On Thursday 14th September 2023 I flew up to Caloundra in MSF so that AMS could fit a new starter motor. We’d been having difficulty starting the engine on our trip to the Kimberley and it had been getting worse so after it totally refused to start after doing a few circuits one day Mike decided to have it checked out. AMS determined that the battery was fine but the starter motor was on the way out so ordered a replacement. Not only was it new but it was also bigger than the original. Mike was unable to fly up to Caloundra in the week leading up to our flyaway to Mudgee so I agreed to take the plane up there for him. AMS said it’d only take two hours to swap over the starter motors so I decided I could spend a couple of hours at the beach while it was done.

As it happened, my old work mate Paul Rayner was visiting from Hobart so it was an opportunity to take him for a flight while helping Mike out. We took off from Redcliffe on a perfect day and in no time were descending into the circuit at Caloundra. As is often the case at Caloundra, there was what appeared to be a trainee pilot who joined downwind in front of us. He was flying a strange circuit so I asked him his intentions over the radio but he must have been too preoccupied to respond as he flew a very tight base and final for a touch and go. We managed to stay well clear and gave him room to maneuver and watched as he touched down. We then turned final and landed has he climbed out again.

We taxied to the AMS hangar and left the plane there. The Redcliffe Aero Club Vulcanair twin VH-VMV was in the hangar having a major overhaul including replacement of its two engines at $80,000 each so we had a close look at it.

Glen from AMS kindly lent us his ute so we could drive into Moffat Beach for morning tea and a walk.

Returning to the airfield two hours later we dropped into the Queensland Aviation Museum, a couple of hundred metres down the road, to view its collection and have some lunch.

Eventually it was time to head for home. Back at AMS we climbed aboard MSF and lo and behold the engine started first go! It was so easy! A world of difference! It had never started as easily before. If only we’d had a new starter motor years ago it would have saved a lot of anguish.

We took off and headed west to give Paul a few of the Glasshouse Mountains before tracking overhead Caboolture for Redcliffe.

Another smooth touchdown and we were home. Mission accomplished and all ready for our flyaway to Mudgee the following morning.