Williamtown Closed Due Flooding
 

Good thing we won’t be invaded this week, with RAAF Williamtown closed due to flooding.

Hopefully the F35’s are waterproof.

Image from 'Fighterworld' Facebook page :


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....3abe5c4062.jpg

AAAARRRGH !!! We are 'defenceless'.............??

Same happened in 1974 in Brisbane, with Amberley under water, they caught a 30cm fish at the base of the tower. Only aircraft working, as usual, were the choppers doing flood relief. The F-111 and Canberras up to their bellies in water in some places. The GCA hut, being on wheels out in the middle of the field, filled up with snakes and spiders trying to stay dry.

Anyone know how RAAF Richmond is going ?

Do they make an F35 model on floats ? 😳😳

Should have bought the F35B!

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....d6f63201e.jpeg

BEWDIFULL Mr M

RAAF Richmond elevation 67ft...... i.e. approx 60ft above the adjacent river level.

Should be OK..??

And the Hawksebury has quite a wide flood plain below base level around there so yes, you'd expect that it would be okay.

I'm pretty sure that it remained open throughout the 1990 flood. I'm not sure how it fared in the '78 flood - I think that was the last 'once in a century' flood they've experienced in the last 50 years.

Merely a trial run for rising sea levels under global warming ...... just lit the stove to keep warm!

Now HMAS NAS WIlliamstown.

When I was doing flood relief around Richmond and the Colo River in the early 80s, the only really dry place was the RAAF Base. I was desperately low on fuel and requested a clearance in to pick some up and drop off a police dog handler with his dog.

The lady in the tower asked my POB, and I replied "3 POB and one Dee-Oh-Gee." She asked me to repeat, and then she got it. I crossed the airfield boundary and plopped on the first available taxiway. She asked me to continue to Air Movements, but I stayed put and asked for the fuel truck.

Time to re-instate that 'Black Cat' from HARS.......Not too far away.......?

Or, even the one at the QANTAS Museum....?

Back to 43 Squadron ex Rathmines, and place it at Williamtown......?

Also note the beat up commadores, kinda looks like my old neighbors front yard

"Rising Sea Levels"...I'll believe that when I see the Fort Denison ('Pinchgut' - SY Harbour) Round Tower 'apparently sinking' as the Sea Level RISES......

Like the oyster grower on the South Coast (NSW) said, "For 70 years these Oyster Leases have been at the optimal level for maximum growth....and I have NOT had to adjust them".

I can confirm the story in post #4. I was on night shift in the tower the night the water rose and had to swim from the first floor balcony to BS HQ the next day..

Did you know that after the war the Yanks... some of the post flood stories are best left for another time.

MJG

Not the first time Willytown has closed due flooding. I recall it closed during the floods of Feb 1990. Water pressure under the runway was causing it to ‘bubble’ up. Personnel were tasked with skewering the bubbles with star pickets to release the pressure and minimise damage to the runway.

Has Badgery Creek broken its banks? Or is that question similar to asking if Mt Druitt is snowbound? (Sorry for the Sydney content).

I'm not too sure IF we will ever see Mt Druit 'snowbound'......But.....Ya never never know....Like...Dr Tim Flannery said 'It ain't gunna rain NO MORE', so the NSW Gummint built a 'desal' plant at a cost of 'squillions'....
To build and maintain....

Anyhow, from Google Earth, the elevation of the Badgerys Creek site (To the SE of Luddenham) seems to be in the order of 200ft - 300ft...depending just WHERE the rwys are going to be....Well above the 'raging Hawkesbury' i would think.

Does anyone have some pics of RAAF Amberley at present, the Warrill Creek is currently at moderate flood levels so parts of the base may be affected.

Runway at Williamtown is open now. QF1777 (717) just arrived from Brisbane.

And they have just ordered the Sydney desal plant to commence production because of the risk of contamination to water from usual sources...

Aviation is not the only human activity which is vastly more complex than is apparent to the untrained casual observer.

'Drift'...Pardon the pun...given the thread.....

Thankyou Mr n,
The plant is situated at Kurnell, and I'm led to believe that it supplies only the Southern Suburbs of Sydney, i.e. The Sutherland Shire and surrounds mostly, although some goes to Kyeema and is piped into its contribution to the overall 15% of The Greater Sydney's water supply.
Its purpose was to take the pressure off the remaining 85% handled mostly by Warragamba / Prospect Resevoir.


I guess that the remainder will be treated accordingly to avoid the risk of contamination etc......

Just an untrained casual observer observing......

Nah, we got this!


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b54547f8f0.jpg

Jeez Buster, who's gunna pay for de fuel..??

The trick is to take off with the current I hear...:ok:

Ah, the Short Sunderland!:ok: Wot my dear old Dad flew back in WW11.

AHA !! T/O wif de Currant...and be Raisin' sooner.....Plumb on de money...

'Berry Good'.
Area QNH 1013 XX

Has it effected the RAAF SAR chopper hangar?