The Sky's the Limit

My name is Tex Battle. I've been flying for nearly 50 years. I can't say flying was a boyhood dream, but I think I may have been inspired to learn to fly when my elder sister and her husband got their licenses. However, having a young family to support, it took me several years of saving up for "a lesson a fortnight" to gain my Private Pilot's License, which I achieved in 1970. Since then, flying has been a large part of my life, and this website is to share some aspects of that with interested parties.

My first aircraft was a Cherokee 180 VH-PAT which I co-owned for 5 years. This was followed by a Cherokee Arrow II VH-CJV which I co-owned for 11 years. I clocked up around 3,000 hours during that time. Charlie Juliet Victor played a vital role in the establishment of Sweers Island Resort, our home for the following 30+ years.
I was an active member of Mount Isa Aero Club for many years, including a term as President, and am a member of AOPA, the Australian Owners & Pilots Association.

Work and increasing regulation of the GA industry interrupted my flying for a few years, until I had the opportunity to do some Recreational training and achieved my Recreational License in 2011. Around the same time, I had the opportunity to purchase a Light Sports Aircraft, Ultravia Pelican 19 3365. After 4 years of owning the Pelican, I have clocked up a further 200 hours. I've also been fortunate to achieve most pilot's dream of visiting the famous Oshkosh Airshow, in my 70s, and made the Trip of a Lifetime not just once, but twice (so far!) Flying gives me the opportunity to do many things in life.
The sky truly is the limit...