Seeking flying destinations in January

[matt walsh]

Hi all, I have leave this January and family has gone away so am seeking ideas for an extended trip in my Gazelle. A central Aus destination interests me, ie Alice Springs and around West MacDonald Ranges, if flying at this time is feasible ie given higher daily temps. Thought that daybreak departures for 4-5 hrs might be practical. I fly a Gazelle out of Sunbury Victoria and refuel every 2.5-3hrs. Also journey around Tasmainia could be spectacular (and cooler!!). I will appreciate any ideas and advice on flying at this time of year. Thanks Matt Walsh

 

 

[turboplanner]

I usually carry a week's food and water in that country, and that's on the roads where mostly you will see someone within a couple of days.

 

So imagine you 2.5 hours is up, you've had a bit of a headwind, but you see a strip and land. Everything goes quiet and all you can hear is the tick tick tick of the exhaust cooling.

 

You're out of Mobile range.

 

If the day is hot you can be incapacitated within an hour or so after the water runs out.

 

The odds are that's not going to happen of course, but if I was going to do that trip I'd do it in June July.

 

 

[matt walsh]

I usually carry a week's food and water in that country, and that's on the roads where mostly you will see someone within a couple of days.So imagine you 2.5 hours is up, you've had a bit of a headwind, but you see a strip and land. Everything goes quiet and all you can hear is the tick tick tick of the exhaust cooling.

You're out of Mobile range.

 

If the day is hot you can be incapacitated within an hour or so after the water runs out.

 

The odds are that's not going to happen of course, but if I was going to do that trip I'd do it in June July.

Thx , good advice, another thought is across to Perth via the coast line ioe Melb, Mildura/Pt augusta/Nulabor roadhouse/Caiguna/Esperence/Albany/Bunbury.. There are addtional roadhose stops and less likely to be in middle of nowhere., perhaps cooler too.

 

 

[turboplanner]

Had more of a think about this, another option is up to Tocumwal, Echuca, Swan Hill Mildura, Wentworth, Broken Hill, Peterborough, Hawker, Flinders Ranges, Quorn, port Augusta, Barossa Valley, Murray Bridge, Goolwa, Coorong, Mt Gambier, Melbourne via coast.

 

Plenty to do at most of those places and Wilpena pound looks spectacular at first or last light.

 

 

[brilin_air]

Going North you will encounter thermals, which in the Gazelle may prove a little uncomfortable. We just came back from a trip from Broken Hill across to Camerons Corner, The Digg Tree to Birdsville and it was extremely windy with cross winds around 25 to 30 knots gusting.

 

Stay around Victoria around the time you want to go, and leave the northern parts of Australia until late Autumn/Early Winter. It will be more comfortable then.

 

-Linda

 

 

[kaz3g]

Hi all, I have leave this January and family has gone away so am seeking ideas for an extended trip in my Gazelle. A central Aus destination interests me, ie Alice Springs and around West MacDonald Ranges, if flying at this time is feasible

Hi Matt

 

TP has already given you a heads up about likely problems flying in the Centre at that time of year.

 

With the heat also comes severe turbulence due to thermal activity so flying at times other than early morning is most uncomfortable.

 

I think the SE coast sounds much more pleasant for a summer jaunt.

 

kaz

 

 

[matt walsh]

Hi MattTP has already given you a heads up about likely problems flying in the Centre at that time of year.

 

With the heat also comes severe turbulence due to thermal activity so flying at times other than early morning is most uncomfortable.

 

I think the SE coast sounds much more pleasant for a summer jaunt.

 

kaz

Thx to TP and Kaz for their advice and TP's suggested trip itinery sounds great. I found the wwww.ourairports website useful in checking TP's route. I could also add in a leg around the Bight to see tsome of that huge expanse of coastal terrain also. So the basic route of this trip agives plenty of scope for sidetrips/deviations. Any other suggestions/fav places then keeep them coming. Also if anyone is up for a jount then happy to have company in the sky. Probably leave 28/29 Dec for7-10 days air touring.

 

 

[kaz3g]

Thx , good advice, another thought is across to Perth via the coast line ioe Melb, Mildura/Pt augusta/Nulabor roadhouse/Caiguna/Esperence/Albany/Bunbury.. There are addtional roadhose stops and less likely to be in middle of nowhere., perhaps cooler too.

It can get pretty warm on the Nullabor, too! On 20th November 2006, for example, it hit 45.6. More info on http://www.weatherzone.com.au/climate/station.jsp?lt=site&lc=18106

 

kaz