The Oaks (NSW) - Serpentine (WA)

[Moneybox]

Ok, now I've got to watch it..... 🙂

 

Really well documented trip however I think I'd be happier diverting to Forrest rather than take and unnecessary long flight over the ocean with poor communication. There couldn't be a lot of time saving but he saved having to arrange for fuel at Forrest. Perhaps not worth the risk in the average single engined aircraft.

[Garfly]

Yes, good point MB. I thought the same.  It's worthwhile reading the discussion in the Comments section where he answers several questions taking him to task on that choice. Fuel type was a factor, he required Jet-A1 which he apparently couldn't get at the time at the usual stops across the Nullabor.  As you say, he had Forrest as an alternate. But even so, the coastal route, as he says himself, would have added just another 40nm to his total. And, as things turned out, he could have made it with legal reserves that way but I think on his original plan even that bit extra might have put him close to his legal limit (especially if the winds turned). 

Anyway, he discusses all that very openly and helpfully in the Comments.  He was, of course, set up for ditching (as he explains). As it happened, he was always in VHF contact, and had the back up of talking to airliners on Guard. 

Of course, a lot of all that is out of the RAAus league and yet, not that far out.  Some of the mid-flight surprises he faced - and shared - could happen to any of us and for me it was good to see how a professional pilot thinks through unexpected plan changes.  And it's only in this kind of video that we get to see the pilot's problem solving in action.

Heck, his videos about flying the Citation Mustang and the DA62 are even further beyond my aeronautical ken, but (call me a tragic) I find 'em fascinating.   ;- )

 

Edited Tuesday at 02:11 PM by Garfly

[onetrack]

Quote

At this very early stage in planning it looks like an overnight in Renmark, Caiguna & Katanning, prior to taking the coastal rout to Serpentine. I estimate 5 fuel stops and additional  5-7 fatigue mitigation landings.

How do you plan to attack Spencer Gulf? Fly over its middle reaches or deviate around it, and avoid flying over it completely? 🧩

[turboplanner]

17 hours ago, skippydiesel said:

Since when did ERSA show farm strips??????

😈

You were talking about Council maps/plans......................

[Thruster88]

14 hours ago, Garfly said:

In this video Steve (of Diamond Air Taxis, Bankstown) shows how he made the big trip in his DA40NG.

He manages Sydney > Esperance in one (sunlit) day and then on to Jandakot the next morning.

 

He is ferrying his DA40 to a new buyer in the west after upgrading to a DA62 - as well as to a Citation Mustang - for his charter/taxi business.

 

He's put out several great videos of flights he's done in his various aeroplanes.

 

See here:      https://www.youtube.com/@diamondairtaxis

 

 

 

 

I think this pilots decision to fly over water just to avoid having to re fuel at forrest is very silly. Tracking coastal would only add 13 minutes @134tas to the Ceduna-Esperence leg. If the fuel is that tight you need to go to Forrest anyway. 

 

Ending up in the water in a canopy aircraft like a DA40, RV or Bristell etc is a no for me. Fair chance the aircraft will be inverted, the canopy is not going to open due water pressure if it hasn't been broken. Not a good way to go.

 

Plan for lower terrain, weather, water, simples.

[Garfly]

 

16 minutes ago, Thruster88 said:

I think this pilots decision to fly over water just to avoid having to re fuel at forrest is very silly. Tracking coastal would only add 13 minutes @134tas to the Ceduna-Esperence leg. If the fuel is that tight you need to go to Forrest anyway. 

 

Ending up in the water in a canopy aircraft like a DA40, RV or Bristell etc is a no for me. Fair chance the aircraft will be inverted, the canopy is not going to open due water pressure if it hasn't been broken. Not a good way to go.

 

Plan for lower terrain, weather, water, simples.

 

Yes, agreed ... and he sort of accepts that when questioned about it in the discussion (in the Comments). Anyway, having access to his reasoning both aloft and afterwards, I found instructive, especially given that over-water legs are top of mind for us here lately. 

[Blueadventures]

16 hours ago, facthunter said:

The distance is 3284 Kms, to start with at 280 Km/Hr. Be about 9 Hrs in nil  headwind . MAX range at econ cruise (slower) is 1739 Kms.  NO Reserve.  MAYBE we CAN'T TRUST what is on U tube?  Nev

Refueled at Ceduna.

[skippydiesel]

9 hours ago, onetrack said:

How do you plan to attack Spencer Gulf? Fly over its middle reaches or deviate around it, and avoid flying over it completely? 🧩

I figure that if I fly Renmark - Kimba I will only be over water for about a few minutes.

 

I could go Renmark - Port Pirie -  Whyalla, for an even shorter water crossing.😈

[skippydiesel]

11 hours ago, Moneybox said:

Ok, now I've got to watch it..... 🙂

 

Really well documented trip however I think I'd be happier diverting to Forrest rather than take and unnecessary long flight over the ocean with poor communication. There couldn't be a lot of time saving but he saved having to arrange for fuel at Forrest. Perhaps not worth the risk in the average single engined aircraft.

Why Forest?😈

[onetrack]

And once you get to Kimba, you'll know you're exactly halfway across Australia! - and then all you have to do, is watch out for galahs!  😄

 

 

 

 

[Garfly]

6 minutes ago, skippydiesel said:

Why Forest?😈

As I understand it, that was the first enroute stop where he'd have been able to get the jet fuel he needed. (Though the fuel truck would have to be arranged ahead of time.)

[sfGnome]

57 minutes ago, skippydiesel said:

I figure that if I fly Renmark - Kimba I will only be over water for about a few minutes

How high do you have to be in the middle of the crossing (worst case engine failure point) to be guaranteed a glide to the other side?

[skippydiesel]

6 minutes ago, sfGnome said:

How high do you have to be in the middle of the crossing (worst case engine failure point) to be guaranteed a glide to the other side?

Good point - at this stage of planning OzRunways has nominated 4500ft as the most fuel efficient - nothing stopping me going higher, for the overwater section.

 

The direct rout is through R & D areas that if active would force me north (may be best to avoid anyhow) which would make the  Port Pirie -  Whyalla crossing the natural rout.😈

[Thruster88]

1 hour ago, skippydiesel said:

I figure that if I fly Renmark - Kimba I will only be over water for about a few minutes.

 

I could go Renmark - Port Pirie -  Whyalla, for an even shorter water crossing.😈

28nm of water on the direct route. I am guessing your sonex will glide about 2nm per thousand feet of altitude. Crossing near Point Lowly would only add 16nm to the leg which is only a short one anyway. 

[Garfly]

31 minutes ago, sfGnome said:

How high do you have to be in the middle of the crossing (worst case engine failure point) to be guaranteed a glide to the other side?

There's an app to help with that too  ;- )

 

The Glide Assistant - Real Time in OzRwys (and other EFBs) puts a red ring around your approximate glide range based on your aircraft's published glide ratio (at best airspeed), current position and height above ground, real time wind info and local topography.

 

 

 

[facthunter]

Pretty Sharky bit of water. I wouldn't be flying over it at all in a single engined Piston . I like to limit the Occassions I RELY on Luck. But that's Me.  Nev

[Garfly]

Which bit do you mean, Nev? 

The Great Australian Bight or the Moreton Island VFR crossing?

Either way, I tend to agree.  I'm pretty Hydrophobic myself.

Which is why I'd be clinging to the red ring of confidence trying to decide between the 3,500 shorter route or the 4,500 longer one across to Bribie.

My test flying, though, has been done in the safety of the simulator. LOL

[facthunter]

The BIT West of Adelaide.  Nev

[skippydiesel]

1 hour ago, Thruster88 said:

28nm of water on the direct route. I am guessing your sonex will glide about 2nm per thousand feet of altitude. Crossing near Point Lowly would only add 16nm to the leg which is only a short one anyway. 

Dont forget, on any crossing there will be a mid point before / after which you head for the closest land (subject to windspeed/direction). The worst case scenario would be a mid point engine failure  - 14Nm.

 

Anyhow you've put the wind up me, so have provisionally changed rout to Renmark- Port Augusta - Kimba - 

 

The above change may make Pooncarie my overnight stop,rather than Renmark - will check ULP availabity.

 

😈

[Bill]

I was told Wudinna (YWUD) is a good place to stop. Hotel(s) & Motels if overnight. Avgas is available and, as aerodrome is adjacent to the town, Mogas should be too. And ASIC's are not required!

[Freizeitpilot]

1 hour ago, skippydiesel said:

above change may make Pooncarie my overnight stop,rather than Renmark - will check ULP availabity.

U98 is available in Pooncarrie.

[skippydiesel]

17 hours ago, Bill said:

I was told Wudinna (YWUD) is a good place to stop. Hotel(s) & Motels if overnight. Avgas is available and, as aerodrome is adjacent to the town, Mogas should be too. And ASIC's are not required!

Adjacent!!! - Its almost in town😈