My homebase is the city of Cairns. It is a coastal city with a tropical climate. The Pacific Ocean lies to the east. Cairns is on a narrow coastal plain with mountains and a high tableland to the west.
This is a view looking back across Cairns from the south. The waterway in the foreground is the "Inlet" which is a series of mangrove creeks which used to be (millions of years ago) the mouth of a river. Cairns airport is just left of the tip of the horizontal stabilizer.
Northern Beaches Area. About ten miles north of Cairns. Most of this used to be sugar cane farms. The big island is Double Island with "Scout Hat Island" just to the right of it. Both are surrounded by reef. Our climate is very much like Hawaii.
Cooktown Airport - North Queensland Aero Club Air Race 1999. Cooktown is about 90 Naut. Miles north of Cairns.
This is how I really got hooked on flying helicopters!
This is me in the back of "Rescue 510" in 1996. (In the days before the medical crew were issued with Nomex Flight suits.) This was on the beach near the Starke River, north of Cooktown.
Stoney Creek Falls. This is a VFR entry point into Cairns from the west. The falls are crossed by a curved railway bridge which is often featured in tourist brochures. The escarpment behind the falls is often covered by cloud.
My machine at Cairns International Airport (YBCS)
This is taking off from the Northern Helipads.
A wierd camera effect of Rescue 510.
(photo given to me - I can't claim credit - but I don't know the photographer)
