Category Archives: Events

Aviation things to see and places to go

Trip to (the edge of) the outback and back

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Edge of the outback

Jack, Peter, Ido & Norm. And the Bush Hawk

Now the dust has settled (or rather, the water has dried) a bit after our trip to the outback, here are some links to photos taken and videos made by our incumbent chronicler – Mike Rudd.

Although we never made it to our intended destination, Innamincka and the famous ‘Dig Tree’, we nevertheless enjoyed about 10-12 hours’ flying and saw some memorable sights from the air, as well as on the ground. And enjoyed excellent company, a variety of overnight rooms (from the sparse to the almost opulent), not to mention the occasional glass of electric soup.

There are mutterings about another trip in the spring – maybe September or October – north east to Tumut via Yarrawonga, then south east to Polo Flat via Canberra, flying home along the south coast via Merimbula and Gabo Island. Maybe the weather will be unusually benign along the coast and over the mountains, although judging by our outback experience, we might be ‘enjoying’ country pleasures up in the hills! Perhaps I’ll fly the new Aeroprakt A32 on that trip, although I really enjoyed taking the 74 year-old Interstate Cadet to Broken Hill; somehow those old slow-revving engines are very soothing.

Here are the links:

Photos: To the edge of the outback & back 2015
Trip video part 1: Trip to the outback & back, Part 1
Trip video part 2: Broken Hill & back Part 2
Another video: Interstate Cadet – short flight at Mungo Lodge

First Aeroprakt A32 arrives in Australia

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A32 ready for inspections

A32 at Moorabbin – click photo for full size

The first production Aeroprakt A32 – a demonstrator for Foxbat Australia – arrived at CAE Aircraft Maintenance, Moorabbin Airport, near Melbourne on Monday 29 June 2015. Glowing in bright yellow, the aircraft was unpacked from the container in no time and was soon being prepared for re-assembly after its journey from the factory.

First impressions? Well, the obvious ones relate to the external appearance – smoother, sleeker, lower, plenty of new speed fairings and a snugly fitting engine cowling. To my eyes, it appears quite conventional although everyone who’s seen it so far has waxed lyrical about its looks. Comments like: ‘Much better in the flesh than photos’, and ‘Clear family similarities with the Foxbat’ were mixed with very positive overall comments about the shape and stance.

Personally, I love the quirky looks of the A22 Foxbat, which are a clear differentiator from many other more traditional high-wing LSAs. But I’m getting used to the much more streamlined looks of the A32.

Can’t wait for it to be registered and given a C of A so I can fly it….but I must.

More soon…

Flight to Cradle Mountain

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Cradle MountainAustralia has some rugged terrain – as can be seen in this short, 3-minute time-lapse video of a 70-minute flight from the north coast to Cradle Mountain in Tasmania. Many thanks to Foxbat owner Gary McArthur for the video.

Gary is Principal Consultant for McArthur Ore Deposit Assessments Pty. Ltd. (MODA), a Tasmanian-based mining and geological consultancy, specialising in ore microscopy, mine geology and assessment of underground base metal projects.

Click on the picture to link to the video.

Outback trip to Innamincka – days 6, 7 & 8

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Find the Foxbat

Find the Foxbat (click for hi-res photo)

After almost exactly 5 days in Broken Hill, on Thursday morning at last we set out to fly – unfortunately not to the north as we’d originally planned, but south to Mildura on the Victoria-NSW border. The weather was still not anywhere near perfect but at least it was flyable.

There was a stiff southerly wind, which extended the trip time to almost 2 hours – planned time was closer to an hour and a half. But at least Mildura was reasonably clear.

We stayed at the 7th Street Motel and sampled the beer and food at the Mildura Brewery. And planned our next move. One of our group – Norm in the Foxbat – had to return home for a social function on Friday night, so the rest of us decided to head on Friday for Echuca and Yarrawonga, more-or-less following the Murray River. The weather over the ranges on the way home was still a bit marginal but the Saturday forecast was much better, so off to Echuca we started.

Mildura-EchucaWhile the others decided to fly at 2,000+ feet, I wanted to stay a bit lower and enjoy the sights nearer the ground – birds flying, farmers farming and cows grazing. We stopped at Echuca for lunch – chicken & mushroom soup, courtesy of Ido – and refuelled. Then onward with a short hop to Yarrawonga, where we were welcomed by Peter and Anne McLean of Yarrawonga Flight Training, one of the leading trike (microlight/powered hang glider) schools in the country. Peter and Anne live in an Aladdin’s cave of a hangar with all manner of aviation goodies, from tyres to hi-tech helmets with ANR headsets built in. They are also Australian agents for Air Creation trikes, which are one of the world’s leading brands in this aviation sector.

We stayed overnight – our last of the trip – at the Lakeview Motel, overlooking (as its name suggests) Lake Mulwala, which was temporarily drained to allow the frost (yes, even in Australia!) to kill off the pond-weed. We ate in the newly re-furbished restaurant at the Yarrawonga Hotel Restaurant where I had one of the best steaks I’ve eaten.

Saturday morning dawned clear and very cold – around minus 2 celsius at the airport. Ido took the opportunity to go for a TIF (Trial Instruction Flight) in a Tanarg trike with Peter McLean while the rest of us mopped dew/frost from our windscreens and warmed up our engines.

Yarra Valley from 4500 feetThe first hour of the flight was uneventful, clear skies at 5,000 feet, outside air temperature below minus 5 celsius. Then as we approached the ranges, low cloud could be seen on the south side slopes, drifting in the southerly breeze. By the time we got there, the cloud was starting to break up – as the photo shows – with Mount Dandenong in the distance showing quite clearly. Descending to about 2,000 feet, I made my way directly to Tyabb, while Stephen and Mike in the Bush Hawk went via Moorabbin to pick up fuel, and Jack with Ido did a trial entry into the controlled airspace at Moorabbin – Jack’s looking for an endorsement to add to his new RPL. By about 1500 we were all safely back and tucked up in our hangars.

I’d like to thank Mike, Stephen, Jack, Norm and Ido for a week of constant smiles, even in the trying weather at Broken Hill. We met many friendly people on the way, including motel operators who gave us lifts to and from airfields, as well as all those who came to look at and comment on our motley collection of aircraft. In particular, I’d like to give a very big thanks to Bruce Church and the Aero Club of Broken Hill, who put up with us for 5 days straight, loaned us vehicles, showed us the area, took us for beers and generally made us feel very welcome. Hopefully we can reciprocate their hospitality one day – although not because of bad weather!

Finally, here’s a link to a Flickr album/gallery with a few pictures of the trip.

Outback trip to Innamincka – day 5

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Aeroclub stranded

Aeroclub stranded

The less said about today, Wednesday, the better. Although one highlight – if you could call it that – was our appearance in the local newspaper under the banner ‘Areo Club Stranded’. The short piece featured a photo of the suitably photogenic Ido in front of the suitably photogenic Bush Hawk. (click the picture to see one big enough to read)

The day dawned grey and drizzly. We ate breakfast at Charlotte’s Cafe (again) and checked the weather forecast several hundred times. It looked like we might be able to fly south to Mildura, starting around midday. But there was low cloud both at Broken Hill and Mildura.

So we went out to the airfield and once again enjoyed the hospitality of the Aero Club. As the drizzle slowly cleared and the cloud lifted, so did our hopes. Further improved by the local charter Cessna 206 departing to the north and some delayed REX flights arriving from Adelaide and Sydney.

We were getting set to go – cloud was lifting at Mildura too – and it was all looking good. However, a couple of check phone calls, one to the aviation BoM weather forecaster and one to the flying club at Mildura dashed our hopes. Although there had been an improvement, conditions were predicted to worsen appreciably by the time we could arrive at Mildura, a couple of hours later.

Reluctantly we called off the trip, again hoping for better weather on Thursday. If the worst came to the worst, at  least Friday and Saturday are forecast to be ‘mainly sunny’ all the way back to Tyabb.

At around 1430 one of us was foolish enough to check the Mildura AWS (Aerodrome Weather Service) automated phone-in weather report. Oh, cruel weather! Cloud base was 5,700 feet and visibility over 10 kilometres! But by then it was too late to untie the aircraft, pack them up and safely make Mildura before last light.

So off back to town we went, this time staying at the Ibis Styles Motel and eating at the Cafe Alfresco Italian restaurant. Maybe Thursday will be flyable, although the weather forecast is not encouraging. Present plans, which could change any time, are to fly to Mildura and if the weather is kind, on to Robe on the South Australian coast.

Whatever, goodbye to reaching Tibooburra, Camerons Corner, Innamincka, the Dig Tree and White Cliffs. Maybe I should change the titles of these posts to ‘Enjoying a week in the rain at Broken Hill’. So it goes.

Outback trip to Innamincka – days 3 & 4

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On Monday afternoon we repaired to the aforementioned Palace Hotel. Where at 0530 on Tuesday morning the fire alarm went off and we all had to get up and troop out into the dark to await the fire brigade. Who told us it was a false alarm. However, by this time we’d spotted the thick fog…the photo makes it look a lot better than it was.

Broken Hill in the fog

Broken Hill in the fog

When I said that there are few places more depressing to a VFR pilot than an airfield in the rain, there is at least one – an airfield in the rain and fog…

After a leisurely breakfast – for the second time at Charlotte’s Cafe – we made our way out to the airfield where, in our customary way, we looked at the fog and up at the sky and discussed the likelihood of a departure today; which was looking increasingly unlikely. We retired to the Aero Club house and drank tea and coffee and sat around just in case the skies cleared miraculously and we could leap into action.

Broken Hill in the rain

Broken Hill in a thunderstorm

But, sure enough, around midday, while  the fog started to lift, it was rapidly replaced by incoming drizzle, then rain, then thunderstorms. One ray of light was the appearance of Magnus Badger, a senior pilot with the RFDS (Royal Flying Doctor Service) who took us to their main hangar and showed us over a new King Air aircraft.

There’s some sort of event going on in Broken Hill and we nearly couldn’t find beds for the night. Things were getting desperate when at last we found the Broken Hill Tourist Lodge, which turned out really to be a back packer hostel. However, it is clean, dry and more than OK at $50 a night.

The weather looks marginally better tomorrow, so we have changed plans and hopefully will get to White Cliffs, maybe via Tibooburra. Sadly, it looks like we won’t make it to Innamincka or the Dig Tree, mainly because all the rain has turned their dirt strips into mud patches. Ho hum. You have to be flexible when you are a VFR flyer…

Outback trip to Innamincka – day 2

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Stephens Creek

Stephens Creek

Sunday morning we set out from Mungo Lodge for Broken Hill, only about 90 minutes away. If anything, the air was even smoother than on Saturday but with a little more headwind, even at 5,000 feet. Again, some fantastic sights, including the incredibly geometric shapes of the huge paddocks at Tandou Lake where they farm cotton and other crops. The view from 5,000 feet was spectacular, although a couple of the aircraft flew over at a much lower level too for a closer look.

We arrived at Broken Hill about 11 o’clock, to be greeted by Bruce Church, of the Aero Club of Broken Hill, who suggested we might like to head for lunch to Stephens Creek airfield (about 20 kilometres north), where some other pilots were gathering for a sausage sizzle.

So after refuelling, we did the short hop to Stephens Creek and enjoyed the hospitality of the Silver City Recreational Aircraft Club. Mike Rudd (our chef-de-route) made ham and cheese wraps and Ido Segev conjured up chicken soup and we all sat and talked aeroplanes and weather.

Later on we departed and flew a short loop round Silverton – famous for the Mad Max movie (alas not the very latest one) and returned to Broken Hill, flying over a huge solar energy farm being constructed just outside the town.

Bruce then very generously sorted out a couple of cars and took us for a tour of the town, ending up at the pub in Silverton, where some of us were man enough to take ‘The Test’ for charity. A bit of (damp) fun and a free beer…

By this time the rain was starting and it continued most of the night, clearing in Broken Hill early in the morning. However, our plans for departure to Tibooburra, or even White Cliffs, were thwarted by low cloud at our destination(s). So regretfully at about 2 o’clock we decided to pull the plug and abandon flying for the day.

Palace Hotel Broken Hill

Palace Hotel Broken Hill

We stayed on Monday night at the Palace Hotel, famous for some of the settings in the film ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’. This is one amazing place to stay – the rooms are all very retro and the ‘Priscilla Suite’ has to be seen to be believed. We ate in the Hotel restaurant on Monday evening and topped off a delightful meal with liqueur afogatos…and retired to bed at 9 pm with a view to (hopefully) an early start and better weather in the morning. But the signs are not brilliant for a good weather day.

 

Outback trip to Innamincka – day 1

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Early morning Mungo Lodge

Early morning Mungo Lodge

Writing this on Monday evening, I can say there’s nothing so depressing as an airfield in the rain when you’re a VFR pilot. Here we are at Broken Hill after two glorious days’ weather getting here but Monday dawned a bit rainy and our next destination, Tibooburra – with cloud down to the ground.

The six of us set out from Tyabb on Saturday morning in the Bush Hawk, a Brumby, a Foxbat and me in the Interstate Cadet. There was a slight northerly, i.e. a headwind, but otherwise the weather couldn’t have been better. Smooth as a mill pond (whatever that is) all the way to Swan Hill, our first fuel stop.

On the way, I was reminded to try the air at different heights – a 10 knot headwind at 2,500 feet turned into a 10 knot tail wind at 4,500 feet. So theCadet didn’t get left too far behind.

Mungo Lodge cabin

Mungo Lodge cabin

After a brief bite to eat at Swan Hill we pressed on to Mungo Lodge, a wonderful place to stay in the middle of nowhere. The evening was still and the silence almost deafening after the constant drone of the engine. We passed over some amazing country – photos will be posted on Flickr when I get back – and landed around 4 pm in the afternoon. The Mungo airstrips are dirt/gravel but very well maintained with no bumps or other problems.

The Lodge was fully occupied that night so we did well to book in advance. One visitor couple were cycling from Perth to Melbourne and had decided to detour via Mungo rather than go via Adelaide. Food was excellent – I had shepherd’s pie and salad. But the wifi was down and there is absolutely no mobile phone coverage there. So calling home was done on the Lodge reception phone.

After dinner we went out and looked up at that night sky which, everyone who’s been out back will tell you, is breathtaking. In town you can’t really see the milky way but here it was in all its splendour.

We stayed in the cabins round the perimeter, very clean and comfortable. Heating was effective – it was only 5 celsius overnight. Then up early for our next leg to Broken Hill, where, as of Monday night, we still are…

170s in the Wrangells

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wrangellsHere’s another one for all you aspiring and actual bush pilots – a video about flying and camping in outback Alaska, courtesy of Backcountry Pilot (as usual, click on the picture for the video link). Well, I say ‘camping’ but these flyers stay in ‘public use cabins’ provided and maintained by the Alaska Parks Service. Now that’s my kind of tent! Although there’s more than one mention of mosquitos…I didn’t think those little ******s could survive in such a cold climate but they obviously do.

Bush flying is one of those activities to which quite a lot of pilots aspire. It encapsulates all those ‘freedom’ and ‘adventure’ urges which drive some people. And looking at this short video, I can see how the bug (and maybe the mosquito) can bite you. Crystal clear air, remote airstrips, carry everything with you, enjoy a campfire with friends and share stories of grizzly bears and derring-do.

It’s interesting to see them using the venerable old Cessna 170 – albeit with ‘big engines’ and fat tyres. I particularly like the weathered old blue one, which must have seen a lot of action over the years.

We’re planning our own ‘bush’ flying adventure, with a trip, hopefully, to Innamincka in north east South Australia via Mungo Lodge, Broken Hill and Tibooburra. With a side trip to the Dig Tree of Burke and Wills fame – or is that infamy? That’s if the weather is OK – a big ask at this time of year. Planned departure from Tyabb is Saturday 13 June, returning a week later.

Expected aircraft group includes the Bush Hawk, a Brumby high-wing, a couple of Foxbats and the Interstate Cadet (I don’t have a demo Foxbat at the moment). Flying time total is around 15 hours for the Cadet – probably a bit less for the others. It will be interesting to see if the 74 years-old Cadet can keep up with them. If I can get an internet connection, I’ll post some information and photos of the expedition. If not, then a full report on return…watch this space!