Flying round Lyttelton, Christchurch NZ

[Guest steve-nz]

Just a wee video of flying round Lyttelton Harbour, Christchurch, NZ in my Jabiru UL 450

 

Still learning to fly, got about 50 hours now since Jan this year.

 

 

 

[Riley]

Very scenic viewing but, having been to the Lytttleton Harbour area a number of times over the past half-century, I have to ask where "Plan B" would be implemented in the unlikely event of the Jab quitting 'Jabbing" at that altitude. I didn't see anything long & flat within gliding distance on the eastern side of the razorback ridge excepting the ocean and that nosewheel didn't look particularily aquatic. The sound track - "Point of no turning back" seemed rather appropriate for a student pilot even tho his instructor must have approved of the flight plan. Someone tell me I'm an old woman and that there are many achievable alternates in the area and then I can go back to thinking "great footage'! cheers Riley

 

 

[Guest steve-nz]

Cheers for that.

 

True about places within gliding distance come to think of it - I guess that for that flight the instructor's choice of places would have been close to shore, and wings being foam filled would assist with the floating.

 

That flight was with instructor, and our max height allowed was 1500' round that point (from memory)

 

Was very nice, and throughly enjoyed it - just putting another clip together now with Ashley River Mouth which is solo local area flight.

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

Beautiful place, Steve. The Pacific lived up to its name that day; not a ripple in the inner harbour, and no white stuff even on the seaward edge.

 

I believe that a Jab was ditched in South Africa, floated ashore and was put back in the air. A great airframe, but I bet the engine did not like the salt water.

 

 

[Guest steve-nz]

Cheers for that,

 

I also like the Jabiru - apart from the space inside (This is the UL450)

 

Took a J160 for a flight the other day, lot roomier but performance did not quite seem as good - then again was full of fuel as well which would not have helped.

 

Been getting quite a few great days for flying here in Canterbury, the days where it is all whitecaps etc. I would rather be on the ground anyway :-)

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

I had a couple of weeks in Southland two years ago. Went over for the Jodel Fly-In just outside Dunedin. Brilliant place to go flying, but the local fellas seem to check the weather channel every half hour!

 

 

[Guest steve-nz]

Good old weather can change pretty quick at times, guess it's just good to check especially if there's an approaching front that could be coming in as well.

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

Good old weather can change pretty quick at times, guess it's just good to check especially if there's an approaching front that could be coming in as well.

If you don't like the climate, just wait a minute...

 

 

[cscotthendry]

Very scenic viewing but, having been to the Lytttleton Harbour area a number of times over the past half-century, I have to ask where "Plan B" would be implemented in the unlikely event of the Jab quitting 'Jabbing" at that altitude. I didn't see anything long & flat within gliding distance on the eastern side of the razorback ridge excepting the ocean and that nosewheel didn't look particularily aquatic. The sound track - "Point of no turning back" seemed rather appropriate for a student pilot even tho his instructor must have approved of the flight plan. Someone tell me I'm an old woman and that there are many achievable alternates in the area and then I can go back to thinking "great footage'! cheers Riley

Hmm, having been up in the gondola and on the top of the mountain there, I didn't see too many places for a "plan B" either. I too, found myself half watching the scenery and half thinking "where would I go if the noise stopped?" Great clip and really cool music. Pink Floyd is always a great choice.

 

 

[Guest steve-nz]

Cheers for that - Yes true, limited places, over the far side of harbour (past Quail Island) plenty of places round there, just heading in-between Lyttelton and Diamond Harbour, not really any places in the middle there.