15 June 2007 - 199hrs in Darwin

That's it to date - 199hrs of flying since being based in Darwin. I've just made a note of it, because I'll probably not notice the 200hr milestone, due on Monday (I have the weekend 'off', I'm told).


What did I do today? What now seems to be the usual - Darwin, Hooker creek via Batchelor and Yarralin. Back about 19:45, so yet more night hours.


Anything exciting happen? Not that I can remember, some confusion before departure because they wanted me to pick up 5 people, and by now I knew that was going to be a tough ask. With all the fuel I need to get to Hooker creek, and all the luggage the students from Batchelor bring along, I couldn't see it happening. In the end, someone agreed, and another plane was sent to pick up two of them, relieving me of the wait, and the planned leg to Port Keats.


On the way back, at night, I flew over a stack of huge forest fires - the kind of dry season fires that just magically happen, and burn largely out of control. Some of them looked quite spectacular at night, like fiery necklaces, burning in large, expanding circles, some quite fiercely. In the centre, hotspots kept burning after the main fire had passed, looking like stars in the night. Smokey, though...