At Approximatly 2pm today, our Catalina landed at Bankstown airport. NSW.

 

Arrived at Bowen in the morning.

Estimated time of Departure for Maroochydore is 11.30am

4 December – 5.00pm – arrived at Cairns

The aircraft arrived at Darwin on Tuesday 2 December 2008 and is now on its way to Bankstown in Sydney, stopping at or flying over key locations along the way. The journey has been timed to ensure its arrival at Bankstown on Sunday 7 December 2008, coincidently the anniversary of the Japanese bombing of the US naval base at Pearl Harbour on Sunday, 7 December 1941.

Hi All, now in Bali,finished fueling just before dark,day off tomorrow, early start Tuesday , as a long one and loose on the time as well ,

expect Darwin 1700 local. Will take at least 1 Hr to clear customs on bay 1, then we usually taxi around to the light aircraft bay, at Hardy's. - but not sure where we can park this big wing span.

see ya, Geoff

Arrived in Bali. Crew will have today off, and depart for Darwin tomorrow.

Estimated itinerary from Darwin is:
Cairns, - Thurs, Coastal to Gold Coast - Friday, Kempsey (where Jim Hazleton lives) - Saturday, Rathmines, Rose bay, Bankstown - Sunday. Times of day not yet known.

Hi all,
we are at the top of Sumatra, Medan tomorrow, not sure if there is fuel there though, all going well, engines are just starting to settle down, oil consumption is slowing. Will get Richard to fill in your fuel log/cost as he is keeping records.
all very tired as 0400 get up this morning.
 Jim and I had a long day yesterday fuelling aircraft and getting money changed to US$, it's a constant hassle to keep one step ahead of the changing challenges. Have you given any more thought to where this aircraft will sit for over a year and where you will find the volenteer engineers ?

Regards Geoff

N160AT arrived in Colombo Sri Lanka yesterday afternoon!

The Cat is purring and our skillful pilots are getting average groundspeeds over 130 knots and are achieving average fuel flows of just 90 gallons an hour. Minor defects being fixed as we go and the Cat will be in great shape by the time we get to Bankstown

The cabin service is not Quantas first class but I keep the men well fed and watered. No complains yet. The crew is a great team with everybody pitching in.

So until now our route has been -

Nov 15th

leaving Seia to Salamanca, Cannes France, Napels Italy, Rhodos Greece, Luxor Egypt, Bahrein, Muscat, Mumbai, and now Colombo Sri Lanka where we are having a day off.

The boys suggested to sell me for fuel to the Arabs, but they wanted to get writ of some camels and there was no space left for them on board. So the deal is off. Hope you have some better ideas to get VH Cat to Bankstown!

Mumbai (Bombay we say) was;one big bureaucratical adventure. Monday the 24th we got up at 4, left Muscat, were flying most of the time at 8000 ft, (a bit cold high in the sky without a heater but who cares, warm socks, coats, caps;and gloves solve the problem) we arrived in Mumbai 15.30 lt. No one there for the Avgas, we could have the fuel only;at 20.00lt they told us;and finally;we;were having dinner at 23.00lt in;hotel Gordon House. Our passports were taken by customs and all over we had checks, Next morning early (with passports) leaving for Sri Lanka Bandaranaike Intl, where we were welcomed very friendly.

As we are flying mainly at 8000ft most of the time it is hard to take pictures, we do our best, although views are hazy...even from the Pylon where I am seated most of the time, it is a great place to be with good views.

Our route will continue tomorrow to Banda Acheh, Medan, Palembang, Bali, Darwin,Cairns,Brisbane??,Kempsey, Bankstown Sydney!

Of course nothing will be sure I guess, and I really hope you will be able to get the money to get us in Bankstown.

It will be worth it, because you bought a beautiful Cat with a lot of possibilities once it will be in Bankstown!

Suggestion....could you invite the Dutch consul of Sydney....publicity???
Dutch and Australians have been fighting side by side in the 2nd World War after all, and we both have a Catalina!

Will try to keep you posted as much as possible..

Best regards, Bernie

Arrived Bombay!