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Post by ejwells409 on Mar 9, 2009 17:17:25 GMT -5
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.
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Post by ejwells409 on Mar 9, 2009 20:44:56 GMT -5
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Post by ejwells409 on Mar 13, 2009 21:16:34 GMT -5
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Post by ejwells409 on Mar 14, 2009 8:18:19 GMT -5
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Post by ejwells409 on Mar 14, 2009 12:08:09 GMT -5
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Post by ejwells409 on Mar 15, 2009 0:11:21 GMT -5
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.
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Post by ejwells409 on Mar 15, 2009 9:57:31 GMT -5
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Post by ejwells409 on Mar 15, 2009 20:56:42 GMT -5
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.
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Post by ejwells409 on Mar 16, 2009 19:19:05 GMT -5
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Post by ejwells409 on Mar 20, 2009 20:01:24 GMT -5
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!
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Post by ejwells409 on Mar 23, 2009 23:48:57 GMT -5
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Post by ejwells409 on Mar 23, 2009 23:56:34 GMT -5
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Post by jazzthom on Mar 24, 2009 3:29:55 GMT -5
have enjoyed your trip and the screenies!! Thom (heading to NZ)
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Ed Burke
Member
Healthy living is fine, but it's having fun that keeps us going!
Posts: 433
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Post by Ed Burke on Mar 24, 2009 3:47:33 GMT -5
'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
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Post by Chris Ross on Mar 24, 2009 14:56:41 GMT -5
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
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