Wilpena pound airstrip?
AOPA airstrip guide -
Permission Required 08 8648 0004
Elev: 1660
Operator: Wilpena Pound Resort
12/30 dirt 654m
Spec Proc: Ranges to N and E. RH turns after T/O on RWY 09 (but there is no mention of 09 as a runway)
Resort provides free transfers
Permission Required 08 8648 0004
Elev: 1660
Operator: Wilpena Pound Resort
12/30 dirt 654m
Spec Proc: Ranges to N and E. RH turns after T/O on RWY 09 (but there is no mention of 09 as a runway)
Resort provides free transfers
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Mark, the Wilpena strip is not normally available to itinerates, but it might be worth a phone call to the Chief Pilot c/o Wilpena Pound Resort. The strip is about 600m, East-West, & Gravel, and is located on the northern side of the Pound.
Rawnsley Park, on the south-eastern corner of the Pound is probably your best shot; it is north-south, gravel, and about 1000m from memory (someone correct me if I'm wrong). I think a landing fee applies. You can either stay at Rawnsley Park, or the Wilpena Resort will do transfers for a fee if needed.
Plowy
Rawnsley Park, on the south-eastern corner of the Pound is probably your best shot; it is north-south, gravel, and about 1000m from memory (someone correct me if I'm wrong). I think a landing fee applies. You can either stay at Rawnsley Park, or the Wilpena Resort will do transfers for a fee if needed.
Plowy
Last edited by Plow King; 22nd Jul 2009 at 07:21.
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Just give Matt a call at the Resort. Tell him you love the Flinders Ranges, you're into computers and networking and that you drive a Prado and all will be good! On second thought better ask for Arika, that way you wont on the phone for an hour and then being told you will have to go to Rawnsley park anyway.
bentleg the runway at Wilpena is 09/27. 12/30 hasn't been in use for a very long time and is now overgrown.
bentleg the runway at Wilpena is 09/27. 12/30 hasn't been in use for a very long time and is now overgrown.
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Rawnsley Park was quite a good when I landed there on 17 May and is plenty long enough for a 172. I noticed 4 or 5 kangaroos in the scrub beside the strip as I rolled out so you need to be careful there.
The accommodation at Rawnsley ranges from basic to 5 star (the ECO Villas are sensational) and the restaurant is half decent too.
Enjoy.....
The accommodation at Rawnsley ranges from basic to 5 star (the ECO Villas are sensational) and the restaurant is half decent too.
Enjoy.....
YRYK: Rawnsley Park has my recommendation, and I reckon calling the restaurant "half decent" is a little unkind. Be careful to tell the folks at the station you will require a lift from the strip, it's a long walk and phones don't work. We were stranded there and the local 206 pilot just drove right past, not impressed.
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yeah thats right blame the local scenic driver because you didnt make any arrangements to get picked up. those guys work pretty damn hard up there in the busy season and probably had good chuckle to see another private pilot lob and not make any arrangements for a ride to the station. the pilots dont work for the station directly and why would they give a stuff if you were stranded or not, maybe he was on a day off (the few they actually get), or had to go to town for shopping or whatever. its too easy fire your mouth off for your dis-organisation. you should think a little more about the situation before having a go. not everyone is out having a holiday like you. maybe consider changing you username to scapegoat instead?
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Calm blue ocean Hiflow, calm blue ocean. 
I don't think GW was having a go, maybe he was just expecting a bit of common courtesy (or is that to much to expect these days).
True, however it is the guests of the station who keep him in a job, so maybe a little goodwill would go a long way.
There is normally only one pilot there, and surely they fly within the bounds of flight and duty time limitations, so they must get a day off every now and then. Anyway, who cares, what else is there to do up there?
Um, why? 
I don't think GW was having a go, maybe he was just expecting a bit of common courtesy (or is that to much to expect these days).
the pilots dont work for the station directly and why would they give a stuff if you were stranded or not
maybe he was on a day off (the few they actually get)
maybe consider changing you username to scapegoat instead
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GW Pretty lame to blame the local guy for having to take a walk. P P P P P P. Need I spell it out?
FRQ CB
PS I think that the scapegoat idea has something to do with blaming the walk on the locals rather than the disorganisation shown by GW. A bit of a stretch but a true pun nonetheless.
FRQ CB
PS I think that the scapegoat idea has something to do with blaming the walk on the locals rather than the disorganisation shown by GW. A bit of a stretch but a true pun nonetheless.
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There is normally only one pilot there, and surely they fly within the bounds of flight and duty time limitations, so they must get a day off every now and then. Anyway, who cares, what else is there to do up there?
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entice......young ladies after last orders.
YRYK is not the hot bed of hot young ladies it's cracked up to be,
The Wilpena Pound Resort however, with all those young employees was like Melrose Place!
Anyway Best bet is to land at YRYK.
I was, and I know a few other pilots who were more than happy to offer a lift to checkin at Rawnsley to the passing Private pilot. Although sometimes we were busy and under the pump too.
Its a nice part of the world there, you'll have a good time.
PS watch out for the sheep on the runway too. I had to go around a few times at 50' and scare them away.
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Right.. I did indeed get a 'sorry, no' from the chief pilot at Wilpena resort. I really couldn't see the issue when flying over after staying at Rawnsley. You'd have to be a bit of an idiot to mess it up there in a 172, but they are out there, and fair enough, their perogative.
Rawnsley fitted the bill nicely, though I'm now wishing I'd gone and stayed at wilpena after the melrose place comments
We DID have prior permission, and called before leaving Port Augusta to confirm the lift, but they still managed to forget us. However the pilot arrived about half an hour after us, and DID give us a lift up to the station. It was only a half hour walk in any case.
The woolshed restaurant was great - food was good, and had a right laugh with the proprietor, a definite recommendation. No pilot serving, nor present in uniform, and yes, most of the other residents were about twice my age - but I was there for the scenery; I'll head to airlie beach for the other sort of scenery
Thanks for the response, and to the pilots at both strips.
Rawnsley fitted the bill nicely, though I'm now wishing I'd gone and stayed at wilpena after the melrose place comments
We DID have prior permission, and called before leaving Port Augusta to confirm the lift, but they still managed to forget us. However the pilot arrived about half an hour after us, and DID give us a lift up to the station. It was only a half hour walk in any case.The woolshed restaurant was great - food was good, and had a right laugh with the proprietor, a definite recommendation. No pilot serving, nor present in uniform, and yes, most of the other residents were about twice my age - but I was there for the scenery; I'll head to airlie beach for the other sort of scenery
Thanks for the response, and to the pilots at both strips.
I really couldn't see the issue when flying over after staying at Rawnsley. You'd have to be a bit of an idiot to mess it up there in a 172, but they are out there, and fair enough, their perogative.
That thread should go some way to explaining it. It's only the most recent example and no doubt there would be far more like it if Wilpena was open slather to all. Worst part is that as soon as anyone hears "Wilpena" and "aircraft crash" the immediate assumption is that it's one of the scenic operators (see the first post in my link above) Not good for business that's for sure!
That thread should go some way to explaining it. It's only the most recent example and no doubt there would be far more like it if Wilpena was open slather to all. Worst part is that as soon as anyone hears "Wilpena" and "aircraft crash" the immediate assumption is that it's one of the scenic operators (see the first post in my link above) Not good for business that's for sure!
DF.
Last edited by Desert Flower; 3rd Aug 2009 at 05:00.
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If you are out that way, also go for a meal at the Prairie Hotel They use the strip for scenic flights, so it can't be that bad. Phone them about the condition, though. (Never flown in there, was there by car last year)
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Been a couple of years since I was there, so it could have changed, but as I remember that strip consisted of an old road with two small tyre tracks in it, with a bend about half way, some old sunburnt tyres marking the edges only just visible through the 5ft grass skimming the edges of the wings as you taxied up to the " parking area ". I was lead to believe a few months later that it was infact closed because of the proxitmity to the train line, and one of the coal drivers got a bit excited when he saw a plane on take off heading straight for him and reported it (not sure of the truth of that one). If it has changed, all good check it and go, if not give commodore a call (a station to the south).
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WingRoot: I don't think that thread explained much! To quote myself;
1) there are idiots out there
2) it's the owner's perogative to not allow itinerants.
as much as I try not to judge anyone else, the fact the plane in question thought they were landing at rawnsley would seem to indicate a case of 1)
notwithstanding 2), if someone can't operate a warrior / C172 out of 650m (lack of recency aside), I'd suggest it's time to seek further training, or give up
1) there are idiots out there
2) it's the owner's perogative to not allow itinerants.
as much as I try not to judge anyone else, the fact the plane in question thought they were landing at rawnsley would seem to indicate a case of 1)
notwithstanding 2), if someone can't operate a warrior / C172 out of 650m (lack of recency aside), I'd suggest it's time to seek further training, or give up
