Round Oz in Three Weeks
Single engine VFR happens all the time during the "wet" up north.
Have a go you will enjoy it.
If you are unsure of the wx or routes talk to the local charter companies on the airfields and I'm sure they will help you out.
Have a go you will enjoy it.
If you are unsure of the wx or routes talk to the local charter companies on the airfields and I'm sure they will help you out.
however given that we are gearing up for one of the most active cyclone seasons in many years, also suggests we are gearing up for one of the most active monsoon seasons in a long time as well
Morno, I am surprised to see that you appear to believe this rubbish!
To listen to the media, one would think that we are going to be battered my multiple cyclones in 2011. Maybe we will, and maybe we won't, but evidence of the accuracy of such predictions is scant, at best.
Go for it, Girlie with a Stick! I have flown around northern Australia, through summer - for more years than I care to remember.
1) Use some common sense!
2) Try to fly in the mornings - the afternoons are likely to be rough at best and full of CBs at worst.
3) Don't be in a hurry to get to anywhere - if you need to park it, then do so.
4) If in doubt - park it!
5) Watch the fuel thing - it can be tricky - especially in a Warrior type aircraft where you need the range to get to somewhere but then have to get fuel to get to somewhere else.
6) Where to go? Depends where you have been!
- Hinchinbrook Channel
- Cape York is cool - Weipa, TI
- the Gulf - lunch at the Pelican Point pub, Karumba
- Lawn Hill gorge
- Longreach - Stockman's Hall of Fame and the Qantas Museum
- lunch at the Barkly Roadhouse
- Lark Quarry - footprints of a dinosuar stampede
- Wolf Creek crater - with lunch at the Halls Ck pub
- the Bungle Bungle
- the Ord
- the Kimberley
- Broome
- Lake Forktailed Doctor Killer
- skimpy night at the Leonora pub ....... OK, maybe not!
- the Rock
- flying along the cliffs of the Great Ozzie Bight
- lunch at the Nullabor Roadhouse
- Coober Pedy
- Lake Eyre
- lunch at the Birdsville pub
- the dig tree
- etc, etc
PS: and watch out for the restricted areas around Coober Pedy/Lake Eyre - Jaba nearly got me in the poo with those!
Last edited by ForkTailedDrKiller; 26th Oct 2010 at 11:50.
I dunno about that FTDK, it seems to be ramping up early this year and the starting and ending of wet season and dry season have been a bit different to the norm. Personally i'm leaning towards this being a very wet year!! Personally I'm really hoping for it 
I dunno about that FTDK, it seems to be ramping up early this year and the starting and ending of wet season and dry season have been a bit different to the norm. Personally i'm leaning towards this being a very wet year!! Personally I'm really hoping for it
Last year the dry season lasted bloody ages and the wet season the year before was crap. This year apparently there was no dry!
In 2007 it rained in the middle of the dry for about 3 weeks non stop (the only time I ever had a problem VFR in the topend)
In 2006 we never had a wet and were moaning about it on pprune. (Do a post search on 'missing, wet season up north'.
GWAS - Believe me, you will not have a problem provided you have sound planning and have a plan B and C. If you want to be a Commercial Pilot, you will have to fly in these conditions VFR for your first job. You may as well get a heads up if the game is for you or not.
FTDK,
I don't believe much of what the media says. No need to stress.
I do however, listen to what the BOM has to say (go and have a read of all their season forecasts). And I also know when you have sea surface temperatures well above average for this time of year, you're likelyhood of cyclones is higher, as well as their severity.
Not to mention, the year so far has been extremely wet. The tropics are moving into the wet season weather patterns earlier as well.
morno
I don't believe much of what the media says. No need to stress.
I do however, listen to what the BOM has to say (go and have a read of all their season forecasts). And I also know when you have sea surface temperatures well above average for this time of year, you're likelyhood of cyclones is higher, as well as their severity.
Not to mention, the year so far has been extremely wet. The tropics are moving into the wet season weather patterns earlier as well.
morno
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Just as an aside, a couple of chaps circumnavigated Australia in a RAAF Beaufighter after the cessation of hostillities in WW11. Unauthorised of course.
They visited almost every RAAF Base on the way, staying at the O's Mess's, and took about 3 months, I think.
Got into a bit of trouble too, when they got back.
Wish I could do that now.....
JO.
They visited almost every RAAF Base on the way, staying at the O's Mess's, and took about 3 months, I think.
Got into a bit of trouble too, when they got back.
Wish I could do that now.....
JO.
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PS: and watch out for the restricted areas around Cober Pedy/Lake Eyre - Jaba nearly got me in the poo with those!
And here is a cut and paste from a friends message this evening, I am sure in the interests of GA safety he will not mind me posting part of the email.
Had an unknown VFR plow through R564B (singleton firing range) this morning & came within a nats hair of getting hit by a (live)missile from an F18. Im not sure he even saw it (the Hornet or the missile).
I know its gonna happen one-day, but Im at a loss as to how to stop it happening, the aircraft wasnt listening on the area frequency (or just ignored the broadcast safety alert)
I know its gonna happen one-day, but Im at a loss as to how to stop it happening, the aircraft wasnt listening on the area frequency (or just ignored the broadcast safety alert)
I'll reinforce what others have said about phoning ahead particularly to check on fuel availability etc. Fuel companies can and have closed down avgas outlets at the drop of a hat. It can take at least one or two issues of ERSA for the information to be published and Airservices will NOT NOTAM fuel availability.
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Gentlemen,
A huge thank you for all your advice. As a rookie pilot, tips from those more experienced and actually flying in the areas I'm about to visit are gold to me!
Barksdale Boy
I hope you're not calling me a Ranga!
And Jaba if taking a pax didn't defeat the idea of going solo, I'd offer, although I AM taking a "real aeroplane"
It's my intention to turn this trip into a book, and I will be keeping a blog, with photos, of the journey. If you're interested, pm me and I'll link you to it.
Thanks again guys
GWaS
A huge thank you for all your advice. As a rookie pilot, tips from those more experienced and actually flying in the areas I'm about to visit are gold to me!
Barksdale Boy
ou say you are a native of Wales. I am surprised that as Prime Minister you can afford so much time off.
And Jaba if taking a pax didn't defeat the idea of going solo, I'd offer, although I AM taking a "real aeroplane"
It's my intention to turn this trip into a book, and I will be keeping a blog, with photos, of the journey. If you're interested, pm me and I'll link you to it.
Thanks again guys
GWaS
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"real aeroplane"
One that Trues Out at my end of downwind speed
Sounds like a fun time though, and yes a solo trip is good, nobody to get bitchy at when you are running late and want to blame them for spending too long doing their hair!
Of course if I went as a tag along on the trip that would not matter if I took too long sleeping in.....coz I would still beat you to the next stop!
J
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- Lake Forktailed Doctor Killer
- skimpy night at the Leonora pub ....... OK, maybe not!
- the Rock
Hi 'Girl',
Don't let the 'skeptics' put you off!!
Yes you will see rain, and big CB's etc.
Some are very 'speccy' - i.e. a good camera shot - just stay away from the 'very near proximity' of them....and, anywhere you go, and you have a preference, then choose to use sealed strips whereever rain is imminent / an everyday event...
'Twould be plain bad luck to land somewhere on a DIRT strip, then it RAINS - and you are STUCK there until it dries out and is opened for use again....
However, having said that, you will find that nowadays, most, not all, strips are 'all weather' - sealed, for use by RFDS aircraft.
As has been said - morning flights are best flights - before the afternoon CB's become 'something to wonder at', and best observed from the comfort of the nearest pub..... and the daily 'heat' turb ain't too uncomfortable to enjoy the ride.
Looking forward to your 'report' of how ya went..!!
Don't let the 'skeptics' put you off!!
Yes you will see rain, and big CB's etc.
Some are very 'speccy' - i.e. a good camera shot - just stay away from the 'very near proximity' of them....and, anywhere you go, and you have a preference, then choose to use sealed strips whereever rain is imminent / an everyday event...
'Twould be plain bad luck to land somewhere on a DIRT strip, then it RAINS - and you are STUCK there until it dries out and is opened for use again....
However, having said that, you will find that nowadays, most, not all, strips are 'all weather' - sealed, for use by RFDS aircraft.
As has been said - morning flights are best flights - before the afternoon CB's become 'something to wonder at', and best observed from the comfort of the nearest pub..... and the daily 'heat' turb ain't too uncomfortable to enjoy the ride.
Looking forward to your 'report' of how ya went..!!
Don't know about the Dr's lake but the skimpy chick at the LEO pub was an awfully nice "Welcome to WA"..........and skimpy was an understatement 
Dr
GWAS.....
Don't forget to stick a roll of dunny paper under the back seat. You never know when you will need it.
Outback airstrip dunnies dont get serviced all that often and when you gotta go you gotta go.
Emeritus.
Don't forget to stick a roll of dunny paper under the back seat. You never know when you will need it.
Outback airstrip dunnies dont get serviced all that often and when you gotta go you gotta go.
Emeritus.
to collect your weather briefings along the way, get a smart phone (iPhone or Android) or iPad connected to Telstra Next G (terrible service but coverage in amazing places) and you'll always be connected.
If you use an iPhone, get the NAIPS app, it really is an excellent way to spend A$10.
If you use an iPhone, get the NAIPS app, it really is an excellent way to spend A$10.