MISSION 59 - COONAMBLE / BANKSTOWN / COONAMBLE

Diagnosed with Lupus Erythamatosis and Fibromyalgia (severe forms of arthritis) Harold Smith is on maximum strength medication including morphine and he is required to go to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney for investigations about treatments to improve his quality of daily living. His disease is very debilitating and activities such as gardening and driving are restricted.



Chis J Lee - Pilot

Angel Flight 1 report by Chris Lee

"Good flight, all happened on time. Harold and Lisa Smith were very appreciative and had no discomfort on the flight. It was good to have Graham Bentley (Earth Angel and registered Angel Flight pilot) along to help after the passengers and as company on the flight".


Graham Bentley - Pilot Helper and Earth Angel

Report by Earth Angel Graham Bentley (Earth Angel for both flights)

"We departed Bankstown 0600 and arrived Coonamble about 0725. It was dark as we left with the sun about to rise. Weather in flight was good. The passengers had just arrived at the airport when we landed. We took off from Coonamble at 0753 and arrived Bankstown at 0920. Again a smooth flight with a light shower of rain falling as we landed. I drove them to RPA Camperdown arriving 10.00am".

 

L to R Graham Bentley, Lisa Smith, Harold Smith, Chris Lee and the Beechcraft Baron.


Justin MacIntosh - Pilot

Angel Flight 2 report by Justin MacIntosh

I met with Harold and Lisa Smith at Bankstown at 7:25AM and also met with Graham Bentley who was the earth angel but also accompanied us on the flight. Graham is a registered Angel Flight pilot and rode in the right hand seat with me.

We taxied out from the terminal and obtained immediate clearance with acloud base of about 4,000 feet AGL. I filed for 8,000 due to head winds at 10,000 and we were cleared direct to Mudgee then into Coonamble. The flight was mostly conducted in cloud with rain getting heavier as we got nearer to Coonamble. The ride was mostly smooth, but getting bumpier closer to Coonamble.

I selected the runway 05 GPS approach as I was informed by previous traffic that cloud base was 2,000 AGL 30 minutes prior to our arrival. The approach was flown with break out at 1,800 MSL or 1,200 AGL so the weather had worsened since our PIREP update. Graham helped me locate the runway once we were visual and the landing conducted with a fresh cross wind from the right. Time on the ground was 9:25AM.

Harold and Lisa were thrilled to be home and extremely grateful for the help from Angel Flight. It was very wet due to rain and getting heavier so farewells were brief and Graham and I wished Harold and Lisa all the best.
 

Pic taken at Bankstown before leaving. L to R Justin MacIntosh, Harold Smith, Lisa Smith and of course Piper Navajo VH- WZZ.
 

Graham Bentley, Harold and Lisa