The 2024 Australian Air Rally - The FBO

[Rupert]

13 hours ago, PhrogPhlyer said:

Any landing you walk away from...

+1!  Actually, any landing you survive and heal from ranks pretty high IMO.

[Melo965]

8 hours ago, Bossspecops said:

Good thing you weren't at Dean Forest Regional Melo, you'd have been IN the River.

 

Quite right!  You have the advantage in the Sealand.  You can land anywhere!

 

[Melo965]

1 hour ago, taoftedal said:

but a wonderful technique should you encounter the 'jgf experience @ Cairns' along the way.

 

I did not get a picture of it, but shortly after I stopped and backed the camera up to take the picture, a huge airliner went by very fast on the runway. 

[TomPenDragon]

The Daily Update

(Cue “She Sells Sanctuary”)

 

EP: ”Hello and welcome to the Update for the 7th of February, 2024. I’m Elias Pacheco, for Claus Ullrich and the Radio Chachapoya team, at Sydney Bankstown. There is much to report, so let’s get straight to the Leaderboard:

 

 

“Melo965 is still in the lead after another perfect run, to Parafield. He did try to make us think that it was a little challenging to him by his landing. A word: The kangaroo on the roundel is not landing instructions. But I do understand ending up just off the runway like that. I’ve done so myself many times. A long cross-country, a brand-new Thermos full of coffee, and you can’t get out of the cockpit fast enough.

 

“defaid is enjoying Melbourne, in second place with a -2.

 

“ViperPilot2 retains third, also with a -2, in Ceduna.

 

“Bossspecops is in fourth, with a -5 after 10 legs.

 

“PhrogPhlyers: phinished, phifth.

 

“After MAD1’s switch to Free Flying, ScottishMike’s now in sixth, in Melbourne with a -10. Awww… give her a hug and a treat for me.

 

“JSMR remains in seventh. A +1 into Port Augusta ties him with ScottishMike’s CV with a +10, although Mike’s ahead of him on the course. Congratulations is due him for a perfect run into Adelaide.

 

“And this concludes our Daily Update. I’m Elias Pacheco for Claus Ullrich and the Radio Chachapoya team, signing off. Have a great flying day, folks!”

[PhrogPhlyer]

3 hours ago, Rupert said:

landing you survive and heal from ranks pretty high IMO

Ouch, and yes!

[PhrogPhlyer]

12 minutes ago, TomPenDragon said:

“PhrogPhlyers: phinished, phifth.

Phantastic!

Now... Eastern timed, or not-timed?

Phurthering phrantic phrustation?

[Melo965]

37 minutes ago, TomPenDragon said:

The kangaroo on the roundel is not landing instructions.

 

LOL!  Thanks, I will keep that in mind! 

 

[ScottishMike]

“It never rains in Southern California, but girl don't they warn ya, Lord it pours... man it pours..”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gmq4WIjQxp0

RW interruptions sorted out, we had two storms in close succession here in Scotland, winds up to 99 mph blew down two fences. Temporary fixes in place so horses and dogs won't disappear.

On my own for this leg, Moorabbin (YMMB) to Mangalore (YMNG) and no sign of rain (Sorry Californians...)

I should have learnt from the Route 66; the cockpit is no place for discussions specially if you are the only pilot onboard. Yet, strangely, it is a good place to process ideas and emotions that sit in the background of the mind while you concentrate on the requirements of safe flying.

I have decided to land at all stops to Bankstown, or at least do touch and go's. I will be on my own unless I can find another pilot to accompany me. Definitely no more yattering passengers. My full attention will be on the weather and flying. I want to know how bad I really am at flight planning!

So let's start the fun:

65 nm. heading 355, average speed 120 Kts, expected time 32 mins. Altitude 3000'

Weather report:

 

This is a busy place, start up checklist completed and I was just about to start up when a Mooney Bravo taxied out in front of me:

 

Taxied out to the runway and was cleared for take off on Rwy 170R:

 

While trying to take photos (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.) I made a mess of take off (10:05), I got into a steep climb and found myself at 78 knots:

 

I pushed the stick forward to gain speed so the 180 degree turn from 170 to 355 was a further mess:

 

Descending back to my planned 3000' the speed increased to 178 Kts, average was supposed to be 120 Kts. But I did finally get things stabilised heading north over Melbourne as clouds developed:

 

I finally relaxed a bit as the last of the Melbourne suburbs slipped behind me. I wondered where Willi Wombat (Giorgio Bianchi) was. Had he found anything in the excavation? Why had he disappeared?

 

Heading towards hills and clouds. Mangalore should only be some 15 minutes away:

 

Mangalore to my right. Entering a right hand circuit for Rwy 180:

 

Descending to 1500' and turning onto base leg on 90 degree heading:

 

The turn onto final was a bit premature, I am having to dodge about to get onto a decent heading for Rwy 180:

 

 

Not a bad landing after all, if rather late 10:45 variance +8:

 

 

Parking next to other aircraft:

 

 

Switched off and ready for several beers, not a very good leg, but the poor performance actually will help my total score.

 

 

[JSMR]

YPAG - YPPF 

Port Augusta - Parafield / Adelaide
ETE : 0:55

ATA : 0:55  V0    

Short stop over at Port Augusta at the Aero Club. Got a big flight coming up. I need to not loose ground. The $25,000 USD Tom has put up for the race is slipping from my fingers. 

 

 A few additions. Realengine and everyone's favourite 'stopwatch'. Now I have to watch my power settings to not fry the engine. 

 

Light, fresh overhaul with some improved mods (based on RW) and she's a rocket. And....someone forgot - as usual - to start the clock. 

 

7500ft cruise altitude. 25/2500 cruise settings. Around 165 KTAS. Correct pph fuel flow. 
Passing Port Pirie. 

 

Need to make up some time...higher mixture setting. Was running pretty lean. Now 170 KTAS. 

 

Descent time. Keep the speed up. Watch the IAS carefully.  A little turbulence. the 210 known to be a little dicey in this situation. Thank goodness I have damage mode off...

And the infamous blurry mess approaching the Adelaide region. Must be a conflict somewhere..

 

Tight circuit...trying to lose airspeed. And not shock cool the engine. Thank goodness i'm using a sim...ahem. 
Flaps, more flaps. High, sideslip....short narrow runway. 4 kt crosswind...No landing pic. Bouncy is a word I could use..

 

ok...maybe here is the issue...

 

Parked. Scored a V0.  Woohoo. Time to peg back the gap. Nice panel van..

[JSMR]

5 minutes ago, ScottishMike said:

Descending to 1500' and turning onto base leg on 90 degree heading:

 

The turn onto final was a bit premature, I am having to dodge about to get onto a decent heading for Rwy 180:

[JSMR]

Is that VOZ scenery? 

[Melo965]

10 minutes ago, JSMR said:

Scored a V0.  Woohoo.

 

Great work!

 

[MAD1]

The Chachapoya Chronicle. Travel and culture news. Thursday 8 February 2024.

 

Amphibian operations

 

Seaplanes, what lovely things. This reporter has, like many people, an affection for them especially the large commercial planes from the heyday of flying boats in the late 1930s to the 1950s. The Empire flying boats could take the rich passenger from Sydney to London in comfort, via the 'Kangaroo Route' (many hops), which is very much the same today: Singapore, India, Middle East, London. (These days it's two hops: Sydney-Singapore (about 8 hours), Singapore-London (about 14 hours).

 

Pelicans are lovely birds, this reporter calls them the 'jumbo jets of the air', and the old, large flying boats remind of pelicans and vice versa. (Pelicans are superb gliders/soarers too, what a magnificent sight seeing a gaggle of them circling in a thermal and gaining altitude effortlessly.)

 

Bossspecops's Sealand triggered this article. Now that he's on the east coast, there are plenty of waterways available for him to land on (should that be 'water on', and instead of 'land' is it more appropriate to say 'water', e.g. 'coming in for a watering' etc.) The Leader Board shows that he's in Warrnambool. So after he gets to Moorabin in Melbourne, we hope he'll do some excursions and 'water' at various places around Port Phillip Bay, the very large body of sheltered seawater that Melbourne has.

 

After that, apart from some inland lakes, Sydney is his best play place. Sydney is renowned for its Sydney Harbour, perhaps the best in the world, the old sailing ship captains said so. Similarly for seaplanes. Rose Bay has a rich history (IATA RSE). After completing his timing requirements with a touchdown at Bankstown, this reporter suggests that he do a nostalgic jaunt to Rose Bay. If the race organisers alerted the media, there would no doubt be a little crowd and the TV cameras, a re-enactment of a Empire flying boat landing at the old flyingboat base. There is another offical water airport in Sydney, Palm Beach (LBH) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Beach_Water_Airport.

 

These days, there's an active seaplane operation operating from the harbour, providing joyflights. https://www.seaplanes.com.au

 

This topic caused your reporter to ponder what the regulations are for amphibian operations. Does the pilot have to get permission to do a planned water landing ('watering'). Who might the authority be? Air Services Australia, or the local Council. You're not landing at a strip, I suppose the same applies for a planned landing on land away from a strip. How does all that work, regulation-wise?

So let's hope we have some stories and plenty of photos from Bossspecops about his amphibian operations during his visit to Australia. Others in the gaggle might be tempted to join him, if brave enough, in their own (borrowed) amphibian and deal with the challenges of water operations - getting the aircraft fast enough in the 'chop', then onto 'the step', then break from the surface, and up and away. Apparently it can be quite an acquired skill.

 

History (plenty of fun bedtime/armchair reading here)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Bay_Water_Airport
https://www.woollahra.nsw.gov.au/Library/local-history/world-war-2/stories-from-woollahra/flying-boats-at-war
https://www.visitsydneyaustralia.com.au/lost-rose-bay-flying.html
https://simpleflying.com/qantas-flying-boat-origins
https://mhnsw.au/stories/general/flying-boats-sydneys-golden-age-aviation
https://www.seaplanes.com.au/history

 

[ScottishMike]

JSMR - Yes it is VOZ 1.8 with SW area active.

[JSMR]

23 minutes ago, ScottishMike said:

JSMR - Yes it is VOZ 1.8 with SW area active.

Ah nice. It looks good. 

[jgf]

1 hour ago, ScottishMike said:

JSMR - Yes it is VOZ 1.8 with SW area active.

 

A reminder to everyone, switch to SE area then, at Brisbane, to NE area.

[jgf]

7 hours ago, Rupert said:

dogs have been almost constant companions on their RW flights

 

Along with a cargo of newspapers

[jgf]

2 hours ago, MAD1 said:

Seaplanes, what lovely things

[Melo965]

Parafield (YPPF) to Renmark (YREN)

 

Ready to start engine at Parafield.

 

For this leg I plan on a cruise speed of 115 kts at 4,000 ft.  Skyvector predicts 1 hour even for the 107 mile flight.  My Active Sky flightplan predicts 59 minutes for the flight.

 

There are some light right to left crosswinds.  I decided to go with the Skyvector estimate.  Predicted arrival = 1 hour and 0 minutes.

 

Advancing throttle for takeoff.

 

Climbing out, leaving Parafield behind.

 

On course and at altitude.  There is a Boeing 737-800 transiting right to left behind me.

 

Lush forests below.

 

One fourth of the way there.  Matching time estimate so holding throttle steady.

 

Half way there.  No throttle adjustment needed.

 

60 percent of the way there.  A bit ahead of schedule so decreasing throttle a bit.

 

70 percent of the way.  Still ahead of schedule so decreasing throttle again.

 

80 percent completed.  Matching timing estimate again so no throttle changes.

 

Passing Moorook Game Reserve on the left.

 

Only 10 percent of flight to go now.  Holding throttle steady.

 

Only 5 percent to go.  Airport spotted ahead and below.  Disengaged autopilot and dove down to pattern altitude.

 

Final for Runway 07.  Cutting the timing pretty close.

 

Touchdown and right on time - just barely. 

 

Look above the red line.

There was a Cherokee 180 approaching on my runway heading.  This one was talking to the tower and properly did a missed approach since I was still on the active runway.

 

Parked at Renmark next to a Dash 8.

 

There is also another Cherokee 180 parked here.

 

Renmark Aerodrome.

This is the only on airport picture I could find.  At least two of our Gaggle members will appreciate it though.

 

Decided to spend the night at the Country Club across the road.

Next stop Naracoorte.

[PhrogPhlyer]

15 hours ago, MAD1 said:

Seaplanes, what lovely things.

[defaid]

16 hours ago, MAD1 said:

Seaplanes, what lovely things.

 

Definitely.

 

[ScottishMike]

And if you find yourself in Southampton (England) the following is well worth a visit:

https://www.solentsky.org/exhibitions

The interior of the Shorts was quite a revelation, various seperate compartments rather like a victorian luxury train:

 

[ViperPilot2]

Too bad there were some Flying Boats that didn't survive the Scrapper and become Museum pieces... to see a Boeing 314, a Martin M130, or perhaps a Sikorsky S-42 up close and personal today would really be a treat.

 

[TomPenDragon]

The Daily Update

(Cue “She Sells Sanctuary”)

 

EP: ”Hello and welcome to the Update for the 8th of February, 2024. I’m Elias Pacheco, for Claus Ullrich and the Radio Chachapoya team, still at Sydney Bankstown. Here’s the Leaderboard:

 

 

“Melo965 completed a couple of more legs. He was perfect once again into Renmark, then decided to give everyone else a chance and had a -1 into Naracoorte. This is his CV, which still has him in first place.

 

“ScottishMike flew an outstanding run to Mangalore, taking 8 minutes out of his -10 CV to move up into second place, after 12 legs.

 

“defaid, with his -2 at Moorabbin, drops into third place.

 

“ViperPilot2 made the run to Port Augusta, scoring a -1. His CV is -3, which places him in fourth place.

 

“Bossspecops is still in Warrnambool, now in fifth place with a -5 CV.

 

“The PhrogPhlyers fall into sixth, with their +7 in Sydney.

 

“JSMR rounds out the field in seventh, with a +10 in Adelaide.

 

“Chachapoya Chronicle has put out a new edition; be sure to catch it wherever fine publications are sold.

 

“And this concludes our Daily Update. I’m Elias Pacheco, for Claus Ullrich and the Radio Chachapoya team, signing off. Stay classy, Seaplanes!”

[jgf]

37 minutes ago, ViperPilot2 said:

Too bad there were some Flying Boats that didn't survive the Scrapper

 

Sixteen built, none survive (the tail assembly of one is in a museum)