Waking up the next morning, I half expected to have a mellow day enjoying the beauty of Airlie beach. Spending a bit of time down by the water, I met a few backpackers that told me about some of their adventures and while swapping stories, I saw a stunt plane in the sky doing all sorts of flips,
I was disappointed to find out that there was only one guy that flew the stunt plane, and he rarely goes up anymore because he retired. Knowing that if I could just get in touch with this guy, I could convince him to take me up no matter what the cost might be. Getting a phone number, email, and address I started exhausting my options to try and get in touch with this dare-devil pilot. Driving down to the runway, I asked other flight tour desks if Jim, the stunt pilot, was around. Every desk I went to said I had just missed him and that he was rarely there anyways. Spending nearly ten bucks in pay-phone calls to get in touch with him, I got nothing but an answer machine all day, and despite the three emails I had sent out to him, I had gotten no response.
Grabbing a stool next to an old, Florida retirement home looking guy, I ordered a beer, took a swig and let out a sigh. The late seventy-something year old looked over at me and said, "Ah mate, look where you ah here. Can't be that bad hey!" Cracking a smile, I looked over at him and agreed, "Ya, you're right. I just got my hopes up today that's all." He retorted, "Ah mate, what a girl stand you up t'day at the beach or what?" Shaking my head I explained to him how I tried all day to get in touch with this jerk stunt plane pilot, and that he didn't return my phone calls or emails or anything. I went on and on telling him how excited I got at the first sight of that stunt plane that morning, and how I tried so hard to get a hold of that pompous pilot. He let out a peculiarly large laugh and started inquiring a bit more about who I was and what I was doing in Australia. After telling him my story, I asked him what he was doing in Airlie Beach, figuring he was on vacation or something. "I live here mate!" A bit embarrassed I said, "Very nice, you're quite lucky to live in such a beautiful place. Hey you wouldn't happen to know that stunt pilot would you?" Hoping he didn't, because I had just called the pilot a jerk. "Ah ya I doooo mate. Matta of fact, that pilot is meee hey!" Turning beet red in shame, I began apologizing and fumbling in embarrassment. "Oh! Uh, ummm, I'm so sorry, I uhh.. thought that he.." Cutting me off with his big laugh, he got up from his stool and with a hefty pat on my back said, "Be at the runway at 8AM mate." And he walked away. A bit awe struck, I sat there smiling, shaking my head in embarrassment at what had just occurred.
With my spirits now very high, I had a great rest of my night but ensured I was in bed early enough to make my 8AM rendezvous the next day, which I was right on time for. Showing up to find Jim polishing a plane that looked older than him, I once again began apologizing for yesterday and explained how grateful I was at the opportunity to fly with him. Being the jolly guy I would find out he is, he laughed and told me not to mention it. He then told me to hop in the front seat of the plane and he would strap me in. Pointing at about five levers, knobs and dials, he nonchalantly told me that if I accidentally hit any of these, that we could crash. Thinking this might be difficult being that we would be doing aerial acrobats, I just nodded with a nervous smile, eager to get in the air.
Priming the engine, he went to the front of the single prop plane and began winding the propeller. Then with one big pull in the opposite direction, the engine began to put, put, put to life. Quickly hopping in, Jim then gave it a rev and got this ancient dinosaur of a plane onto the runway.
I could hear us get clearance for take off through the headphones and going no more than thirty miles an hour, the light plane hopped right up into the air and off we went, out towards the islands I had just circled the the day before by boat. The aerial view was incredible as I could see the Whitsundays and all the surrounding islands with the Great Barrier Reef vibrantly coloring the shallow turquoise waters. It was incredible to see this small section of the overwhelmingly large reef knowing that so much microbiology, intricate ecosystems, and beautiful sea life was thriving just below the surface. After the scenic tour, it was time to head back to Airlie to begin the acrobats right above the beach. With a quick confirmation over the microphone, I gave Jim the thumbs up and immediately we went into a straight, spinning nose dive towards the ground, only to pull up just in time and begin more twists and turns. The giant flips we would do we're the most fun because as we would come back around, I could feel the G-forces pushing down on me, throwing me into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. We would continue for about a minute, straighten out to catch a breath and then once again start the roller coaster ride all over again. I was loving every bit of it and was able to get some great GoPro footage before having to finally turn back towards the runway.Touching down, I could not thank Jim enough for taking me up on such an incredible aerial adventure. It was one of the highlights of my trip. Truly an experience I will never forget. Still planning on heading out that day, I ended up picking up two backpackers for company on the long drive back down and off I went, taking all the great memories and good times in that I had made from the paradise of Airlie beach.
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