Every now and then I would travel the two hours from
home to Narrandera and hire the Tecnam. Oh, if only I
could win the lottery, I could buy my own.
I researched every aircraft I could find - the Jabiru,
LightWing, Rans, Supapup, Karatoo - you name it. I had
my wish list, and on top of that list was Garry Morgan's
Joey 2. If only I could find a way to get into one of
these, I would be the happiest man alive.
With the extra expense of a disabled wife, all I could
do was dream. Then at Wagga Wagga, I met Garry face to
face. I sat in his Joey knowing there was no way my budget
would stretch that far.
But as I talked to Garry I spotted this little single
seat, red and white streak called the Super Diamond single
seat. I gave it a thorough going over, only forgetting
to kick the tyres.
Dreams don't just happen, you have to make them happen,
and that's just what I did. I found out all I could about
Garry Morgan and his Super Diamond. As it turned out they
both got an A+ rating from all who knew them.
When I got back home, still dreaming, I sent Garry an
email asking if he wanted to sell the little beauty. It
took a few days, but he finally agreed.
I'm a married man, so the first person I went to was -
you guessed it - my wife. I reckon I talked non-stop at
her the whole night.
Of course, I went back to the hangar to take another look
at the red and white streak. Garry, being the great bloke
he is, took the Super Diamond up. I was hooked and anxiously
haggled over a price.
As with everything I buy, the back-up service is just
as important as the initial purchase, and Garry has been
great answering every question.
I returned home with my pride and joy in toe and unloaded
her. As you'd expect, I couldn't wait to get her in the
air. I started the motor, let her warm up and taxied up
and down to get used to the plane's characteristics.
It didn't take long before I bit the bullet, lined her
up, accelerated and pulled back on the stick. I was in
heaven. I was flying MY little Super Diamond for the very
first time.
My heart was pounding. Everything was a little different
to what I was used to - very little rudder was needed
in the turns and the controls were more responsive than
I had imagined. Everything was looking good and I was
having the time of my life. It was like going up for the
first time all over again.
All too soon it was time to return to the ground, but
the red and white streak clearly wanted to spend more
time in the air. She was clearly designed for the skies,
not the confines of a hangar. I decided to give her a
little more time and distance to get used of the idea
that she had to land. I came around for my second final
and, still a little high, gave myself a good talking to.
On the third attempt it all looked sweet. The speed was
right, the height was right and I pulled back the stick
just a little and let the wheels get their land legs.
I was soon taxiing back to my waiting friends with a grin
from ear to ear - a grin I still get everytime I think
about the great little Australian aircraft I now call
my own. I only wish all my other landings where as smooth,
but I'm working on it and having fun in the process.
Now I am obsessed with putting my own stamp on my new
possession. A little bit of carpet here, a little more
padding there (mostly on the seat!), maybe change the
colour or put in a bigger engine such is the versatility
of this little Diamond.
It's a cheap single-seater with a good turn of speed that
gives you all the room you need to make it your own.
Oh, what fun it is to fly.
