Trip report Jetstar Sydney-Melbourne for SAAA Convention

[Guest Darren Masters]

Well folks here is a late trip report for my Jetstar Sydney-Melbourne (Avalon) and return flight for weekend before last to attend the SAAA meeting 'Year of the Canard' in Cowra.

 

My morning started very early with about 4hrs sleep (and way too many beers) from the night before. My flight JQ 601 departed Sydney at 0600. I had checked-in online before and printed my boarding pass so there was absolutely no problems with showing up at the airport 40 or so minutes before departure. Went through security and this time was made to take my shoes off for an x-ray. Whatever floats their boat I thought. Anyway, after this made my way over to gate 54. Not many passengers on this flight at all. Boarded our A320 rego VH-JQG. I was seated in seat 28A window which is right up the back. Pushed back ontime at 0600 and made the short taxii out to RWY 25 Captain was James Mulling. I can count on one hand how many times I have departed Sydney on RWY 25 and always enjoy that departure. Went straight out after a QF 767 over my parents place (Southern suburbs) and then tracked directly for Wollongong. We were overhead Wollongong a few moments later which looked stunning in the morning sun and then we began the climb to our final level of FL 280. Quite low for jet ops to Melbourne.

 

Below is a view of the snowfields south of Cooma in the morning sun.

 

 

After a short flight we were on descent and overhead Melbourne Tullamarine. With a nice early morning view of the CBD out the port side, we began our left turn toward Avalon.

 

Below: Melbourne CBD on descent into Avalon.

 

 

Arrived into Melbourne Avalon onto RWY 36 ontime at 0735 after an absolutely perfect landing!

 

Walked down the stairs of the aircraft into, then straight out of, the terminal and awaited Paul Andronicou to pick me up (which he did after battling the Melbourne morning rush-hour). Went back to Paul's place, unloaded my stuff and then just caught up in general. In the evening we completed the flight plans for our flight over to Cowra. We would be flying in formation with Paul in his Extra 300 S VH-XTR and Shane and I in Paul's RV 8 VH-VPA. We would be refuelling in Wangaratta then making our way from there to Cowra.

 

Paul and I got out to Lilydale Airfield reasonably early and loaded up the RV 8 with all our gear for the weekend in Cowra. Parked the WRX in the hangar and then then jumped into the RV 8. A short taxii and checks out to the grass runway then a departure to Latrobe Valley Airfield where we would swap aircraft.

 

Below: Lilydale Airfield VIC.

 

 

Below: Departing Lilydale Airfield.

 

 

I did most of the flying to Latrobe Valley from the back seat after departure. An absolutely magic morning with very little in the way of bumps but some beautiful green scenery.

 

Paul topped-up the RV 8 with some AVGAS and then we waited, and waited, and waited...for Shane to show up. He eventually did at around 10.15am. We planned to leave very early am so Paul was very happy!

 

Below: Paul filling up the RV 8 and the sexy Extra 300 S waiting for the flight to Cowra.

 

 

 

We took off at around 10.15am Wangaratta-bound. Over Eildon weir and the towns of Jamison and Mansfield. Abeam Mt Buller we had to climb to 9,500ft as it is pure tiger country below and the only option in the event of an engine failure would be a ditching into one of the dams below. I am always relieved when the ground flattens out after flying over tiger country!!

 

Below: Tiger country.

 

 

Below: Eildon Weir and the town of Mansfield, VIC.

 

 

 

Again I did alot of the flying from the back seat and descent into Wangaratta. I cannot conduct landing from the back seat of the RV8 as the throttle for one is up the front and the rudder controls are restrictive and not full from the back.

 

Below: Overhead Wangarrata Airport, VIC.

 

 

We refuelled the Extra only at Wangaratta and then were quite hungry. Walked into the aeroclub and some of the guys in there were kind enough to give us some expired RFS ration packs. Hey, anything is good when you are hungry and it was the thought that counted! Toilet after that and then a departure for our final destination of Cowra NSW.

 

Below: Departing Wangaratta.

 

 

I took over flying from the back seat again and then tracked directly overhead Wagga Wagga at 7,000ft watching a REX Saab come in below. It was smooth flying from our departure all the way to Wagga but North of Wagga started to become a little bumpy. The numbers frequency of 123.450 was quite busy with other aircraft also heading to Cowra for the gathering.

 

We arrived into Cowra after a total flight time of around 2.5hrs. We had a great Northerly on the nose most of the way. Airspeed most of the way was 140kts. Ground speed about 120kts (on average). We were greeted at Cowra by none other than the owner of these forums Mr Glenn Inwood. Was good to finally catch up again. Played around with the aircraft for a while, watched some displays. Paul conducted a practice run in his Extra 300 S. Weather was beautiful and sunny with a slight Northerly breeze. One bonus, absolutely no flies this year! When the sun began to come down Glenn kindly took us to our hotel room in town and then we went straight out to the pub for tea and many many drinks. I can't really remember what happened after that but somehow Glenn and I ended up at the nightclub which was conveniently in the same complex as our hotel! Many many drinks later (and Glenn having a go at the local gals bottoms) it was about 0400 and time for me to stumble back to my hotel room (which I finally found). I can't remember having so much fun in a long time. Needless to say Paul and Shane were very happy with me rocking up at that time and then snoring the rest of the morning and keeping them awake! We will not discuss how I felt the next morning but I would describe it as average. Made my way out to the airfield at around 1030 on the Saturday for the days activities (not too bad an effort I thought). Gave the RV 8 a very slow bath and generally got the aircraft ready. Caught up with Chainy aswell and his partner so it was great to see you both again. Also caught up with other people from various places so that was good too. It was a good day. Watched the flying displays, sat in on Paul's safety forum which was quite valuable.

 

Below are a few pics of some of the aircraft around on Saturday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a long enjoyable day and was coming to an end. Got a ride back into town. Got ready to attend the SAAA dinner at the Ex Services. Shane was left behind in the hotel due to a migraine. Paul and I walked up the loooong hill to the Ex Services. Chatted with other pilots, ate the entree, mains and dessert. Somehow after one of the SAAA presidents speaches went on for way to long and was way too boring we ended up at the Railway Hotel for some more drinks. Must say, the effort was nowhere near as good as the night before but still quite enjoyable. Paul and I ended up going to Paul Goddard's place (aerobatic pilot and manager of the Brumby Aircraft Company in Cowra) for a few more drinks before I fell asleep on the lounge.

 

Next morning Paul drove us out to our hotel in town and then Glenn picked myself, Shane and Paul up to drive us out to the airport for our return to Melbourne. Glenn firstly went for a flight for some aerobatics with Shane before our departure.

 

Below: Departure from Cowra, NSW.

 

 

South of Cootamundra it became quite bumpy and would be for most of the way home. Again, a refuel stop for the Extra at Wangaratta then South all the way home to Latrobe Valley Airfield. Over Eildon Weir again with some cloud this time. We averaged a groundspeed of 200kts for the final leg home!

 

Below: Clouds crossing over the mountains below.

 

 

Said goodbye to Shane at Latrobe Valley where Paul and I put the Extra back to bed then jumped back into the RV 8 for some low-level bumpy flying back to her home of Lilydale.

 

It was sad that the weekend was over. Great to catch up with old friends and just great to be around so many aircraft and do so much flying. Needless to say I had nothing to drink while back in Melbourne on the Sunday night! Flew out of Melbourne-Avalon on Monday evening on JQ 626. Checked in the night before so Paul dropped me off at the airport and I was ready to board. Flight in was late therefore we would be late returning home. Boarded from Gate 1 at Avalon via the stairs onto A320 reg VH-JQW with Capt. Ian Drew incharge of the flight. Pushed back some 30mins late. Made our way to our cruising altitude of FL 370. Safe to say that this flight was absolutely the roughest flight I have ever had in a jet in my whole life. Some of the cabin crew were complaining of nausea and some of the passengers went the whole way and threw up. Captain tried to climb and descend to make the ride more comfortable but none of his tricks seemed to work. There was some very nasty hard bumps through the flight then the captain slowed the aircraft which would make our original ETA of 2135 into Sydney something more like 2235. We commenced our descent and arrived into Sydney 1hr late onto RWY 34L. Better late than never right?

 

In summary an awesome weekend with some lovely (and terrible) flying. Will I be going to SAAA Cowra next year? Absolutely! It is not as big as our annual RAA NATFLY but still well worth a visit. My next trip report will be my trip to Christchurch with Pacific Blue next weekend so look forward to bringing you all that one. Hoped you enjoyed reading.

 

 

[Guest Glenn]

Great trip report and excellent photos.

 

Many many drinks later (and Glenn having a go at the local gals bottoms) it was about 0400 and time for me to stumble back to my hotel room

Hey I wasn't the only one, and it was only one girl I think everyone got kicked out at 2am and I stumbled up the big hill and got home about 2:30. Hmmm wonder where you ended up til 4 :confused:

 

Made my way out to the airfield at around 1030 on the Saturday

After your bubble bath :rolleyes:

 

Thank you Darren for hanging out with me. It was a very enjoyable weekend and I wish there could be more like it. Can't wait for next year. May have to arrange a couple nights at Narromine next easter.

 

 

[Robbo]

Hey I wasn't the only one, and it was only one girl

if only I was there ..................

 

:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

 

 

[Guest Darren Masters]

I think Narromine would be a good idea for you Glenn. We can destroy the town yet again :biggrin: One girl? Gee, all those beers must have made me cross-eyed! 4am? Where did I end up? They said I was back at 4am :eek::eek::confused:

 

 

[Guest OzChris]

Great report and pics Darren...sounds like a good weekend!

 

 

[Guest Glenn]

I reviewed the posts made last night and have decided that in the interests of our younger viewers to delete some posts.

 

 

[Guest David C]

Darren ....that is some report ... great stuff . looks like I missed out , there's always next year though . Glad you enjoyed the back seat flying .. lucky devil!!.. We fly out next Tuesday to Manchester , it seems as if I will have to post a real good report now ... Best of luck mate , and thanks for sharing .

 

Dave C

 

ps: Almost forgot ... How was the Chateau Cardboard

 

 

[Guest Darren Masters]

Darren ....that is some report ... great stuff . looks like I missed out , there's always next year though . Glad you enjoyed the back seat flying .. lucky devil!!.. We fly out next Tuesday to Manchester , it seems as if I will have to post a real good report now ... Best of luck mate , and thanks for sharing .Dave C

 

ps: Almost forgot ... How was the Chateau Cardboard

Hello mate. Be sure to submit a trip report for that one I will give you a call tomorrow night if you are home? Chateau Cardboard? Mate, only the Eau De Kero this year and the Tooheys Tomorrow I Will Have a Hangover New :biggrin: