Plane Crazy Down Under

We've had a few distractions and haven't been able to get our first episode out for 2014 yet. This little promo blip helps explain why not :)

It's been an amazing year but as 2013 draws to a close, we're squeezing one more episode out for you. We've combined some content not yet published from Avalon & AusFly with some great reports supplied by other members of the PCDU team. We've also got a competition running to win one of five copies of Owen Zupp's new book. In keeping with our trend for 2013, this is yet another 2+ hour episode packed with great avation content, including: . Chris Sperou . Bevan Anderson from AvPlan . Peter Edwards from Cirrus . Sue Edwards from Jabiru . Maikha Ly reports on a recent Free Flight model aircraft competition . Dave Homewood talks with Peter Daniell, the CEO of Air Wakatipu at Queenstown in New Zealand . Damien Rose reports on Caribou Cargo And lots lots more

Team PCDU ran AusFly Radio and the air display commentary for AusFly 2013 and, in the process, recorded a stack of content. Here's the first of our AusFly 2013 content for you: . AusFly 2013 review with David Brown from the SAAA . Rob Fisher from Superior Air Parts . Anton Meier from Aerosport Aviation . Russell Milton from Atlas Aviation Australia . Stephen Gale, Willie "Godfather" Chew & Jodie Davis . Allan Barton from Zenair Australia . Dianne McNamara from Punkin Head Air Sports . Michael Coates from Pipistrel Australia . David Baddams from Snow Goose International . Dick Smith & Ryan Campbell . Amanda Pond from Puddle to Pond Financial . Paul Holler & Norm Edmunds . Bas Scheffers from OzRunways

The past month has included a number of events related to the Royal Australian Navy's International Fleet Review 2013 as well as the arrival of Jetstar's new 787-8. Grant's been visiting a few ships & interviewing their aircrew while Kathy's been getting a flight on our brand new MRH-90 Taipan transport helicopters. Not long after that, Grant was in Sydney to watch the mass-flypast of aircraft as the fleet steamed into Sydney harbour then both Steve & Grant were on the tarmac in Melbourne for the new Jetstar 787 arrival celebrations.

It’s time for Australians to vote for their favourite (or least disliked :) ) politicians and, once again, we’ve gone into bat for our audience to present information about the transportation policies of the main parties. Unfortunately, our cunning plan to wait for the parties to have revealed their policies has not been as successful as we’d like as a) some parties are still holding their cards close to their chest and b) all the candidates are running around frantically to shore up support & win voters to their side. Oh well, on with the show as we review a written response from Anthony Albanese, chat with Lee Rhiannon and review the Coaliition's aviation policy document :)

As the F111 was late & delayed by all sorts of issues, so too has our Episode 111 been late in arriving. Our big excuse has been discovering that the PCDU Radio Show has taken a LOT more effort than we expected. It's very much a learning experience! Meanwhile, we have managed to get this episode out and it's packed with lots of great content, including: * Grant's review of flying business class with VA to Bali * Mark Pracy re: their prep for Reno 2013 * A summary of Dave Jacka's flight around Australia * Damien Rose interviews Jake Press, pilot with the KC135 * David Cottee, curator of the Qantas Heritage Collection * Paul Gianniotis learned to fly at Kai Tak & also flew balloons at Hong Kong

All good things take time & so do our episodes, with this one taking perhaps the longest to produce of any of them. It's also packed full of great content covering magazine editors, wing walkers, AOPA, another give-away competition, antique aircraft, solo trips around the world & even hot air balloons. Make use of the pause button where you need to but be sure to listen right through to the very end of the episode for another set of classic "Kathy Mexted Bloopers" :)

Ryan Campbell is a 19 year old pilot from Australia who's currently flying around the world to grab the world record as the youngest pilot yet to make the epic journey. Steve caught up with him just a couple of hours after arriving in Hilo, Hawaii to discuss his experiences as he island-hopped his way across the Pacific.

We're joined by Dave Homewood from the Wings Over New Zealand forum & podcast who talks to us about his career with the RNZAF, the Kiwi warbird scene and his excellent forum & podcast. We also feature more Avalon content including our KC-30A interview, the Herron RPV and Charles Cheeseman from Eco 2000. Finally, we introduce new team member Maikha Ly, announce another competition and work through a stack of listener mail.

Flying solo around Australia is a challenging & amazing experience, even today (just ask Owen Zupp :) ). It's even more mind-blowing when you're a quadriplegic! This episode Steve & Grant talk to Dave Jacka who is setting out to be the first quadriplegic person to fly solo around Australia! We also include a chat Steve recorded with Laurie Jones from Adventure Wings about his role as a fire-bomber and the Nanchang adventure flights they operate from Tooradin (YTDN), a new View from the Lounge and even a competition!

With a focus on the C17, our first post-Avalon 2013 episode includes: . RAAF C17 pilot FLTLT Dirk Taylor talks about flying the aircraft & his career . RAAF C17 techo Sgt David Everett talks about maintaining the aircraft & his transition from the DHC-4 Caribou . RAAF Loadmaster WOFF Paul Lemarshall walks us through the C17s cargo hold . USAF Capt Brian Carron talks about interoperability between USAF & RAAF C17 aircraft & crew

We had contemplated a quiet final day at Avalon 2013 where the team could gather a few last interviews but it wasn't to be. There were still so many people to see, content to capture and experiences to share with our audience. In fact, there's so much content that we couldn't fit it all into our daily episodes so we're going to have to release more Avalon coverage in our later episodes. . Ryan Campbell from the Teen World Flight project . Melissa & Rex Pemberton talk about flying aerobatic demonstrations & wingsuiting . Mark Jefferies talks about his aerobatic career . Dieter Ebering introduces us to Awesome Aviation and their Extra 330LX . Anton Meir from Aerosport Aviation in New Zealand . Nelson Aviation College . Kangan Institute provides aviation courses . Captain Natasha Cherne from the USAF's Pacific Air Force media team . Timbo's Tarmac . In the Keyhole with Papa Smurf

Day Five of the Avalon Airshow 2013 is the first full public day and they turned out in force to enjoy great aviation action under clear blue skies. Despite the crowds we still managed to get around the airport to complete a number of interviews & meet up with plenty of people. . Grant's interviews with some RAAF AP-3C crew: ... Air Combat Officer (ACO) Flying Officer Tristan Hull ... Demonstration pilot Flight Lieutenant James Pears . Steve talks to Jacqui Callon from Piper about their latest Garmin equipped Seminole on display . Grant & Ben Jones talk to Bob & Laurie Carlton about their jet powered Salto glider demonstration . Steve & Grant talk to Owen & Kirrily Zupp . ATC_Ben helps out with Timbo's Tarmac and In the Keyhole with Papa Smurf

The sun came out in force on Day 4 of Avalon 2013 and with clear blue skies we finally felt like we'd arrived at a real airshow. With aircraft putting on some amazing performances, the F22 once again took to the skies and let us experience the "High Show" and what a fantastic show that was! For today's episode, we have the following content: . Master Sergeant Bo Brewer talks about maintaining the F22 & its systems . Major Henry Schantz is the current F22 demo pilot & he compares its handling with an F15C, walks us through the manoeuvres in the demo and talks about the experience of flying it . Damien Rose chats with Stephen Buckle about the Carbon Cub . Steve & Grant get to hang out & chat with the Breitling Wing Walker team . Grant chats with Stewart Wilson from Aero magazine . We corner listener Ben Wickham & ask how Avalon 2013 is going for him . This time it's ATC_Ben heading out to bring us Timbo's Tarmac and In the Keyhole with Papa Smurf

Day Three of Avalon 2013 brought us a busy schedule of interviews and aviation experiences. From a Gulfstream G650 to the RAAF's C17 heavy transport, we've been running around shooting even more video and recording interviews, such as those that make up today's episode: . RAAF Solo F18 Super Hornet demo team . Mike Jarrett from Gulfstream walks us through the G650's cockpit . ECO 2000's Zi-400 cleaner . The experimental GA-10 . RAAF formation team F18 Super Hornet demo team . Wedgetail update . Tarmac summary