Gift Horse nil Mouth

[jeriendhal]

I've just been offered a free ride to Australia in a 19-passenger aircraft. I'm not exactly certain if the offer is serious, but if it is, there are considerations to be examined.

1) It's with a pilot with a fresh liscence. For a trans-Pacific flight that makes me leery. OTOH it's likely he just got his liscence to fly a 19-passenger aircraft. Which means he'd have to have a few hundred hours in lighter aircraft before getting that rating. And unless he's a total idiot, he'll be flying with a more experienced co-pilot.

2) I don't know what kind of 19-passenger aircraft. It was described to me as "19 passengers + cargo". Now that covers everything from a Beechcraft turboprop with an 800-mile range (nessesitating a really long haul up through Alaska and down through Russia), to a rather lovely Bombadier Challenger bizjet with all the trimmings you could ask for, and a shorter hop from LA to Hawaii to Melbourne.

If the plane is the former, I suppose I'll be the only one in my family to go along. If it's the latter, I think Tracy would cheerfully kill me if I didn't beg a seat for her and Thomas. And maybe one for her mom as well.

3) I hope "free" doesn't mean "chip in for gas money". :)

Edit: It's a bizjet. And the guy still claims it's for free. All I'd have to do is find a cheap flight up to Boston to catch it.

This can't be for real...

Comments

[grayhawkfh.livejournal.com]

3) I hope "free" doesn't mean "chip in for gas money". :)

What's the old line? Gas, Grass, or Ass! No one rides for free...

LOL!

[xinef.livejournal.com]

return or one-way? :)

(don't suppose he'd be willing to consider other free passengers.... I'm sure I could find a way to Boston.)

[jeriendhal.livejournal.com]

Return. :) Primarily it's aimed at fans of Terinu who'd like to meet Peta in person. Given the 19 seats, I'm some accomidation might be reached if you asked politely. :)

[xinef.livejournal.com]

*sigh* Timing isn't good, so I'll pass this time. Pity, though.

[glenbarnett.livejournal.com]

Which part of Aus., when?

[jeriendhal.livejournal.com]

Geelong, outside of Melbourne, sometime around June-August. Assuming this doesn't fall through when the offerer figures out the fuel costs...

[glenbarnett.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I get down to Melbourne sometimes. I may possibly be able to get to Melbourne around then if you do make it.

[chaypeta.livejournal.com]

Somehow i can't see this thing bearing fruit, but then stranger things have happened. And then of course is the question of how Peta and Wayne feel about having 19 visitors drop in. *grin* Man, glad that extensions almost finished!

I can't see anyone, even a connected uncle, footing the bill for all the fuel and plane hire costs. And then there's ground transport and accommodation and food plus general expenses. We have a decent aquarium and other things you won't want to miss. We do have a pretty good public transport system here though. But I can only board so many and at present there's no room in the back garden for a tent. I think Keeper is going to have to think this through a bit more.

Gwyphyn text me a heads up that this thing was going down on the forum. We spent some time planning our escape, including selling our houses!

Seriously though, we'd love for this to work out. It's be a trip!

[jeriendhal.livejournal.com]

It'd be wonderful, if it did work out. And trust me, the weather won't be too cold for us that time of year (we East Coasters are a hardy type, we often go outside when the temperture is at 0 C!) As for accomidations, as I noted my company has at least two hotels in Geelong proper, which if I can twist arms sufficiently at work I can get for US$25 a night at the employee discount. If not the rates are still relatively good that time of years for suites.

We shall see...

[norabombay.livejournal.com]

Well, given the long lead time? Can't hurt to look into it. But um, I wouldn't really put to much faith in it

[chaypeta.livejournal.com]

Gwyphyns let the cat out of the bag on the forum.

[jeriendhal.livejournal.com]

Eh? Can't find what you're refering to. Was Keeper pulling our leg after all?