Comedian Phyllis Diller is quoted as saying, “I don’t know how old I am, for all my parts are different ages.” This can be applied to aircraft … helicopters, light aircraft, jumbo jets … because each aircraft component has a ‘life’ in aircraft engine hours, number of landings then the component is replaced or overhauled. Very similar to facelifts and joint replacements. Rosemary Arnold owned and operated a very old Bell 47J2A 4-seater helicopter, VH-THH, which was excellent for joyrides, scenic flights and photography. It did as many as 75 takeoffs/landings in one 8hr flying day, and carried a total of 5,000+ passengers in those years of operation. It never missed a beat, because of regular scheduled maintenance, preventive maintenance and a pilot who was consistently observant during pre-flight inspections and engine performance, for she planned to become an older-&-bolder pilot. Not meaning to overlook those excellent, professional aircraft engineers, trained to observe Australian strict guidelines, who kept Rosie’s “Triple Happy Helicopter” safe and airborne. Rosie also worked as office manager for two aircraft maintenance workshops; a great education on aircraft wear and tear. David Bills-Thompson shows the same diligence towards his currently-owned aircraft, the Cessna 172 VH-IDT, which is the magic carpet for the world’s longest blind date. David has been flying IDT since 2000. His long-time responsibility with aircraft operation and maintenance goes back to early flying days, as a volunteer airborne fire-spotting crewman, in NE Melbourne area, first on Cessna 150s, then 172s and 180s (tail-draggers). When some of the fleet of C180s were being sold, David became part-owner of VH-TVC, rego then changed to its army call sign of VH- HQA. This was the C180 David flew on his three previous flights across the Nullarbor, to Perth, where he enjoyed his five landings at Langley Park airstrip, in the heart of the Perth CBD, on the edge of the Swan River. David’s flying expertise is landing on unusual strips, in out of the way places, like the dry lake bed of Lake Walyungup. WA, where he plans to do another landing on the return flight, out of Mandurah/Serpentine area. Back in the 1960s-1970s, Rosie and David both enjoyed their ab-initio flight training on Cessna 172s, and continue to appreciate its in-flight stability, comfort, safety record, as well as the unexpected benefit of the high wing providing shade on a hot day, after landing. Rosemary switched to rotary-wing in 1965, but continues to keep her flying current on fixed-wing as well, over the years. David has progressively updated IDT, a C172 N model, with two major airframe restorations, making it one of the best examples of its type. The C172 is not a high performance aircraft by modern standards but the basic design, along with its impeccable airframe credentials make it a very safe aircraft to fly. Its high wing design gives unrivalled scenery, every minute of a flight, and is perfect for the world’s longest blind date. VH-IDT is available, at other times, for pilot hire to approved pilots.