Thunder Down Under: Jet airplanes for the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Western Australia

A Rio Tinto LifeFlight PC-24

By Vic Midyett

In my February article on the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, I reported that beginning in the second half of this year three new jet airplanes would be delivered to the RFDS in Western Australia, and one of them has been delivered to our local office, located at a small airport 20 minutes from where we live – Jandakot Airport.

Thunder Down Under: The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia

Map of RFDS regions in Australia
[click map to enlarge image]

By Vic Midyett

I have mentioned the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) in more than one previous article. The RFDS uses two types of planes in Western Australia: propeller planes, of which it has 16, for landing on dirt strips on farms or on highways, and a jet, of which it has one.

Thunder Down Under: Let’s go for an airplane ride!

By Vic Midyett

Last Sunday, our neighbor Jamie took Shirley and me for an airplane ride from Perth International Airport to a smaller but busier airport 40 miles away where all the maintenance for the larger airport is done. The photo shows the plane we flew in; Jamie was delivering it for maintenance.

Meeting the Tjuntjuntjara community

Shirley Deane/Midyett and Elder Mr. Ned Grant
(photo by Graham Townley)

In honor of the Spinifex People

By Vic Midyett, in consultation with Shirley Deane/Midyett

[Author’s Note: Shirley has now done the work at the remote Spinifex Health Service center that we announced here on March 11, in “White butterfly...Aboriginal Australian symbolism.”
    In all Australian aboriginal cultures there are strict and definitive rules around what is “men’s business” and “women’s business.” I have written this article in the hope that we have been appropriately sensitive to all. We wish to acknowledge and honor the Spinifex People as the owners and custodians of their land.]