Cross Country in the 582 Lightwing

[DAVID SEE]

Hi All

 

I haven't been here for some time and have since completed two cross-countrys

 

The reason it came about was my aging Mother was failing rapidly and I wanted to see her before she went, 92+ yrs., still living on the farm near Grafton on the Clarence Riv. First trip I flew down in July '09. Packed up the Lightwing & re-packed a couple of times - satisfied I had every thing, (including my penrite oil) said my goodbyes to my lovely wife and lifted off at 7:00A.M. from our home strip just north of Theodore and flew south to the township of Moonie 2.9hrs. Put down on a private strip 3nm. sth. of Moonie, one of my brothers lives there and met me with 60lts. of fuel, got 50 in - that leg=18l/hr. (My Lightwing has the standard 50ltr. tank but has also had wing tanks fitted,110lts. if you was to fill it, @ 18lts/hr. will give you six hours,my bladder wont last that long) Rest of day in Moonie after having a beer. In the air again at 7:00A.M. for a planned 3.5hrs. flight Sth/Est to take me over Texas, Bonshaw, (both on the Qld/NSW border) Emmaville,(old tin mining town) Dundee, a small community north of Glenn Innes then turned more easterly for Grafton and over real tiger country, thats when low clouds started to form, rang ahead and was assured of clear skies at Grafton, so was able to fly on and around the odd columns reaching to (my guess is) about 8,000ft. slid off the cloud about 12nm. before Grafton and settled down to a more relaxed feeling for the last 10min. of the flight, into a string southerly about 2,000ft. that never let up till I was on the ground, 3.6hrs

 

Had four days on the ground there.

 

It was hard to say Goodbye for both Mum and myself, knowing it was for the last time.

 

Had to be home for work so left with three days to spare to come home via the coast to Gympie then inland to home. Started getting blown about only 1/2hr. into trip so put in at Casino and spent the day there(only 1:00hr. from the farm) Next morning, wind from Sth/Est and cloud building so flew Nth. over border-loop and because of cloud finished up almost at Beaudesert with rain squalls on the coast, clear of cloud so a left turn and overfly Boonah at 4,500ft. and go through the 'gap' the next 10mins. was the roughest I have ever flown in, thought I'd have bruises on me from the seat belt. The closer to Warwick the better the cunditions. so then drew a line on the map to Millmerran avoiding the powerstation then to Moonie , 1,1/2hrs. on the ground for fuel etc. then blasted off for home a planned 3:00hr. trip, but had variable tail winds and landed back home 2.5hrs. later. Thats just skipping over it, but it did set the scene for the next trip which was Easter just gone. That trip was a total of 16.8hrs. which included a few joy flights for family etc. the little two-stroke never missed a beat. Hope to see you at MONTO FLY-IN on the long weekend in June Cheers.. DAVO

 

 

[Admin]

Well done!

 

 

[dazza 38]

Thanks David i realy enjoyed reading about you trip.Cheers

 

 

[Ballpoint 246niner]

Legend effort! This is the sort of grass roots we need to protect - well done.

 

 

[Guest Walter Buschor]

Great read. loved it all. will be at monto June w/end . What are the dates though?

 

pls. let us know

 

fly safe - and often!

 

Walter

 

 

[FlyingVizsla]

RAAus Northern Fly-in at Monto 12-13-14 June (Queens Birthday weekend). See my post in Navigation - Trip Planning and in Events Calendar. It will be in the May RAA magazine and also has its own website. Will see you there.

 

Sue

 

 

[Tomo]

Onya Davo! great job. One question, what speed does the 582 lightwing cruise at usually?

 

 

[DAVID SEE]

Lightwing cruise speed

 

Hi TOMO.

 

The old girl cruises comfortably at 65kts if not over 80lts on board, if under 50lts you can get it on the step in a slight nose down attitude and she will sit on 72/75 @ 5,300rpm. coming home from a mates place a few months ago, late in the arvo. held it up on 5,600/5,700 and IAS of 81kt GPS ground speed of 79kt they are a very draggy plane but exceptionally strong and suitable for rough bush strips. This old girl is airframe No.2 and my rego. is 035 so she has been around for a long time, a blue head oil injected 582 which performes well if you treat it as such I fly the same place the slippery composites fly but I put more hrs. in the log book

 

Cheers DAVO.

 

 

[Guest Decca]

Hi Davo, welcome to our forums.

 

I've just discovered your fantastic trip report in your "just landed" thread, pity about the reason for it but so glad that the journey itself was ok.

 

Regards, Decca.

 

 

[Tomo]

Hey thanks for that Davo, bit quicker than the Drifter, not much though! :thumb_up:

 

 

[Ballpoint 246niner]

David, reckon you're going to be a real asset to the forum- you know the man is workin when he tells you tells you he can get her to 72-75kts if everythings right- again LEGEND!

 

Look forward to meeting you at Monto in June.

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Hi Davo, thanks for the great story. I'm also a happy Lightwing driver. I noticed your serial No. and rego 035. I flew 032 several years ago with a 532 in it. It was supposed to be the first production Lightwing, and the one that flew from the most westerly point to the most easterly point of Australia, a trip supported by the army. Those early Lightwings are very light in weight, and go very well with a 582 in them. I've certainly got Monto on the Calender, we Northerners can put Temora to shame can't we ?...............Cheers ......................Maj..