NT5224

How long/ wide was the strip and what were the surrounding clearances? Just curious...

OK, a whinge from me The most difficult airstrip I ever landed at was Longreach. About five years ago I was traveling across Australia without an ASIC card. I think I landed at Longreach on a weekend when the place was deserted. It was mid summer, in the mid 40's centigrade and no shade. I had landed to refuel and wait through peak of the heat to avoid midday turbulence. It was extremely hot and I needed avgas and drinking water. I called the relevant authorities, explained my situation and asked permission to leave the apron to because I was becoming dehydrated and needed to drink (there were no water faucets airside). My request for the security gate code was denied. In the end I got the avgas guy to bring me some a couple of bottles of drinking water with his bowser delivery. That got me to Winton, which in complete contrast was the most wonderful and accommodating airfield I have ever visited. I subsequently wrote to the major and council to thank and commend the caretakers at the airfield for their amazing service. I still find it hard to believe the authorities would deny a passing pilot drinking water on a blistering day.... Alan

Blue Good idea. I've admired systems like you describe but to be honest I'm a bit wary of an electric fuel pump owing to fire hazards. I'm out the back of beyond and in the dry season this whole district is a tinderbox waiting for a spark. The high ambient temperatures here makes batteries temperamental. I'll stick with a basic hand pump for now. Cheers Alan

Old Korrelah My father-in-law is a German structural engineer. He calculated we needed 24 tonnes of ballast to hold the structure secure to a sub-cyclonic wind speed. That's 24 tonnes there but the reality is the fabric would give way long before the blocks shifted! Our bird flies south if big winds are expected -and we live outside of the cyclonic zone. Alan

Just a little update on this. As I mentioned a while back in a discussion about hangars, we are throwing up an arched shade structure for ours. In addition to the basic fabric roof cover we will put up a steel rear wall and a lockable gate on the front. In case anybody’s wondering, putting up one of these with just two people and a dog beyond the black stump and in blistering temperatures is a bit of a struggle. Next project will be a little avgas depot with hand pump. Alan

As a Top End aviator I must correct Jaba Who. Either he is wrong or I have been conducting my fuel reduction burns at the wrong time for many years.. Fire smoke is a problem for aviators in the north from May until October, our 'Dry season'. You dont hear Northerners talking about 'summer' or 'winter'. Downunder is on the mark. Turbulence is a huge issue and of course wet season thunderstorms. Early morning flight is most advisable. Fly high enough and those extra couple of degrees make no difference to your engine. But as he says the thermals will ultimately get you and make descent and landing miserable. Temperature in the far north doesnt change much year round, but humidity does so carby icing can also be an issue on descent. Alan

Oh dear. CASA is being reduced down into a bureaucratic soup.

Wow! Thanks KR. Thats actually a really good response to another thread I started on here about reasons to maintain a RAA pilot certificate if you fly a VH aircraft. Pretty much all available endorsements will be cheaper with RAA. Even floats.... This could well put financial pressure on GA flight schools. Alan

Like KRviator said your RPL should carry across X-country, tailwheel and other endorsements. I had not realised that as a holder of an RPL you can go back to RAA add another endorsement flying a plane with numbers then get your CASA RPL updated with it. Can you resubmit that form (61-1RTX) when you already hold a licence? Im not doubting, just didnt know. Alan

I agree that a GA purchase suits the flight mission better. However, be aware that ongoing maintenance costs are much higher than RAA aircraft and this offsets the initial lower purchase price. But Id go an old certified GA everytime over a slightly newer but owner maintained RAA as a first purchase. Alan

You buying a GA aircraft? Then you could do your fight review in it. 👍 Alan

One more thought. If you intend to ultimately fly cross country buthavent yet done nav endorsement, consider doing it before applying for an RPL. Im guessing its much cheaper to do RAA than through CASA system. Alan

Hi FlyAdventure. As KRAviator said, its pretty straight forwards.... but nobody here has mentioned the ASIC or the bizarre english language test speaking on the telephone with a machine.. Alan

Never posted here before...But took a spin over the mighty Finnis wetlands just as the first showers fall. Its lookin pretty dry but in a few months this river will be hundreds of metres wide at the mouth... This is not Tiger country...The crocs have eaten all the tigers... Alan

RFguy I was refering to the original poster on this thread. Good luck with your own purchase. Alan

G'day Blackhawk A first purchase is always an exciting time, but be sure you dont let your heart get ahead of your head! This is probably a great time to be buying a used aircraft and there are some great ones around If your 3000km from an aircraft in the NT, then I'm guessing its in the Top End. Flick me a PM, I might be able to help... Alan

Ian so sorry to read of your deteriorated eyesight and it’s impact on your ability to fly. I recently read that in the coming decade advances in non surgical opthomology will render all corrective lenses a thing of the past. Perhaps your day will come again? At any rate, we value your extraordinary contribution to the aviation community through your running of this website and I’m sure there will always be a right seat for your to scratch the flying itch. Best wishes Alan

Unbelieveable! ?

Hey, thanks found this really interesting. Great to see you operating out of 290 metres in a Jabiru. Alan

But back to Ians question. I recently looked at two popular aviation related pages on facebook. My wife is a member of 'Bushflyers Down Under' Group. I gotta admit I found the content banal. Some nice pictures and posts, but these largely restricted to a few high profile members -and the rest adulating. No real discussion of substance. The platform does not allow it, nor apparently does the attention span of the contributors. Most of the members appear to be wannabees, lauding how great it is to fly a tail dragger with fat tyres, and how they'll soon be getting their own -and what an amazing aircraft it will be. Seriously, I think a high proportion of users are not aircraft owners or even pilots, just social media 'influencees'. Is there a message for Ian here? Do all popular sites draw memberships from non participant followers just interested in the topic? I love this site and the thoughtful and interesting contributions made. I read it every day. But I wont be swiping my wifes phone to look at BFDU again for a spell. Alan

Hey I totally agree. But my point is that the 20% today has grown from 5% in the 70s, and the greater opportunity and support we can offer and the more we can adjust expectations that its Ok to be woman in aviation, the better. Last night my wife and I attended the CASA safety seminar in Darwin. Of thirty pilots only three were female. The other two were younger women flying commercially and my wife had a chat with them. She also (typically) had a good banter with all the boys and enjoyed poking a bit of fun at them.? Alan

Hmmm...Gonna grasp the nettle here. Its hard to generalise about who is and isnt interested in flying. These days the right seat (and left seat) of many Airlines have female aircrew. My wife also flies and I reckon we make a great team in the cockpit with complementary qualities... Lots of female instructors around too. Im inclined to think increasing opportunity and encouragement has led to the growing proportion of female aviators. I for one would like to encourage many more to join our ranks. Im sure they make really good pilots and their presence in the community makes Fly-ins and other events more enjoyable when its not just us crusty old blokes...! A whole different perspective. Alan

@shajen. Airstrip?

I very nearly did this - and still intend to.... from my reckoning you will likely spend $30,000 on the import and attendant fees. For that you get to cherry pick from the US Aviation market. I reckon you could get a younger and better condition model than one you would find in Aussie ( e.g a C172), and of course you have access to all the models not widely available here. I reckon you still come out ahead. Alan

I had a good laugh at OME original post #8 about the fuel drum, but like most of us I reckon there's huge irony in the application of regulations. Its odd that our regulators are so zealous about storage of fuel when its legal purpose is to be ignited in an internal combustion engine and component elements spewed out into our environment, where it will fall as rain and so pollute the same catchment they are so excited about protecting from the drum. Alan ?