Short Outback Trip

jjatrose · Post by **jjatrose** » Wed Aug 08, 2012 3:17 am

Great Pictures..Thanks for sharing!

Robin · Post by **Robin** » Wed Aug 08, 2012 9:34 pm

Landing at Whitecliffs. Flying our DA-40 XLS up from Pt Cook. It was later afternoon, so lots of sunglare coming into land at Whitecliffs.

This is in the outback. Whitecliffs is an old opal mining town. Its very hot here so everyone lives underground.

You will have noticed all the airstrips are really good. This is because the area is so remote, if cases of illness, accident the RFDS (Royal Flying Doctor Service) flies in - so most towns have a sealed strip. Nearly all of the cattle stations (ranches) have unsealed strips, These are smooth, wide and long to allow a PC 12 or King Air to fly in.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apWeTkoO ... e=youtu.be[/youtube]

Robin · Post by **Robin** » Sat Aug 11, 2012 3:03 am

Have posted my Data Reports from our trip, gives you a better idea on the areas we flew into.

Report 1989 YMPC Pt Cook to YSWH- Swan Hill
Report 1990 YSWH to YWHC - Whitecliffs. The Data logging did not know recognise White Cliffs
Report 1991 White Clifss to the Dog Tree. Again not recognising the locations.
Report 1992 Dig Tree to Innamincka for lunch
Report 1993 Innanmincka to Whitecliffs
Report 1994 WhiteCliffs to Cameron Corner - we did not land, then onto Tibooburra
Report 1995 Tibooburra to WhiteCliffs
Report 1996 White Cliffs to Mildura
Report 1997 Mildura back to Pt Cook

Robin · Post by **Robin** » Sat Aug 11, 2012 9:58 pm

Day 2

White Cliffs to the Dig Tree. This is the site where the first explorers to traverse Australia from South to North perished. They arrived at the Dig Tree - this tree gave instructions on where to dig for the rescue supplies - the night, after the rest of the expedition gave up hope, left back home.

The three remaining explorers tried living off the land, 2 died, one was rescued but died soon after.

This was one of the best flying experiences that I have had, the magnificent country, the challenge of the navigation, the remoteness, the history.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7YppCe4 ... e=youtu.be[/youtube]

Rev flew this leg and both he and I were keen to navigate using the maps only. As you can see from the trip reports he was spot on Nav wise.

It was the first time he landed on a non certified airfield. He was going to do a precautionary search over the strip. As we announced the ranger - also a pilot came on the radio to say that the strip was fine, and that King Airs and Cheftains regularly fly in and out.

On short final you will hear the TERRAIN, TERRAIN warning. Obviously the data base did not have such a remote airstrip listed.

Enjoy, hopefully as much as I did.

Cheers

Robin