Good VFR Routes from YSBK to YSBK

[Inbound Outbound]

G'day all,

The reason i made this thread is to get some enjoyable VFR routes from YSBK and back to YSBK. These routes could be used to take your mates up for a fun day of flying or even hour building towards the CPL after you get your PPL.

I recon the most important thing about flying is getting your money's worth, learning and enjoying as much as possible from each flight hence enhancing your flying skills and knowledge.

Cheers,
In 'n' Out

[Alex 009]

YSBK to YWOL (can either go in or out of CTA), then head back up north via Victor 1 (possibly squeeze in some Harbour Orbits), up to Patonga, then back down the Lane of Entry.

Just my 2 cents.

[bentleg]

(Similar to Alex 009 suggestion) The best by far IMHO is up the lane to Pennant Hills, Long Reef, Harbour Scenic then Victor 1 continuing to overfly YWOL then back. I prefer it in this direction as the pax are on the side with the view.

Others that may interest you -

Up the lane to Patonga, Cessnock, land at Maitland, then overfly Newcastle city then coastal back to Long Reef, then Dural, Prospect

Katoomba, Bathurst, Orange, Bindook

The naval museum at Nowra is worth a look, but you need prior permission to land.

To Temora for one of the flying days. (http://www.aviationmuseum.com.au/news/FlyingDates.cfm)

Wollongong, Kiama, down the Nowra lane to Moruya. Back inland or back the same way (more scenic).

Mittagong, Goulburn, Canberra return via Crookwell and Bindook.

and finally a short one largely within the training area, Menangle, Thirlmere, then follow the D552 red line to Warragamba, then along the pipe (watch out for R536) to Prospect.

[Rojer Wilco]

Up the Bankstown lane to the north, after Patonga drop to 500 feet and track north coastal (and I mean track coastal - depending what you fly; hammer the thing in the turns to track coastal) space yourself so your pax have a nice view of the beaches all the way up, turn left before Willie airspace at Nobby's, track to land at Cessnock for lunch at the cafe, and then home down the western side of Lake Macquarie then Brooky Bridge and YSBK via the lane.

Do this on a perfect VMC day and leave no pax unimpressed...

[calmaashs]

If your lucky enough to have a float rating or helicopter licence you could always track BK - homebush - R405 direct to the harbour, that was always a crowd pleaser.:ok:

YouTube - Sydney Seaplanes 2007 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k3YT-IItaI)

[Aussie]

Highly recommend what alex said, Victor 1, good sight seeing, just be careful of the control area above you!

[Dick Smith]

I well remember the campaign of abuse from Alan Green of Qantas when I was involved in the introduction of the Victor lane.

Similar to the abuse I get today on this site re similar sensible reforms I believe we should copy from overseas.

The Victor lane copied the VFR coastal lane past JFK.

[Inbound Outbound]

Thanks alot gents.. some fantastic post reply's especially Alex 009 and Bentleg!

Calmaashs, that vid is awesome mate thanks for sharing.. definitely worth getting a float rating later on when you gain some good flying experience!

Dick Smith and other PPruner's, just wanted to ask if there have been any major problems in the past with aircraft on the Victor 1 route? Problems like aircraft intruding into CTA or aircraft coming in the other direction and anything else that we can take into consideration when i'm flying that route one day.

Cheers,
In Out

[Peter Fanelli]

Similar to the abuse I get today on this site re similar sensible reforms I believe we should copy from overseas.


So what, just because YOU believe it everyone else has to go along with it?

Maybe you should run for dictate.......er President.

[bentleg]

if there have been any major problems in the past with aircraft on the Victor 1 route? Problems like aircraft intruding into CTA or aircraft coming in the other direction


I have flown Victor 1 many times and find most traffic is sensible. As always you need to keep your wits about you and your eyes open. Listen to radio calls from other traffic and respond when conflict is possible. Watch for wake turbulence from Mascot traffic, especially on the E/W runway. I had an interesting experience with the sharkwatch plane flying north once (when I was flying south). He wanted to stay on my (coast) side to better see the sharks. I did my first Harbour orbits and Victor 1 with an instructor and I commend the idea of making your first V1 sortie likewise, or with a pilot who has done it before.

[mcgrath50]

Any good Training Area flights you can do? Recently got my GFPT and of course parents/friends etc. want to come flying, but for the life of me I can't think of anything exciting out there, bar Warrigamba!

[Inbound Outbound]

Totally agree with you Bentleg - Thanks for sharing.
I think it's a great idea to go up with an instructor (who's probably flown the route hundred's of times) as it then gives you the idea of how to 'get in' and follow the V1 procedures without stressing. I also recently thought of giving Harbour scenic 2 a go as i'm also unfamiliar with.. just in case Harbour scenic 1 is not available. SY TERMINAL/DEP dislike pilots that are unfamiliar or not organised with routes and procedures around the Sydney Basin especially if they've been around for a while!

mcgrath50, I was on the same boat as you (restricted only within the BK training area!) ..after a while you start to realise how small that area really is. Wait till you go for your first nav solo.. You will feel relief, much confident with yourself and learn many things on your own! - I've recently learnt that all your knowledge, confidence and learning comes from all your command hours you fly. There will be days where you loved the flight and everything worked out well and then there will be days where you drive back home banging your head on the steering wheel and nearly getting taken out by a Mack truck. Just learn as much as you can from every single flight.
Sorry for the essay.. just my 2 cents.

Regards,
Inbound Outbound

[Cloud Basher]

mcgrath50,
Yep do the Warragamba thing then follow the river back to Camden at 500ft contour flying it. I don't know what you fly, but it is very enjoyable in something like a Tigermoth. Open cockpit, green fields, low and slow (or rather fast for a tigermoth!), smell the fresh cut hay (or rather the horse poo from all the stables out that way). There is a nice little gorge and swimming hole on someones property out there! If you had a chopper on floats and owners permission looks it looks inviting from 500ft! Would be awesome in a Piper Cub as well I would imagine!

Cheers
CB

[QFF]

Cloud Basher - that sounds like what real flying is all about! Enjoying the experience slipping those surly bonds and enjoying the journey, rather than just going A-direct-B and watching the hours add up in the logbook at home.

Note to hour builders - enjoy the journey!

[WIKI44]

mcgrath50 you might be a little tired of the training area, but for sure your parents/friends you take along, won't have seen anything like it in their lives. They will have a blast as long as you do everything nice and gentle!


First time i flew V1 was right after i got my ppl. As a "present" my instructor told me to read up and plan V1. The prospect of a VCA lay heavy on me, and it was one of the most nerve racking but enjoyable flights I've had. It's good to go with an instructor, but the real enjoyment is in the accomplishment of having properly planned and executed a flight all by yourself.


Flying down to moruya is a beautiful. If you have some time to spare, then i would recommend flying up the lane, then to maitland, up the inland willy lane, direct port mac. Have a lunch/snack. Then fly down south coastal all the way back to the lane and back to YSBK. If you have pax they will get a real treat on the way back especially.

[socks and thongs]

For sure out of BK you can't beat Victor1 and harbour orbits for pleasing pax. Plenty of CPL's out of BK built all their command doing a thousand of the things (not recommended!).

Definitely Katoomba to mix it up a little, and over the range (esp early morning or evening - the light on the ranges is incredible).

My personal pick for a day trip though would be Merimbula, has to be one of the nicest aerodromes on the east coast. Bit of a trip down in a warrior or the like (2-3hrs each way) but short walk into town to enjoy some fresh oysters and a lazy lunch by the harbour. Really great place and you'll get a few hours under your belt, some CTA work through Nowra if you want it and maybe even a CTA arrival via picnic point into BK too on the way home so you can take something out of the flight too. Worth stopping at Moruya and even the gong too for a coffee if you're up to it (and if time permits!).

[Atlas Shrugged]

Try Camden Haven just north of PMQ. Lovelygrass strip, fuel available (drums from memory) and I think there still might be overnight accom.

[Critical Reynolds No]

DS said:
I well remember the campaign of abuse from Alan Green of Qantas when I was involved in the introduction of the Victor lane

I'll make sure I mint that medal for you soon Dick. Although I can't help you with a chest to pin it on.

[Like This - Do That]

In'N'Out, are Night VFR trips a consideration? One that's a beauty is to have a chat with Sydney on the phone and arrange some airwork over the harbour late at night, after 2300L.

Orbits E of the bridge and N of the S shoreline at night will bring a smile to the faces of your pax, and put a smile on your dial too.

Otherwise, down to Moruya with a picnic lunch is hard to beat.

I've also enjoyed trips like the Lane to PAA, then up to Scone, Tamworth or Mudgee. Or to KAT, then out to Parkes or Dubbo. Cooma is also a good one, gives you some exposure to the airspace around Canberra, but requires close attention to quick changing weather near the mountains.

Good luck.

[Bell_Flyer]

Also, the coastal route from Kiama to Point Perpendicular, then low and slow along the Shoalhaven River to Tallowa Dam, then TR to Kangaroo Valley and back to YSBK is very good too.

I well remember the campaign of abuse from Alan Green of Qantas when I was involved in the introduction of the Victor lane

BTW thanks Dick, for helping introduce Victor airspace to Australia.

[Inbound Outbound]

Thanks for all the input guys.. this thread is looking great! Some nice positive post backs with many fantastic idea's for any pilot living in or around sydney.

CB & QFF are on the money... enjoy the journey rather than thinking about how many more hours you need to meet requirements!

Like This - Do That, it can include anything! whether in a C152, helicopter, day or night.

One that's a beauty is to have a chat with Sydney on the phone and arrange some airwork over the harbour late at night, after 2300L.
- Man i can just imagine the lighting and scenery that would be exposed to everyone on board! Certainly worth trying to get it planned with Sydney. Must hope for a good clear night though:ok:

Thanks again to all posters so far!
In Out

[Cloud Basher]

Inbound/Outbound,
You can actually get in earlier if you are lucky. Have a look at the forecast and see which runway/s that Sydney might be using. I have been lucky enough to get orbits of the bridge then straight up the river as early as 2000. Absolutely awesome. Once when I reported at Longreef I was told no chance then whilst doing orbits, Approach called and said SSY have changed runways do I still want to head up the river? Took all of 0.023 seconds to key that mike!

Make sure you put in a flightplan so they know you are coming and my experience if the Controllers can, they will let you. But if you want it for sure, as LTDT said, after 2300 and you are pretty much guaranteed.

Cheers
CB

[Inbound Outbound]

CB thanks for the advice mate. I'm looking forward to planning that flight quite soon!
Just wanting to know if going up north to places like the Gold Coast, Coffs Harbour or any aerodrome's near those places are worth a trip.. I recon the scenary will be great as your flying near the coast the whole way up.

Regards,
IO

[Matt-YSBK]

BK to YMRY (moruya) and return.
Pack a lunch or BBQ for summer take your swimmers. .

[Alex 009]

Inbound, I can definitely recommend a trip up to QLD. Currently based up here now, and during my command building, took a few days to fly up to the Gold Coast.

[Inbound Outbound]

Alex 009, thanks for the reply. It'll be much enjoyable to plan a flight like that in the summer. Take some swimmers and a camera and enjoy every moment!

Cheers,
IO

[Kickatinalong]

You are on the 150 hr CPL course and you will go where the ops manual tells you to go or that part of your flying will not count to your CPL hours.
Kickatinalong,:mad::mad: (sour OLD Instructor)

[Diffracted]

Atlas Shrugged said:
Try Camden Haven just north of PMQ. Lovelygrass strip, fuel available (drums from memory) and I think there still might be overnight accom.

I completely agree. I was up there a few weeks ago, the strip is well maintained and there is still accommodation available. The final to rwy30 over the river is pretty sweet ;).
Small correction to Atlas's post though, Camden Haven is about 20NM south of PMQ, and about the same distance north of TRE.