Robinson R44 Raven II VH-RIZ

Robinson R44 Raven II, VH-RIZ - this is the helicopter that made me fall in love with piston engined helicopters

Update - Trip To Coffs Harbour

A update to a earlier post: http://joehuppsrandoms.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/travels-to-coffs-harbour.html

The final countdown is on! 2 weeks to go..... flying out of Dubbo on Friday July 13, 2012 at 0630 on a QantasLink flight (QF2037, de Haviland Canada DHS Dash-8 Q315) with a 4 hour layover in Sydney then onto a Virgin Australia flight (DJ1165, Embraer 190).... will keep you all updated as the countdown enters it's final phase!

Peace out peeps!

Ford FG Falcon XR6 EcoLPi MkII

Ford Falcon FG MkII XR6 EcoLPi

Just a quick post to talk about this car, the new Falcon EcoLPi....

The Falcon EcoLPi is an amazing car - it can prime the LPG system into the rail and have gas at the engine before you can get your bum into the driver's seat.... once it senses a unlock from the keyfob, the priming system starts up, pressurising the liquified gas into the LPG fuel rail and up to the special gas injectors and once this is done, the driver turns the key to Start and the engine will fire right up!

Travels to Coffs Harbour

Coming up in July, I am going to Coffs Harbour on the mid north coast of New South Wales, Australia for a few days break - and this is one of the amazing things I plan on doing!

I had to reschedule my flights back 3 weeks so I could do this - now I am really, REALLY excited!

Scania Coaches

Scania K480EB 6x2*4 TV5594

There's two words that can be used to describe Scania's range of luxury touring coaches: comfort and style. Some have one or the other while others have both - one such model which has both is the K480EB 6x2*4 pictured above!

This K480EB 6x2*4 started it's working life back in 2007 with Australia Wide Coaches wearing SA registration XNU346 then was re-registered TV5594 when based in Alexandria in Sydney - in early 2011, it was transferred to the fleet (as seen here) of Phil and Fiona Langley of Dubbo still registered as TV5594 and is the first 6x2*4 (6 wheels, 2 driven, 4 steering (front and tag axles)) to enter service in Australia.

Coach Comparision - Denning Decker vs Scania K480EB 6x2*4

Scania K480EB 6x2*4 TV5594

This blog entry is a comparision between two coaches in the Langley's Coaches fleet, a Denning Decker (TV5580) and the above coach, a Scania K480EB 6x2*4 (TV5594)

Denning Decker TV5580

First things first: these are two totally different coaches.... the Scania has a 12 litre SCR Euro V engine and a 12 speed Opticruise AMT while the Denning has a Detroit Diesel Series 60 with a Eaton UltraShift Plus AMT.

Driveline:
The Series 60/UltraShift Plus is nowhere near as smooth or easy shifting as the 12 litre Scania/12 speed Opticruise - the UltraShift Plus would not let the Series 60 lug down to 1000rpm and would be changing down a lot higher than the Scania's Opticruise.... the Opticruise would let the Scania's engine lug down to 1000rpm before grabbing a lower gear.... smoothly!

Taronga Western Plains Zoo - Big Cat Encounter

On Tuesday February 14th, I was very lucky to be able to take part in a Big Cat Encounter (Tiger) at Taronga Western Plains Zoo.... I got to feed a tiger and meet the rest of the tiger family... here are some photos from the experience... now they're not the best but then again, these are memories for me!

Me feeding Isha, a 6 year old female Sumatran Tiger

 

Stockton Beach Trip

Here's a very brief photo reveiw of the recent trip myself, my brother and a couple of friends went on recently to Stockton Beach - enjoy!

MV Sygna - a 53000 tonne Norweigian bulk carrier that was shipwrecked on Stockton Beach on May 26, 1974

My brother's 1999 Toyota HiLux 4WD dual cab on our first camp site for the trip

Pristine sands of Stockton Beach - 4WD access only!

An amazing sunrise on the last day of our trip

The ute on the tallest sand dune

Tamboi Queen Cruises - Dolphin Watch Cruise, Tuesday January 3, 2012

Here are some photos from my dolphin watch cruise with Tamboi Queen Cruises - enjoy!

Heading out of Nelson Bay

The only dolphin I was able to photograph - bloody buggers were too fast!

Our captain for this cruise, Captain Harry - seen here manning the waterslide on board the MV Spirit

Our vessel, the MV Spirit - a 18m catamaran with ample viewing opportunities

Movie Review - Dolphin Tale

Cast:
Harry Connick Jr. - Dr. Clay Haskett
Kris Kristofferson - Reed Haskett
Cozi Zuehlsdorff - Hazel Haskett
Nathan Gamble - Sawyer Nelson
Ashley Judd - Lorraine Nelson
Morgan Freeman - Dr. Cameron McCarthy
Austin Stowell - Kyle Connellan
Austin Highsmith - Phoebe
Winter the Dolphin - Herself
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Synopsis:


Swimming free, a young dolphin is caught in a crab trap, severely damaging her tail. She is rescued and  transported to the Clearwater Marine Hospital, where she is named Winter. But her fight for survival has just begun. Losing her tail may cost Winter her life. It will take the expertise of a dedicated marine biologist, the ingenuity of a brilliant prosthetics doctor, and the unwavering devotion of a young boy to bring about a groundbreaking miracle—amiracle that might not only save Winter but could also help thousands of people
around the world.

“Dolphin Tale” is a heartwarming, fun adventure about the healing bonds of family, both human and animal. The real Winter, who plays herself in “Dolphin Tale,” today serves as a symbol of courage and hope to millions of people—especially those facing their own physical challenges—who have been touched by her remarkable story of recovery and rehabilitation.

The film stars Harry Connick, Jr. as Dr. Clay Haskett, who runs the Clearwater Marine Hospital; Ashley Judd as Lorraine Nelson, a single mother; Nathan Gamble as her son, Sawyer, who frees Winter from the trap and forms a unique connection with the dolphin; Cozi Zuehlsdorff as Hazel, Clay’s daughter, who befriends Sawyer; Kris Kristofferson as Clay’s father, Reed; and Oscar® winner Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby”) as Dr. Cameron McCarthy, who takes on the seemingly impossible task of crafting a prosthetic tail for Winter.

This movie is recommended to all, young and old, who love dolphins! Worth every cent of the ticket - one of the pre-requisites is a packet of tissues.... you will cry at the end!

"The Jesus Nut" by Cal Cazerslit

Enjoy this little tune from Cal Cazerslit - the "Jesus nut" is the nut that holds the top rotor blade assembly to the shaft from the engine to the rotor blades!

Orana Caravan, Camping, 4WD, Fish and Boat Show - 4WD Demo Video

One of many escapades from the abovementioned show - the vehicle in this video is a stock standard Toyota LandCruiser Prado 150 Series GXL turbo diesel auto...... check it out!

Random ramblings issue 1

Here's my condensed random ramblings, the first of many

1. Tuesday's truck photography session netted me 11 reasonably brilliant photos - one truck in particular I was surprised to get - pic at bottom.


2. I have a truck photoshoot currently in the planning stages - a Scania P420 with a quad axle Steelbro MkIII SB361 sidelifter. Any assistance would be graciously accepted!!!


3. A lot of medical problems are preventing me from doing the things I really love! This is moreso evident with my back - 2 displaced vertebrae (L4 and L5 - L5 8mm forward and L4 9mm backward) and severe misalignment of the remaining vertebrae is causing pain.

Freightliner Argosy BJ52TC and Jackson Transport Bodies Tilt-Slide Semi W30549
Owned by Outback Recovery Service, Dubbo, NSW, Australia
See point 1 above for details of shoot this came from

Stay tuned for Issue 2, coming soon!

2011 Volvo FH16 700

SWEDE 1, a brand spankin' new 2011 Volvo FH16 700 owned by Heavy Haulage Australia and the first 700 on heavy haulage in Australia

1972 Merc LP1418

Check this out

I suppose there's first times for everything - this is a screenshot from my computer showing my modem signal strength! Four bars - never had that before!

I just had to post this - I have never had this amount of signal strength on my wireless service at home before.... I keep checking to see if it has changed! Well, I can say this is a bloody terrific surprise!

Crystal Chandeliers - Simon Peters (aka Simon Donegan)

Kevin Collins - From An Island To An Island

This is a wonderful singer from Newfoundland and Labrador named Kevin Collins - Irish by descent but Newfoundland born and raised! These 2 videos are of one of his biggest hits - written by Loyola Hearn, the current Canadian Ambassador to Ireland. It was originally written as The Green To The Green but Kevin titled it From An Island To An Island!

Lyrics:

My father left old Ireland, so many years ago

He left his home in Galway, where the green, green shamrocks grow

He met my darling mother on a boat to Newfoundland

And it didn't take him long before, he won her heart and hand

They both came to this island, as happy as could be

To settle down together, and raise a family

They built a little cottage, and started to combine

The green of the shamrock, with the green of the pine

From an island to an island, from the green to the green

They left their homes to settle in a place they never seen

They exchanged the hills of Newfoundland for the ones they left behind

And the green of the shamrock for the green of the pine

As their family grew around them, their eyes shone bright with pride

They'd go to church each Sunday morn' strolling side by side

Each evening 'round the turf-fire to heaven would ascend

The decades of the rosary for all in Ireland

Now the years passed by so quickly, and death we all must face

We laid our loving parents in their final resting place

Yet they taught me to be thankful for this heritage that's mine

The green of the shamrock for the green of the pine

From an island to an island, from the green to the green

They left their homes to settle in a place they never seen

They exchanged the hills of Newfoundland for the ones they left behind

And the green of the shamrock for the green of the pine

And the green of the shamrock for the green of the pine

The Honourable Loyola Hearn PC, MP - the 28th Canadian Ambassador to The People's Republic of Ireland and, like Kevin, a Newfoundland native and composer of this beautiful song

Volkswagen Amarok Uber Ute

The new Amarok, Volkswagen's first foray into the 1 tonne ute market

This is the Trendline version

I had the opportunity to meet up with a mate on Facebook who happens to be a sales rep at Iverach Volkswagen in Dubbo today and was able to look at the Amarok in more detail.... this fine example of a ute is available now and will be available in four models: Amarok, Amarok Trendline, Amarok Highline and Amarok Ultimate! All standard with RWD or equipped with optional permanant or selectable 4Motion 4WD......

Base model Amarok - easily distinguishable by the steel wheels

The Amarok starts out with a base model - very well equipped, even for a base model.... TDI400 twin-turbocharged diesel (120kW/400Nm), 6 speed manual gearbox, 6 airbags and more. Cloth trim and airconditioning finish the Amarok off, as do steel wheels with 205R16C 110/108T Pirelli tyres. Similar Japs are the HiLux SR, Triton GL, Ranger XL and BT50 DX.

Amarok Trendline

Next up the line is the Amarok Trendline - easily identifiable by the Taruma 16" alloy wheels with Continental ContiContact 245/70R16 111T tyres. Basically the same as the base Amarok but with the alloy wheels and the TDI400 twin-turbo diesel engine (120kW/400Nm)! Specced similar to the GLX-R Triton.

Amarok Highline

The third model to come out at launch is the Amarok Highline - same specs as the Trendline but fitted with dual zone auto climate control, Durban alloy wheels with Continental ContiContact 255/60R18 112T tyres and many more options. This is the one to get if you want specs similar to the HiLux SR5, Triton GLS, Ranger XLT and BT50 SDX.

More updates to come from me - stay tuned!

UPDATE: The Amarok is the only ute to gain the maximum five star ANCAP safety rating - check out the following link for more info: ANCAP Test Results - Volkswagen Amarok 4WD Uber Ute

Irish Country Music Radio

This is an advert for the finest online country music radio station in Ireland, Irish Country Music Radio! Feel free to have a listen at http://www.irishcountrymusicradio.com