Patrick Hoyt's Posts - Zenith Aircraft Builders and Flyers2024-03-29T06:14:47ZPatrick Hoythttps://zenith.aero/profile/PatrickHoythttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2170991616?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://zenith.aero/profiles/blog/feed?user=1nedn2eu5iamq&xn_auth=noVideo Cameras Used in Flighttag:zenith.aero,2013-01-08:2606393:BlogPost:2589972013-01-08T22:45:38.000ZPatrick Hoythttps://zenith.aero/profile/PatrickHoyt
<p>Several people have asked about the video cameras that I've been using. I've posted a few videos that include views from inside the cockpit (with audio), and views from outside the cockpit. <br></br><br></br>I have an NFlightCam GPS+ (about 1 year old), and a GoPro Hero2 (about 5 months old), generally using both cameras at the same time on my test flights. </p>
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<p>These small video cameras have been a big help in my Phase 1 testing. It's helpful to be able to "go back and review what…</p>
<p>Several people have asked about the video cameras that I've been using. I've posted a few videos that include views from inside the cockpit (with audio), and views from outside the cockpit. <br/><br/>I have an NFlightCam GPS+ (about 1 year old), and a GoPro Hero2 (about 5 months old), generally using both cameras at the same time on my test flights. </p>
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<p>These small video cameras have been a big help in my Phase 1 testing. It's helpful to be able to "go back and review what happened". One of the cameras plugs into my headset jacks and picks up voice, so instead of writing down notes I can just fly the airplane, talk to myself, and review later. It's a lot of fun, and you never know what exciting events you may capture... ;-)<br/><br/>Here is a basic review of the cameras that I own and use on my airplane. I'd encourage you to do your own research into whatever is on the market at the time you are looking, as the technology is rapidly evolving, and I can promise you that there are better cameras out there than the ones I use (both are already obsolete).</p>
<p><br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>NFlightCam GPS+</strong></span>: I mount this one on the steel rollover tube behind the passenger seat, pointing forward (although it could point any direction). <br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Advantages:</span> it plugs into the headsets to capture audio, and it can record through the prop disk without distortion. Picture quality is better than the GoPro due to less "fish eye" effect. The lens can be rotated to "level" in cases where the mount is at an angle. I has 2 small lasers built in to help find where "level" is. <br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Disadvantages:</span> very limited battery life (max of 2 hours 14 minutes in my experience), no ability to recharge the battery in flight, no ability to see what you're recording until you download to a computer, and frankly it's just plain cheap chinese quality (I actually had to make a shim out of plastic just to get the battery that came with it to contact). Total cost (about $600). GPS doesn't work. Sometimes it shuts itself off.<br/><br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>GoPro Hero2:</strong></span> I mount this camera under the wings via a plastic bracket that is held on with double sided foam tape (which has thus far survived 100+ mph winds at 10 degrees Fahrenheit). I also have a suction-cup type mount that attaches to the the canopy.<br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Advantages:</span> ability to add an extra battery 'backpack' for longer battery life, lots of mounting options and accessories, total cost (about $400). <br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Disadvantages:</span> can't capture rapid motion without distortion (look at the propeller distortion on any GoPro video), fish eye distortion, it has to be "re-programmed" every time you power it on if you use anything other than the default settings (which is fine for kids on skateboards, but not so good for guys who mount cameras upside down under their wings). There is a separate remote control, but it doesn't always work with the Hero2 (there's a new "Hero3" available now that has that built in). Only sound capability is via the built-in mic. You also need a newer computer to run their proprietary software (which is something I hadn't seen in any of the product reviews). None of my personal computers (nor my computer at work) was able to run GoPro's software, and if you can't run their software then you can't upgrade the camera firmware (yeah, I know how to hack around that, but the issues I have are present with the current firmware version). Also it shuts itself off sometimes and you don't know it.</p>
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<p>Camera technology is rapidly evolving, and as time passes we are seeing the prices dropping while quality is improving. With the increasing availability of small, inexpensive video cameras, it's going to be interesting to see what people do with them. </p>
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<p>I'm interested in hearing about other peoples experiences with cameras on their airplanes. <br/><br/></p>
<p>- Pat</p>Moving Day for the Zodiac Projecttag:zenith.aero,2012-06-15:2606393:BlogPost:2202892012-06-15T19:53:42.000ZPatrick Hoythttps://zenith.aero/profile/PatrickHoyt
<p>On Saturday, June 9th, several EAA Chapter 25 members gathered at my house to move the Zodiac project from it's humble birthplace in a Minnesota garage to a local airport.</p>
<p><br></br> The day began with one group meeting at the EAA chapter hanger for some early morning prep and cleanup operations, and another group meeting at my house to prepare the Zodiac for transport. Several people displayed great stamina by participating in both operations during a hot, windy day and under a…</p>
<p>On Saturday, June 9th, several EAA Chapter 25 members gathered at my house to move the Zodiac project from it's humble birthplace in a Minnesota garage to a local airport.</p>
<p><br/> The day began with one group meeting at the EAA chapter hanger for some early morning prep and cleanup operations, and another group meeting at my house to prepare the Zodiac for transport. Several people displayed great stamina by participating in both operations during a hot, windy day and under a relentless sun.</p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231359040?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231359040?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><br/> My friend Dick Navratil (of Rotec-powered Pietenpol fame) brought his flatbed trailer. It took us some brainstorming to figure out how best to load the tricycle-geared Zodiac fuselage up and onto the trailer, but once we did we had enough muscle on hand to make the job go very well. Once that was accomplished, we took a break to have lunch and to cool off in the air-conditioned house before setting out down the road.</p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231359618?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231359618?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><br/> With the Zodiac fuselage secured to the trailer, our caravan began the trek towards the Lakeville airport. Prior to departure, we'd arranged to stop after a couple miles just to re-check everything. While stopping at a convenient parking lot (which turned out to be Eagan City Hall), I began to notice curious onlookers taking pictures. One thought that crossed my mind was, "I hope nothing bad happens that gets us on the TV news...."</p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231360182?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231360182?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p>
<p>After verifying that everything was secure, we again pulled back out onto the road. We inched up our speed as I watched for anything odd that might be flapping. 40 mph - everything's fine. 50 mph - looking good. 60 mph - still looking good. And so we got the fuselage to the Lakeville Airport, and quickly unloaded it without incident.<br/> <br/> We then returned to the house for a second trip to get the wings. The wings were considerably lighter than the fuselage, but they were bulky and much harder to transport. I'd already built a rack for them, and after another round of brainstorming we secured the wings to the rack, and then secured the rack to the trailer. </p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231360965?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231360965?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p>
<p>On down the road we went. Much slower this time, and with two stops during the course of this trip. We finally arrived at the Lakeville Airport, again without incident. The winds were really beginning to pick up, and so we backed the trailer into the hanger and easily unloaded the wings there.</p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2089324620?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2089324620?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><br/> All in all, it took us quite a bit longer to accomplish the move than I thought it would. As seems to be the case with many things, more time is spent figuring out the "best way" to get a particular task done than is actually spent doing the task itself. One of the great things about my local EAA chapter is that when you get a group of us together there is no shortage of smart people with great ideas on how to best accomplish something given the tools and materials on hand. </p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2089325211?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2089325211?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p>
<p>It was a hot day, and as I write this I am sunburned and some of my muscles are a little sore, but I had a wonderful time with some really great people, and I wouldn't trade that for anything. </p>
<p><br/> - Pat<br/> <br/> <br/> <br/></p>Cleaning the Canopy for the First Timetag:zenith.aero,2011-06-20:2606393:BlogPost:1315322011-06-20T02:46:26.000ZPatrick Hoythttps://zenith.aero/profile/PatrickHoyt
<p>The canopy on my Zodiac was coated with engine oil which had been sprayed by the prop blast during initial run-up testing. On top of this oil was several months of accumulated garage dust, grit, and debris.</p>
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<p>I've noticed a rather disturbing tendency for visitors to rub the canopy in what I believe is simply an instinctive desire to make a clean spot. Given that it's summer now, there are more people stopping over, and more people wanting to reach over and wipe off part of…</p>
<p>The canopy on my Zodiac was coated with engine oil which had been sprayed by the prop blast during initial run-up testing. On top of this oil was several months of accumulated garage dust, grit, and debris.</p>
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<p>I've noticed a rather disturbing tendency for visitors to rub the canopy in what I believe is simply an instinctive desire to make a clean spot. Given that it's summer now, there are more people stopping over, and more people wanting to reach over and wipe off part of the canopy - and possibly scratch it.</p>
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<p>It was just a matter of time before some idiot scrawled "wash me" on my canopy - possibly scratching it and annoying me forever. So I figured I'd better clean it.</p>
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I didn't dare rub the canopy with anything as that would just scratch it from the accumulated grit. I figured that "flowing" the oil off with soap and water was my best bet.<br/>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231350216?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231350216?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a>First, I started by taping a cheap sheet of plastic (obtained from the Home Depot paint aisle) over the engine and cabin areas.</p>
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<p>Then I found an old spray bottle and filled it up with a mixture of Dawn dish-washing liquid and plain tap water. I remembered an old documentary on TV where they said that Dawn was one of the best grease cutters out there, so after testing it on a piece of scrap canopy material I figured I'd give it a try.</p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231351609?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231351609?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a>I sprayed the oily. gritty canopy with the Dawn-water mix. Really soaked it. Then I let it sit and watched the crud drip off.</p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231352159?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231352159?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a>The amount of black crud that dripped off the canopy was amazing. After about 10 minutes I sprayed the whole thing down again, and let it drip some more....</p>
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<p>Then I hosed it off with a garden hose. </p>
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<p>One thing I noticed was that there was a lot of crud *inside* the canopy as well. No idea how the inside got so dirty, but it did, so I gave the inside the same Dawn-water and hose treatment. I do keep the canopy propped open quite often, so it's possible that normal dust accumulates there as well.</p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231352764?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231352764?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a>After hosing it off for a while, I could see that all the oily crud was gone. I let it drip-dry for a while, and then very gently wiped it off with a soft cloth. I wiped in straight lines starting from the "focal point" at the top and going straight down. This was "just in case" I made some scratches, so they would be less visible while in flight.</p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231353771?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231353771?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a>The difference it made is amazing. Looks much better now. It's nicer working on a clean airplane than a dirty one.</p>
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<p>- Pat</p>
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<p> </p>An Australian Adventuretag:zenith.aero,2011-05-02:2606393:BlogPost:1186692011-05-02T03:30:00.000ZPatrick Hoythttps://zenith.aero/profile/PatrickHoyt
<p>Recently my wife (Mary) and I journeyed to Australia in celebration of her 50th birthday. Being long-time EAA members and homebuilders, part of our vacation planning included establishing contact with Australian homebuilders who lived in the regions we were going to visit.</p>
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<p>We've always enjoyed meeting fellow aviation enthusiasts. Some of our most enjoyable times have been in the company of aviators who we've met at various places. From small fly-ins at places like Brodhead…</p>
<p>Recently my wife (Mary) and I journeyed to Australia in celebration of her 50th birthday. Being long-time EAA members and homebuilders, part of our vacation planning included establishing contact with Australian homebuilders who lived in the regions we were going to visit.</p>
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<p>We've always enjoyed meeting fellow aviation enthusiasts. Some of our most enjoyable times have been in the company of aviators who we've met at various places. From small fly-ins at places like Brodhead and Cloverdale, to larger events like Oshkosh - we've met so many wonderful people and have made some lasting friendships. </p>
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<p>So what possible better way to see the "real Australia" than to spend time with people who live there and who share the same passion for aviation and homebuilding that we do...?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231345395?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231345395?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><em>Celebrating Mary's 50th birthday at the Great Barrier Reef.</em></p>
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<p>We began planning and researching our trip well in advance. We learned about such things as Box Jellyfish, Dengue Fever, and Vegemite. Fellow EAA Chapter 25 member Peter Denny shared a lot of interesting information about his homeland with us. We kept an eye on the status of some massive flooding in northern Queensland, and when Cyclone Yasi hit we questioned the wisdom of planning a vacation into what the news media described as a disaster area.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231345681?profile=original"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231345681?profile=original" width="750"/></a><em>Cyclone Yasi as it bears down on Queensland </em></p>
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<p>Fortunately we had made contact with local people in several areas who were able to provide first-hand accounts of the actual local conditions, so we continued as planned.</p>
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<p>On March 17th we flew commercial out of MSP (Minneapolis) to LAX (Los Angeles). Our flight was scheduled to arrive mere minutes before the connecting flight to Sydney was scheduled to depart, and despite our questioning of such tight scheduling, the airline repeatedly assured us that there would be "plenty of time". Our flight arrived in LAX roughly on time, but of course (of course!) there was a delay at the arrival gate, and so we sat on the tarmac, with the connecting flight to Sydney visible at an adjacent gate, literally yards away - and passing it's departure time... </p>
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<p>Eventually we got a gate, and the crew let us get off the aircraft first. They had already told us that we might not make it to our connecting flight, and they suggested that we "run fast". As we reached the deserted gate for the Sydney flight, the jet-way attendant there said, "you must be the people from Minnesota". So they must have been expecting us. We were relieved to make it onto the flight with at least our carry-on bags, as having to delay an extra night at LAX would also have impacted a flight we had scheduled out of Sydney the next day.</p>
<p><br/>Thus began the long flight over the Pacific Ocean... </p>
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<p>We landed in Sydney on the morning of March 19th, having crossed the International Date Line. Surprisingly, our checked bags also made it, which I'll never understand given the rush we had just to make it onto the plane. It was raining in Sydney, but since we don't visit there very often we ignored the weather and went walking around.</p>
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<p>Eventually we discovered that we could buy tickets for a local bus and ride around town. As the sun set we made our way back to the hotel, seeing some huge fruit bats on the way. These bats have about a 4 foot wingspan, and when they flap their wings it sounds like a rug being shaken. We hung around the concierge lounge of the hotel where we shared dinner and drinks with some interesting people. This was a theme that was to recur many times over the next 3 weeks...</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231347832?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231347832?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Fruit bat in downtown Sydney.</em></p>
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<p>The next morning we caught a Qantas flight out of Sydney and flew to Cairns, which is in northeastern Queensland. </p>
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<p>We rented a car in Cairns. Given that they drive on the left side of the road in Australia, I became the designated driver (I had previous experience driving on that side or the road when I was stationed on Okinawa in the early 1980's while in the US Marine Corps). It didn't take long to get the hang of driving on that side of the road, but I believe it's worse for the passenger, if the frequent gasps emanating from other seat were any indication.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231348157?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231348157?profile=original" class="align-center" width="600"/></a><em>Comparison of the size of Australia and the United States.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p>We also rented a GPS, which proved to be invaluable. I had zero experience with GPS's before, but after having spent time driving around in a strange and far-away land, I can tell you they are absolutely worthwhile. There is a significant amount of stress reduction that takes place when you come to the realization that it is impossible to get lost (short of an unlikely malfunction or breakage of the GPS unit itself). This GPS actually talked! "Turn left on Kamarunga road in 600 meters", "Destination on right in 200 meters", "Perform a U-turn when possible". All in a mechanical, female voice with an Australian accent. At times it was almost like being nagged by a second wife...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Our first stop was the Lillybank Bed and Breakfast, which we used as our "base of operations" for the next 8 days as we explored the Cairns area. We did all the tourist stuff like visiting the Great Barrier Reef, riding the Kuranda Scenic Railway up a mountain, and then taking a cable car back down, and visiting a local zoo. We made friends with some fellow travelers from Canada and others from England who stayed there for several days with us. One particularly humorous event took place when a neighbors dog started barking, and the house "Galah" (a large pink & white parrot) would bark back at it. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231349086?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231349086?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><em> Our "Home away from home" at the Lillybank B&B in Cairns, Queensland.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>As we began exploring the Cairns area we were struck with how everything that we saw was "different". The trees, the flowers, the bugs. Everything. It was all new and different. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>But above all else - throughout the whole country - there was a common theme of meeting great people, like fellow Zodiac builders David and Connie Graham who live in nearby Atherton, Queensland. </p>
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<a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231349645?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231349645?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><br/>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Pat & Mary Hoyt, and Connie & David Graham.</em><br/><br/></p>
<p>We met David near a local school, and then followed him out to his hanger at the Atherton airport. David and I took his Jabiru 3300 powered Zodiac 601XL-B for a ride while Jon Collins (David's building partner) and Mary went up in a Jabiru J-160. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2131600643?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2131600643?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full" width="750"/></a><em>Patrick Hoyt and David Graham enjoying a Zodiac in the smooth air.</em></p>
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<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231352595?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231352595?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>David Graham's beautiful Zodiac</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The air was smooth as glass, and the local countryside, the Atherton Tablelands, was absolutely beautiful. After about an hour playing in the clouds in the Zodiac, we landed on Atherton's grass strip and then took a Jabiru J-230 up for a ride. The J-230 is a stable, high wing aircraft with great ground visibility, which was a pleasure to fly.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231353493?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231353493?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><em>J-160 and J-230 Jabiru's in the hanger.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231354319?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231354319?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full" width="750"/></a><em>One of the Atherton Tableland's Crater Lakes.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231355260?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231355260?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full" width="750"/></a><em>The Lotus Glen Retirement Home for local politicians.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231356459?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231356459?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><em>In the pattern at the Atherton Airport.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>We spent most of the day at the Atherton airport, talking about airplanes and meeting local pilots like Mark, who had a crop duster, and other wonderful people. We also made friends with "Max", the local airport dog. That evening David and Connie invited us into their home where we met their family and shared dinner.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231357330?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231357330?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><em>Mark and his crop duster at Atherton.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>David and Connie invited us to the North Queensland Aero Club, which was having a "trivia night" at the Cairns airport. We attended, and our table, the "A Team" was victorious, despite Mary & I being somewhat weak on Australian trivia. But we had a great time, with plenty of good food and drink, well into the wee hours. Once again, the thing that I'll always remember is the wonderful people that we met. The men and women of the North Queensland Aero Club are cut from the same cloth as the people from any EAA chapter. Just plain good people, with a wealth of experience and fascinating ideas. What a privilege it was to get to know them.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231358663?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231358663?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><em>The North Queensland Aero Club's victorious A-Team.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>We drove up to nearby Port Douglas, which is north of Cairns, on the Coral Sea. This was closer to what would have been the front lines had the Japanese been able to invade northeastern Australia in WWII, and Port Douglas would have been a logical location from which to stage defensive operations of the Cairns area. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231358848?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231358848?profile=original" class="align-center" width="604"/></a><em>Australian Spitfire with the "Later Shark Mouth" artwork.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>There have been rumors of a shipment of British Spitfires said to have arrived late (after the tide of the war had turned) and the enemy had been pushed back beyond the limited range of the Spitfires, with the then-unneeded Spitfires not being worth the trouble to uncrate. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231358733?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231358733?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><em>Australian Spitfires in World War II.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>I didn't see any evidence of any Spitfire relics, but Australia is a big country, and there's no way to know what's been squirreled away in remote buildings or old mining shafts - or what condition any such artifacts would be in after the passage of so much time. I did notice that an old pub that we visited could have originally been an old hanger, as it was similar in construction to the big Navy hangers on Fleming Field of the same era which are near my home. There was no other sign that there had ever been an airport or military installation in the area that we visited, as far as I could tell, but of course we only saw a very tiny sliver of the area. One thing I do know for certain, though, is that Australians are patriotic. There were local plaques and historical markers honoring the battle of the Coral Sea, as well as a park that honored local servicemen, including those who'd been awarded the Victoria Cross. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231362010?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231362010?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full" width="750"/></a><em>Australia honors it's heroes of World War II.</em></p>
<p><br/>Eventually the day came to say goodbye to Cairns. Although we'd only been there 8 days, it felt like a lot longer. We felt like we'd known our new friends for years, and we promised to keep in touch and hopefully meet again some day. The sadness of saying goodbye to such wonderful people was only slightly tempered by the knowledge that we had more adventures ahead of us...</p>
<p><br/>We set off down highway A-1, also known as the Bruce Highway, which is basically a 2 lane country road in that part of Australia. Our next destination was Magnetic Island, which is just off the coast near Townsville.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231362207?profile=original"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231362207?profile=original" width="600"/></a><em>Queensland's highway A-1, the Bruce Highway</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Magnetic Island is said to be named for a disturbance in the compass of Captain Cook's ship as he sailed through the region. Today there is no sign of any local magnetic disturbance, and only the story remains. We spent 2 days at Magnetic Island, where it rained for most of that time. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>We refused to let the rain stop us, so we went hiking and saw Rock Wallabies, a wild Koala, and numerous strange and beautiful birds and insects. We shared an interesting evening with our Australian hosts, along with a couple from Great Britain, and another couple from Canada.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231363219?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231363219?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full" width="750"/></a><em>A beautiful Australian Lorikeet.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><br/></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231368833?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231368833?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full" width="750"/></a><em>A good telephoto lens allowed me to get pictures like this without disturbing the wildlife.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231370416?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231370416?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full" width="750"/></a><em>I thought of Bob and his son at Dragonfly Aviation when I took this photo.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><br/></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231377861?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231377861?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full" width="750"/></a><em>4 meter Crocodile. Another example were a good telephoto lens came in handy....</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The rain really began to pick up, with the area into which we were to drive getting 2 feet in one day with no letup in sight, rendering the Bruce Highway impassible. At this point we had to change our plans, so we started driving inland. We reached one point where the road was almost entirely flooded with the exception of a dirt strip along one shoulder. Had the water been a few inches higher, our car would not have been able to make it through. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231378505?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231378505?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full" width="750"/></a><em>I've never seen so much rain in my life. But it didn't stop us.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231379629?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231379629?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><em>We took a 4-wheel drive down this road.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>As twilight approached, we found lodging in a small mining town called Clermont. While checking into the last available room in town, the hotel manager noticed the Pietenpol on my shirt, and asked me if I'd ever been to Cherry Grove. Turns out he was a pilot too, and had just returned from a vacation in the US where he had purchased a new Cirrus and was having it shipped back to Australia. We talked for hours...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Having taken a long detour around the flooded regions, we again drove towards the coast, spending the next few days in Rockhampton and Hervey Bay, and passing through Bundaberg on our way to Gympie, which is the home town of fellow airplane builders Phill & Kerrie Barnes, and their son Dan.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231381641?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231381641?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><em>We encountered this Gippsland GA-8 on an island beach.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231382508?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231382508?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><em>Shipwreck from the 1930's.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Phill Barnes is nearly finished with an exceptionally beautiful Jabiru 3300 powered Zenith Zodiac that he is building in a shed out in the country. The workmanship on this aircraft is impressive, and I have adopted one of his ideas (a secondary canopy latch mechanism) for my own airplane. We spent a couple of very enjoyable days with Phill and his wife, Kerrie, touring the local countryside and visiting nearby towns.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231385026?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231385026?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><em>Phill Barnes (in the FlyCorvair.com hat) and Pat Hoyt</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231388331?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231388331?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-center" width="750"/></a><em>Phill has a Jabiru 3300 on his Zodiac.</em></p>
<p><br/>Meeting Phills brother and parents was an added treat, as Phill comes from a family of uber-motorheads. His brother salvaged an engine from an old Subaru wreck that nobody wanted, and transformed it into a reliable "sleeper" that is quicker off the line than any of the other local hot-rods. Phills father is a man of tremendous talent and knowledge. His current project is a homebuilt jet engine. He also showed us a Subaru EA-81 engine that he modified to run on Hydrogen. It's truly amazing what can be found in a little machine shop out in the country. Phill's father survived a shark attack while he was in the Navy, and he actually had the jaws of the shark that attacked him. He was working on a ship and for some reason fell into the water. Before his buddies could cast him a line, a shark was on him. Luckily he had a knife and was able to stab the shark off his leg while his colleagues gaff-hooked it and shot it. They hauled both him and the shark on board, and while the medics were stitching his leg, he cut out the jaws of the 10 foot hammerhead, which he still has. He showed us a bullet that was still lodged in it's jaw where one of his buddies had shot it through the head. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231389910?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231389910?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><em>Phill Barnes' beautiful Zodiac sets a very high standard for workmanship.</em></p>
<p><br/>We did some fun local touring with Phill & Kerrie, and shared some fun cultural anecdotes. We learned what it meant when something "goes all pear shaped", and they in turn learned all about the "Hawaiian good luck sign" that was made famous by the men of the USS Pueblo. That evening we shared pizza and a local drink consisting of beer and root beer, and had a wonderful time. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Once again, the time arrived when we had to say farewell to some very good people in order to continue the journey. We bade Phill and his family goodbye, and early the next morning we set course towards Brisbane.</p>
<p><br/>Our next destination was the home of Volunteer Coast Guard Commodore Ian Ratcliffe, just south of Brisbane. Ian is also building a Zodiac, and has a Corvair engine mounted on it. Ian and his friends are building two airplanes, and they alternate working on one and then the other each week. Ian shared interesting "search and rescue" stories with us as we looked over his airplane. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231403949?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231403949?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><em>Pat Hoyt and Ian Ratcliffe with Ian's Corvair powered Zodiac.</em></p>
<p><br/>All too soon it was time for us to continue south. When we said goodbye Ian mentioned that he has been to Airventure several times, and that he and his two brothers would be going to Oshkosh this year as well, so we know we'll be seeing him again.</p>
<p><br/>By this time the highway started to look more like an American interstate, so a few miles south of Brisbane we turned off on a coastal road and found lodging at a dumpy hotel near the beach. Once again it was raining hard, but Mary & I were hungry so we set out on foot, in search of adventure. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>We found a nice Thai restaurant that served uncharacteristically bland food. But when they discovered that we were from Far Away, and that we liked "real" Thai food, they proudly mixed up some kind of red pepper concoction that really spiced up the noodles. Clearly (to the restaurant staff) we had different tastes than their usual clientèle. As we made our way back to the hotel the rain stopped, and we slept for a few hours before getting up in time to watch a beautiful sunrise over the Pacific.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231404840?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231404840?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full" width="750"/></a><em>Mary watches a beautiful sunrise over the Coral Sea.</em></p>
<p><br/>That day we drove about half of the remaining way to Syndey. We stayed with a Frenchman and his Sri Lankan wife, and their dog "George" at their beautiful house on the ocean. We also visited the local rain forest, where of course we got rained on. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231405585?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231405585?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full" width="750"/></a><em>Walking to the beach somewhere between Brisbane and Sydney.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The following morning we completed our trek to Sydney, and the next morning we caught a flight back across the Pacific to the US. One final interesting thing that we saw as we arrived at LAX was a huge Russian Antonov An-124 with it's tail open and it's nose flipped up, obviously in preparation for loading of some kind of large cargo.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231407805?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2231407805?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><em>Antinov AN-124 at LAX.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thus ended our 3 week adventure in Australia. We were sad to leave that wonderful country, but we've got the memories that will last a lifetime. Before this trip, when I thought of Australia I envisioned Ayers Rock, red desert sand, and kangaroos. But now that I've been there, my thoughts are of the rain forests, the beaches, the roads, and the beautiful sunrises over the Coral Sea. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>But above everything else, when I think of Australia now, my thoughts are of all of the amazing, wonderful and generous people that we had the honor to meet.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>- Pat</p>
<p> </p>
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