Plane Crazy Down Under

After a number of years and the inevitable stumbling blocks that life throws at us, Grant has finally become a balloon pilot having completed his check flight up at Mildura just the other day. From how the final stages of solos & check flight unfolded to a comparison of "first solo" moments, Steve & Grant talk briefly about the realisation that a new license & $5 can now buy you a beer... Meanwhile, Bas & AntCB join Steve to talk iPad aviation apps, Pieter Johnson interviews Australians at Farnborough 2012, Steve & Bas talk to Peter Gibson from CASA about the new Class 2 Medicals, we talk to Aviation Australia about their training courses & Aviation Careers Expo and Grant chats with Alan Joyce (no, really! :) . . . → Read More: PCDU Episode 91: New Horizons

Steve's been considering buying an aircraft so he got together with Anthony Crichton-Browne and Ben Morgan to discuss the costs of owning an aircraft. After that we're joined by Kathy Mexted to interview Justin Sheedy about his book "Nor the years condemn" before heading off into a discussion of various items (including Grant getting on his soapbox about 'aircraft snobs'). It's worth sticking around to the very end for a huge, 5 minute mega-blooper reel at the end :) . . . → Read More: PCDU Episode 90: Moments in Time

Way back in April, Steve & ATC_Ben flew "Ben Air" from Lilydale (YLIL) to Temora (YTEM) for the RA-Aus NatFly 2012 event, leaving Grant behind in Melbourne attempting to recover from bronchitis. While not as vibrant as 2011, there was still plenty of activity to keep Steve & Ben busy recording lots of great content. Join us to check out all the light aircraft fun. . . . → Read More: PCDU Episode 89: RA-Aus NatFly 2012

Boeing have been taking their 787 Dreamliners on the DreamTour, a series of 7 multi-stop flights, or segments, that take one of the 787 test aircraft around the world. Each segment visits multiple countries, allowing airlines & invited guests to get up close to the advanced new airliner. Perhaps saving the best for last, the DreamTour came to the Dreamtime during it's 7th segment. Team PCDU were invited by Qantas & Jetstar to join the DreamTour in Melbourne. This "quick cast" episode features our interview recorded in Melbourne with Captain Todd Abraham, a Boeing technical pilot flying the 787 on segment #7. . . . → Read More: PCDU Episode 88: Dreamtime

The Great PCDU Road Trip of 2012 covered over 1,700km in the course of a single weekend. From late on Friday night to early on Monday morning, Steve, Grant & Allan drove from Melbourne up to Wollongong (just south of Sydney) to attend the Wings Over Illawarra 2012 air show. Firmly ensconced in the Southern Biplanes hangar with a great view of the show unfolding beyond "Lilly Warra" (their big red Boeing Stearman), the mobile studio was set up (thanks Allan! :) allowing Steve, Grant & Anthony Crichton-Browne to record lots of great content. C130J RAN SH60B Seahawk Army Red Berets parachute demo team leader NSW Air & Australian Aerial Patrol and much much more . . . → Read More: PCDU Episode 87: Wings Over Illawarra 2012

Thanks to OzRunways, Steve was able to get to Adelaide to cover the Parafield Airshow 2012. He & Bas recorded a number of interviews, including: Chris Sperou The Roulettes Tammy Augostin David Hales from 5DME And much more, including Pieter Johnson's next "From Up Here to Down There" segment and an update from the B24 Liberator Restoration Project. . . . → Read More: PCDU Episode 86: One Fine Day at Parafield

After a long break from the show, Ben Ippolito (aka ATC Ben) returns in this packed episode to tell us about getting current again, wrap up the Tyabb airshow and answer some of your ATC questions. Our Tyabb coverage includes: Matt Hall Mark Pracy talking about the Reno crash The formation & operation of the Southern Knights ATC Ben talks about re-gaining proficiency and ATC Q&A session We also introduce a new sponsor (OzRunways) and with lots of airshows coming up, we're looking for more :) . . . → Read More: PCDU Episode 85: Tyabb Air Show 2012 & ATC Ben Answers Your Questions

This episode we're joined by Kathy Mexted & her brother Geoff Whitty to talk about his adventures running aviation operations & airports in Papua New Guinea. We then talk to Tammy Augostin, the Promotion & Marketing Manager of the Parafield Airshow before featuring Anthony Crichton-Browne's chat with a Blackhawk pilot and Anthony Simmons' latest View from the Lounge segment. . . . → Read More: PCDU Episode 84: Geoff Whitty: Pidgin Tales

This episode we dip into aviation's rich & storied history as we chat with a few replica builders who are working hard to preserve our access to our fledgling beginnings as we first pushed into the sphere of powered, heavier than air flight. (show title image supplied by Project 2014) This episode includes: Bristol Military Boxkite flying replica being built by Geoff Matthews & Ron Gretton AM BE2a static replica being built by Andrew Willox. Richard Gardner, Charman of the Trustees at the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust Replica of Eugene Ely's Curtis Pusher by Bob Coolbaugh& Andrew King The Barnstorming Movie with Paul Glenshaw & Andrew King followed by a chat with Paul about the Wright Brothers movie he has reassembled . . . → Read More: PCDU Episode 83: Replicate This!

Our good friend Owen Zupp takes time out from his very busy schedule to hang out & chat with us about his new blog, flight testing the GA8 Airvan and much more. We also include chats with Ken Wright OAM from the RAAF 2OTU Museum and Noel Breetag at the RAAF Catalina Museum plus Pieter Johnson has a great chat with Paul Fowler about the Spitfire Project. . . . → Read More: PCDU Episode 82: Keeping up with Owen Zupp

There’s been a few delays in getting our first episode for 2012 out but what can you expect with the Summer heat to enjoy and games of Cricket to watch (or avoid :). It is with Cricket in mind that our very own Infrequent Flyer, Anthony Simmons, took some time out of his European adventures . . . → Read More: PCDU Episode 81: An Infrequent Flyer goes to Europe

All good things must come to an end and so too must the year 2011. It has been an amazing year of growth for PCDU as we’ve covered Avalon 2011, NatFly 2011 and Oshkosh 2011 along with a number of major events (eg: Qantas grounding) and added some new voices to the team. So as . . . → Read More: PCDU Episode 80: Farewell 2011 (aka “Tom Cruise wraps my Dolmades” :)

Steve’s finally picked up his instructor’s rating although it’s in trains, not aircraft, but don’t worry, we’re not switching the show over to Train Crazy Down Under :) Once again we’re joined by Kathy Mexted and this time we’re discussing what’s involved in being an Ag Pilot and how the industry has developed here in . . . → Read More: PCDU Episode 79: Flying Low

Many people in Australia know of Tim Smith, a Melbourne comedian who’s worked on television and in radio for years. What many people don’t know is that Tim is a pilot who is working towards his goal of running charter operations taking people around Australia, visiting places many folks have never heard of let alone . . . → Read More: PCDU Episode 78: Tim Smith: Flying Saved My Life

Almost one year after the QF32 incident, Qantas is again in the news around the world and for a short time again appeared to be on the brink of a major disaster. At 5pm on Saturday the 29th of October, Alan Joyce (CEO of Qantas) announced that he & the board of directors had decided . . . → Read More: PCDU Episode 77: Qantas Crisis: After the Grounding

A few episodes ago we introduced Kathy Mexted as a new member our group of occasional PCDU contributors and this episode she’s back with some great content. She recently took a few friends in a Bonanza out to Wilpena Pound in South Australia, a trip that would usually take many days to achieve by road . . . → Read More: PCDU Episode 76: Air Wilpena

Today we’re joined by Anthony Crichton-Browne, a commercial airline pilot who also likes to take his Pitts Special out for a spin (and a few other fun manoeuvres :) In addition to chatting with Anthony, we also run a chat with Grant Piper (President of the Australian Aerobatic Club) about Australia’s recent involvement in the . . . → Read More: PCDU Episode 75: Talking Aerobatics with Anthony Crichton-Browne

We’re joined by our mate Dan Morris from New Zealand to discuss some news from the Land of the Long White Cloud. Topics include: Air Traffic Control in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake, especially the problems they encountered due to centralising all area controllers in one location How user fees in New Zealand have . . . → Read More: PCDU Episode 74: Kiwi User Fees … and other issues

Today Steve & Grant are chatting with Bas Scheffers, reviewing their experiences at EAA‘s AirVenture Oshkosh 2011. We talk about the long haul across the Pacific via V Australia 777 and Qantas A380, arriving in Chicago on their hottest day in 10 years and then hanging out with Rob Mark, his family and his ever . . . → Read More: PCDU Episode 73: Oshkosh: The Greatest Show on Earth

As all good things must come to an end, so too must our time at Oshkosh 2011. It’s been an incredible event for us and an eye-opener to just how large this Mecca of all things aviation truly is. With our final day at the show, we’ve produced a chunky episode packed full of *some* . . . → Read More: PCDU Episode 72: Oshcast #3 – Hugging your Roo