O'date - 14th June 2010

That's the challenge date set: Monday 14th June 2010.

Earlier I mentioned power would be a problem, so I purchased a 65Ah Gel battery. At 24Kg's it's heavy. With weight in general being an issue with light aircraft, G-DRAM being a seaplane is a wee bit different. We will be landing heavy on fresh water lochs, not to mention trying to get back out of them again!

Pushing the weight issue to the back of my mind, I now have tested the recently repaired FT100, running 100watts & my vertical antenna in the garden. All appeared to work fine however..... Yes it's weight again, Hamish has now secured the loan of a life raft which we now have to factor in, my kit has come under strict scrutiny.



In order to deploy the kit quickly I have tried to be innovative using an electrical cable reel converted to deploy 20 metres of RG58 coax, three 5 metre metal retractable measuring tapes as ground planes & winders for guys which also use small lanyard spring clips.

Finally for those that have been following the story, I mentioned some friends that we met on our Dry-Run trip last month. They were Dave & Zan who came to visit us at Loch Righ Mor (Isle of Jura). Both professional photographers they shot some amazing pictures of us from on land & from their helicopter. Here are some examples of G-DRAM as a small speck on Loch Righ Mor, Hamish imitating a firestarter whilst making a brew of tea & finally an absolute cracker of G-DRAM, again on Loch Righ Mor.



Regards

DEQ

Dry Run Photographs

Please have a look at some photo's taken during our dry run trip here. Included are Pladda Island, Sanda Island, Staffa Island & Treshnish Islands.

Excellent day for photographing some beautiful islands.

Regards

DEQ

Post Dry Run Washup

After yesterday it has became obvious exactly how much of a challenge this is going to be. We put in about 6 hours flying covering a lot of the country, landing on Loch Finlaggan (Isle of Islay), Loch Righ Mor (Isle of Jura), Glenforsa airstrip (Isle of Mull), Oban airstrip (re-fuel) then back to Loch Righ Mor, (Isle of Jura).

En route to Mull we were buzzed by some Yaks & met the guys at Oban (also refuelling) who explained we were their target practice.. Once back at Loch Righ Mor, (Isle of Jura) we were joined by Dave, Zan & Peter in their helicopter who dropped by for a cup of tea.

While Hamish was entertaining our visitors I set up the kit to check out my ideas. An antenna problem gave me limited time but managed to operate 20m SSB successfully. So it can be done.

I now have a healthy list of issues to address including the need to re-think the time required to set up the kit. In addition, I have met some interesting & pleasant aviators.

DEQ

Landed.

Landed on jura, islay & now on mull.

-- I sent this from my 3 mobile --

Dry Run

Hamish plans to go out tomorrow morning which we will use as a dry run attempt.

We plan to visit Jura Island as landing on Loch Righ Mor needs to be checked if suitable.

Hopefully we will get in a few other islands too. I am busy collecting gear to operate so keep an ear open for me as GM0DEQ/p.

73

DEQ