Flying a Pitts from the east to W.A.

[squeak73]

Looks like I may have landed a job in W.A. and will have to move to Perth.

Has anybody flown a Pitts from the East Coast to Perth or vice versa? Is it possible to get accross the Nullabor in hops within the range of a Pitts?

Any advice on where the best spot would be to hangar the Pitts and where good areas are to do aeros without CASA getting to know my phone number off by heart?

I'm currently at Sportsman level but would like to continue to progress, any suggestions on good aerobatic instructors in the Perth area?
Any advice would be appreciated!
Thanks.

[Jack Ranga]

Don't stop at Whyalla bra, they bull!!!! about having fuel there

I know a bloke who will be doing some aero instruction at Jandycott in future. He's a gun and also coaches guys at the State champs. PM if interested.

[djpil]

And the same guy that Jack is referring to would also be able to answer your first two questions.
Contact the WA chapter of the aerobatic club for your other questions too.

Which model Pitts?

[Jack Ranga]

You're right, I don't know how many times he's done that trip

[Old Akro]

The only difficulties are fuel & seat padding

[smiling monkey]

Sounds like it will be a great adventure, visual navigation over some featureless terrain. Does your Pitts have any radio nav aids and/or GPS?

[chute packer]

I know someone who recently ferried an Extra from Perth>East Coast.
PM me if you want his details, he should be able to help out with planning.

[sms777]

GPS is helpful......what you really need is a MP3 player and a DVD.
Sorry......that's all the help I can give you.

[Pedota]

Melbourne - Perth

Squeak 73

Some years ago I delivered a friend's Cutlass from Melbourne to Perth. I did it easily over two days. First fuel stop was Whyalla and then an overnight at Ceduna.

Next day included fuel stops at Caiguna and Esperance and I arrived at Jandakot mid afternoon. I elected to fly pretty much coastal all the way from east of Ceduna to Esperance (although I diverted inland to Caiguna) and then directly to Perth for a 'celebratory city orbit' before landing at Jandakot. It was a most enjoyable flight.

Quite a few people advised me to head from Ceduna to Forrest then Kalgoorlie but I found the coastal route just stunning and not that much longer.

Cheers

Pedota

[Aussie Bob]

Just kick the tyres then light the fire Squeak. There are strips at all the roadhouses across the Nullarbor, most have avgas. Worst case is you may have to sneak in a little mogas, ring em and find out. What is the range of the toy anyway?

[peterc005]

Speak with Jeremy Miller, who has the aerobatics flying school at Lethbridge. I seem to recall he has done similar ferry flights.

[gileraguy]

Make sure you overnight at Forrest.

[Engineer_aus]

Forrest overnight is one good experience and if you have the opportunity to, do it.

[Andy_RR]

Low level coastal around the bight. It's stunning and you won't get too lost, if the GPS batteries fail.

[sisemen]

Going West to East I went

Trip 1:
Northam
Kalgoorlie
Caiguna (night stop)
Border Village
Ceduna
Port Pirie (night stop)
Mildura
Griffith
Goulburn

and Trip 2 from Mildura
Romsey

Border Village is an "interesting" strip and at Caiguna you can taxi virtually to the door of your motel unit. The cliffs of the Bight are a must for low level.