The 2024 Australian Air Rally - The FBO

[ScottishMike]

Well, still heavier than air but just as luxurious. We took VP2's advice because we will be landing mostly at sea but it was difficult to resist anyway. We travelled to Brisbane to view it and fell in love.

There she sat: understated luxury and elegance:

 

Inside was fitted out for passangers but the leasing company said it was no problem stripping out the seats and fitting a two cabin luxury interior:

 

We powered up to test the avionics and all systems:

 

She is fitted with all modern avionics:

 

Test flight, waiting for take off clearance:

 

Lining up for take off:

 

Easy take off and climb:

 

Gear and flaps up:

 

Lining up for a sea landing:

 

Our first sea landing in the Pearl:

Getting ready for sea take off:

 

Full power for take off:

 

And returning to Brisbane Intl:

 

Back in Brisbane and we are sold. This is the craft for fun.

 

[Bossspecops]

Having bought a new DVD player/writer today, I tried to re-load Accel with no joy. 

 

The disc just runs and runs, and sounds like a bag of bolts doing it too! I've tried an audio disc in the player to prove that it works (Bruce Springsteen's 'Do I love you, indeed I do' remake of Frank Wilson's Northern Soul iconic track ) and it plays nicely, but neither the Accel DVD nor the original FSX Disc 1 run, they just groan on and on.

 

I've got another copy of both DVD sets on the way, so that should eliminate the originals I hope.

[ViperPilot2]

1 hour ago, Bossspecops said:

Having bought a new DVD player/writer today, I tried to re-load Accel with no joy. 

 

The disc just runs and runs, and sounds like a bag of bolts doing it too! I've tried an audio disc in the player to prove that it works (Bruce Springsteen's 'Do I love you, indeed I do' remake of Frank Wilson's Northern Soul iconic track ) and it plays nicely, but neither the Accel DVD nor the original FSX Disc 1 run, they just groan on and on.

 

I've got another copy of both DVD sets on the way, so that should eliminate the originals I hope.

 

Is it possible you're encountering that pesky "SafeDisc DRM" thingy, or the feature from W7 on that won't let older Disc based games work on newer Windows versions? It sounds like that's what's ruining the Party... especially if the Disc just turns and turns in the Drive.

[ViperPilot2]

I Vote for Bossspecops.

[Melo965]

2 hours ago, Bossspecops said:

I've got another copy of both DVD sets on the way

 

Hope that works!  Good luck!

[Melo965]

3 hours ago, ScottishMike said:

 

 

 

Beautiful!

 

[TomPenDragon]

The Daily Update

(Cue “She Sells Sanctuary”)

 

EP: “Hello and welcome to the Update for the 28th of February, 2024. I’m Elias Pacheco for Radio Chachapoya. Dawn has broken on Leap Day in Australia. The end of the Gaggle is here!

 

 

“Taking a look at our Leaderboard, we can see that not much has happened since yesterday from a Timing and Scoring standpoint. Melo965 has withdrawn from the Combined and has been taken off the board for that race. Bossspecops’ misfortunes continue, so he has been taken off the board for both the Combined and the Eastern Routes. defaid, ScottishMike, and JSMR are still listed as entered, but will be removed from the Eastern and/or the Combined for tomorrow’s Leaderboard if they do not post timings by the time of tomorrow’s broadcast.

 

“There has been some Free-Flying going on, though. taoftedal brought his Twin Comanche from Alice Springs to Cairns. Welcome, sir – it would not be a party without you. I realize I might be a bit… uh… wistful since yesterday, but the end of his PIREP brought a bit of dampness to my eyes.

 

“Suzanne and ScottishMike, meanwhile, have been plane shopping in Brisbaine. What could possibly replace an Aerostar? For those two crazy kids, it’s a Turbine Mallard named, ‘Pearl.’ They were spotted doing a splash-and-go test flight in the Brisbaine area. If they’re planning to join us for the closing celebration, perhaps they could stop by Rockhampton and pick up the Bosss on their way up to Cairns.

 

“And I’ve been sailing a sweet little Sparkman & Stephens New York 55 named, ‘Stormborn.’ around Cairns. Yesterday, I took her around the bay and out to Grafton Point. This morning, I sailed much the same course until Gribble Point, where I ducked into Mission Bay, came as close as I dared to Rocky Island and the salt marsh beyond, rounded Grafton and headed down to Fitzroy Island. I continued south while I went below and had breakfast. Once I went topside again, I turned back toward Fitzroy, on my way back to the marina in Cairns. It’s been rainy, with southerly, light-to-moderate airs. Considering the heat in this part of the country, the rain has been welcome.

 

“The only other thing that’s been going on at the FBO has been a bunch of old gasbags. This differs from every other day at the FBO in that they’re now talking airships. Is there a dirigible race in our future? Only time will tell.

 

“In the meantime, be sure to post your vote for Spirit of the Race to the FBO before end-of-day today. So far, the Bosss has 3, while Melo, PhrogPhlyer, and TomPenDragon have 1 each.

 

“This concludes our Daily Update. I’m Elias Pacheco for Radio Chachapoya, signing off. Have a great flying day.”

[Melo965]

Bankstown (YSBK) to Cairns (YBCS) to RAAF Darwin (YPDN)

 

Engine started at Bankstown.

 

Marham Rose on Runway 11C.

 

Another view of this beautiful Canberra PR9.

 

Ready to start takeoff roll.

 

Gear up over the runway.

 

Got tower permission to expedite climb to 50,000 ft.  Steep climb out, because I can.

 

Climbing through 25,000 ft, swinging around to the south over the water to get lined up for the first photo pass over Bankstown.

 

Continuing the climb through 42,000 ft.

 

Bankstown (YSBK) photo from 50,000 ft.  It was worth it to wait an extra day to have the infrared cameras installed.  Pictures through the cloud cover (if present) with no issues.

 

Coff's Harbour (YSCH) photo.

 

Ballina (YBNA) photo.  V+1

 

Gold Coast (YBCG) photo.  V-1

 

Brisbane International (YBBN) photo #1.  V0

 

Brisbane International (YBBN) photo #2.

 

Rockhampton (YBRK) photo.  V0

 

Mackay (YBMK) photo.  V0

 

Townsville International (YBTL) photo.  V0

 

Innisfail (YIFL) photo.  Extra picture.  Just happened to also be in my flight path.

 

Cairns International (YBCS) photo.  V-2  CV = -2.

 

Weipa (YBWP) photo.

 

Gove (YPGV) photo.

 

Snapped an extra picture.  I did spot a MD-83 on final approach to Darwin.

 

Darwin International (YPDN) photo.

 

Camera run completed.  Switching camera off and descending to land.  Notice how cold it was at altitude.  Brrrr. . .

 

Runway 11 in sight.

 

Final for runway 11.

 

Finally stopped.  Used almost all of the 11,000 foot runway.

 

Parked at RAAF Darwin on the military side of the airfield.  Flew 2,662 miles from Bankstown.  

 

Striking up a conversation with the pilot parked next to me.

 

Here is my flight path in Marham Rose.

 

I also completed the circumnavigation of Australia.  1,817 miles from Darwin to Jandakot in the Chipmunk, followed by 2,804 miles on the Southern route in the Chippie.  4,621 total miles in the Chipmunk.  Then 2,662 miles in the Canberra PR9 back to Darwin.
Total distance flown in Australia = 7,283 miles. 

 

Now to figure out how to get back to Cairns for the banquet.

 

Edited February 28 by Melo965
Tried to remove extra pictures

[ViperPilot2]

Are we having the End of Rally shindig at the Airport? The folks at Cairns said we could take some space at the end of the Ramp. We could park there and have our cookout. I bet there's enough room for those who have Big Iron transporting their A/C home...

[TomPenDragon]

Elias here.  Yeah, the folks in Cairns have been very accommodating, like pretty much everybody I've met here.  The Organizing Committee is not one to look a gift hangar in the mouth, so we'll be partying with our aircraft tomorrow night!  I can't tell you which band is going to be playing the party, but Tom PenDragon told me to tell the participants to make room on the ramp for a 747-400, tail no. TF-AAK - also called, "Ed Force One."

[Bossspecops]

1 hour ago, Melo965 said:

 

Got tower permission to expedite climb to 50,000 ft.  Steep climb out, because I can.

 

 

Way to go Melo! 

 

Those Avon 302s sure have some poke in them, don't they? It's SO good seeing her do her photo thing again, well done indeed.

 

Maybe I should tweak the brakes a bit on the next re-hash of the .cfg file, eh? 

[Melo965]

1 hour ago, Bossspecops said:

Way to go Melo!

 

It sure was a lot of fun!  After the Chipmunk, having this much power available is intoxicating! 

 

[MAD1]

Elias, could you please give us a precise, detailed info bulletin about the party.

1. What time. Please give Cairns local (AEST) - day, date, time and UTC. (Am writing this my today, AEDT Thu 29 Feb 12:33 pm, which is AEST Cairns 11:33 am (AEDT= UTC+11, AEST=UTC+10, UTC Thu 29/2 0133. You can understand the risk for confusion.) I haven't missed the party, given Elias you posted only 2 hrs ago indicating the party is still in the future.

 

Suggestion: if you pick a good time that suits the whole world, e.g. Cairns evening will be US morning, then we could all attend 'in real time', and be able to post in this thread all together, might be fun. Also, and alternatively, you Committee guys might be able to organise a instant message type chat session, is such a mechanism available here in flightsim.com, where we could have an actual conversation by text 'in real time'. Just a thought.

2. Where precisely at the airport. It has many outbuildings. Please post a pic of the hanger.

3. Wet weather prep. You said a hanger is available, not just open ramp space, so I presume there is a place under cover if needed.

I'll be attending, will get to Cairns somehow. Will be good to meet all of you guys who are there 'in person', albeit virtually.

4. Is it catered? Is there food and grog there (hopefully yes, one of the benefactors might be able to put on a 'good spread', or do we need to bring our Esky with our own food and drinks?

[MAD1]

ScottishMike, 8 hrs ago posted "Back in Brisbane and we are sold. This is the craft for fun.". If you're still in Brisbane, can I get a lift with you guys to Cairns. I can easily get to Brisbane. Please advise, can meet you at the airport. Meet at the GA office (northern end of the airport, Brisbane that is, not the main GA airport of Archerfield, which is to the south-west of the CBD)?

[MAD1]

All, as an early 69th birthday (May) gift to myself, will obtain a Concorde. I have the FS2000 default fleet version, just have to install it from the CD. Think it'll work in FS2002. (A year or 3 ago, I had both FS2000, have to have the CD in the drive for it to run,  and FS2002 installed on my spare HP desktop, in the sim, and it was working, but all that stuff went under the flood in Feb 2022). To save me searching around in FlightSim.com libraries, or elsewhere, where is a good place to get a Concorde that'll run in FS2002 that might be an improved version from the FS2000 fleet version? Thanks in advance for any info.

 

(As an alternative, am liking the look and idea of a Canberra. I wanta go fast, Mach 2 or thereabouts, to get to places quicker in the sim. Also, it has enough space to sleep in, can set up a bed in it. They were used by the RAAF in Vietnam, has the name-sake of our national capital, and outside Amberly air base west of Brisbane, in a guy's paddock, a decade or so ago I drove past two remnants, near the road, just rotting away. Am sure some enthusiasts (e.g. aviation museum) had enquired with him if they could buy and restore them, but there was a sign on the fence 'No entry. Trespassers will be prosecuted etc.'. Was sad to see, weeds growing up through and around them. Couldn't believe it, as drove past thought 'oh, old airplane fuselage over there in the weeds, wait a minute, I think that's a Canberra bomber, and two of them! No idea if they'd still be there today, and no idea whereabouts near Amberly it was.)

 

Now, our local seaside town of Evans Head (lovely little place, great beach, no crowds like Byron Bay, not a backpacker in sight) has a little aviation museum, containing a Canberra, F1-11 (the 'pig'), Caraboo, Orion. Why is it there? It's at the old WW2 airfield which was a training base for bomber crew. The nearby bombing range is still used by aircraft from Amberly, F/A-18F Super Hornet and F-35A Lighting II aircraft.

[MAD1]

Final post from me for now. To TomPenDragon, condolences about Ilan Papini (I looked at his website www.hangsim.com). By coincidence, I spent some time in Israel in 1980 as a young man, a 'traveller' (aka backpacker) on a kibbutz, and then revisited in 1988 and spent time on a moshav. I did a glider joy flight at Megiddo.

[ViperPilot2]

3 hours ago, MAD1 said:

Elias, could you please give us a precise, detailed info bulletin about the party.

1. What time. Please give Cairns local (AEST) - day, date, time and UTC. (Am writing this my today, AEDT Thu 29 Feb 12:33 pm, which is AEST Cairns 11:33 am (AEDT= UTC+11, AEST=UTC+10, UTC Thu 29/2 0133. You can understand the risk for confusion.) I haven't missed the party, given Elias you posted only 2 hrs ago indicating the party is still in the future.

 

Suggestion: if you pick a good time that suits the whole world, e.g. Cairns evening will be US morning, then we could all attend 'in real time', and be able to post in this thread all together, might be fun. Also, and alternatively, you Committee guys might be able to organise a instant message type chat session, is such a mechanism available here in flightsim.com, where we could have an actual conversation by text 'in real time'. Just a thought.

2. Where precisely at the airport. It has many outbuildings. Please post a pic of the hanger.

3. Wet weather prep. You said a hanger is available, not just open ramp space, so I presume there is a place under cover if needed.

I'll be attending, will get to Cairns somehow. Will be good to meet all of you guys who are there 'in person', albeit virtually.

4. Is it catered? Is there food and grog there (hopefully yes, one of the benefactors might be able to put on a 'good spread', or do we need to bring our Esky with our own food and drinks?

 

Bear in mind this is all 'notional'; in that the Event is purely the figment of the imagination. It begins soon as someone posts about it or whatever Time works for you. I set a fictional Location off in the corner somewhere, away from the daily grind of Airport Ops. A place for the big Transports like jgf's C-5 Galaxy or others to park. Assume all of the accoutrements for a BBQ are there except for what you want to eat & drink. Post what you want in the spirit of the Gathering.

 

If a Time Point for Refernce is necessary, let's say 6:00PM (1800).

 

It's just an imaginary place where we can all gather and swap stories about their Flights, or whatever Topics come up as we stand around the Keg or lean up against the makeshift Bar (if you're so inclined to imbibe).

 

There is no current mechanism in place to conduct Instant or other Conversation 'real time' in our FlightSim based environment. The Time difference between us also makes 'live' conversation prohibitive. Therefore the best environment for our little gig is right here.

 

Just follow along in the Thread, and you'll get the Idea. See you there!

 

By the By.. A little anecdote for you Canberra drivers:

 

Later on in his illustrious career, Chuck Yeager commanded a Wing of Fighter/Bombers in Vietnam. As was the case, he went out on a few missions in a B-57 to both observe and familiarize himself with the Aircraft. One time he arranged to visit his son who was stationed at a Forward Base and flew a B-57 there, the rotary Bomb Bay filled with fresh Fruit, Vegetables and Steaks. I do not know if any Beer or other Spirits were brought.

[MAD1]

Thanks VP2, that clarifies things. I'll be there with my Esky full of my favourites. That includes a steak and some thin beef sausages, nothing like a classic 'sausage sandwich' over a beer (or 3+) which consists of 2 slices of square bread, a sausage, fried onions (compulsory), and sauce - tomato or barbeque. Yum.

 

By the way, a proper Australian hamburger (sometimes called these days by yuppie establishments as an 'Aussie burger') MUST include a slice of beetroot. If I go into a fast food joint (in Auz called a 'takeaway' and ask for a hamburger, and it doesn't include tomato, beetroot, lettuce, then I'll refuse to accept it. The one exception is of course McDonalds, which has it's American version and purveys that across the world. That's OK, because the one good thing about McD's worldwide is it's consistent, which can really help when one is in a foreign land which has a very different culture and very different (strange) food. We've all experienced that. When travelling as a young man, I would ask to go into the kitchen of the local, cheap diner, and look at the pots, in an attempt to identify what the food was. This was in countries where there was no English. I would point at something and indicate I wanted a dish of that. That strategy worked pretty well, but sometimes I was served something exotic that I never knew what it was. The most exotic I think was being served sheeps eyeballs in yoghurt in Damascus, Syria ( I think it might have been, not sure) and told 'it's a special treat, very special food', for breakfast! That was all part of the fun and excitement of international travel.

 

So, I await the first post "The party has started ...'.

[JSMR]

Yep agree! If the burger doesn’t have beetroot (beets to Americans) then in disappointed! 
 

Often used in salads and sandwiches. A chicken and salad sandwich, the salad containing not just some lettuce and tomoato, but grated carrot, beetroot , cheese,  zucchini, salt and pepper, some mayo….oooh.  And of course..the prime ingredient…lots of good yellow Aussie butter. 
 

Bread not buttered? Don’t serve it too me! A,though that never happens. I’m hungry. 

 

[taoftedal]

On 2/26/2024 at 11:10 AM, ViperPilot2 said:

First, I'd like to thank both TPD and PP; PP for devising a Timing method that's stood the Test of two long events ... TPD for providing and updating both the Race Spreadsheet/Leaderboard and the daily Race commentary ... A special shout out to MAD1 for the rolling RW Commentary about the Terrain we were flying over, and for giving us a taste of Life Down Under.

 

Lastly, I want to thank everyone for taking the time to Participate! 45 days is a long time ... Far as I'm concerned, all of you are deserving of the Award.

 

Well said ... and as I remember it was VP2 that first conceived of an Australian event and finally pulled all the ideas together and pushed us to start day.  Thank you VP2!

[TomPenDragon]

12 hours ago, MAD1 said:

Elias, could you please give us a precise, detailed info bulletin about the party.

Yes.

 

12 hours ago, MAD1 said:

1. What time. Please give Cairns local (AEST) - day, date, time and UTC. (Am writing this my today, AEDT Thu 29 Feb 12:33 pm, which is AEST Cairns 11:33 am (AEDT= UTC+11, AEST=UTC+10, UTC Thu 29/2 0133. You can understand the risk for confusion.)

Tell me about it!  For the past 2 months, I've had this tab open from the time I started my laptop until the time I shut it down:

 

From a practical standpoint, we have three possible choices, from what I can see:

 

1. Those in AEDT stay on very late (around 23:00 - 00:00), those in North America get on as early as possible (05:00 or earlier for those on the West Coast, which includes the winner of the '76 and, unless someone surprises us today with a run at it, the Eastern as well), and the folks in the UK come on around midday (12:00 - 13:00 or so), on the 1st of March;
2. Those on AEDT get on as early as possible (around 06:00), those in North America get on in the early afternoon (around 14:00 EDT, 11:00 PDT), and those in the UK join us in the evening (around 19:00), on the 2nd of March, Australia, and 1 March, everywhere else, or;
3. Same as 2, only we move it up a day and declare the race over.  This depends on whether the Australians are still online, and nobody from elsewhere wants to take a run at the Eastern or Combined today.

Iron Maiden landed a little while ago.  The caterers are ready.  Let me know.

 

13 hours ago, MAD1 said:

you Committee guys might be able to organise a instant message type chat session, is such a mechanism available here in flightsim.com, where we could have an actual conversation by text 'in real time'. Just a thought.

It's a good thought, and we have been working behind the scenes to figure out a structure here that is more conducive to our Club format.  For now, the closest we can come to "real-time" chat is what we have right here in the FBO.  Maybe by our next big event, we'll have something more.

 

13 hours ago, MAD1 said:

2. Where precisely at the airport. It has many outbuildings. Please post a pic of the hanger.

3. Wet weather prep. You said a hanger is available, not just open ramp space, so I presume there is a place under cover if needed.

I'll be attending, will get to Cairns somehow. Will be good to meet all of you guys who are there 'in person', albeit virtually.

4. Is it catered? Is there food and grog there (hopefully yes, one of the benefactors might be able to put on a 'good spread', or do we need to bring our Esky with our own food and drinks?

We have the last four (the four leftmost) hangars on the GA ramp (left side of the overhead shot).  We have a helipad, and airport personnel will provide marshalling and tow services for all of our aircraft.  There is a chance that the larger transports may need to park in the Commercial area temporarily, but we'll cross that bridge if we come to it.  All landing and tie-down fees have been taken care of.

 

Catering and logistics will be provided by Cezium, which if you remember the end of the Route 66, put out that marvelous spread for more than a week while we waited for the last participants to land.  Suffice it to say that they'll have anything you want, and if you want it and they don't have it, they'll make it or get it for you.  So your sausage sammies will be just perfect.

 

Funny you mention wet weather.  Does Cairns have any dry weather?  It's pouring this morning.  Yes, we do have hangars, but...

...the roof of the first one is rather leaky.

[ScottishMike]

On our way to the GA base to pick up MAD1 and all his Australian food delicacies. Plenty of room on board! Then off north to Rockhampton to pick up the Bosss, and head up to Cairns.

The only problems is how much food will be left for the party by the time we arrive.

Someone will have to be “mum” and rap the knuckles of anyone touching the food before Cairns.

We have parked as close as possible to the GA “lounge” so the food can be loaded easily:

 

Loading of Mad1 and our party food in progress:

 

The load sheet looked something like this: Crew – Suzanne – 110 lbs

Mad 1 - 110 lbs

Me 110 lbs

Fuel 2,272 lbs

Mad 1 has done us proud Cargo: Party food 2,370 lbs

Total take off weight 13,937 lbs

Max allowed take off weight 14,000 lbs

Now for a tricky max weight take off for Rockhampton. And I hear you asking: How are you going to fit Bosss in? He has given me his weight at 120 lbs so between the three of us we need to eat 120 lbs of food between here and Rockhampton!

We have arrived. Full write up later. RW pressing.

[TomPenDragon]

Melo, have you worked out how you're going to get to CaIrns yet?  If not, I can give you a lift.

[ScottishMike]

Full load departure from Brisbane Intl. Off we go, at max weight we used about one third of the 11,800' runway therefore the minimum rwy requirement (at this weight) is around 4500':

 

In a comfortable cruise: heading 330, alt. 8000', IAS 182 kts, GS 200 kts.

 

The weather has changed cloud developing but also a 27kts tail wind is assisting our progress:

 

Rockhampton ahead and descending to 3000':

 

On downwind. Airport to our left:

 

Turning onto base then final:

 

And safely down:

 

We intercept Bosss on his way to the plane, and we all march off to the toilet. We had realised the flaw in our logic; eating the 120 lbs of food did not make the weight leave the craft. Leaving some in Rockhampton might though.

 

Suzanne did some quick calculations and the best we can manage with the four of us, food and fuel required will make us 392 lbs overweight. Do we want to chance it? We all agree YES. The turbines are smooth and powerful and we have a long runway. I hope this dosen't turn into the Rocky Horror Show.

On the taxi out we meet one of FS9 ATC stale mates: a Cessna208 and Cessna Skylane facing each other off.

 

We could be here forever so we take to the grass for the runway.

Lining up and taking off, the two Cessnas below are still in a stand off.

Take off is a bit sluggish and taking almost all the runway but we are up:

 

Nicely uneventful cruise to Cairns:

 

Cloud building as we approach Townsville. Now cruising at 8500', IAS 178 kts, but GS 230 kts as we still have a 24 kts tail wind.

 

By the time we pass Townsville the cloud has grown more menacing and producing a lot of turbulence:

 

Only 50 miles to go, the cloud is still an issue but the turbulence has gone. We are not sure which rwy we will be cleared for so lining up for 330

 

Cleared rwy 150 left pattern so getting onto a downwind leg:

 

On proper downwind now and rain has come for the party too:

 

Turning onto final and safely down:

 

The rest you already know. We have taxied to the hanger with our food:

[Melo965]

1 hour ago, TomPenDragon said:

Melo, have you worked out how you're going to get to CaIrns yet?  If not, I can give you a lift.

 

Tom, thanks a lot for the offer but I am already on my way.  I will be there as soon as I can to join the party.

 

Had originally planned to fly there yesterday but the aircraft I chose for the flight was just not reliable enough.  Stalled out once, and lost an engine to boot at another time.  To top it off we had a power failure during a local rain storm.  So yesterday was a wash.

 

So I found a much better aircraft this morning.  It is working very well.  Currently at 13,000 ft headed east.  906 KIAS and 1,003 kts Ground speed. 

 

On a side note, Canberra PR9 Marham Rose is still at RAAF Darwin.  Like my buddy Kit, I have decided to fly around the world to get home again, just in the opposite direction.  I will fly Marham Rose to Dean Forest regional or Tain.  Kit, let me know which one you prefer?  From there I will hop in my Mk XI Spitfire PL965 and fly the rest of the way home.