Aussie Steve

Flew into YSCN from Prospect as we couldn't make contact with YSBK tower, thought we must have had a radio prob. Everyone else could hear us but we couldn't get a reply from YSBK.We could hear them fine. So went into YSCN, that was a bit exciting when you don't normally deal with that sort of traffic !

Any way we had a cuppa at Gostner with a couple of mature students and Dave Maddock? ,didn't catch any of you guys. checked out the radio and promptly left for another go at YSBK.

This time approaching from 2RN, all went great, easier than Camden. A short visit to Concept Aviation Shop and then it was off to Parra -Hornsby and over to Long Reef to join Victor One.

And flew coastal down to the Seacliff Bridge.

What an absolute buzz! :thumb_up:

Then we tracked Appin, overflew YSCN straight thru and then home to YKAT.

To date this would have to rate as my most favorite flight.

It was also very informative, as far as dealing with heavy traffic ( gee I never waited so long to take off :confused:) and CTC .

awesome day . I'm stuffed

I,m hoping to be Mazda. Fingers crossed for the weather. Should be in around 13:00 - 14:00

will be in Jabi 55-935

Gazelle 24-3505 at Katoomba

This is a youtube vid of the Gazelle I fly at Katoomba.

It is being piloted by its owner Mike.

Fantastic report again thx Ultra ! :thumb_up:

I flew over that area (Hay Plains) years ago on my way to Adelaide F1 GP in a Baron. The thing that really stood out was the total lack of trees, all dozed over years ago. You could see horizon to horizon at 10,000 barely a tree to be seen.

To bad Ultra I too had my plans scuttled. I couldnt secure the plane for long enough to do the plan. The CFI had a stack of new students to get thru and I didnt want them go away dissapointed. So I,ll book it solid for next weekend.

Anyway I managed to take the Gazelle up for an hour of flying around the magnificant valleys.It was superb, the Gazelle can go so slow you get plenty of time to look around, its almost helicopter like. Sorry no pics,didnt have my camera. :ah_oh:

I,m doing a training flight with my CFI into YSBK on Sat, followed by Victor 1 then back to YSBK then over to Camden for a "comfort stop" hope to grab a cuppa from someone, then back to YSBK then home to YKAT. Looks to be a busy days flying, cant wait.

Gday Chris, my CFI supervises, I,m training out of Hayair at Katoomba Airfield.

obviously you cant use a GPS, The tasks include time keeping,fuel managment,position monitoring and then all the normal flight managment tasks. There will also be a exam on Meteorology,that is my current study task.

Hey Maz ! Man I,ve been into Warnervale a few times and never sought "Prior Permission" and was welcomed on all ocasions with a nice cuppa and bickie. A very friendly bunch of people.

Well done Steve. Awesome scenery! The first photo, apart from the jab, is the building the Mudgee Terminal?Regards, Decca.

some pics from my first solo nav 28 June 08

1. Mudgee Terminal

2. Aero Club

3. Formation on the rim of the Capertee Valley

4. Grand Canyon. Blackheath

5. Rylstone with Kandos in the background. Capertee valley in the far Background

Some great pics Ultra !! I,m still learning how to take pics and fly at the same time :)

All went "fantastic!" thx fellas. :thumb_up:

Yes Ultra the weather was perfect. The wind was no where near the forecast 15 kts so I adjusted my heading by 5 degrees and it worked out perfect.

Arrived at Mudgee 1 min early and was home 2 min early.

What a great day.

Will post pics in "Trip Reports"

I,m doing my first solo nav tomorrow (28/06)

Katoomba / Bathurst / Mudgee (land) / Rylstone / Katoomba

I,m very excited cant wait. Hope the fog lifts early out on the Bathurst plains.

Leaving about 010.00 local.

Thx also JG..great report ! What a great trip. How hard would it be to get permission to fly into Maralinga ? That would be a truly unique place to see. Did you get to see the rocket launch sites ?

Thx very much John greatly app :thumb_up:

You have to check the "ERSA" for the radio info for "any" airfield. The CTAF freq can be different.

Hope to see you Ferret drop in on us at YKAT (Katoomba)

Sounds better all ready thanks Airsick ! I will confirm this on Saturday.

Thx also Brentc,I agree .

You could always do a nav to Camden!

Have RAAus implemented the new requirement of 20hrs for the Cross Country Endorsement Yet ? My CFI says they have, but anther guy says no. At $135.00 p/h I,m not too keen to part with that large lump of hard earned. I realise that its money well spent and all.i_dunno

Yep Mazda..It certainly sounds like my kind-a place.

The most annoying thing for me is that until I get my Nav Endorsment I cant fly in there on my own. My 25 mile control-line runs out at "Mayfield" Oh so close but yet....

The only strip that falls into my reach is "St Marys" which my CFI is going arrange for me.

But any how it just means I have to pull my finger out (and the 2Gs its going to cost me ) and get on with the navs.

Thx very much for the invite Emu. I will endevour to drop into your place also.

Yes I remember seeing you taxi past. Sorry I didnt notice the wave. My appologises.

Thx guys for the invites. I will definitely look you up next time.

I was having a look at the VH rego Jab outside Gostner while waiting for the bowser. Looked like the one that a Qantas pilot did a prop strike at Katoomba a couple of years ago. He landed extra extra long on the cross strip leaving only about 200 mtrs to pull up in. He nearly managed it.Ended up in the grass and rough. Damage was slight but enough to necessitate a prop change and overnight stay.

The Gazelle I was flying was a yellow one Mazda.. I didn't notice any unusual bug activity. Must be your animal magnetism

I flew into Camden on Saturday for the first time !

I flew in there from YKAT (Katoomba) with Mike Fines in his Gazelle 24-3505.

It was a magnificent day for flying and we headed down there at about 13:30.

We flew direct and arrived in the circuit around 30 mins later.

I must admit, I was a bit daunted by the traffic at first, there were 3 planes in the circuit a helicopter inside the circuit, a plane doing aerobatics straight above us, and to top it off, gliders taking off and landing, plus it was my first encounter with ATC :confused:

It was, I must say, scary. In the back of my mind there was the stories I have recently read here about the near misses there and trying not to let them rattle me. With Mike coaching me through it all.. everything went very smoothly. The tower were most obliging and after our first landing we taxied in for some fuel and then took off and did 4 touch n go,s. then headed off from crosswind back for home.

It was most exhilarating. Cant wait to get back down there and do some more :big_grin:

KATOOMBA - BLUE MNTS. NSW

I live at Leura in the Blue Mountains and the nearest strip is YKAT which is actually located at Medlow Bath 5mins drive west of Katoomba. We have some of the most spectacular views in the Sydney area that can really only be truly appreciated from the air.

Fly past the Three Sisters or thru the Grand Canyon. You can base yourself at YKAT and take your friends for scenics. The club house is open to all with a crackling wood fire and a cuppa and friendly people.We have bedding avail if you need to overnight and heaps of B&Bs around.