Living Within The Elements.
Ch 3
Edward couldn't keep his joy from bubbling over and when he and Bella ended the call, and he may or may not have executed a weird victory dance around the room to celebrate.
Something he certainly would never have done in public because he was known for his controlled facade.
Ms Swan, or Bella as he was pleased to call her now, would be joining him in Santa Barbara in less than two days!
Everything was going according to plan.
Not perturbed by Bella's up front and no nonsense manner, he set about organising a second room for the night before they left, but he would be lying if he wasn't a little nervous about having to break the news about the other accommodation he'd organised along the way.
He would have to cross that bridge when he came to it.
At the airport, the plane was fully prepped with all sorts of additional safety gear to make the trip. To make everything easier for his Captain to check over, Edward whisked himself out to the airport and systematically unstowed everything, so Bella had direct access without having to dig through it all.
Repacking it all again would make her familiar with where everything was located.
Back in Jacksonville, Bella had contacted Mr Jenks and let him know of her revised plans. He said to keep in touch and give to him a heads up when she touched down at Bankstown Airport so he could send someone to pick her up.
She had to spend the rest of the day essentially preparing for a holiday. Anything she didn't have at her mother's place, she purchased and by the end of the day she had time to put her truck in storage and all she had to do was pack her things to be ready to go.
Her flight would leave fairly early the next morning, so the house needed start in the dark with both Renée and Phil wanted the honour of taking her to the airport.
And it was all so unexpectedly emotional.
Everything had happened so fast since leaving Arizona and the gravity of the trip to Australia hadn't really set in until that morning. Still trying to wake up properly, everyone seemed melancholy while they were sitting around picking at their breakfast,
That companionable silence stretched on into the car ride and also at the terminal, the three only conversing when they needed to.
When it came time to part, Bella finally burst into tears, followed bravely by Renée, who's heart broke for her daughter.
Phil was stoic but his glazed eyes gave him away. Bella was as good as a daughter to him as she ever could be and to see both the girls in such a state was painful for him.
Bella hated good-byes at the best of times, and this really was not what she would call the best of times.
Far from it.
Bella didn't make a good passenger and flying across a continent in an Airliner wasn't her favourite thing to do. But at least she had time to stretch her legs waiting for her connecting flight in Dallas to break up the seven hour trip.
She wouldn't get the same luxury on the flight to Australia, but at least she'd be in charge at the pointy end and that's the place she loved to be.
She couldn't control the flutter of excitement upon the decent into Santa Barbara and once the wheels were down, Bella kept her eyes peeled for what would likely be the one lone Grumman Mallard parked in a temporary parking area. The bird must have been secured behind a building somewhere because she couldn't find it from her seat at the window.
Waiting in the terminal, Edward spotted the pretty brunette almost as soon as she came through the airbridge doors at the gate.
Not that he was keen or anything.
Bella also scanned the crowd of families, friends and other patrons, all eager to meet up with their corresponding arrivals.
Leaning casually on a large central pillar, breaking up the space that made up gate's one and two and with his hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans was Edward, who grinned the moment their eyes met.
Clearly Bella wasn't the only one who had made sure to find out what the other looked like.
Upon nearing him, Bella found that Edward was no small man. Standing at about six-three, he filled out his checked shirt rather well.
"Ms Swan," he said with a polite nod, "how was your flight?" he asked, the smile never leaving his face.
"Mr Mason." Bella returned with a nod in kind, "as well as can be expected."
"After we get your luggage, what did you want to do first? Get something to eat, got to the hotel or..?"
"After we get food to go, where do you think I want to go?" Bella asked, giving Edward a cheeky glance before falling into step beside him as the pair made their way down the escalator to baggage claim.
"Straight to Airside huh?"
"Yeah, I wanna see Sierra Romeo and spend some time giving her the once over in case we need to get anything."
Edward nodded in agreement, pleased that Bella's priority was the same as his own. "Aye, aye Captain," he said cheerfully upon reaching the baggage carousel.
To save time, Edward offered to get their food while Bella waited and only ten minutes later Edward was wheeling Bella's large suitcase outside and towards one of the hardstand's, where the General Aviation aircraft were parked only about half a mile away.
Sunglasses on, Bella couldn't miss the distinctive shape of the flying boat through the chainmail fence as they approached a secondary car park. Edward unlocked his hire car before loading Bella's case and hand luggage into the trunk.
With their meals and a bottle of water in hand, they made their way to the security gate and were let through to airside with the goal of eating underwing.
Approaching the snow white Mallard, which was tied down and protected by various bright red covers and inserts to stop insects and birds nesting in places they shouldn't.
Smaller, but much more elegant than the CL415's that she flew these days, Bella's memories flooded through her mind from the time she captained the G73's, running RPT flights between Miami and the Bahamas in her mid-twenties.
Reaching out, she touched the rounded end of the aircraft's patrician nose, slash, bow and ran her hand down it's smooth side in reverential awe.
"Still the best looking amphibian ever built," she mumbled under her breath at the greatly revered machine.
As expected, the plane was pristine and out of habit, Bella didn't miss a detail while she cast her eyes over the airframe and performed the equivalent of a pre-flight check as she did her walk-around.
Edward let the delightful woman be. He watched her intently, studying her as she moved around the aircraft with expert familiarity, he in turn also not missing a detail.
Opening the passenger door and pulling out the ladder, he hooked it onto the bottom edge of the entrance before sitting down on the main gear tyre, to eat his late lunch while he waited for her.
Chewing on her own chicken salad wrap, Bella finally made it back around to the front of the aircraft and then joined Edward under the wing.
Her lips turned up automatically.
"Like what you see?" he asked.
"What's not to like Edward," she answered cocking an eyebrow at him.
"Indeed she's beautiful," he said, his stare lingering only a second longer than what could have been appropriate, "did you want to eat here or inside?" he asked, making a gesture towards the open door behind the wing.
"Is she as nice on the inside as she is on the outside?" Bella asked.
"I like to think so Bella," Edward said, watching Bella move past him towards the ladder before he followed her.
"Would you mind holding this?" she asked, handing him her food.
"Sure," Edward said brightly before watching Bella board the plane.
Enjoying the view way too much, he internally chastised himself. He was forty-five years old for crying out loud, not fourteen.
Catching Edward shift his gaze away from her rear, Bella threw his words back at him "Like what you see?" she said with mock seriousness.
Edward cleared his throat in discomfort, but Bella's stern expression only lasted a moment before she smiled, "here," she said, reaching out to free Edwards hands so he could join her.
Once they'd sorted things out, Bella turned to better inspect the interior of the cabin.
Letting out a long whistle, Bella was not disappointed. While the rear of the cabin was full of stowed seats and safety gear, the quality of the finish was clearly evident.
The smell of new leather permeated her nostrils, and the sight of the opulent polished timber trim gave every indication that this was every inch an executive aircraft.
Heading straight for the cockpit, she ducked under the padded bulkhead where the substantial framework for the wing-roots were hidden and where the main landing gear was recessed. On the other side were four spacious leather seats facing one another in a club seating arrangement.
The isle between the seats stopped at another bulkhead that separated the passenger cabin from the cockpit with a narrow opening allowing free access between the two.
The dash was not full glass but was well laid out with some nice Garmin units sitting front row centre.
"Ok to have a seat?" she asked Edward.
"Be my guest," he said before following her into the cockpit and lowering himself into the right hand position.
They ate their meal amicably, while Bella looked around the cosy space. She noted dual HSIs and RMIs, radar, marine depth gauge and mercifully, this beautiful beast also had an auto pilot. That would make things a bit more comfortable on the trip. She was glad to see a satellite phone, Jepp plates and a portable HF radio easily accessible and neatly stowed within easy reach.
"Have you got a couple of those small emergency scuba tanks Edward?"
"No, why?" he asked.
"No hatches" she said pointing above her head.
Both the Super Scoopers and the Mallards bigger cousin, the Albatross had overhead crew hatches.
"Exits are at the rear, or out through the forward hatch which is an exercise in itself to access on a good day. I think it'd be a good idea to pick some up in case I forget how to land on water so far away from civilization." She said completely deadpan.
Edward looked at her with wide eyes. "What?" he asked in shock.
"Relax will ya? I'm kidding," she said, giving the handsome man a playful shove with her elbow, "but not about the air, if we need to ditch, we might not have the luxury to prepare to land and..."
"God forbid, we'll definitely get some. Better to be safe than sorry," Edward said resolutely, before stuffing the last bite of his lunch into his mouth.
"What can I say? I'm a safety girl. I'll make a list," she said pulling out her phone and bringing up a safety manual that included the inventory of gear that was always carried on the Super Scoopers as required.
Minutes later the pair rummaged through the supplies that Edward had prepared for inspection, Bella ticked off the auxiliary fuel tank, a life raft, the survival suits, plus a heap of other incidentals. Anything that Bella didn't have was added to the supplies.
Bella made a mental note of where everything was re-stowed before she and Edward tied it down safely.
"Oh and through here I've even got a porta-potti," Edward said opening the door and showing Bella the lashed down chemical camping toilet in the rear cargo bay.
Being that they weren't carrying passengers and that they could use the cabin for most of what they were carrying, the as usual cargo compartment was the perfect discrete space to do one's business in private.
"Well, looks like you've thought of almost everything," Bella said, relieved that she wouldn't have to rely on Edwards morals and use a bucket in plain sight.
"We have all the luxuries Bella," Edward said noticing Bella's relief and giving her a cheeky wink.
Bella completed the list of must haves and for the rest of the afternoon, they collected what they needed before finally retiring to their hotel for the night.
They made quick work of ordering room service and then went over the routes and other relevant plans before Bella made their flight plan for the next day and left Edward's room to get some sleep in her own.
With alarms waking them at 0400 the next morning, Edward and Bella quietly gathered all their things and packed the car before heading back to the airport and loaded the last of their items in the Mallard. The heaviest was the portable fridge that would be plugged into the mains of the aircraft through a DC/DC converter and was secured in the foot well between one set of passenger seats.
Edward had topped up fuel earlier in the week but re checked it just in case. Bella worked out how much they needed to get to their destination, before she meticulously went about her pre-flight check
By 0530 they donned their survival vests and sat themselves in their respective places before harnessing up.
"Ready?" She asked.
"Born ready," Edward answered before they fitted their headsets.
"Let's see if I can remember how to do this" she said flippantly, giving Edward a devious look before she powered up the bird.
"You've really got to quit doing that," Edward said, knowing full well she was having a lend of him, but his nerves kicked in anyway.
Bella grinned at him, thoroughly enjoying his unease, but as soon as she was on the job, her skills shone through.
Edward called out the comprehensive prestart list while Bella checked the items off one by one and gave the airport directive on her tablet another once over.
Bella started the right hand engine first, followed by the left checking all vitals including freedom of all control surfaces before radioing Clearance Delivery.
N730SR: "Santa Barbara Clearance Delivery, Mallard Sierra Romeo, Grumman G73T slant golf, request flight following to Honolulu at fourteen thousand with information echo."
Santa Barbara Clearance Delivery: "Mallard seven three zero Sierra Romeo, Santa Barbara Clearance Delivery, on departure fly runway heading, maintain VFR at or below one thousand five hundred, departure frequency."
N730SR: "On Departure fly runway heading, maintain VFR at or below one thousand five hundred, departure frequency one two zero point five five, squawk seven one one zero."
Santa Barbara Clearance Delivery: "Mallard seven three zero Sierra Romeo, read back correct."
"Ready to roll?" Bella asked Edward.
Edward nodded. "Let's blow this popsicle stand."
N730SR: "Santa Barbara Ground, seven three zero Sierra Romeo, transient parking, ready to taxi."
Santa Barbara Ground: "Mallard seven three zero Sierra Romeo, Santa Barbara Ground, runway two five taxi via bravo, alpha, golf."
N730SR: "Runway two five taxi via bravo, alpha, golf"
Bella eased up on the brakes and tweaked the overhead throttles. Sierra Romeo started her rollout in the dim light, the aircraft's navigation lights shone brightly while Bella carefully negotiated the taxiway's until they got to the end of the runway and stopped on the piano keys were the pilots completed their take off check list.
N730SR: "Santa Barbara Tower, Mallard seven three zero Sierra Romeo, holding short runway tw0 five."
Santa Barbara Tower: "Mallard seven three zero Sierra Romeo, Santa Barbara Tower, Runway two five, cleared for take-off."
N730SR: "Cleared for take-off runway two five."
Santa Barbara Tower: "Mallard seven three zero Sierra Romeo, contact Santa Barbara Departure."
N730SR: "Contact departure, Mallard seven three zero Sierra Romeo."
As per earlier instruction, Bella dialled her radio to the departure frequency - one two zero point five, five and looked over to Edward.
Bella didn't actually need a co-pilot for a ferry flight on this plane, but to have someone with her on the long trip was preferrable. To have someone with some decent flight time was even better – no matter if it was private or commercial.
Edward might not have had Bella's wealth of flying experience, but he had already assisted his previous pilot and therefore knew the basics and was eager to learn more.
Edward reached up to shadow Bella's throttle hand and his initial touch was electric.
The shock left both pilots briefly glancing at one another, but they needed to commit to the job at hand and doubled down in their efforts.
Fighting to ignore the feeling and hoping it was just static, Bella pushed the throttles forward.
Sierra Romeo surged forward when almost fourteen hundred horsepower from the two Pratt and Whitney PT6 turbo prop engines hurtled the aircraft down the runway. Only a handful of seconds later, they were at V1 and then V2. They were off the deck well before the end of the runway and soared westward in the early morning light.
"Gear up" Bella called out and pulled the leaver up and checked the dash for three lights before a making a cursory visual on the mains while climbing to the requested altitude.
N730SR: "Santa Barbara Departure, Mallard seven three zero Sierra Romeo, one thousand climbing one thousand five hundred."
Santa Barbara Departure: "Mallard seven three zero Sierra Romeo, radar contact, resume own navigation and appropriate VFR altitudes"
Heading west over the ocean, the pair started their journey together and Sierra Romeo streaked away from the California coast, climbing to fourteen thousand feet and heading out into the big blue.
For a glimpse into what Bella's favourite flying boat looks like, please check out this link.
w w /watch?v=i7qD8zp9w8w