Latest news by Ritz on November 18 2006
Tocumwal Australia.
After a beautiful party with the best meat I ever had , bought by Brutus (his portions!!)and by Jari , who also paid for it, it was jet time at 10 this morning. Like a princess I was welcomed by the engineer Mike and by Ingo my pilot. If you sit in it you feel like a queen. A very comfertable chair, nearly a bed is what you “lay” on. My granddaughter did not want to let me go, but after I said I was coming back she let go.
There we went, and 10 people were looking to my first flight after 10 years.
Ingo was great . He explained all time what was happening. We went straight from 36. Yes it was a northerly and when I drove to the field I saw already3 willy-willies” in one paddock.So good gliding weather.
You do not hear the jet engines with the headphones on your head. It climb with 3 m. per second 600 ft per meter and before I knew we were at 3000 ft and Ingo told me he was putting the engine on idle for 1 minute to put it off. You do not hear a lot of difference with or without engine. You only know you are in a “jet”, because you smell some fuel.
At 3000 ft. we went gliding. Wheels were up already straight after the start. The visibility was great. We could see Mount Buffalo, 150 km. far according to Ingo.
Ingo took me over Cobram and Tocumwal . I saw the cemetary on request as Dennis lays there and could even see the flowering plant behind the stobne. I saw the motel where Inge stays with her family and the market , where it was busy, as there was a market. We thermalled basck to 3000 ft in weak thermals and after a smooth landing , we were back on the ground. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE that was!!!!I heard that the owner of the Jet- Engines Chris Corrigan caught up with Mr Bakker from Holland, who flew with us in the past and they had a meeting in Itaky with the Caporoni “bosses”. According to Mike , the Caproni owners were very imopressed with this by Mike enginered jet-engine. It really works well so smooth and without hick-ups. As Ingo said already , “it has not failed in 5 years , touch wood”. I really hope this engine will conquer the 9gliding ) world .Safe, quick and not noisy at all!
At the market I caught up with several friends which was good as it is only 1 more day here for me!
I even met in the antique shop Andrea and 2 friends from Corowa. It was good to see them and to talk a bit of Dutch with Katinka.
The party yesterday was great. We were with 40 in the end as Michael and Tony and Gillian flew up from Melbourne. Daan made it in his “new ute” and he was very proud on this car he borrowed from the owner of the motel on his first day there.Jari left this morning with the terailer and LS 6 behind him. Ready for 1250 in 18 m. version and 1000km in 15 m . version . A REAL PILOT!!!!!Wishing you lots of fun and safe flying Jari and Daan!Rob and Brutus left for Mildura and later the Barossa Valeey and Adelaide to finish with gliding in Corowa. They will be busy. Wishing you all safe flights and till we meet again.
Last news from Ritz in Tocumwal. The Tourist information Centre will close in 1 minute , so I have to leave. Next news from Holland. No corrections as I have no time.
See you Ritz