Narromine 2007 (NatFly)

[Guest pelorus32]

Natfly

 

Four questions for those who have been to Natfly and also those who know the wilds of NSW!

 

Weather permitting I'm planning to fly Shepparton to Narromine on Good Friday in the morning (starting early from Shepp) and then come back on the Sunday afternoon - again weather permitting.

 

1. I'm looking for a comfort stop about halfway. The whole trip is around 290nm so maybe 3 hours or thereabouts. But the comfort stop needs to be non security controlled as I have no faith in having my ASIC by then! The dct track passes just E of Narrandera and just W of West Wyalong but both are security controlled. Leeton looks like an option but I can't find anything about the strip and it isn't in the ERSA. Does anyone have any info or suggestions? Noting that it isn't my aircraft so any old dirt strip isn't an option.
    
    
   
2. The country looks like it starts to rise around Ardlethan and stays that way with the exception of the Lachlan until Narromine. How "Tiger Like" is it through there, or are there plenty of options?
    
    
   
3. Trying to mentally prepare myself for Narromine arrival - how much traffic do you get in the circuit and how well mannered is it?
    
    
   
4. Anyone else doing a similar trip and want to vaguely convoy?
    
   

 

Regards

 

Mike

 

 

[Guest bateo]

All's I can say is the traffic is pretty heavy.. But nothing too extreme, you are almost 'guided' in.. You have to think of the many pilots flying around a small town + near a populated aerodrome (Dubbo) it can get quite congested.

 

Out more towards Narromine.. Is very flat country... with plenty of spots to go down if needed. That shouldnt be a worry for you.. I dont think it is too tiger country?? Maybe others can comment on the best route from that direction...

 

Also, Others can correct me if I am wrong.. But if you have applied for an ASIC and have made payment for it.. I believe they cannot fine you.. It is only if you are in posession of a card and not WEARING it OR you have not bothered applying for one.. They will have it on record that you have applied for one and awaiting for it to be processed (security check etc).. I have read this in the legal document when I first applied for mine.. I am just unsure whether this ruling still applies to this date?? I will try and do some research

 

 

[Guest bateo]

Just found this on the CASA website.. If researched under the ASIC link.. look in commonly asked questions.. Mike, you could use this in your defense if caught!!!

 

If pilots have completed their application for an ASIC but have not yet received their card they should contact their issuing body to check on the status of their card. If the issuing body is CASA they may utilise the electronic ASIC checking system on CASA's website at www.casa.gov.au/securitycheck or alternatively phone the CASA Licensing and Registration Centre on 1300 737 032.

 

CASA has been issuing an acknowledgement notice of receipt of an ASIC application which will generally suffice as proof that an application has been lodged.

 

I would just travel all the way through mate.. Thats if you have applied... I am not sure whether RA-Aus works on the same system?? It would be quite silly if they didnt, you would get your acknowledgement notice of receipt before NATFLY easily

 

 

[Guest Fred Bear]

I can tell you the airspace is very crowded but getting in is not too much of an issue. As mentioned, you will be 'guided' and it all flows quite smoothly and safely. I know once beyond Dubbo there are plenty of options should you need to put down. Dave C and I will be making the trip from Sydney and camping under the wing for the night. Departing The Oaks Good Friday and returning on the Saturday so it will be good to catch up with alot of you. Maybe time for a NATFLY specific thread seeing as though it's getting so close?? (if there is not already one)...

 

 

[Ultralights]

Hopefully i will by flying the Vampire in from Cessnock, weather permitting, but my ground crew will be towing the trailer, just in case i cant get home, or the weather is bad on the friday (thursday) so i can trailer in and fly home... though sadly i have a lot more tiger country going up the southern hunter region over Mudgee.

 

what do you mean by "guided In"??? does Narromine operate a temporary control zone? or similar setup? unicom i think its called?

 

 

[Guest Fred Bear]

Yes it does ultralights. I would say most of the info will be in the next mag.

 

 

[Admin]

Hi All

 

Darren Masters came up with a good idea about having a Narromine thread for anything to do with Narromine - so here it is - got any questions, helpful tips and hints or anything else about our great yearly event - then post them here.

 

 

[Guest brentc]

There has been CTAF 'advisory' services on the occasional Narromine gathering but in general it would only be for the conditions rather than actual controlling of traffic. If they see someone about to run into someone else they might arc up, however given that so few people have ATC experience there and the liability perspective, probably nobody wants to do it.

 

I recall a few years ago it getting really busy so some guy (a u/l pilot) jumps in a ute with a handheld and heads out to the runway intersection and proceeds to give ATC directions. He was queried by one pilot asking his credentials when he told inbound aircraft to join behind a thruster on downwind. The inbound aircraft was Dick Smith in his Citation!

 

Each time I've been there and approached from Melbourne I've just bored on in and joined on crosswind for 14, looked to the right for any downwind traffic and then slotted in. At times it can be exceptionally busy, especially in the middle of the day or the common arrival times and you could expect around 5-6 aircraft on final at the same time!

 

The radiowaves can become absoutely chockers, but that being said, most of the calls are unnecessary. At one stage during the day I made a point to my pilot passenger of going for a couple of circuits that I didn't need to use the radio. Even though there was an average of 5 on final and around 5-6 on base, it was not an issue.

 

If you're happy with an intersexual departure, you should have no problems if you are considering some day sorties.

 

 

[slartibartfast]

"intersexual departure"? Hey - I told the wife I'm just going for the flying.

 

I'll be leaving Tumut Friday and returning Saturday. I'd suggest Tumut as a very hospitable place Mike. Probably a tad off track though.

 

Non-ASIC. I'm not sure mine will arrive in time either, but RAA assured me it will. Lee Ungermann signed everything for me. The advantage of living in Canberra.

 

Ross

 

 

[Guest bateo]

Ultralights, The tiger country around Mudgee is only through the scone area.. (liverpool ranges) or coming from Sydney direction through Blue Mountains... There are a few spots to put down if needed going through Scone.. and also few strips along the way.. After about Ulan/kandos Rylstone depending on which direction your exactly coming from.. its all flat from there on to Narromine.. I fly this country a fair bit, for an ultralight, there are a few places to put down... Where abouts are you flying from? or which Route are you planning to fly?

 

 

[Student Pilot]

The only "Required" calls as against "recommended" are inbound (15 miles in something faster and 5 for slower stuff) and joining circuit.

 

The joining circuit can be downwind or crosswind.

 

Then listen out and lookout, if there is going to be conflict then talk otherwise shut up and fly. Don't give a running commentry of your circuit, if everyone gave the "recommended" calls, nobody would be able to talk.

 

DON'T fly big circuits, nothing worse than somebody flying a downwind 5 miles out in a Drifter. If you do fly huge circuits expect others to "Cut in" front of you. Keep it tight then everybody can see you and the circuits are quicker letting more people land.

 

If you can keep your speed up on final, nothing worse than somebody turning a 3 mile final doing 50 knots.

 

When landing don't land on the numbers, pick the taxiway you want to taxi off and land just before so you have minimum time on the strip.

 

 

[Ultralights]

The radiowaves can become absoutely chockers, but that being said, most of the calls are unnecessary. At one stage during the day I made a point to my pilot passenger of going for a couple of circuits that I didn't need to use the radio. Even though there was an average of 5 on final and around 5-6 on base, it was not an issue.

so its just like Bankstown was in its heyday!

 

another thing about Big circuits, shouldnt they be all conducted within gliding range of the aircraft??

 

and another interesting little fact, the recommended circuit distance for a Boeing 737 is 1 mile!

 

back to Narromine questions. whats the traffic like on the Thursday?

 

 

[Guest pelorus32]

Answering my own question 2. I did a "flyover" in Google maps and it looks like its pretty well cleared country most of the way through from Ardlethan to Narromine. Is that a fair assessment from those that know that country?

 

Regards

 

Mike

 

 

[Guest brentc]

From memory, bugger all on Thursday. The busiest days are Friday and Saturday with Sunday morning busy until around lunch time when most people have left and subsequently not doing circuits. Friday afternoon is busy after lunch and Saturday can be busy all day particularly in the circuit with people on short sorties.

 

 

[Ultralights]

I am aiming to get there Thurs arvo or early Friday, depart cesnock just after sunrise.

 

my planned route is

 

Cessnock - brankston (to clear the restricted Zone)

 

then west over Singleton, Jerries plains. then onto Gulgong (it a more direct route and closer to a main highway than via Mudgee)

 

then gulgong direct Dubbo then descend into Narromine.. planned cruise is 8500 and 9500 return, (might need a jumper...)

 

 

[Guest bateo]

Mudgee/Gulgong basically same spot.. 5 Min flight apart. At 8500 you'll be fine, no need for higher, I have done the same trip at 7000 and I thought that was high enough.. Its nice to fly over Mudgee and look at the many Vineyards and greener country while it still lasts.. As you get to Wellington/Dubbo she's still fairly dry...

 

Its not as congested on the Thursday.. You get the true keen Hobby pilots flying in then soaking up every bit of the atmosphere haha

 

 

[Guest bateo]

Mike, answering you assessment.. Its fine.. Nice country.. Gets better the closer you get to Narromine.. and flatter!

 

 

[Admin]

I can fit more luggage in when I go to Narromine this year. I have been on a diet and went and got weighed today - in the last 4 weeks I have lost 8.8kg - started 4 weeks ago and weighed with clothes on ;) 107.3kg and now I am down to 98.8 so my calculations is that when I go to Narromine which is only 4 weeks to go I should be about 90kg - so that means an extra 17kg of luggage - I can take the space heater, the air conditioner, the microwave, wide screen TV and much more

 

 

[Geoff]

Just the esky and beer will do:clap:;)

 

 

[Guest Fred Bear]

beer will do

There's some more weight right there. Meh, who cares? Time for another can. :)

 

 

[Galpin]

Ian what is your secret for weight loss? I have lost 9kg in 1 month. But I have had to eat like a pauper, even though I am on a programme.

 

 

[Guest Fred Bear]

Galpin,

 

I know this was aimed at Ian but really, try the low carb diet. I lost quite a few kg on this one and it's no secret or 'fad' diet. Good exercise is also a bonus. Sweat lots!

 

 

[Admin]

That's the one I am on - the low carb diet. You have to have a shake for breakfast and lunch, 2 litres of water a day, 200g of fish or chicken and as much vegies as you want to eat, there are some other little things about it all as well like absolutly no sugar, no caffein (YUK, decaf coffee only 3 a day and I use to drink 17+ cups of coffee every day). You get the Tony Ferguson shake mixture from Terry White Chemists and some other places. Oh, and don't forget to take half a dozen or more metamucil fibre tablets every day or else you will jam up

 

But I will say it does work, nearly kills ya but it is worth it - the main thing I miss is having half a family block of chocolate every night

 

 

[Ross]

Hi Mike

 

Narrandera has ASIC Cameras and CTAF coded gate locks and fuel available from the MAC (Murrumbidgee Aero Cub) no landing fees and no permanent staff. It has maybe 2 RPT REX flights per day and possibly ambulance and a locally owned jet plane plus Wally Rudin in his Tecnam P92.

 

It has toilet facilities on the end of the passenger terminal.

 

Leeton or Brobenah as the field is called is in the AOPA National Airfield Directory 2004 edition that I own.

 

The following info comes from that publication.

 

Anything in italics are my comments.

 

 

No ASIC Card required.

 

 

Location 34 30'S 146 27'E

 

it is 480ft AMSL at the hanger near the SEast corner, about 460 on the SWest corner. The field is generally flat with a slight slope that you would notice landing a glider but not in an ultralight.

 

 

no landing fees

 

no AV gas

 

no radio

 

permission NOT required

 

var 11 E

 

WAC 3457

 

Runways 4/22 Natural (sandy loam) 1500 m (roughly parallel to bitumen road).

 

 

 

It is actually an all over field roughly a mile square with a car club in the NE corner, a now covered up and no longer used rubbish tip on the western side and the roughest strip is the one in the middle of the field between the crop duster's hanger and the gliding club hanger and club house.

 

 

 

I would be prepared to land a glider anywhere in the paddock but preferably not on or across the main central dirt strip between the hangers! The council repaired it some years ago using the standard coarse gravel that they use on bitumen roads in some of the pot holes. But the crop duster pilots still use it sometimes but I think even they have moved over a few metres to smoother ground.

 

 

 

It would be unlikely to have any glider winch operations in action as the gliding club part is virtually extinct. But they are in the process of ferrying in a Motor Falke from Townsville ( a powered glider) if it ever stops raing in the North. (It may be here already. I have not checked)

 

 

 

All aerial vehicles are welcome as the club has been rejuvenated very recently with a swag of new members mostly consisting of RAA and GA pilots and ex Gliding Club members. Even Wally Rudin has joined from Narrandera plus many well known local pilots from all types of flying ranging from Narrandera, Leeton and Griffith with even some from Wagga and Holbrook too I think.

 

 

 

There is not much to show for this increased membership yet - it is a work in progress!

 

 

 

CTAF

 

Toilets near hanger and gliding club house.

 

Leeton Gliding club has changed it's name to something implying like meaning "all comers aero club welcome" at last!

 

There is not always any activity there but the conveniencies are always available-toilets and water. It is about 6 km and NNE of Leeton township on the eastern side of the main canal.

 

For any local knowledge call me on 0269533466

 

 

 

 

[Guest Fred Bear]

Ross,

 

Just edit your email address to ready at instead of the @ symbol. Spammers crawl these and other forums and once your address is known you will starts getting emails about porn,banking and all sorts of other stuff.They are a shocker.I delete many every day. The reason was I used to have my email address posted on many forums etc. I know I probably still do ;)