Flying over Canberra

Late last year Karyn and I went to a charity dinner and auction for Canteen (Teenagers with Cancer) and we ended up buying a joyflight around Canberra.  We thought that Matthew would use it, but he never actually ended up organising it before he went to Mexico.  It seemed that when Fay and Marlene came for a visit it was a good time to use it, with Karyn chickening out.

Anticipating some reflection from the windows, I used a polarising filter that seemed to work out ok.

 Fay and Marlene in front of the plane.

 The new arboretum showing all the new trees that have been planted.

This is the Governor-General's place.  I once sat at the head of the main banquet table there and I noticed that the big communications tower at the top of Black Mountain sits exactly between two flagpoles at the end of the garden.  Not a coincidence, I suspect.

 During the flight the pilot called air traffic control and asked if we could circle Parliament House a few times.  They said "no worries", so we circled a few times and I got lots of photos.  I bet you can't do that in Washington !

 A closer view.

 This is where I work.  Much more fun to be flying around during my lunchtime than sitting at my desk with a sandwich.

 Some farms around Canberra.  Much greener now that when I went on a balloon trip a few years ago in the middle of a drought.

Here's what the ground looked like in 2009 during the drought.  All the grass was dead and bleached almost white.

 The instruments.  The pilot was trying out an iPad strapped to his left thigh that he had loaded with the relevant maps.  He thought it might be more convenient than large paper maps.

 Coming back in for a landing.

We taxied back to the hanger.