As the final hours of 2014 draw to a close, we're getting our last episode for 2014 out the door. The boys have been kept pretty busy with their day jobs lately but, despite this, they've managed to do some flying:
- Grant's been taking friends on their first balloon flights including Evan Schoo and Darren Craven
- Fred Samson took Steve for a fly over San Francisco while he was there a back in October
- Steve got to fly a 172 in Las Vegas thanks to Rod Rakic & AirWork Las Vegas, an OpenAirplane member
- The PCDU aeroplane fleet has expanded thanks to Jonesy picking up a 1974 model Cessna 172
After the hangar talk settles down, we get into the episode itself which includes the recent Avalon Airshow Media Launch, Steve's time at the Red Bull Air Race in Las Vegas and Grant's trip to Auckland in New Zealand for the Wings Over New Zealand Forum meet up. The episode stacks up in the following list:
- Grant attended the media launch for the Avalon Airshow which was held in the old Qantas hangar where they used to park a 747 while doing heavy maintenance on it. There was wind on the hangar walls, doors opening, vehicles moving and people talking which all made it a rather "interesting" place to record the following chats:
- 0:16:29 - Jeff "Trappo" Trappett finally gets a chance to appear on PCDU (that or he couldn't run away fast enough :) ) and talks to Grant about his P51, his C47 & his Sabre
- 0:22:34 - Paul Bennet talks about his new Wolf Pitts aircraft, the manoeuvres it's letting him do and where things are at with Paul Bennet Airshows (sounds like he's got a bit of an airforce happening :) )
- 0:26:36 - Darren Craven talks about owning & flying a Winjeel
- 0:33:30 - Gordon Robinson talks about flying Australia's only Fokker Dr.1 triplane replica all the way down to Melbourne from Brisbane
- 0:39:38 - Andrew Carter owns & flies the Dr.1 replica that Gordon flew down. He talks to us about setting up the Australian Vintage Aviation Society to commemorate WW1 & bring to life aircraft of the era.
- 0:48:28 - Of course, there wouldn't be aircraft at Avalon without a session on Timbo's Tarmac and Grant made sure to record one at this event
- Back in October, Steve went to the USA to experience the Red Bull Air Race in Las Vegas (his family still thinks it was a family trip :) ). While at the event he recorded the following interviews:
- 0:54:27 - Matt Hall talks about his results in the Fort Worth race & the challenges he's found this season
- 0:59:33 - Eric Cieslar & Peter Wezenbeek are Matt Hall's race technician & race tactician and they talk about their roles in keeping Matt flying in top form during the races
- 1:05:30 - Hannes Arch talks about standardised engines and how they've highlighted the pilot's skills as opposed to engine power
- 1:09:06 - Kirby Chambliss talks about the challenges he's faced this season and the changes he'll be making for the next season
- 1:13:42 - Mike Goulian talks about his involvement with Cirrus aircraft and the hassles he's worked through this season
- 1:19:48 -...
