The next x-country trip in the 582Lightwing

[DAVID SEE]

This may be a little 'long winded' but it's the way it was....

 

For those of you that read of my previous x-country trip to Grafton last year in the trusty old 'farm car', also known as the Lightwing, well I finally got time to put my next trip on here...the last one I put under Just Landed as I'm not too sure where things like this are supposed to go, I'm putting it here.

 

This time was for a family get together to scatter Mums ashes. This time my brother from Moonie came with me. Our mum passed away last year, and so my wife Liz and I drove down for the funeral, it was decided at that time to wave another get together at Easter time to scatter her ashes (in her words she wanted to be "thrown over the creek bank") now fast forward to Easter......Packed and fueled the lightwing, this time my sister-inlaw made some cushions and two back packs to hang over the back of the seats, great idea as not a lot of room in the lightwing, one for clothes and the other for bottle of oil, Mr. funnel,rotax tool kit, tie down ropes etc.

 

WED.

 

Same as last time, pack and re-pack, still feel I forgot something but not sure wot. Said tat-ta to my lovely wife and blasted off in a big cloud of dust at 8:00 a.m. for Moonie. Good run to Wandoan where cloud was building over the range, it was clear over to the east so carried on, climbed to 5,000 and skimmed aver the top. Off the cloud about three mile before Miles. Looked like more cloud or heavy fog further to the south, thought the sun might burn it off before I got to it, not far past the Miles airstrip there was a road train heading nth. so I asked him if there was fog around Moonie, poor bugger, frightened the crap out of him. He knew there was no other vehicles around, thought he was loosing the plot till I told him I was 5,000 ft. up, that made him feel better. he couldn't remember, didn't think so. Just south of The Gums I ran into it with about 20nm. to run. It wasn't on the ground so went under it as the base was about 1,000 agl. knowing that I could duck back to Tara if need be, it cleared off by Moonie so no dramas after all. Called my brother on uhf from 10nm. out, on the ground after2.6hrs. fueled and readied for early morning take off.

 

THUR.

 

The early morning thing didn't work. couldn't see 30ft. through the fog. 8.30 depart for Tabulam via Stanthorpe. Patchy cloud for first 50nm. climbed over it till we were sth. of the Milmerran area, it was starting to close in so went down and bounced and bumped our way under it till Stanthorpe where it cleared again so we kept going. A bit more cloud east of there withthe top of the range disappearing into it, told my brother we would have a look at the height of it and if too high we would be going back to Stanthorpe, all was o.k. flew over it for the next 20mins. gps said 5nm to go and could see the edge of the cloud coming up. AS we sailed off the cloud I rolled the nose down and Tabulam was right where it was supposed to be! Put in a big side slip till 2.500ft. then followed the Clarence River down to Grafton taking lots of pics. along the way. Arrived at the old home farm, ( now owned by my other brother) buzzed around there a couple of times, didn't raise anyone so flew over to the Sth. Grafton strip, made phone calls, everyone in town and someone will be along soon. There a great mob of blokes at the Sth strip (as every where you go) so we drank some of their coffee and answered lots of questions, we were two days ahead of where we needed to be so wasn't in any hurry.

 

FRIDAY.

 

most of it was spent flying family and friends up and down the river. Then a few beers so that put a stop to the flying... Great stuff.

 

EASTER SAT.

 

Finished up about 50 people turned up for the gathering, that's not bad considering it was just a family thing, but a great day. there was some sad moments but well worth the trip.

 

SUN.

 

Day on the farm, no flying today. Just a good day with the rest of the family.

 

MON.

 

My brother Dick and I departed for the run home to take us via. Casino, Kyogle, Beaudesert and up to Dunwich on nth. Stradbroke Island. Really heavy dew turned lightwing into the sun and wiped down the windscreen and wings etc. gave it 1/2hr. to dry off. Started got tenps up, shut down and said our goodbyes to the rest of the family. In the air at 7.30am. and track down the river towards Maclean. Turn left at the broadwater and head north towards Casino, past Kyogle and getting towards the border-loop with patches of cloud coming up we went round a couple but they were still building so we turned back to Casino. Another great mob of blokes, rang the no. on the clubhouse and they came straight down to open up for us, drank more coffee and ate their biscuits. Skies all clear so took off again tracked over Kyogle, Border-loop, Beaudesert, Canungra, Jacobs Well(Heck Field) over the Jumpin Pin bar and up the beach on North Stradbroke Island to Dunwich. My brother couldn't get over the amount of islands, channels, sand bars and tiled house roofs as well as air traffic around the Gold Coast. Put down at Dunwich airpark after 1.6 hours from Casino.

 

The blokes at Dunwich airpark are all old mates. Hence the reason for the run up there. They took us into town to but fuel and a snack. Back to the airpark, fuelled the plane, eat and talked a lot! So stayed the night.

 

TUE.

 

Depart Dunwich 7.30am, 2hr flight to Boonah, overfly Heck Field, Jimboomba, tracked down the highway a few mile and then across to Boonah. Put down there to catch up with more people another cuppa with Greg Neal and his brother Len who was down from Biloela. Stayed on the ground there for a couple of hours because of cloud on the Gap. It started to break-up so we got on our way. The day was warming and our lift wasn't great so did 4 orbits over Lake Moogerra. Reached 4,500ft on the third one but still abit of cloud in the Gap. One more orbit and could see behind 1 large cloud so wheeled around behind it and through the Pass, told my brother to be ready for the bumps which didn't come for another 5 mile but true to form they 'roughed' us up a bit. Got to the junction in the highway about 6nm north of Warwick... 35 mins gives a ground speed of 55knts ( the orbiting did it). Drew a line to Milmerran which took us just north of the power station and coal mine. Then direct to Moonie. Put down at Moonie 2.1hrs from Boonah. Tied down, fuelled and then had a beer. A great day especially after catching up with old friends.

 

WED.

 

Depart Moonie 8.30am for Theodore and home, straight into 25knot headwind, tried all altitudes for first 30 or so mile, stronger headwind up at 5,000 but smooth, down to 18knots at 500 but rough so opted for the smoother ride and went back up. Had plenty of fuel on so no worries there. Wind eased down a bit by Miles and by Taroom it was 5 kts on the nose still up on 5,000. Ran into broken cloud just before Glebe Weir getting thicker so opted to go under it as I was only 50mins from home and I bounced my way along 'til about 10 mile from home, came out from under the cloud and it all smoothed out, buzzed home and it was sure was good to see Liz (my wife) come out onto the verandah and wave. Finished of with a low circuit then came in, shut down in front of the hangar at 12.10 giving 3.6 hours for the last leg. Total flying time from 'go to whoa' was 19.5 hours with a total fuel burn of 350litres (that's 17.95 litres an hour). My brother is a deisel fitter and he said " I'm not a fan of 2 strokes but that little thing never missed a beat". It was a great trip but it was great to get home. If you're think about doing a x-country... just do it! Get the ERSA and maps and GO!

 

Cheers....Davo

 

 

[Spin]

Great read Davo, good to hear of someone putting in the miles behind a 582. Now how about some photos for the rest of us stuck at home, lots of great scenery where you went?

 

Cheers Carl

 

 

[Bryon]

Love it

 

Great story and sounds like a great trip

 

Hope I can do something like that one day

 

Cheers

 

Bryon

 

 

[DAVID SEE]

Great read Davo, good to hear of someone putting in the miles behind a 582. Now how about some photos for the rest of us stuck at home, lots of great scenery where you went?Cheers Carl

Hi Carl. Yes I will pop some pics. in as soon as my *^## computer comes home from the doctor, all the pics. are on it. I'm sneaking onto my wife's computer whenever I can and she's up me about it too. Yes lots of great scenery so hopefully by the end of the week.

 

Cheers Davo.

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Davo, Thanks for the fly in your Lightwing (via your report), it's sounds like a trip well suited to the aircrafts' capabilities.

 

I was recently in the area myself on the flight to the Hunter Valley, and I also dropped in and meet the gang at South Grafton. Like the folks at Casino they are the salt of the earth in aeroclubs.

 

Sounds like you have the early model without the rear cargo compartment ?...I have flown those earlier ones and yes, room can get a bit short. I believe you may be able to retrofit the cargo area behind the bulkhead without too much drama. Mine is limited to 20 Kgs but is a good area for safety gear,hats, sleeping bag etc. The Sport 2000 by the way (nosewheel) has extended the cargo area even further downwards for more volume...Certainly nothing wrong with a 582 Lightwing !..............................Cheers ...................Maj...

 

 

[Steve Donald]

xc lightwing

 

Great stuff hec what good fun that would have been i just love those LIGHTWINGS ALWAYS GREAT TO FLY, our club has one now and the guys here are learning some new skills on a fun tailwheel Aircraft tough as a truck, i was rapped when i was asked to fly it home from Vic, really bought back memories, they just have a feel of their own, and those wicked side slips they can do, yep i had a play, well enjoy your next adventure cheers Steve.