October 17
Excited local TV news media were on hand at the Maroochydore airport to capture a "classic" wheels-up landing of a C182RG

It wasn't all "wheels-up" - the nose-wheel remained locked saving the expense of an engine bulk strip required after such mishaps

The Cessna pilot - Bill Hamilton - appeared to be amazed at the publicity for what really is a standard "landing" procedure

October 15
A Chinese manned rocket - the Shenzhou V - lifted off from the Mongolian launch pad at 0900hrs local to become this planet's third nation to accomplish a "man in space" program

China state media have indicated the astronaut will circumnavigate the globe 14 times before returning to earth and land at the countries inner Mongolian grasslands

"Lieutenant Colonel Yang Liwei 38 had emerged from the capsule and waved to the recovery team"

Liwei's capsule was based on the Soyuz model used by the Russians a few years back

October 18
A Mackay based rescue helicopter on call-out last night to Hamilton Island crashed into the sea about half-way to the Island

The helicopter appears to have impacted the sea at a high forward speed and without any prior warning

The chopper carried a 3-man crew and it appears that all have perished although one person - understood to be the pilot - remains missing at print time

Click HERE for previous reports on Rescue Choppers going down in central coastal QLD