Valentich. "it is not an aircraft" then dead air. Bass Strait swallowed him

this one haunts me as a pilot more than any of them because I've flown that stretch. oct 21 1978, Frederick Valentich, 20yo, flying a Cessna 182 solo across Bass Strait toward King Island, evening, decent enough conditions. he radios Melbourne Flight Service that there's an aircraft above him, 1000f……