The pic IS of the aircraft stuck.
The pilot, last year organised and led a circumnavigation of Australia (2 SeaRey, 1 Lake, 1 S Petrel) to raise money for "Make a Wish Foundation". He is very experienced. Bad luck.

FYI the Airvan was flown out after a replacement engine was fitted. Presumably some tracks were worn by 4x4 to ensure the surface was suitable prior to takeoff.

When I had dinner with the CP & her boss last year they said it was lifted out from the lake by chopper. Maybe it got a new engine at Willian Ck and was then flown to Horsham for full inspection.

I've spent quite a bit of time on salt lakes in that region, including recovering a few 4x4's that broke through the crust. Making tracks with a 4x4 prior to takeoff will make things worse not better. Applying weight to the surface brings up moisture and makes the crust weaker. You can stand on a salt lake and put weight repeatedly on one spot and have the surface turn from hard to quagmire.

None of the lakes in the region have been fully dry for years. Lake Gairdner has the thickest salt crust and the Dry Lakes Racing Assoc has cancelled its event for the last 2 years (might be 3). Things are looking optimistic for speed week this year (next week). Check out their photos on facebook.

Modern cellphones :-(
 

Sorry for the non-sequitur here...

It's been my experience that the operability, reliability and effective range of cellphones is generally inversely proportional to their age :*

Perhaps Trev has the latest model?!

FP.

Correct. :ok:

Well while we're bringing confusion to thread; shirley there must be some photos of that (airlift)

Only 'file photos'! ;)

How about some of you pansies harden up (not talking to you Creampuff)

Well you can, but the only time I watch the ABC is at the very end of the evening news to catch the weather forecast & even then I miss it more often than not because I am watching another channel.

When I said I tried to ring Trev, I was talking about ringing him at YWMC on the landline. I no longer have his mobile number, & I didn't ask the person who answered the phone for it because I could barely understand what she was saying anyway & had to ask her to repeat what she said when she told me where he was.

DF.

http://prod.static9.net.au/~/media/i...001.ashx?w=603

http://prod.static9.net.au/~/media/i...003.ashx?w=603

http://prod.static9.net.au/~/media/i...h_s.ashx?w=376

File Photo from 2013
 

Are PVRs old fashion?

Don't have one, & have no intention of getting one. Even back in the days of VHS I rarely ever used it, & even then more often than not I never got around to watching something I had recorded.

DF.

'Stanwell' wrote:


"At least DF has tried to give us a local's assessment - I should just get smarter and watch ABCTV. (yawn)"


Are you sure that DF still lives anywhere near L.C? And how does 'local' knowledge have anything to do with this?


There's a lot of confusion apparently. There's no cheap shot intended to DF as her good natured refuelling service was well appreciated and forever respected.

'First_Principal'.

I completely agree with you!:)

Well, OK gerry,
The last time I flew over Lake Eyre was at FL 200.

It's just that I did spend a deal of time working in the outback.
Hence, I take an interest in what goes on over the border in SA.

Now, if you can help us out with some meaningful info, that would be good...

All of the "meaningful info" has already been posted or linked in this thread. To summarise:

A Searey got stuck in the quagmire at Lake Eyre.

A helicopter went to retrieve the POB the Searey.

After arrival on scene, the helicopter suffered problems that meant it could not depart.

Another helicopter retrieved the POB the Searey and the POB the first helicopter.

All POB lived happily ever after.

The Searey and first helicopter weren't the first and won't be the last aircraft to get stuck on Lake Eyre. Info on their retrieval will be posted if and when people with that info are inclined to post it.

Group hug,

Move on.

Aah, thanks for that, Creamy.
I can sleep at nights now.
I feel so comfortable just knowing that there are people like you around to tell us
all we need to know. :rolleyes:


p.s. NOTHING TO SEE HERE, MOVE ALONG!
Know something about outback logistics, do you?
pps. I do take your point, made earlier, about how many SeaReys does one see resting on Lake Eyre.

Quite a lot.

The Searey owner will be holed up at the nearby Best Western Motor Inn or Hilton, waiting for the lake to fill up. He's probably grabbed a hose and run that across to the lake, to help it fill more quickly.

Once the lake's a foot or so deep - that might take up to a couple of days - he can hitch a ride on a local ski boat or tinnie to get back to the aircraft. He could even buy an inflatable 'lilo' and paddle himself out.

Then he just water taxis to the local marina, tops off the tanks, picks up his gear from the hotel, and off he goes.

The logistics seem simple enough to me.

What more, exactly, are you expecting someone to know and post in this thread, that hasn't been posted already?

I can assure you I most certainly do. And I am still watching & listening! ;) Have been able to help Canberra out on a couple of occasions when someone has forgot to cancel SAR.

TThank you! :) I also spent 7 years as one half of the ARO duties. Being on the spot meant I could see any potential hazards (roos & emus) & deal with them immediately.

DF.

Got a chuckle out of that, Creamy.


DF,
Thanks. Keep us posted. :ok:

Ah yes, DF. I believe you used to apply ANO rule 22-250, if I remember correctly!:ooh::}

Actually, didn't I once recommend ANO rule 250-303?:confused::E

The second hand carpet hangar at YSBK possibly does have a GA significance...
Perhaps buy a few truck loads and make an artificial RWY on Lake Eyre for the Searey? :p

I have a feeling that it would end up the same as what happened on one of the stations up north years ago who used old conveyor belting to make an artificial runway! Although the SeaRey's prop is up high, unlike a PA-28.

DF.

seams like a recovery attempt of the said Searay aircraft failed, aircraft has been destroyed and is set to become yet another salt encrusted island.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...1442a1e5b48622

OMG - what a mess!

DF.

now to just find a way to get out there and get a nice rotax spare engine! opps, am i thinking out aloud again?

Would love to have a read of the insurance claim..:ouch::eek:

what if it was the insurance company effecting the recovery?

Looks like a bug that got swatted! :O

Sounds like it wasn't set up properly. It requires a very special preparation, like spoilers on the wings etc, so that the aircraft does not 'fly' while being slung, as well as slinging to keep it in line with the airflow and stop it spinning in the rotor wash. Wonder whose chopper it was?

DF.

No spoilers visible here; real shame.
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...psdn7sengh.jpg

Try slinging it by the tail

Whose chopper is it?

DF.

Blind man on a galloping horse could've seen that coming. Fling wing pilots not the ideal person to entrust a fix wing sling recovery.;)

Just before I started with Douglas Airways in PNG one of the Pilots had a mishap at a very steep strip in the Goilalas (Erume) which resulted in the aircraft, a Bongo van,:ugh: sliding backwards off the strip into a ditch.:eek:

It was eventually retrieved back to Port Moresby at the end of a sling by Helicopter and as I seem to remember it was 'towed' backwards!

Have a vague idea I have a photo of it arriving back at Moresby. I'll have a look in due course.

Seems that recovery wasn't well thought out. (Ahem)
After the red faces have paled a bit, it'll be interesting to hear what went on.


Pinky,
Who would go to the trouble and expense of recovering a Bongo van?
A number of people found out that they were best left at the bottom of the nearest convenient ditch.

Stanwell; The Bongo van was a 300hp model with a fairly low TTAF. Also, from memory, it wasn't actually owned by Douglas Airways but by Dennis Douglas himself! He 'cross hired' it to the company.....sort of.:hmm:

OK, thanks Pinky.
300hp in a Bongo van? :D

Now to become another monument it seems ....
Can't help but feel sorry for the owner.

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