Epic flight for Tracey and James

Killcare resident James Moline is about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime at the age of 79.

A qualified seaplane pilot and member of the Seaplane Pilots of Australia Association, Moline will join several others in a special flight circumnavigating the country, leaving from the Pt Cook RAAF base in Victoria on April 6.

“The flight is to mark the 100^th anniversary of the first RAAF circumnavigation on Australia, which set off from Pt Cook on April 6, 1924,” he said.

“It had to be by seaplane because in those days there were very few landing spots.

“They encountered numerous problems and at one point were stranded on land for 11 days due to an engine blow up.

“The RAAF had to organise overland fuel dumps so they could refuel at various places.

“It took 42 days to complete that original journey.”

Moline will be one of several pilots making the journey.

“One member will recreate the original flight exactly, making the exact same stops on the exact same dates,” he said.

“The rest of us are doing it for education and fun.”

Moline will be accompanied by fellow Central Coast resident Tracey Kelly, an enthusiastic follower of aviation history, and will be the oldest solo pilot taking part.

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Although he will be carrying a passenger, he is still classed as “solo” as he will be the only qualified pilot on board.

“We have allowed 60 days so we don’t need to fly every day,” he said.

“We will take some inland detours at places of interest such as the Kimberley and Lake Argyle.”

Moline has had a lifelong fascination for aircraft and flying.

“I remember as a boy I used to make model airplanes out of balsa wood and fly them around in circles on a string,” he said.

“I got my wheeled aircraft licence in 1964 and my seaplane licence in 2002.”

Although he has undertaken several long-haul flights in NSW, Queensland and Victoria, this will be Moline’s longest flight to date.

“I’m pretty fit and confident I can carry it out,” he said.

Moline will set out from Warnervale airport on April 3 in his newly christened seaplane Splosh to join others for the official launch of the flight at Pt Cook on April 6.

“Friends gave us a farewell luncheon and presented us with a model seaplane called Splosh so I decided to name the real plane after it,” he said.

Participants in the flight will be raising funds for Roses in the Ocean, a charity specialising in fighting youth suicide.

You can follow Moline’s epic flight and make donations at www.100asa.com.au and track him by location at https://maps.findmespot.com/s/Q830

Terry Collins