PaulN

Will be interesting to see the reporters take on events.

No reflection on your mate Darren, but the media take might read something like "Two passengers and pilot survive twin engine ultralight crash". (I'm removing tongue from cheek now)

 

 

So that's what Khancoban looks like.

Yep, got it ... and so soon ;). Tumut was a wee bit off track for a drop-in visit Ross. Still, must get up there one day soon.

 

So which strip is this then?

 

 

 

My turn to go flying today, not far from home and hobbs time of 3 hours. Where's this one?

 

Paul

 

 

 

My first thought was Menindee too but the AOPA guide threw me off the scent. It says both strips are Red Sand/Clay and your pic clearly shows the main is sealed. Oh well, don't believe everything you read.

 

Paul

 

 

Hey Yenn,

 

Love the shot of the 230, great background colours. I'm impressed.

 

Paul

 

 

Peter,

 

At the risk of "telling you how to suck eggs", when putting together your flight plan don't forget the correct VFR cruising levels (hemispherical rule). That is, if Trk(M) is between 0 and 179 degrees plan for odd 1000s feet + 500 (1500, 3500, 5500, 7500, 9500). Conversely, if Trk(M) is between 180 and 359 degrees plan for even 1000s feet +500 (2500, 4500, 6500, 8500). And don't be afraid to choose the highest level when planning an overwater leg ... more available glide distance. Of course, presence of clouds and extent of cover can spoil the best laid plans, I know.

 

Enjoy the flight. We're all looking forward to your report and piccies.

 

Paul

 

 

The VB service into Port commences Feb 4 and should make for an interesting addition to the local air traffic. I've been told that air traffic in Port has been on the increase for a while now and looks like continuing to increase. The local council is about to add a new and longer runway to cater for bigger things. Let's hope the GA and RPT operators don't start pushing to remove or restrict RA-Aus traffic there. It's been done before.

 

Somehow I doubt the HDFC won't be found sitting on their hands but will be proactive in keeping all forms of aviation alive and well at Port for many years to come. In fact they have just committed to a second trainer (Eurofox) for RA-Aus pilots, that will make 1 VH and 2 RA-Aus aircraft in their club fleet.

 

Paul

 

 

Do Virgin Blue fly up there these days?

According to VB web site, yes and from about $70 return ex Sydney.

 

 

Hastings District Flying Club at Port Macquarie is celebrating their 50th anniversary in March and we're all invited. If the weather's right this should be a great event. Att'd is their flyer and contact details.

 

Paul

 

March 08 Fly In.pdf

 

March 08 Fly In.pdf

 

March 08 Fly In.pdf

I'm onto it Dieselten. Have been talking with Dave at CAS and am to arrange to drop in there next time I'm flying north. He sounds very obliging and doesn't want to charge an arm and leg, he reckons around $100.

 

Thanks,

 

Paul

 

 

Congratulations Chris and Nardi, well done. What a blessing!!

 

Paul

 

 

I will make contact with Canterbury Aviation and sound them out.

John,

 

When you make contact with Canterbury Aviation, Cassie was our instructor/tour guide. We chose CA as our arrival in NZ was at Christchurch and it suited us to do the flight the day after we got there. When we went to the airport that morning the wx was really ordinary, overcast with base at 1500'. But with Cassie's local knowledge we headed off just under the cloud for the first 30 mins and just before reaching high ground the sky opened up nice and blue ... great stuff.

 

If Christchurch is not the most convenient for you, you might be able to arrange something out of Wanaka (or other strips) which could work out cheaper with less flight time into the alpine area. Just a thought. CA's 172 (ZK-RMX) is powered with a 180HP donk and gets along nicely at 120kt, but doesn't have brilliant endurance, something like 43 lph. If you're talking with them please remember Gwen and I too them.

 

Paul

 

 

 

As a 5 year old I lived at Oxley's for several months and started school in Picton. A great place in those days...not so long ago.

If that's on the west side of the street that building has recently undergone refurbishment and has some nice eateries on the street front now. The building next door has just finished being refurbished and is now a complex of several retail outlets. Picton is very much a touristy town, no doubt thanks to the ferry terminal.

 

Paul

 

 

;) Thet's right ... fentestec trep.

 

 

In Nov my wife and I flew extensively (7.8 hrs) over the south island.

 

Out of Christchurch with Canterbury Aviation winding our way through the valleys and foothills west of the Canterbury Plains up to 10500' and around Mt Cook, over several glaciers down the alps and over unbelievably beautiful lakes for a stopover at Omarama for fuel and lunch. Then back over the alps, around Mt Aspiring, over to the west coast and down to Milford Sound for the most awesome approach and landing I'm ever likely to experience. More fuel and snack then off again for more awesome flying out of the Sound to climb out through the eastern passes, over more lakes, over top of Wanaka, over Lindis Pass to head back to Christchurch over more of the Canterbury Plains.

 

Then another day out of Nelson with the Aeroclub over the north coast to Abel Tasman Nat Park then cut over the bay to tour all over Marlborough Sounds across to Picton and back.

 

We did these flights in company with an instructor (nice young ladies in each case) in C172's. We looked into hiring a Tecnam out of Wanaka but Ruth Presland advised that I would need to put in a few hours doing "mountain flying" training before they would consider releasing a rental to us. Having now flown the country I reckon this is a fair call, the weather and winds in their alpine areas can be formidable and something we never get to experience here in Oz. Also, to use my PPL to fly solo in NZ required sitting a NZ flight law test and several hours duel before being able to hire and fly. So, we ended up hiring the 172 complete with instructor which worked out really well. In each case the girls were great company, knew their way around and provided interesting commentary.

 

If you do get the chance to fly DO IT, you won't be disappointed ... it's just magic.

 

Here's a few pics to whet your appetite.

 

Cheers,

 

Paul

 

P.S. Phil, you’re gonna have a great time, enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hey guys..Im just a f/o on korean airlines

Just a Flight Officer ... sounds impressive to me. Welcome aboard joonhoshin, good to have you here. Hopefully we'll get to hear more from you and perhaps you would like to share some of your experiences. For most of us familiarity with the heavies is either watching them fly by or sitting up back somewhere.

 

Had a look at Incheon Airport. It looks pretty impressive in this pic.

 

Cheers,

 

Paul

 

 

 

Thanks for the data Twincom. That's a lot to think about.

 

Our CT was bought second hand and with it came a fair bit of unknown stuff that has cost us heaps in the short time we've had it (350 hours use). At least now I know we have a good, safe aircraft in top condition. These extras have cost us close to $35/hr, apart from this our normal all up hourly cost has been $55/hr incl fuel, R&M, and misc. Under miscellaneous include stuff like affiliation and reg'n fees, nav equip (maps etc), hangarage, and so on. In these numbers I haven't allowed for items like provision for engine overhaul/replacement and prop overhaul/replacement at 1500 hrs (allow about $20/hr over the 1500 hrs) and any capital expenditure for extra toys like transponder, fuel flow inst, life jackets, etc. Also not allowed in the above is any provision for depreciation.

 

Darn expensive toys aren't they ;)? The only consolation I have is that if I go flying more often the amortised hourly cost should decrease ;).

 

Cheers,

 

Paul

 

 

We're all standng by waiting for Techman's Incident Report (incl likely causes of the event) and a full Condition Report.

 

 

Thanks Mike, couldn't have done it without your clues ;).

 

 

Charly, last I heard about Belmont is that the Aero Club at Warnervale have plans of planting their operations there. I understand the Warnervale strip is facing closure shortly. Have you heard anything recent on this?

 

Paul

 

 

Maybe Chris Gibb's strip but I don't see a hangar at the NW corner ... or perhaps Dookie?

 

Paul

 

 

Hey Charly,

 

Welcome to the forum family.

 

Nice to see another Lake Macquarie flyer ... well I used to live at Warners Bay but been in the Snowy Mtns since 1988 and soon to move to Port Macquarie. My wife and I have lots of relis and friends in the N'cle area and like flying in when we get the chance. Can't wait for Belmont to open again. We usually fly in to Wallsend, a nice little strip but just a bit out of the way for our usual contacts. When do you think Belmont will be available to fly into?

 

Paul

 

 

See if you can get this one:

Mike, I've searched all over the WAC for strips within reasonable distance from Shepp but can't find anything that looks remotely like this ... I think remote might be a key description for this one, it looks very quiet and with no infrastructure. Is it a farm strip? You say an early morning flight so shadows appear to indicate a rwy in NNE/SSW ish profile and looks like windsock is east side of middle.

 

Any more clues mate?

 

Paul

 

 

This should be an easy one.[ATTACH]4244[/ATTACH]

Hi Tvaner,

 

I tried to open your attachment but only got this message ...

 

Invalid Attachment specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the administrator

 

I've not seen pics posted like this before. What's different?

 

Paul

 

 

I copied the picture to see it I could enlarge it to see the runway numbers. When I pasted it on my desktop it had YCOM in the file name. :)

D'oh!!