Woke up 0930 hours feeling like a new man!
Spent all day working on my Blogs and e mails in motel room.
Richard went to airfield to service engine/change oil/fuel up; returned early afternoon with several microlighters; invited me to join for lunch, but declined to work.
Lots of media contacts; Reuters in Sydney, New Zealand equivalent of BBC, etc; all wanting info. of when arriving in Sydney.
Spoke to Catherine, PR lady in Australia for the SCB, who informed me now four helicopters standing by with all major television networks on board to film our arrival into Sydney Harbour…
Current plan is that Dick Smith, renowned Australian entrepreneur (bit like Richard Branson in UK), who, amongst many other achievements, has flown a helicopter around world, will be flying up to our airfield soon after dawn tomorrow to escort us down the coast 23 miles to The Heads, famous landmark at entrance to Sydney Harbour, where other three helicopters full of TV crew will be waiting to film us entering Harbour and flying past famous Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge; trying to get Dick to sort out permission for us to fly under the bridge; some 200 feet clearance, so not a problem, but not allowed usually! Been given permission to fly along air routes over harbour area and city usually reserved for helicopters.
Landing at Banks Airport on edge of city where will be met by media, then off to hotel in the city where we are guests at big corporate luncheon arranged by Standard Chartered Bank, with me speaking for an hour; trying to persuade Richard to take big part; him sitting on veranda outside my room right now putting in GPS coordinates and enjoying a beer; very reluctant, as he says not his scene, but I am sure he will be a star tomorrow!
Afternoon more media stuff going into evening, then we guests early Tuesday morning at Sunrise Breakfast TV programme that goes out nationwide, then at 1100 hours off to the airport with Jon Cook to fly to Manila in the Philippines to speak at another SCB fund-raising event there the next day, before flying on to Hong Kong and South Korea for other fund-raising corporate events before returning to Britain on 8 May; I will probably bore you with Blogs until we return to the UK.
Richard staying in Australia for a few days, flying the machine up to Newcastle where it will be packed into a container to head back to Britain, maybe via the Hong Kong event first, then he's off to see his brother in Brisbane before returning to the UK for a few days before flying out to China, where he is the international judge for the forthcoming Para-Motor World Championships (kind of parachute/wing canopies with person suspended in harness seat below, with motor propulsion at back of harness; Richard also very good at this form of sport!
Now early evening, with me trying to sort out new PowerPoint presentation with Jon Cook in Sydney for me to use tomorrow; could be bit hectic, but great finale to the journey; tired, happy, at peace with the world, and hoping that I will be able tomorrow to take in all the wonder of the moment whilst flying, and that our temperamental wing-mounted video camera works OK to record it all for us!
Thought for the day: Babe Ruth hit more home runs than anyone; he also struck out more often than anyone.
The greatest enemy of creativity is not the lack of talent but the fear of being criticized.
Don't be afraid of living those dreams of yours my friend- make a decision as you read this now to do something about it- it may take you a while, like my flight to Australia, but, with friends to encourage you and your own determination not to give up when things don't work out straight away, you will actually live them…
As the quote above says, don't be afraid of criticism- just do it…
Is this the length you have to go to, to contact your bestman?!
Ewan, Jean’s brother, lives in Brisbane and wondered if this pilot was the Miles we know.
A step up from pilotting the barge!
Kennett and Jean
What a fantastic trip, congratulations on your achievement!
The RAAus (Recreational Aviation Australia) the national sport aviation organisation in Australia would like to hopefully see you and present you with an award after completing your epique flight to Australia.
If you can circle back to Australia after your Asian meetings we would love to see you! We can meet you in Sydney, Melbourne or Canberra.
Also before your co-pilot Richard packs the aircraft up he might like to fly to Sunbury Airfield (Penfield) north west of Melbourne and be a part of our local Fly-In this Saturday the 5th of May, all casual and no speaches required. We will look after him with hangar space, food & accom if he can fly-in.
If you do want the media, and/or if you can make it to Melbourne then this can be arranged as well, as Melbourne is Australia’s second biggest city there would be a lot of media exposure if you need it for your fundraising.
Sunbury Airfield is a microlight/ultralight friendly airfield located just outside the Melbourne control zone and was the finishing point for both Eve Jackson and Brian Milton on their UK to Australia microlight flights.
Hope to hear from you soon, Regards Rodney Birrell. Please contact me via mail@goflying.com.au or the RAAus or Airsports Flying School. See http://www.goflying.com.au for flying school and airport information. See http://www.auf.asn.au for RAAus info.