Port Macquarie to Longreach

[Flying Kiwi]

Hi all,

 

Looking at planning a trip early August from YPMQ to YLRE, of course the main reason being to check out the QANTAS Museum.

 

Any tips would be appreciated, we will be flying a LSA

 

Cheers

 

 

[Aldo]

What are you flying?

 

 

[Flying Kiwi]

Flight Design CTLS

 

 

[Aldo]

Sorry don't know the type.

 

Speed, range, one/two people travelling, your experience, your recent experience.

 

You have some pretty crappy country to cross to get west of the range but once past that it is pretty easy going, the further west/north you get the less landmarks there are to verify your position make sure your Nav skills are up to scratch keep a good log, use 6 minute markers on your chart for easy ground speed calcs for when your GPS or Ozrunways decides not to work.

 

Aldo

 

 

[Flying Kiwi]

CT goes along at about 110 with 120l on board at roughly 18l per hour, the other person is a pilot also. We have around 200hrs each.

 

Have done the trip to Armidale a few times most recently being yesterday. From Port we head to Bellbrook just north west of Kempsey then follow the valley up with a short hop over the tiger country. So not concerned about getting over the range.

 

Hear what your saying about less landmarks, we are planning a couple of stops along the way being Moree and Charleville but will be planning to overfly Armidale, Inverell, St George and Blackall

 

Whilst we have a Garmin 795 on board and OzRunways we will definitely have the paper plotted out and ready.

 

Appreciate your comments.

 

Flying Kiwi

 

 

[Tonym]

I don't know how much time you have for extra stops but about a half hour south of Longreach is a town called yaraka. It has a great strip, friendly locals and a beautiful view from mt slowcombe. We had a fun stopover there so add it into your list of options.

 

 

[Aldo]

CT goes along at about 110 with 120l on board at roughly 18l per hour, the other person is a pilot also. We have around 200hrs each.Have done the trip to Armidale a few times most recently being yesterday. From Port we head to Bellbrook just north west of Kempsey then follow the valley up with a short hop over the tiger country. So not concerned about getting over the range.

Hear what your saying about less landmarks, we are planning a couple of stops along the way being Moree and Charleville but will be planning to overfly Armidale, Inverell, St George and Blackall

 

Whilst we have a Garmin 795 on board and OzRunways we will definitely have the paper plotted out and ready.

 

Appreciate your comments.

 

Flying Kiwi

Sounds like you are organised and the route is how I would plan it, good to have a second pilot.

 

Enjoy your trip

 

Aldo

 

 

[Bernie Knight]

Sounds like a great trip

 

 

[DonRamsay]

A safer crossing of the range (less to no Tiger Country) might be to go up over Casino to the Gold Coast and fly through Cunningham's Gap (near Boonah). The Gap can be a bit tricky for winds and low cloud but on a good day it is a doddle compared with the crossing you are planning.

 

I'm keen to get to Longreach myself and get THAT photo.

 

Don

 

 

[biggles]

A safer crossing of the range (less to no Tiger Country) might be to go up over Casino to the Gold Coast and fly through Cunningham's Gap (near Boonah). The Gap can be a bit tricky for winds and low cloud but on a good day it is a doddle compared with the crossing you are planning.I'm keen to get to Longreach myself and get THAT photo.

 

Don

You mean THIS photo Don ? .... Bob

 

 

 

 

[DonRamsay]

You really know how to rub it in!!!!!!

 

Yes, that photo

 

 

[coljones]

You really know how to rub it in!!!!!!Yes, that photo

I didn't know that you liked Jabiru's?

[Flying Kiwi]

A safer crossing of the range (less to no Tiger Country) might be to go up over Casino to the Gold Coast and fly through Cunningham's Gap (near Boonah). The Gap can be a bit tricky for winds and low cloud but on a good day it is a doddle compared with the crossing you are planning.I'm keen to get to Longreach myself and get THAT photo.

 

Don

A safer crossing of the range (less to no Tiger Country) might be to go up over Casino to the Gold Coast and fly through Cunningham's Gap (near Boonah). The Gap can be a bit tricky for winds and low cloud but on a good day it is a doddle compared with the crossing you are planning.I'm keen to get to Longreach myself and get THAT photo.

 

Don

Thanks for that Don, will check it out on the map.

Looking forward to the trip hopefully the weather plays it part.

 

 

[coljones]

A safer crossing of the range (less to no Tiger Country) might be to go up over Casino to the Gold Coast and fly through Cunningham's Gap (near Boonah). The Gap can be a bit tricky for winds and low cloud but on a good day it is a doddle compared with the crossing you are planning.I'm keen to get to Longreach myself and get THAT photo.

 

Don

wouldn't that put you into tiger country around the back of Coffs Harbour CTA?

 

 

[DonRamsay]

wouldn't that put you into tiger country around the back of Coffs Harbour CTA?

I flew around the Coffs CTA going to and from Evans Head in January last. There is as you say plenty of Tiger Country West of Coffs CTA and another good reason for RAAus to get at least transit of CTA. However, you can get 9,500 ft close to Coffs and could glide into YCFS from there if the noise stopped.

 

 

[Flying Kiwi]

We have done the trip a few times to Armidale whereby we head from Port to the Bellbrook VFA and then follow the valley up, the hop over the tiger country would be all of 15nm and if the noise stopped it's a U turn and glide back down in the valley. Touch wood, todate that hasn't happened.

 

Or head off at first light and go via Coffs whilst it is G Class before the tower opens or do the unthinkable and dial up Brissy Centre and request clearance through C Class, ha ha.