The weather really lost the plot as I have said before. Here in the Netherlands it is 20 to 23 dgr. C….about 10 dgr. more than normal, for this time of the year. Wet…. yes also, but at this stage not as bad as down under.
In Australia it’s raining like mad. Poor farmers…again.. it’s either draught or flooding nowadays.
The Tocumwal Aviation Museum shared this news;
“80 years ago American forces occupied the Tocumwal Air Depot as a base for aircraft maintenance and repair.
We’re fortunate to have the Paul Bennet Airshows ex-U.S. Navy Grumman Avenger on loan this week and be able to give a flying nod to our local history by flying this 80 year old American warplane over the airfield where American forces were based 80 years ago.
It’s also a unique way to observe the floodwaters of the Mighty Murray River which are impacting towns downstream.”
Look at the huge amount of water everywhere around the Murray. There are houses, camping’s, horse riding trails, restaurants and a nice white beach, where I have enjoyed many moments in my life!!!!
So, not only the farmers , but everybody on more low grounds , suffers.
One of the lucky ones to have a seat /ride in this great plane ….ex-U.S. Navy Grumman Avenger ….was the owner of the WWII hangar now, Lumpy Paterson. He runs Sportavia Tocumwal .
Lumpy; “There is just something about big radial engines, and this is just about as big as they get.
TBM 3E Avenger, built in 1943 as a torpedo bomber, to operate from aircraft carriers. This is the biggest radial engine flying in Australia, producing 1700 hp !
It’s a BIG aircraft and is a little deceiving, the engine sounds like it’s only just purring and yet, we are doing 200 kts.
Sometimes the stars just line up, to fly an American built WW2 aircraft over an American built military hangar in Tocumwal, I love the aviation scene!”
as shared by Lumpy Paterson and …..Matt Henderson, pilot and with his wife Karen the founders of the new Tocumwal Aviation museum. They put Tocumwal on the map again!!!!!
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—–I wrote about the new TOST winch from NT Soaring, in the red heart of the continent Australia. It’s busy straight away!!!
NT Soaring
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The weather in Namabia is already GOOD too, here is the news from Bitterwasser Lodge & Flying Centre
“Good weather in Namibia. Great anticipation.
If you look now in TopMeteo for Namibia, you see now already, so end of October, very good weather. This is also confirmed by the pictures of the webcams of Bitterwasser. This increases the anticipation of those who have already booked Bitterwasser.
Unfortunately, almost everything is booked. But from 25.10.2022 to 10. 11.2022 are still small capacities free.
Bad weather in Germany, cold and dark, only bad news regarding energy and inflation? Ideal reasons to escape from that, at least for a short time.
So, for short decided:”
Call Rainer, +49 170 9143684 or mail to: Hog@bitterwasser.com
Of course that counts for ALL European pilots NOT only those from Germany.
Bitterwasser Lodge & Flying Centre
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The Dutch club The Gelderse had autumn camp. My granddaughter unfortunately had to study. Though it was windy and wet, the temperatures were top.
Days definitely are getting shorter and the season has nearly finished.
Down under the season is about to start and Adam shared these lovely pictures flying over Kingaroy. He is back in the cockpit of an Air Japan 787, but in between and even more from December onward, he flies gliders again too. So you can read his stories in his blog.
By the way he was runner up for the Ingo Renner Cup [ a decentral cup for which you can be scored throughout the whole year] behind Toby Geiger from Benalla in 2022 season. On October 1 the new season started.
Some details about the Ingo Renner Cup. Have a look here: https://docs.weglide.org/…/nati…/ingo_renner_cup.html…
As shared by Adam Woolley’s Gliding Adventures
Also Norway is in full autumn colors. Instructing in Notodden , in such nice environment can only be a huge PLEASURE!!!!
And to finish this autumn blog a picture from one of the very well known soaring calendars in Germany.
“The current calendar 2022 shows us the absolutely successful end of the season in October, which we wish you also this year. And remember … end of season means, it’s time to secure the new Fotokalender Segelfliegen 2023. Thanks for the model shoot to Peer Konitzer and Massimo Metzger in the Duo Discus XLT.“
aviation-calendar.com
Some sad news before I stop;
Eddie [Madden] shared this news;
“Today I lost my close friend Andrea from Austria 
, due to cancer.
Andrea came to fly with me for for the last 20+ years. Good times never forgotten“
Some “guests” you never forget, also with Andrea [Wieger] and Anton [Horill], 2 very enthusiastic beautiful Tocumwal mates from Austria. Anton, the glider pilot who loved his flying in the LS 4, Andrea who learned to fly and supported Anton with her flying by being with him at the field flying when she felt so.
They flew already with us between 1996 and 2006, every 2 years and when we left they moved without hesitation to Eddie, where they flew every 2 years till a few years ago [2019] when I met them in town and had a long talk with them.
I hope Anton keeps going on with his flying at Eddie’s , as they had together so many great memories on soaring in Toc.
R.I.P dear Andrea.
CU next week
Cheers Ritz