more_thomas_m-ps

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revision Previous revision
Next revision
Previous revision
Next revisionBoth sides next revision
more_thomas_m-ps [2020/06/12 14:26] judithmore_thomas_m-ps [2020/06/12 14:31] – [Richard John M-P] judith
Line 33: Line 33:
 The Royal Flying Doctor Service was another important aspect of Outback Air's work. Richard did a lot of gratis piloting for the Service, sometimes using his own aircraft and at other times flying their aircraft. He saw this as his way of giving back to the outback he loved so much.Outback Air was also frequently chartered to fly contractors and State and Federal politicians to the Torres Straits. More dangerously, Richard became involved with Federal Customs and the Queensland Police in controlling illegal drug importation. This work was in keeping with Richard's strong anti-drug stance. Quite apart from this, flying had its inherent dangers. Three incidents in particular stand out.\\ The Royal Flying Doctor Service was another important aspect of Outback Air's work. Richard did a lot of gratis piloting for the Service, sometimes using his own aircraft and at other times flying their aircraft. He saw this as his way of giving back to the outback he loved so much.Outback Air was also frequently chartered to fly contractors and State and Federal politicians to the Torres Straits. More dangerously, Richard became involved with Federal Customs and the Queensland Police in controlling illegal drug importation. This work was in keeping with Richard's strong anti-drug stance. Quite apart from this, flying had its inherent dangers. Three incidents in particular stand out.\\
 \\ \\
-One time, just after Richard obtained his private licence, he flew to a cattle station to deliver emergency rations after a cyclone. As he landed, he encountered a roll of fencing wire, obviously blown there by the cyclone, and it wrapped itself around the front of the plane. Nobody had thought to check the aerodrome. The next incident was years later when he was returning to Cairns from a charter. It was dark night with a thunderstorm between his position and the Cairns airport. His aircraft lost all its electrics including radios and undercarriage motor. When Richard eventually landed, it was with his wheels up in the midst of a blaze of sparks. Given he still had a lot of fuel stored in the auxiliary wing tip tanks, Richard quickly left the plane in case it blew up. The third incident was when Richard and Ilma were spotting for prawns over Fog Bay in the Northern Territory and had an encounter with a Lesser Frigate bird with a wing span of one and a half meters. The bird smashed the windscreen, hit Ilma on the way through and ended up in the back of the cabin. Following a ‘Pan’ call Richard flew the plane back to Darwin. A few stitches later, a new windscreen and aerials and, more importantly, a sustained industrial clean to remove fish and bird parts, they were able to return to spotting.\\+One time, just after Richard obtained his private licence, he flew to a cattle station to deliver emergency rations after a cyclone. As he landed, he encountered a roll of fencing wire, blown there by the cyclone, and it wrapped itself around the front of the plane. Nobody had thought to check the landing strip. The next incident was years later when he was returning to Cairns from a charter. It was dark night with a thunderstorm between his position and the Cairns airport. His aircraft lost all its electrics including radios and undercarriage motor. When Richard eventually landed, it was with his wheels up in a blaze of sparks. Given he still had a lot of fuel stored in the auxiliary wing tip tanks, Richard quickly left the plane in case it blew up. The third incident was when Richard and Ilma were spotting for prawns over Fog Bay in the Northern Territory and had an encounter with a Lesser Frigate bird with a wing span of one and a half meters. The bird smashed the windscreen, hit Ilma on the way through and ended up in the back of the cabin. Following a ‘Pan’ call Richard flew the plane back to Darwin. A few stitches later, a new windscreen and aerialsand a sustained industrial clean to remove fish and bird parts, they were able to resume spotting.\\
 \\ \\
 Richard and Ilma sold Outback Air in 1985. The next two years were spent primarily in the Torres Straits helping the Islanders to establish their own crayfish businesses. They helped the Islanders to process, pack, store and market their catches. Richard purchased a boat named Moi-Kuzi (meaning successful hunting) and sailed it up from Cairns with friends. Following this trip Richard declared “Adventure is sheer terror recollected in tranquillity”.  Life in the Islands was an amazing and unique time in the family’s lives; Richard and Ilma's daughter particularly loved the island lifestyle.\\ Richard and Ilma sold Outback Air in 1985. The next two years were spent primarily in the Torres Straits helping the Islanders to establish their own crayfish businesses. They helped the Islanders to process, pack, store and market their catches. Richard purchased a boat named Moi-Kuzi (meaning successful hunting) and sailed it up from Cairns with friends. Following this trip Richard declared “Adventure is sheer terror recollected in tranquillity”.  Life in the Islands was an amazing and unique time in the family’s lives; Richard and Ilma's daughter particularly loved the island lifestyle.\\
  • more_thomas_m-ps.txt
  • Last modified: 2020/06/12 14:45
  • by judith