Birdsville races. No Underwing Camping
"the biggest worry was getting through on HF to cancel SAR." In 1984 I couldn't get through on HF after landing, so ATC (can't remember where they were) guessed where we had gone and phoned the pub to check we had landed OK and wanted to cancel SAR. I've never been able to taxy up to the front of a pub anywhere else!
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I remember the day after the races usually some very tired and sick looking individuals calling into Mildura for fuel before proceeding places west and south.
The term "eyes like p1ss holes in snow" comes to mind.
The term "eyes like p1ss holes in snow" comes to mind.
What a great weekend that was, never seen so many 4WD’s in my life. We slept out the back of the police station, they even let us use the showers, fecking freezing in the morning.
short flights long nights
descol. Thanks for posting the photo. Brings back many memories of the good old years when flying was simpler and the biggest worry was getting through on HF to cancel SAR.
ps.. you don’t happen to have any other aerial shots going in any northwards direction from BDV up to the gulf and westwards to the WA border do you? In a pre smart phone era, no one had cameras and in any case we couldn’t afford the film and processing. Maybe, not so halcyon days after all. 😜
ps.. you don’t happen to have any other aerial shots going in any northwards direction from BDV up to the gulf and westwards to the WA border do you? In a pre smart phone era, no one had cameras and in any case we couldn’t afford the film and processing. Maybe, not so halcyon days after all. 😜
My big memory .. from about a 100 years ago was trying to cancel SAR on HF somewhere in the NT. ( so long ago,I can’t remember where I was.) However I do remember I cancelled SAR through a station in Alaska on ( I think) 6655, and he assured me he would contact Sydney to let them know I was on the ground!!!
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now that brings back memories -) anyone recall a guy baring his ass on the roof of the pub? Around '84 must drag out some old pix, buried somewhere -)
Caribou,
Judging by
a) the long shadows
b) the lack of empty cans
I’d say that photo was taken shortly after dawn on Day One.
I have recollections of the street outside the pub being ankle to knee deep in empty cans.
Judging by
a) the long shadows
b) the lack of empty cans
I’d say that photo was taken shortly after dawn on Day One.
I have recollections of the street outside the pub being ankle to knee deep in empty cans.
I must ask, without admittedly doing any research..
is the ban cited purely on “underwing camping”?
may I be so bold as to suggest don’t camp under the wing, solved problem?
is the ban cited purely on “underwing camping”?
may I be so bold as to suggest don’t camp under the wing, solved problem?
While the Birdsville Races are still a huge attraction, they’re a very different event to even 15 years ago. Fun runs, cocktail parties, fashions of the field (which I can lay claim to winning in a category one year), are just some of the happenings during the race weekend. It’s modernising while still keeping some of the old Birdsville Races there.
A top weekend though, and the numbers of people driving in far far outweighs the number flying in. Heck they’re just about to finish sealing the road from Boulia, and I reckon the road from Windorah won’t be too far behind.
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The year I was there a dude did a 'Todd Carney' on the main drag 
I even camped under the wing, jesus, I dunno how I survived my youth, thank god almighty for state premiers keeping us safe.
I even camped under the wing, jesus, I dunno how I survived my youth, thank god almighty for state premiers keeping us safe.
Thread Starter
Birdsville race. Ban on Underwing camping.
The council talks of the cost of looking after the airport and the cost of providing potties, showers security etc.
No where have I seen any mention from Council of the fee that each airborne aircrew and pax pays on arrival to cover those items
Was it Platinium from Victoria the firm that looked after those items with the fee paid by pilots and passengers on arrival in 2019?
Maybe the council needs to be a bit more honest with its figures.
Costs? Sure there may be costs associated with cleaning up the empty cans outside the pub and the security fences put up in 2019 next to the pub but those costs should not be dumped on the airborne arrivals people.
If there is a figure to be paid by the arriving aircrew and passengers then there should be a figure paid out by each and every road traveller that goes to Birdsville for the races.
In regard to safety and security I would feel a lot safer and have better security tenting next to my aircraft than I would feel in a tent city or down by the river. In 2019 we had to got through a security gate next to the terminal and that would prevent tramps beggars and thieves over tent city in town.
No where have I seen any mention from Council of the fee that each airborne aircrew and pax pays on arrival to cover those items
Was it Platinium from Victoria the firm that looked after those items with the fee paid by pilots and passengers on arrival in 2019?
Maybe the council needs to be a bit more honest with its figures.
Costs? Sure there may be costs associated with cleaning up the empty cans outside the pub and the security fences put up in 2019 next to the pub but those costs should not be dumped on the airborne arrivals people.
If there is a figure to be paid by the arriving aircrew and passengers then there should be a figure paid out by each and every road traveller that goes to Birdsville for the races.
In regard to safety and security I would feel a lot safer and have better security tenting next to my aircraft than I would feel in a tent city or down by the river. In 2019 we had to got through a security gate next to the terminal and that would prevent tramps beggars and thieves over tent city in town.
I don't know for sure what happened, although I have my suspicions, but the list of airports that will be regulated under the new regime jumped from 28 to 57 late last year. Birdsville originally off now included. A lot of other airports also served by the same operator were also off the list and now are back on.
What point am I trying to make? Well you could have all been airside and not had a single ASIC amongst you. Someone, not the department, didn't like that idea.
What point am I trying to make? Well you could have all been airside and not had a single ASIC amongst you. Someone, not the department, didn't like that idea.
Never been to the event, but looking at that picture showing loads of discarded beer cans just chucked on the ground when there is a bin a few feet away.........Maybe the organisers are trying to improve the standards of behaviour? 
Feel free to correct me...
My understanding is that the cans in the gutter outside the pub has always been part of the race weekend with the aluminium collected for funds to go to the local school or RFDS?
Always amazing how clean it was the next morning.
As usual the Yanks do GA without dramas. Camping at $27 for a night fee under your wing at Oshkosh, literally thousands of under wing campers along with active duty nuclear bombers and airliners - all with just common sense security. Free shuttle to the local shops etc etc.
Rumour has it that any CASA personnel that visit Oshkosh require treatment for PTSD for many years after such a learning shock to their system.
I heard an FOI never recovered from the experience of seeing so much safe flying in one place at one time.
CC
I heard an FOI never recovered from the experience of seeing so much safe flying in one place at one time.
CC
