Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Non-Airline Forums > Private Flying
Reload this Page >

Photos of private flying

Private Flying LAA/BMAA/BGA/BPA The sheer pleasure of flight.

Photos of private flying

Old 12th Feb 2015, 05:46
  #41 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
At my home base

At my home base. Usually the most dangerous part of flying is the drive to the airport, it is, but here in Australia we also have to contend with snakes. Never had one in the plane however!


Jerr is offline  
Old 12th Feb 2015, 06:32
  #42 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The Big Picture

Enroute from Alice Springs YBAS to Whyalla YWHA, with a fuel stop at Oodnadatta YOOD.

Turned the Garmin 1000 page range out so you can get the big picture. I love having the fuel range rings as well. The solid ring is fuel exhaustion, the dotted line is 45 minute reserve. At the time of the photo 3 hours and 28 minutes to reserve fuel.




Safe flying

Regards

JERR
Jerr is offline  
Old 12th Feb 2015, 06:39
  #43 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Refuelling at YOOD -Oodnadatta

Refuelling at YOOD.

You have to get on the radio at the hut out at the strip. You could walk into town but is about a 2 km walk. There is no telephone or mobile reception for at least 600 kms around Oodnadatta. The refuelling is done by the pink road house, which is quite famous in the outback.

Watch out for the stones on the strip.





Safe flying

JERR
Jerr is offline  
Old 12th Feb 2015, 06:43
  #44 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Short Final YBAS

On short final into RWY 30 Alice Springs YBAS.

You can see I have been doing some bug smashing on the way upto Alice Springs.

Had to upgrade to IFR, there was no weather to speak of, but significant haze from bushfires. All clear at YBAS so no need to fly an instrument approach.




JERR
Jerr is offline  
Old 12th Feb 2015, 06:55
  #45 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: eastcoastoz
Age: 76
Posts: 1,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
G'day, Jerr.
Interesting pix.

I did spend some time in western Queensland doing mineral exploration - a lot of it around the Channel Country, near the SA border.
We used C180s, PA34s and Bell 47s. A fascinating and starkly beautiful part of the world.

p.s. What kind of snakes do you have at 'Home Base'?
The Eastern Browns were our biggest problem - they seemed to like finding their way into aircraft (and anything else mechanical).
Stanwell is offline  
Old 24th Feb 2015, 09:49
  #46 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Age: 35
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Nice shot there Balazs91!

Here is one taken out to the East coast of the UK, about a mile east of Scarbourough:



Last edited by squidie; 24th Feb 2015 at 20:57. Reason: Edit location
squidie is offline  
Old 24th Feb 2015, 17:03
  #47 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 23, Railway Cuttings, East Cheam
Age: 68
Posts: 3,115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Are you really really sure it's Skeggy, 'cos last time I looked there weren't any cliffs there...

In fact it looks more like Flamborough Head to me. Just saying...
thing is offline  
Old 24th Feb 2015, 20:56
  #48 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Age: 35
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You are correct, thanks for pointing that out. I should have said Scarbourough
squidie is offline  
Old 17th Mar 2015, 20:30
  #49 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: uk
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
March Evening A2A

..the Hinton Boys in the air this evening. And G-BIZY is back in the air after 2.5 years of being restored.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tupper...7650998826130/
Tupperware Pilot is offline  
Old 17th Mar 2015, 20:41
  #50 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 23, Railway Cuttings, East Cheam
Age: 68
Posts: 3,115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ooer, I like that pic on the top right, the Cub into the sunset. Beautiful.
thing is offline  
Old 18th Mar 2015, 18:14
  #51 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: uk
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ooer, I like that pic on the top right, the Cub into the sunset. Beautiful.
Thanks Thing, been playing with a few more edits from yesterdays shoot......
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tupper...7650998826130/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tupper...7651398070802/
Tupperware Pilot is offline  
Old 19th Mar 2015, 10:05
  #52 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: In front of a computer
Posts: 2,339
Received 65 Likes on 28 Posts
That head-on shot of the Jodel -- which way were you going when you took it
ETOPS is offline  
Old 19th Mar 2015, 16:49
  #53 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: uk
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
That head-on shot of the Jodel -- which way were you going when you took it
The camera plane (cub) was flying straight....
Tupperware Pilot is offline  
Old 21st Mar 2015, 10:46
  #54 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Dorset, UK
Age: 65
Posts: 360
Received 7 Likes on 1 Post
Eclipse 2015

Taken at RATSU, NW of Stornoway

Sorry about the quality .... I was there for the view






Last edited by Romeo Tango; 23rd Mar 2015 at 08:45.
Romeo Tango is offline  
Old 22nd Mar 2015, 20:17
  #55 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: uk
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
VAC fly-in Turweston 21st March...

...what a great day today was. I think 75 plus aircraft flew in..
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tupper...7651090735180/
The Mystery Ship got a lot of attention.
Tupperware Pilot is offline  
Old 29th Mar 2015, 11:38
  #56 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 631
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Great photos TP, thanks!
9 lives is offline  
Old 27th May 2015, 04:51
  #57 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: uk
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Chipmunk Po$n.....

..... https://www.flickr.com/photos/tupper...57653499260911

Nice evening for it...
Tupperware Pilot is offline  
Old 4th Jul 2015, 11:41
  #58 (permalink)  
Moderator
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Ontario, Canada
Age: 63
Posts: 5,597
Received 56 Likes on 40 Posts
I was invited to join a good Norwegian friend on his long desired flight around Norway, in his amphibian. Months of anticipation precede my arrival to Bergen.

I picked up the plane in Halland Lake, north of Bergen on the morning of June 20, and flew it up to pick up the owner. The plane is a 1978 Cessna 182Q, C-FJBI, which has been highly modified, with Aerocet 3400 amphibious floats, a carburetted Continental 550 engine driving an
MTV 9 three blade seaplane propeller, several wing STOL mods, Garmin glass cockpit, and many other mods. Though being imported to Norway, the plane remains Canadian registered while EASA STC approval of the mods is completed.

The weather was perfect, and I was inspired by the rugged beauty of the coast of Norway. After a fifteen minute flight, during which I had to refamiliarize myself with the lake (the previous waypoint I had entered had been lost during a software upgrade), I picked it out, and saw my travel partner, Johny, waving on the dock. I tucked in between the mountains for a curving final approach into the small lake.

We departed from the lake near Slovag an hour later, all equipped for our trip. Our first stop was to catch up to a lavish birthday party, of which Johny was an invited guest. The party was on the shore of a lake Oldenvatnet, up the fjord from Loen, an hour to the northeast. The lake, a few kilometers long, and a kilometer wide at most lies between the walls of the fjord, which extend skyward more than 4000 feet. The end of the lake is the end of the fjord, atop which is the glacier Briksdalsbre. Suffice it to say the water in the lake was clear, fresh, and cold! Johny had sought and been granted special one time only permission to land in the lake. A factor in this request, was our offer to fly the birthday boy in as a treat. Though a mooring bouy had been placed for us, I was nervous, as the frequent wind direction changes could result in the plane being swung into the shore. I located a small area on the rocky shore, where with wheels extended, JBI could be gently run aground. Tied up, she sat happily for the night. We enjoyed a fine welcome, and super food.

The next morning, after a fine breakfast, and weather check, we headed north. We climbed out the fjord, circling a little to gain altitude for the direct route to Trondheim, across the mountains.
The sky was clear, making this otherwise mountainous route possible. At 7500 feet, the view was spectacular, and the occasional forced landing area (maybe) could be picked out.
Trondheim was clear and fresh, with a good breeze. As usual, the 100LL fuelling area was well removed from everything airport. Fuel: yes, toilets, a garbage can, place to sit or water fountain:
no. As the weather was so nice, we elected to continue north. Bodo was the day's destination.
After crossing a lush farming area just north of Trondheim, we caught up to the coast again, and it's incredible rugged beauty. We followed north. It was sobering to see the remoteness of some homes along the way, places apparently only accessible by ocean going vessel. It must be a lonely life there! along the way, the "Seven Sisters" island mountains were clear, as were the coastal off shore islands. Bodo appeared on the horizon, and we were fit into sequence with several other aircraft and helicopters. Bodo is the headquarter city for the Norwegian CAA, and we had a meeting the following morning to discuss approval details with the CAA staff. After landing we walked to, and toured the very nice air museum in Bodo. It was with great interest that I viewed the display about Norwegian pilot training during WW2, at two Ontario airports I know very well. I requested a hotel room facing to the north, and entertained myself at midnight, June 21, watching the sun not set.

From Bodo, we set off cross country toward Lakselv close to the north coast, a jumping off point for tourism to "Nordkapp", the most northerly point in Europe. The weather was not quite so perfect, but certainly adequate VFR. Choosing to skirt a few dense rain showers, we arrived as planned. Lakselv airport lies along the side of a fjord, at the ocean. I took the opportunity to fuel and check JBI over, while Johny took a cab ride to visit his former military service camp. During my wait, I chatted with two adventurers, who had flown a smaller Flight Design CT aircraft from London. They were not as willing as I, with the less welcoming weather to the northeast, so once airborne, I offered them real time updates, and we both made it to Nordkapp with happy
spacing.

Nordkapp is also served by Honningsvag airport, though we crossed it on our way out to
Nordkapp, it was under us on Johny's side, so I did not see it. when we returned to land there after the Nordkapp overflight, I got my first glimpse at a not so common airport. Cleared to land
on 26, approaching from the north, I identified the approach lights, which marked the required curved approach to final. Final approach would only be straight, and on the runway heading and centerline for the last thousand feet to the threshold. The departure path was similarly obstructed by nearby mountains, and curved. Add to that, the 2500 long runway had an obvious downslope toward a rocky overrun, and the ocean. I asked Johny if he felt comfortable with this, and his reply was "you land...". Lots of attention, no problem. Our hotel nearby afforded a nice hiking opportunity, which we enjoyed rather than a bus ride to Nordkapp, which had looked rather busy when we overflew.

The next morning was much nicer weather. Before setting off for another, brighter, overflight of
Nordkapp, I asked Tower if we could fly a few circuits. Probably an uncommon request, but granted. After a briefing, we flew off 26, teardrop back to 06, turn around and again. With no wind, this made the best advantage of runway slope, and avoided the more tight approach to 26 again! I now have a much greater appreciation of the skill of the Wideroe pilots who fly this in
Dash 8's! Curiosity satisfied, we reflew Nordkapp, and then east along the coast toward Russia. Destination Vardo.

Arriving to the Vardo area, we overflew the island town, planning our sight seeing, then landed
at the mainland airport. The trip from the airport to town was by taxi - through a tunnel under the ocean! The island was the location of a WW2 German outpost (and I suspect a very large turret cannon), and a fort built more than 300 years ago. The fort is now a fine museum, with exhibitions from several eras, including an enigma code machine.

From Vardo, we departed for Kirkness, and most easterly city in Norway. Just airborne, the
Russian coast lay directly ahead. As we flew south to Kirkness, I think it was possible that the left wing tip just touched Russian airspace, but not so long as to attract any Migs! We were asked if we could see a fire, and indeed we could, in Russia. I thought we might be invited in, to help with initial spotting, but that request was not made. we landed in Kirkness, and were very well hosted by the tower controller -coffee, and a fresh weather report printed.

Our most wise route, weather considered, took us to Rovaniemi, Finland, with changing
weather, and a caution that it would not be the CAVU we had been enjoying all day. Indeed,
Rovaniemi was cloudy, and windy, but otherwise just fine. Based upon the information we had, we continued south. Return was possible, and Kemi, Finland was a suitable alternate - or so I thought...

Our flight was fine, and following the Finnish coast along the Baltic Sea looked good, but the ceiling began to come down, and rain was close, so my planned alternate of Kemi looked better.
The problem was that Kemi had closed shortly after my talking to them on the way south. Oulu tower answered their frequency, and let me know that Kemi was not an option. Upon my request, Oulu allowed special VFR to enter and land. I had chosen to remain at 700 feet, believing that there were no windmills that high, and indeed the terrain and obstacle warning was clear. In the well equipped aircraft, and ILS was not a problem, but happily the runway lights came into view about 3 miles back at 500 feet. The available weather suggested that an early departure the next morning would be appropriate, to “end run” the weather, around the north end of the Baltic, and down the coast of Sweden. This worked fine.

We stopped as planned in Umea, Sweden for gas. A nice welcome, other than BP credit card or cash – no other payment accepted. We did not have the card, so my last stash of Euros was accepted for less than a full refill. From there, Kalmar, Sweden would be the night stop. Again, payment for fuel was not possible with our means.

We departed west, for a planned stop on a coastal runway near Kampinge, Sweden, but with what might turn out to be a 20 knot direct crosswind, I suggested Malmo instead. Though welcomed and fueled, our visit endured all the aspects of big airport security. We continued on to Billund, following the straight between Denmark and Sweden. I considered all the people who crossed that short passage under great duress during WW2.

From Billund, and a requisite visit to Legoland (which is a quick walk from the GA parking apron), we set off the next day back to Norway. We made land at Kristiansand, and after a pleasant stop, continued to Stavanger for dinner with a friend, then home again to the lake that evening.

In total our trip was about 30 hours, with more than 2900 nautical miles flown. It was all VFR, with the emphasis on sightseeing. The flight was flown at about 60%-60% power, and average 47 LPH for economy, which gave an average cruise speed of 105 knots.





Near Loen




Evening stop




Crossing inland toward Trondheim




The flight was great, but that drive would have been interesting!




The "Seven Sisters"




A glacier near Bodo




Near Bodo...



Final approach, Honningsvag, runway 08



Morning departure, Honningsvag



Nordkapp



Vardo



Final approach to the mainland airport for Vardo. The Russian coast on the horizon.



The German outpost on Vardo Island




The base for a really big gun!


Pilot DAR is offline  
Old 5th Jul 2015, 08:32
  #59 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Between Foxrock and a hard place
Posts: 115
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Great story and excellent photos.

Some memories no doubt.
sprite1 is offline  
Old 5th Jul 2015, 21:07
  #60 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Utterly insignificant little blue-green planet, unregarded yellow sun, unfashionable end, western spiral arm, Milky Way
Age: 38
Posts: 276
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Nice pictures! Shame we didn't have time to meet up. Next year, then

Flying up the coast to northern Norway is always a treat! I now get paid to do it, albeit in a 737 and at slightly higher altitudes
semmern is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.