Page 94 - AA 2018_11

The Outback Air Race

2018 takes competitors

from Brisbane to

Broome

WRITER: STEVE GIBBONS

lying an amphibian across 2,120 flying boat from its graveyard in Spain ‘It was a cause dear to Australian hearts: a role
nautical miles of the driest to the Qantas Founders Museum in in raising more than half a million
continent on the planet might Longreach. fabulous dollars for the Royal Flying Doctor
Fseem like a recipe for madness, The project represented a six-year Service through the triennial Outback
but then John Daley is well used to labour of love (and some tears) to display of Air Race.
pushing the envelope when it comes salvage the 1944 model and honour What’s more, it gave them the
to water-capable aircraft – and good the Qantas Catalina crews of wartime chance to indulge in their passion for
causes. Operation Sunrise – the secret supply- airmanship.’ flying as well as (literally) making a
The retired Qantas long-haul pilot line between Australia and England STUART PAYNE splash, thanks to some of the more
is well known in aviation circles as a via Perth and Ceylon. unlikely landing spots in remote
key member of the Seaplane Pilots So it came as no surprise when Australia.
Association of Australia, and for Daley and his co-pilot Marcus Grealy The cockpit of a Lake LA-4-200
his role in the dedicated team that (also a retired ‘heavy’ pilot) embraced Buccaneer is about as far as you can
restored and delivered a Catalina the chance to contribute to another get from the flightdeck of Daley and

94 AUSTRALIAN AVIATION