Melbourne to Darwin route suggestions
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Melbourne to Darwin route suggestions
Possibly have to deliver an aircraft to Darwin from Melbourne.
Can anyone offer advice on landing stops?
I assume something along the lines of:
- Melbourne
- Mildura
- Leigh Creek or Marree maybe Coober Pedy
- Alice Springs
Where to from there?
Range is around 450nm @ 120 knots.
Looks to be 1,700nm direct.
Can anyone offer advice on landing stops?
I assume something along the lines of:
- Melbourne
- Mildura
- Leigh Creek or Marree maybe Coober Pedy
- Alice Springs
Where to from there?
Range is around 450nm @ 120 knots.
Looks to be 1,700nm direct.
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I've done a few flights from Alice Springs to Darwin before and I'd recommend stopping at Tennant Creek. Then I'd usually fly to Darwin overhead Tindal, can't remember the distance so you may need to stop at Tindal.
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Sorry guys but to stop the influx of further PM's I have to declare that I will be ferrying the aircraft with the new owner and there will be no room for passengers. It is a private flight.
Tennant creek looks ok, I hadn't spotted that, plus would probably need somewhere half way or close to it from Tennant Creek to Darwhine, maybe Katherine. Will do some research. The best laid plans probably won't work out no doubt.
Tennant creek looks ok, I hadn't spotted that, plus would probably need somewhere half way or close to it from Tennant Creek to Darwhine, maybe Katherine. Will do some research. The best laid plans probably won't work out no doubt.
I like MIA because of the swipe bowser & coffee shop. DCT CBP is a long way with no waypoints in a slow SE aircraft. MIA DCT CBP will also take you the the Woomera zones. These days there's usually at least one that is active at any time. They now have little tolerance of incursions, treat it with respect.
I'd probably go via PAG (Mobil swipe) although some guys like Pirie which has credit card swipe. You may be able to do Melb - PAG direct depending on wind & bladder. via HSM is marginally shorter (swipe BP). If you need to splash fuel Horsham is pretty quick to get in and out of. I choose via HSM or via MIA based on wind & degree of desperation for coffee. If there is a strong westerly, getting North as soon as possible is often faster.
From PAG its basically follow the highway.
I'd probably go via PAG (Mobil swipe) although some guys like Pirie which has credit card swipe. You may be able to do Melb - PAG direct depending on wind & bladder. via HSM is marginally shorter (swipe BP). If you need to splash fuel Horsham is pretty quick to get in and out of. I choose via HSM or via MIA based on wind & degree of desperation for coffee. If there is a strong westerly, getting North as soon as possible is often faster.
From PAG its basically follow the highway.
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How about MLB-BHI(onight)-LEC-CBP(onight)-AS(onight)-TN(onight)-DN
If you onight at Coober Pedy stay at Radekas the refueller will help with that. The Greek restaurant in the main street upstairs opp the supermarket does the most awsome veal scallopini with way too much garlic
The hill is worth a look & Alice has the desert park (birds of prey show
)
At Katherine do the Gorge & definitely the hot springs near town. There are cabins at a van park near the river for 85 a night.
Enjoy the trip.
Cheers
If you onight at Coober Pedy stay at Radekas the refueller will help with that. The Greek restaurant in the main street upstairs opp the supermarket does the most awsome veal scallopini with way too much garlic
The hill is worth a look & Alice has the desert park (birds of prey show
)At Katherine do the Gorge & definitely the hot springs near town. There are cabins at a van park near the river for 85 a night.
Enjoy the trip.
Cheers
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I like the Dr's suggestion, good distances and do-able in 2 and a bit days. No time for sight seeing unless it's out the window. Jaba, your suggestions were too cryptic, I need a flight planner to work out where you are talking about.
Sorry Owen you can't come , you have an important job to do providing me with RIS.
Sorry Owen you can't come , you have an important job to do providing me with RIS.
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Go via Hooker Creek if you want to try something different. The route YHOO to YPDN is a little more scenic than YTNK-YPDN. YBAS-YHOO-YPDN is only a few more miles than going via Tennant.
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Just realised we have more options as we can use premium unleaded which may help so that's good. I'll ring ahead for conditions. Hopefully this will take place in 2 weeks and if not me the others going will find the info useful anyway.
Buy a couple of 20 lt jerry cans and carry in the back. Will definitely increase your options. And perfectly legal. 
If you have the miles, totally recommend YHOO - but fuel might be a bit $$. If you can, pick up the gorge north of VRD and fly in, oops sorry above, it to Vic River Xing. Magic Flying...
Head across to YTBR, refuel, then across Bradshaw station and the Fitzmaurice River, then north to Daly and on to Darwin.
If you have the miles, totally recommend YHOO - but fuel might be a bit $$. If you can, pick up the gorge north of VRD and fly in, oops sorry above, it to Vic River Xing. Magic Flying...
Head across to YTBR, refuel, then across Bradshaw station and the Fitzmaurice River, then north to Daly and on to Darwin.
If either of you have not overnighted Arkaroola or Mount Dare Station, then give it serious consideration. Arkaroola and Doug Sprigg's accommodation, observatory, and mountain top tour in the Troopy are a must. The biggest attraction about overnighting Mt Dare is that just to the south is Dalhousie Springs where you have a short walk from the strip to beautiful hot springs. Then when you pop over to Mt Dare for the night the beer and the bar and your hosts are all that people who've been before get misty eyed about.
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Last information I had on Dalhousie Springs is that the strip is closed.
IIRC due to the fact that there is no longer a park ranger stationed there to advise on the condition of the strip and the parks service don't want liability issues from people landing there.
Arkaroola is fantastic and Doug Spriggs is a mine of information about the place. Can't recommend it enough.
IIRC due to the fact that there is no longer a park ranger stationed there to advise on the condition of the strip and the parks service don't want liability issues from people landing there.
Arkaroola is fantastic and Doug Spriggs is a mine of information about the place. Can't recommend it enough.
Kavalo - you might want to check the CASRs again. (And I have presumed that the aircraft in question at those speeds and range was unpressurised and <10 seats).
Last edited by compressor stall; 14th Apr 2010 at 00:14.
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XXX
This is a pilots forum.......
Translated that is ..... HOME-Renmark-Coober Peddy-Alice Springs-Tennant Ck-Tindal/Katherine-Darwin(land of Tinpis).
The Dr has another good scenic suggestion, either way with the rains and floods in the interior there has not been a better time to go for a looksee!
J
This is a pilots forum.......
YTDN-YREN-YCBP-YBAS-YTNK-YPTN-YPDN
The Dr has another good scenic suggestion, either way with the rains and floods in the interior there has not been a better time to go for a looksee!
J
Re. Dalhousie Springs, according to reliable contacts in Alice the strip has never been closed as in off limits to all, and though SA Parks are a bit precious about it, no one will be shot or warned off for landing there. 'When ignorance is bliss.. . .. "