We achieved precise navigation using
our highly accurate map!

We took off in the usual fashion (up) and nosed up towards Katoomba - sphincters tightening for the forecast "cloud on ground" situation.....bloody hell! Cav OK - typical!! Over we go and down the other side we went.

Swerving north of Lithgow to avoid overflying the correctional centre (honest there was a red light and we had to land your honour). Kris lead the way with new fangled GPS while I did the Mark 1 eyeball thing on the familiar Lithgow - Mudgee valley.

Hook a west and over tiger country for 20 minutes before popping out 12klms North of Gold Rush town - Sofala.

Eek!

Tantalisingly close now, everything on the ground matched the descriptions given us..except the Museum itself. Where was it??

Kris and I did orbits - occasionally losing sight of each other in the perfect viz...."err...Kris...where are you - you see me?"...visions of R22s raining bits of each other over the museum...not a good move.

Eventually I spotted it....a white X adjacent a group of funny looking sheds....aha! Jim's put a marker out for us. Down we go...

Just aim between the shrubs!

Look out for wires...nope, livestock...nope, minimal wind, just avoid the trees and hover over the deep grass swirling hypnotically in front of the bubble...focus! focus! Don't get distracted just put it down gently - governor off and shut down checks....phew...next comes Kris.

Standard Rotorhead landing positions

Not content to use the carrier runway I kindly left behind me Kris weaves in through the mini-forest ahead of me....from my vantage point he should have hit trees 6 times! Somehow he threaded skilfully through and casually landed on tope of a bull ant nest just to prove he could! That's why he wears the hard hat!!

No, I don't want to find out how it runs on AVGAS!

Two + hours of fascinating tour by Jim and we begin to look at the sky, watch, sky - in the way you do when you need to get back over the mountains...

Bye!

Eventually we say our farewells and take off to the South nicking in at Bathurst (deserted) for gas then straight line back to BK - Kris waving off en route to Richmond.