From: featherstone.rnm [mailto:featherstone.rnm@wanadoo.fr]
Sent: Thursday, 25 August 2005 12:44 AM
To: "Undisclosed-Recipient:;"@wanadoo.fr
Subject: Riviera Times - Flying high

 

Whoa!  That was fun

Just back from Cannes airport where Andrew and Brett have left for Luxor, Egypt in the Cirrus 22.

They arrived from London on Monday afternoon and we went down to collect them. Off  to the Flambeau, along with Mike and Janet for dinner. Yesterday Andrew invited me for a joy-ride in the Cirrus and we took off from Cannes, turned left over the city and flew up to Cabris. Another left turn over M&Js house, past Paradis Azur (banging off photos ) and down to the lake. Since I wasn't sure I had Mikes house in the camera and I had borrowed his Canon EOS Digital we did a circuit and banged off a few more, then down to St Raphael, turned left and followed the Estoril coast back to the airport and a PERFECT text-book landing.

Great fun.

I was a touch nervous at first, since the last couple of hairy light plane rides, but this is a very different machine. Very smooth, very powerful, and fortunately, Andy doesn't fly as radically as he drives.

After the 'jolly' we refuelled for the next leg, non stop to Luxor, Egypt.  A very long way. The plane takes about 250 litres, plus they have a long range fuel sack (rubber) behind the seats, which took another 400 litres!!!!

Total bill, 1200 euros, or about $1800.  That plus a small repair to a cracked exhaust pipe flange and it has me convinced that flying 1st class with a commercial airline would be lots cheaper.

But not as much fun.

You can follow his trip by logging on to .....

I recommend a look at it. (Specially to you, Abdul Chilcott) And you can see daily updates.

Posh little airport too. Used by the likes of Tom Cruise, the  Agar Khan etc.  You will like it Bazza

 

Last night Mireille cooked up her famous Coquelettes, (one each, of course) which we all devoured with some Haut Medoc, and earlyish to bed.

This morning we got to the airport at about 7:30, chatted to passport control etc and they were ready to go. A small problem with customs caused a  delay. The boys had taken the luggage direct to the plane via the workshop. Very naughty!  The tower sent them back to customs before they could take off

But at about 9 they got away, after a very long run down the strip, and off into the wild blue yonder.

Luxor tonight (about ten hours, with no hostess, no loo, not aisle even) and then Muscat,  Colombo, Singapore and Aus.

Too cool.


Love Ya
Rick & Mireille


Estoril Coast.


Off to Luxor


Andy and Cirrus