We get to do some fun things here @ The Coalface to show life on the job, and more importantly, off the job. In this case though, it’s in the sky taking a flight in a vintage Tiger Moth bi-plane up the coast from Mackay Airport.
From my base in Dolphin Heads in Mackay I have been watching for a few years an incredible bright yellow Tiger Moth gracefully fly past my veranda. Every Saturday if the sun was out and the winds were low watching it’s captivating flight was a welcome addition to my morning.
I wanted to see what this was all about from the first time it flew past.
Mackay Tiger Moth Museum has been around since 1974 preserving Australian aviation history with passion and dedication.
After many chats with Chief Pilot Ross and a few missed starts due to bad weather the day finally arrived, and I found myself at the Tiger Moth Museum ready to hit the skies.
There is really something special about these flying machines and you feel it from the first moment you walk into the hanger.
With introductions, a safety briefing and a bit of the museum’s history shared by Stewart and Chris, it was time to fly so I headed out to where the bright yellow plane painted in historic Australian Airforce colours was ready and waiting.
To say I was excited is an understatement. Ross taxied us out and then blasted the throttle sending us down the runway and up, up, up into the air.
I have never flown in an open cockpit plane before and you couldn’t wipe the grin off my face. Though that may be because the wind plastered it there!
Reaching altitude, we tracked left and up the coast. While the engine is pretty noisy, there is a huge sense of calm as we gently started making our way over Mackay’s city centre and the marina. It was postcard views in every direction, rugged beauty to the west, and the stunningly unmistakable and unforgettable views of the Whitsunday Islands and Coral Sea to the right and ahead.
A wealth of information, Ross pointed out all the key landmarks and flew like the seasoned pilot he is. To top it off he even did a couple of orbits around my place at Dolphin Heads letting me take in the views from a completely new perspective.
We continued north for a bit before turning to the west and flying out over the Pioneer Valley and villages to the west of Mackay before turning homeward bound to the airport. The landing was smooth as silk, the silly grin still on my face.
Not once during the flight did I feel nervous or unsafe and when we landed safely back on the ground a warm cuppa and homemade biscuits back at the hangar was the perfect wind down after a thrilling adventure.
This is a must do experience I can’t recommend more highly. Or if you are looking for a unique new hobby, volunteers are desperately needed at the Museum.
| Book a flight or find out more about the Museum at: www.mackaytiger.com.au |
