, Lake Cullulleraine, low, Mildura, Paul Gibbs, skimming, The Lake, the voice, VH-BLQ
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Life’s Better Inverted
On Easter Monday this year, I was hanging out at home and looking at the beautiful blue skies when the phone rang. It was Nico asking if I wanted to go flying today. HAH! What a crazy question :) I … Continue reading →
Posted in flying, Learning to Fly
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Tagged aerobatics, alpha r2160a, robin 2160, rvac, ymmb
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Weather or not I can fly…
I missed my flying lesson last Saturday because I was sick – and it was a beautiful morning to fly. So, I booked three, yes, that’s THREE (3), lessons for this Saturday. I had 8am, noon and 3pm. So, sure … Continue reading →