Garfly

Yes, same happened to me, I just noticed it working by accident and I was surprised that I hadn't heard about it (too bad I missed your post) so I went looking for more info. Apple does have its own Satellite SMS system for its more recent phones but I saw somewhere that Telstra's system with its access to the Starlink system should work even better. (However, Apple also has its own Sat SOS system which is something else again.) I believe, also, that other service providers - and other devices - will soon be joining in with sat messaging. And they say that sat voice comms on cell phones will eventually happen as well.

I guess this will be useful for anyone (with an eligible phone) flying remotely. Satellite texting and satellite messages now available from Telstra WWW.TELSTRA.COM.AU Telstra Satellite Messaging complements Telstra mobile services by supporting satellite text messaging in most parts of mainland Australia.

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

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.

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.)

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.

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. ;- )

I expect nothing of the sort. Obviously. But in the context of this thread the likelihood of a reader or two finding that particular video SPECIAL enough (even useful) goes up. I'd have thought. Clearly, a post's value does not necessarily relate to the amount of effort involved in posting it. Plus, anyone who merely posts an article or video expects to receive nothing of the prestige due its author - or, for that matter, the originator of any comment or post coming from their own (deep) knowledge. Master-chefs need harbour no resentment towards the waiting staff. Diners know where compliments are due. I don't think I take it personally. I hope not. But I'd like to think I step in whenever I see mistaken/unjust assertions/accusations against anyone. Of course, I'm paying more attention when I've been the poster. Maybe I feel particularly responsible to defend the honour of the authors/pilots whom I've exposed to unfair criticism by posting their work here. Yes, we share ideas here and we're all entitled to say what we want but that, thankfully, doesn't stop us holding each other to standards of discourse somewhat higher than that.

Sad indeed.

Really?

Who said anything about no stops? He stopped in Mildura and in Ceduna (and Esperance, of course). Crikey! Nobody has to watch the video but it is not reasonable at all to critique it (or the aviating it depicts) without watching it.

Nobody said he was an RAAus guy. I don't see your point. We even discuss airline accidents on here. To me his video would be of interest to anyone thinking of doing the trip in a lightie. But that's just me.

What are you talking about? No reserve!!?? Did you watch the video? Do you have any idea of who this guy is? He goes into great detail about his planning and his real time assessments down to the last litre of fuel burn. He explains it all for those who are willing to listen. Trust is earned on YouTube as it is on any other public forum. No one doubts that heaps of nonsense is uttered online. We're supposed to be wise enough to discriminate.

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

But the 'Satellite Map' button on OzRwys is handy for that: CLICK FOR FULL REZ.

Yes, Lockhart looks like a great place to visit. Volunteers save Lockhart airfield from closure I Australian Rural & Regional News ARR.NEWS The decision to keep Lockhart Airstrip opened has proved to be a good one with a group of workers regularly toiling hard to maintain it. Antique Aeroplane Association of Australia - 2025 Grass Roots Fly-in, Lockhart NSW ANTIQUE-AEROPLANE.COM.AU

Apparently weather stations are still needed to feed The Model even if satellites and AI are now the principal providers High-Resolution Weather Models: The Key to Precision Farming - AirAgri WWW.AIRAGRI.COM.AU High-Resolution Weather Models: The Key to Precision Farming In agriculture, weather is both an ally and an adversary. The ability to predict weather accurately can transform farming practices, enhance...

But things are improving ... even beyond 6 days (according to Tom 😉 The truth behind the accuracy of weather forecasts - ABC News WWW.ABC.NET.AU Increasingly complex technology means forecasts are significantly better than they were decades ago — here's why.

That issue was discussed a bit in the Comments of the follow up video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FDI1Q4Z5pY&t=332s @Cornstalker7273 Kind of hard to imagine that the plane would not climb with no windshield ... // It wasn’t just a windshield, both doors were gone. It was aerodynamically as dirty as it could possibly get. If I could have held the beans to it I might could have climbed a little or maintained but the prop wash was so severe it was almost impossible to deal with it. I had to clear a ridge to get to the nearest airport. Never pass up a decent landing site in your search for something better. Sometimes better ain’t ahead of you. My options if the gamble to forge on didn’t pan out were not acceptable.

Just because he does it his way doesn't mean he "needs some training".

Let's Go Aviate's latest take: Are Piston Engines Dead? Small Turboprops are Here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4Rg50z7DFc

The pilot posted this in the comments in a follow up video: @the_aeropraktician 1 day ago (edited) 'Reason was largely unknown. There was an SB on the older windscreens where they had to be inspected for cracks around the rivet holes. This one had been inspected with no anomaly’s found. It’s always part of my preflight when I clean it as well. The US Importer for Aeroprakt , Andy, who I know and respect greatly reached out Saturday evening after the event and mentioned he was going to be in contact with the factory on Monday, which he did. Aeroprakt made the SB a mandatory replacement to a thicker upgraded windscreen on Monday after our incident. Hopefully the SB being a mandatory replacement will save a life."

No news here ... just a basic recap:

Yes, simple, single level circular hangars would make more sense in most places. As the designer admitted: “Where I live in Canada there is a lot of wide-open space around the airports where people are free to build hangars. So, there’s not an appetite ... for something more complicated. I need an airport that has limited space and a long waiting list for hangar space.”