Back to Texas

[ejwells409]

Well, as luck would have it, several of the guys from my AF Reserve Squadron have been down here from Texas training with the RAAF and are on their way back home. They had contracted a C-17 to get them home, but it's broke down in the Azores and unable to make the flight for at least a week. After some high level discussions (and some low level deal making, lol) an A-400 crew from the RAAF has offered to make the flight back to the states on their way to a deployment, the specifics of which were not divulged. I have secured passage with these fine folks and so after some late night maintenance and lots of cargo straps, my Twin Bonanza is securely stashed and ready to go.



First stop will be Adelaide with a brief layover for. . ."cough". . .supplies, lol and then up the coast before heading out over open water. I'll keep the travelogue going with screens to let ya know where I am. . .this should be great fun. Sad to leave the Australian landscape behind, but it's been a great Rally as always and I look forward to next year.

[ejwells409]

Well. . . .departing Perth for Adelaide in the A-400. . .Bonanza tucked away and box lunches packed up and ready for later.













Down and parked at Adelaide.

[ejwells409]

After a layover in Adelaide for a few days, it's off to Sydney. . .refueling and back in the air. More pics to come.

[ejwells409]

Time to head to Brisbane after refueling and having some meals loaded. The flight up the coast was uneventful, however as I turned onto the ILS at Brisbane my generators went out, since I was busy taking screens I failed to notice that my descent was increasing and I had turned away from the locator, lol. . . .got the generators back on line and recovered in time to set down on rwy 1 without further incident.

[ejwells409]

Off again, this time from Brisbane to Tantouta in New Caledonia. After seeing so much of the Western Australia red dirt and scrub trees, the open water has been a welcome sight.

[ejwells409]

A short refueling stop and we were back in the air for a relatively short (slightly less than 300nm) hop to Vanuatu where we'll lay over for the night and then make our way up through Samoa, Fiji, Hawaii and then the States.
Hope you at least find the pics interesting if not the travelogue.









Due to technical difficulties, I was unable to shoot any pics of the landing, but hey. . . .ya seen one ya seen em all.

[ejwells409]

The departure from Vanuatu was a bit of a ride as you can tell from the screens, nasty weather had set in over the island and lightning popping everywhere made for a real light show. Too bad I didn't use FRAPS and get some video it was quite spectacular. Anyway, on to Fiji.

[ejwells409]

Well, a computer problem dogged me coming out of Nadi Int'l Aprt on Fiji as I couldn't fly beyond a 10nm limit without the sim locking up. I tried everything, including shutting off some other programs I had running in conjunction with the sim. . .none of which corrected it, not even a reboot, so I suspect a scenery glich was the culprit and I finally skipped that leg, went directly to Faleolo Int'l, Samoa and continued on from there. These pics are from Samoa to the Christmas Islands.







Next stop will be Hilo, then on to San Diego and then several inland stops prior to landing in North Texas.

[ejwells409]

Said goodbye to the Christmas Islands and headed NE to Hilo and just a bit closer to home turf. A bit of haze kept the Island shrouded until I turned final but it was still great to be in Hawaii. Next stop. . .San Diego.

[ejwells409]

Sorry for the delay in completing the trek home, but I fell ill in Hawaii and I've been bedridden for several days now. The A-400 was forced to go on without me for obvious reasons and so I may be forced to leave the twin here and catch a Commercial flight back home. More to come!

[ejwells409]

I actually was sick last week with a stomach virus which took me away from the computer for most of the week and no updates to my homeward trek (not that anyone has shown any real interest in either the trip back to the states or the screens I've shot. . .however, be that as it may, I'll finish this travelogue as I had intended. . .by landing back in Texas. These shots will take me from Hilo, Hawaii to San Diego and the California coastline.









Parked at San Diego. . .next leg will take me to Sky Harbor in Phoenix.

[ejwells409]

A short trip of less than 300nm puts me ever closer to Texas as I fly into Sky Harbor Airport after sunset. I'll layover here and I'll have to find transportation for the final leg back to Texas tonight or tomorrow. I have friends at Luke AFB, so I'll see what's available at the base.











Parked at Sky Harbor for the night. Got transportation out to Luke, and I'll get a room there and go over to the flightline and see what's cookin'. . .ya never know!!

[jazzthom]

have enjoyed your trip and the screenies!!

Thom (heading to NZ)

[Ed Burke]

'We may not say much but you are being watched, Comrade' if I may be forgiven for mis-quoting the Kapitan of the cow pad droppers.

I have enjoyed your trip home and I am amazed that you found an A-400 in the RAAF. I must have been asleep. Good stuff Ed, cheers, Ed the elder

[Chris Ross]

Ahh can't resist it
Looks like two Eds are better than one
Hope you are feeling better ED1
I seem to remember you have flown a Beech Staggerwing in past GAARs and wonder if you are related to the Ted Wells that as far as I know is resposible for this great aeroplane?
Regards Chris