The ABC of the South Pacific,
Papua New Guinea Flying Safari 2000
By Dianne Cowley
A is for Alison, gentle and kind. Married to Greg (and his Beech) what a find.
B
is for Bathurst, John Bestwick lives there. When he’s not Cessna STOL flying around somewhere.C
is for COUP, which now has more meaning. We landed, refuelled and reported leaving.D is for David, a Saratoga man. Flying with Kylie is his long life plan.
E is for Elizabeth Anne, married to Greg. Seneca-ing on, leg after leg.
F is for flying, which we love to do. But days "FINE AND BEAUT" were all too few.
G is for Gareth, a Cessna STOL guy. Flying low VFR, ‘cause they couldn’t fly high!
H is for Honiara, yes we went there. The coup and the soldiers gave us a scare.
I is for "IN IT", and that’s where we went. Into clouds, coups and bomb blasts, even though we weren’t sent.
J is for John, times two, son and dad. Who with Maxine are flying the old Trinidad.
K is for Keith and also for Kim. Crew on the Vee-tail should it go for a swim.
K is for Kylie, IFR rated too. Flying high in eight-eighths is no longer new.
L is for Leatherman, once owned by Bill. Used on Beech wing tank and now he has NIL.
M is for Marjorie, Campion her name. A high flying lady, Mooneying into fame.
N is for Norfolk, the island of course. Where we finally joined up and became quite a force.
O is for ocean, the Pacific this year. We conquered it grandly without too much fear.
P is for pilots; thirteen of us came. On this 2000 Safari, some said we were game.
Q is for quality and that’s what we found. In aircraft, in pilots, in passengers – all round.
R is for Rabaul, with volcanic actions. Bomb blast and ash fallout caused quite some reactions.
S is for Sam, who’s a Carnegie rep. Leaking oil through the South Seas with plenty of pep.
T is for Trans Niugini Tours. Malolo, Karawari and Ambua the lures.
U is for unknown, and that’s where we flew. Into and across, and our skills they just grew.
V is for valiant – the big effort it took. For Bob to fly over to check out and look.
W is for welcome and that’s what was given. To Dianne with medicines for the New Guinea Papuans.
X is for X-RAY, the vision we needed. On finals for runways, much rain impeded.
Y is for YOU, including pilots and crews. Remember this Safari and all the great views.
Z is for ZERO; we’ve run out of days. Bill and Bob, please plan again, we’re all full of praise.