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Griffith Aero Club Open Day


Guest Glenn

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Guest Glenn

An unusual event to attend due to the distance but one of the owners of VH-RAT, a Cessna 210 used this as an excuse to visit some relatives from there who met us when we landed.

 

Sunday 22nd March

 

Cowra - Griffith

 

Flying time around 1 hour each way. By car, 4 hours. Certainly beats driving.

 

Departed Cowra at 9:15am for the 1 hour flight to Griffith, a town I have only been to once as a baby.

 

The flight was pretty uneventful with altitude varying between 4000 - 5000 feet. Most of the way was on auto pilot. Slightly overcast and turbulence wasn't too bad.

 

10 miles out from Griffith was struck some light rain. I think it's called vargo when it doesn't hit the ground?? We also got bumped around a bit too.

 

There were some aircraft in the circuit including a Robinson R44 helicopter conducting joy flights.

 

After a great landing we taxied to our parking area and were greeted by the plane owners relative.

 

Leaving him and his wife my old mate Ernie, who is nearly 90 came with me while we checked out the aircraft on static display. I must say at this point that it is great to see a gentleman of his age so involved in the activities of the club and loves aviation as much if not more than myself. He also regularly takes TIF flights in the club's aircraft too.

 

A remark was made to me that he had never been in a helicopter ever and after seeing a sign advertising the joyflights I said to him well here's your chance. So myself and Ernie went in a Robinson R44 for his first ever chopper flight and my second one. This was a great way to see Griffith from the air and for both of us to see what the town was like. He has never been to Griffith either and like I said above I was only a baby at the time. Sure we could see the town from RAT but not as thoroughly as we did with our very informative pilot acting as tour guide and cruising along nice and steady and relatively low.

 

Landing back at the airport we left the chopper and the pilot was given a big two thumbs up from Ernie. Something he won't forget in a hurry and will be talking about to many people I'm sure.

 

As well as static aircraft the crowd were treated to an aerobatic display by an RV8 and a few water bombings by an Air Tractor who managed to drop his first load across the taxi way sending markers and dirt flying across it.

 

Griffith - Cowra

 

Departed approx 3:45pm and arrived back at Cowra 1 hour later.

 

The journey home was more turbulent especially when flying under clouds and hitting thermals. Clouds were too high to get above.

 

Altitude was mainly around 5600 but varied greatly when flying through thermals.

 

Arriving back at Cowra we were treated to a lightning show and some thunder in the distance.

 

Was a great day out for a change. It's always good to go for a fly!

 

Now for some photos

 

Our taxi for the day Cessna 210 VH-RAT

 

 

Some of the aircraft seen

 

 

 

 

 

The chopper we did our flight in

 

 

More of the chopper

 

 

 

These guys lost their hats

 

 

Ernie while waiting for our pilot

 

 

Now some inflight from the chopper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now for the water bombing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Great photo's glenn, The RAT is certainly a great touring machine.

 

I have been a pax/co-pilot in it a few time from Cowra to Mackay, Quite a few years ago too.

 

It looks very nice with it's new livery, It had a Rat Pictured on the tail(I think) the last time I flew it...............

 

 

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Great shots, Glenn. Specially liked the shots of the "dump".

 

Rain that doesn't hit the ground is called "virga". If it hits the ground it loses its virga title, and if it hits the ground a lot it's called "slutta".....

 

Coop

 

 

 

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Guest Darren Masters
Knew I was close. ThanksSlutta? Is that fair dinkum or are you having a lend of me?

Hmmmmmm....

 

 

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