GAFA Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 The 27-year-old man from Yaraka, in central western Queensland, was granted bail by Alice Springs Magistrates Court as his legal team arrives in the red centre over weekend. The tyres on the aircraft left two long marks on the surface of the famous landmark, which are expected to cost millions to remove. He has has been charged with a string of aviation and criminal offences, which include operating an aircraft while intoxicated, endangering the safety of an aircraft and criminal damage of a sacred site. The man’s six-seater, single-engine Piper Saratoga has been seized by Northern Territory Police for forensic examination. Detectives are trying to establish what motivated the man to try to land his plane on the monolith and he’s chosen to remain silent over the matter. Local media have dubbed the pilot “The Red Centre Barron” but have been placed under a gag order – effectively blacking out coverage from mainstream media. Dayle Wap-Johns is a cleaner at the nearby Ayers Rock Resort and saw the action unfold. “He coming in hot. Like real hot,” said Mr Wap-Johns. “He done flown right over [sic] my head and straight on for the rock,” “I heard the ‘squeek’ from they tires, too – when he put ‘er [sic] down.” As The Betoota Advocate is independently owned and run, we are not subject to the gag order and can report on the story accordingly. The alleged aviation criminal is set to reappear in court later this month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyflyer Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 You've been had mate. Me thinks it's a hoax. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA. Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 The top of the rock is very rough. It is far from smooth. I am surprised any mark could be very long unless he splatted himself all over it. It'll wash off when it rains. :) Linky http://www.betootaadvocate.com/uncategorized/nt-pilot-arrested-after-defacing-uluru-in-deeply-offensive-stunt/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
octave Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 I think that may be from a satirical newspaper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmccarthy Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Yes it is quite hilly and rough. I don't think wheels could touch for more than ten metres and the chance of survival would be low. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAFA Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share Posted February 5, 2015 Agree, I think it is a hoax as I've done the flights around the rock and it would be just about impossible. Plus given everyone has a smart phone someone would have snapped a photo of it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
planedriver Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 I'd agree, maybe a carbon cub with balloon tyres and someone knowledgeable on the stick, but not with me as a PAX. I've climbed that rock a few times and from what I've seen, I find it hard to believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmick Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 So, can you fly over the Rock or do you need permission, under what height or horizontal clearance. Might drag the PPC out there one day. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushcaddy105 Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Have a look in ERSA Special Procedures. It is a prescribed route at specified heights and no, it doesn't include over the top. It is, however, a spectacular flight and well worth the planning required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
planedriver Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 It's spectacular whichever angle you view it from, even freezing your t*ts off early in the morning as the sun rises. Most of the scenic tour flights seem to fly well over it though, and it's probably just as good to see from the ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWF Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 The Alice Springs VTC, as well as ERSA Special Procedure 7 (SP7), has the recommended route and levels for scenic flights around The Rock and the Olgas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Koreelah Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 I'd agree, maybe a carbon cub with balloon tyres and someone knowledgeable on the stick, but not with me as a PAX.I've climbed that rock a few times and from what I've seen, I find it hard to believe. Yeah, the surface is a bugger. I had mobs of difficulty getting up there in '89. 3 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA. Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Yeah, the surface is a bugger. I had mobs of difficulty getting up there in '89.[ATTACH=full]34046[/ATTACH] With a Lada, I am not surprised. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Koreelah Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Rude! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facthunter Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 You can buy one and an aeroplane for the price of some of the other war tanks. Toorak Tractors. Nev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Koreelah Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 …and they were bullet proof… except the transmission. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwekkIAkHnc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aj_richo Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 I peed on the top of Ayers Rock once.. long before it became Uluru, but I'd never admit it oh shite..! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmccarthy Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 Thee was no airstrip on top in 1972. I had to land beside it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnarly Gnu Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 I peed on the top of Ayers Rock once.. long before it became Uluru, but I'd never admit it That'd be holy water. It's a sacred site (to the tour operators). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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