Okies, had a great few days flying in the Philippines. Shame its over. But just when I was about to sink into the aviation doldrums, this little cracker came along and saved my day!!!

Cheers,

Enjoy.

Just a few more shots from the Subic Bay trip last month.

Cheers

More flying this month. the lads are becoming increasingly fed up with Omni and their pricing scheme / bookings system. If we get an aircraft at all, it will be 1049 or 1051. With this in mind, we've decided to try other alternatives.

Here is one. Mark Cupit's Beechcraft Musketeer. Here are Fog and I having just landed at Subic where we stayed overnight at the Blue Rock resort. Great place by the way.


The only trouble with flying around the Philippines in your own aircraft, visiting exotic locations, is the harsh reality of the Monday morning "at my desk" syndrome.

Off on the 20th march to do my C-152 hours that will enable me to retain my license. I've been flying loads in the 172 and the Beech but although I can log these hours, I still need the required hours "on type" which is a pain in the arse.

I'm heading up to Vigan for an overnight and I believe Mark Slayton (pictured above on the floating bar at Blue Rock) will be joining me. this is good as I've never been to Vigan before.

Thats it...Go Scotland!

So Happy New Year everyone!

Back at work now after a great trip to the Philippines with Gracie. Did some flying which waas good and spent some quality time with some like minded people.

This admittedly low quality vid is a camera capture of Grace and I heading back South after a night in San Fernando. Was a but concerned by this flight as i hadn't flows as Pilot In Command (PIC) for 6 months. Took all the checks extra slow however and as soon as I was airborne everything soon came back.

We had a 30 minute window to land at San Fernando as the runway is closed fo construction work till 5 PM and then sunset is 530 ish. Pulled off a reaasonable landing off over the construction so was quite pleased despite a bizarre swerve on rollout...guess not used the brakes for a while...

Grace looks quite relaxed in the photo so I guess thats not a bad sign.

the trip back involved some "bridge buzzing" and "formation flying" with Moray in 8833 and Fog in 391 which was good fun.

Got the cahnce to fly right hand seat with Fog in 8833 and pulled a better landing off at Omni than my last attempt from this seat.

New Year was the usual crazy affair with too many explosives. I can confirm that all eyes and digits are still attached.

Played some golf which was good. I shot a 46 on the back nine which is a great score for me.

Anyway. Good to see Kano and Lee had a good festive season...thought Lee's blogging days were over..."Lee rarely blogs!!!!". Haha

It looks like I'm grounded over Chinese New Year as I've just dropped the taxman a wad...sigh.

:(

Grace is off to the province to see the family in March. I'll head down later and hook up with her in Angeles when she gets back. Shit...who's going to iron my shirts / do the cooking / CLEAN THE FLAT...???

Well. At least the new indian restaurant in Mui Wo is looking good. By the time Grace gets back I'll be riding on the roof of the MTR to get about. Can I say that? hehe. It IS my blog.

That's it I guess. Except to wish you all a very Happy New Year.

Best,

Mark

Got home from our end of year bash and switched on the TV. First thing I heard was "Omni Aviation" and saw the camera panning over the charred remains of my baby..RP-C 1053.

It was the aircraft I soloed on and flew more than any other. The picture is my first solo.

Reports sketchy but made a forced landing and had a subsequent fire that gutted the AC. Student suffered head and chest injuries, instructor same plus minor burns. Both already on road to recovery so some good news. But my baby.... I was scheduled to fly it on the 28th!!!

Anyway. Again a very Merry Christmas to you all.

Best

Mark




http://www.gmanews.tv/story/73636/Plane-makes-emergency-landing-in-N-Ecija-2-hurt

Twas The Night Before Christmas -- Aviation Style --

Twas the night before Christmas, and out on the ramp,Not an airplane was stirring, not even a Champ.The aircraft were fastened to tiedowns with care,In hopes that come morning, they all would be there. The fuel trucks were nestled, all snug in their spots,With gusts from two-forty at 39 knots.I slumped at the fuel desk, now finally caught up,And settled down comfortably, resting my butt. When the radio lit up with noise and with chatter,I turned up the scanner to see what was the matter.A voice clearly heard over static and snow,Called for clearance to land at the airport below. He barked his transmission so lively and quick,I'd have sworn that the call sign he used was "St. Nick".I ran to the panel to turn up the lights,The better to welcome this magical flight. He called his position, no room for denial,"St. Nicholas One, turnin' left onto final."And what to my wondering eyes should appear,But a Rutan-built sleigh, with eight Rotax Reindeer! With vectors to final, down the glideslope he came,As he passed all fixes, he called them by name:"Now Ringo! Now Tolga! Now Trini and Bacun!On Comet! On Cupid!" What pills was he takin'? While controllers were sittin', and scratchin' their head,They phoned to my office, and I heard it with dread,The message they left was both urgent and dour:"When Santa pulls in, have him please call the tower." He landed like silk, with the sled runners sparking,Then I heard "Left at Charlie," and "Taxi to parking."He slowed to a taxi, turned off of three-ohAnd stopped on the ramp with a "Ho, ho-ho-ho..." He stepped out of the sleigh, but before he could talk,I ran out to meet him with my best set of chocks.His red helmet and goggles were covered with frostAnd his beard was all blackened from Reindeer exhaust. His breath smelled like peppermint, gone slightly stale,And he puffed on a pipe, but he didn't inhale.His cheeks were all rosy and jiggled like jelly,His boots were as black as a cropduster's belly. He was chubby and plump, in his suit of bright red,And he asked me to "fill it, with hundred low-lead."He came dashing in from the snow-covered pump,I knew he was anxious for drainin' the sump. I spoke not a word, but went straight to my work,And I filled up the sleigh, but I spilled like a jerk.He came out of the restroom, and sighed in relief,Then he picked up a phone for a Flight Service brief. And I thought as he silently scribed in his log,These reindeer could land in an eighth-mile fog.He completed his pre-flight, from the front to the rear,Then he put on his headset, and I heard him yell, "Clear!" And laying a finger on his push-to-talk,He called up the tower for clearance and squawk."Take taxiway Charlie, the southbound direction,Turn right three-two-zero at pilot's discretion" He sped down the runway, the best of the best,"Your traffic's a Grumman, inbound from the west."Then I heard him proclaim, as he climbed through the night,"Merry Christmas to all! I have traffic in sight."

Off to the Philippines for two weeks so just a quick posting to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Love,

Mark and Grace

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=102068

Oops...

Looks like there will be lots of explaining to do!

Funny how a picture can tell a thousand stories.

the aircraft concerned is Werner's and I've only ever seen it with the hood up and work going on under there. Its the aircraft in this picture...with the hood open. RPC 976.

Anyway he got it down I guess so good effort. But should it really have been flying in the first place?

Cheers