Destination Echuca & Shepparton

[Matt]

As per Kaz's post during the week, the plan for this weekend was to go to Shepparton and take part in their regular Saturday feast and catch up with Brent (BrentC), Ben (Ben Longden) and Mike (Pelorus32)...Friday night comes around and it seems those plans wouldn't quite work out as both Ben and Mike wouldn't be there...all good plans. After a few text and private messages on Friday night it seems we'll be adding Echuca to our flight plan as Ben will be at Echuca and we can catch up with him there.

 

Saturday morning comes and after a quick stop on the way to the airfield for a much needed haircut (need to look good in the pics ) we roll MCT out of the hangar under overcast skies and depart runway 36 at Kyneton and head for Echuca...which doesn't even require a heading change after takeoff today.

 

On track to Echuca we head over what I thought was an unidentified airfield which turns out to be the Heathcote Dragway and many other private strips. We also start to clear the overcast skies from down south and by the time we start descending into Echuca the skies are clearing and the sun is now warming us up nicely...and I was cursing having left my sunglasses in the car!

 

Despite a 15 knot headwind at cruising levels there was nil wind on the ground as we join circuit and land on runway 17 at Echuca.

 

Finals RWY17 YECH

 

 

After landing we meet up with Ben and head off to the aero club building...where we unexpectedly meet up with some other "unknown friends" in Pete (BigPete) and Pete (LittlePete) who were out at the field watching aeroplanes on a fine Saturday morning. After a bit of general chit chat I offered a look over MCT which the guys were more than willing to take up.

 

Ben admiring the CT4 cockpit.

 

 

BigPete & LittlePete

 

 

LittlePete at the controls

 

 

It turns out that LittlePete is already an established "flyer" as a regular passenger with BigPete as well as relating a story of an aerobatic flight in an Extra 300...what's the chances we'll see LittlePete posting a story here about his first solo in about 7 years time!

 

It was nearing time to head off to beat the lunchtime rush at Shepparton so we climb back in the cockpit, bid farewell to our new friends and head off on the long trip to Shep...all 15 minutes of it!

 

Finals RWY36 YSHT

 

 

As we land and taxi off the runway we spot some familiar aircraft from Kyneton who have obviously also headed to Shepparton for lunch! We wander into the club and are greeted by Tristan one of the local (very busy!) flying instructors who introduces us to a few of the locals and we're given instructions on where to pay our $6 and then directed to the feast on offer. As we're getting our lunch we meet up with Kyneton locals Norm and Warren. While we eat our meal and chat, we're joined by Brent and his co-pilot for the day Larry.

 

Col's RV and Norm's Corby Starlet...or the "Clown Plane" as Kaz has labelled it

 

 

Col is 82 years old and flew Mosquito's in WW2, has accumulated just over 30,000 hours and is still flying as capably as ever according to his Warren - another high time pilot who is his co-pilot for the day.

 

Having finished lunch and met and chatted with many old and new friends, it's time to fill the tanks ($1.89 per litre at Shepparton today ) and join the other chaps heading back to Kyneton. Brent and Larry decide to join the aerial convoy to get some more flying into the afternoon. We also use the trip as an opportunity to do some air-to-air photography...almost exactly 12 months after first meeting Brent at Tooradin on our first trip to Melbourne in the CT4 where we got our first air-to-air shots! (See Brent's awesome shot in the photo comp section!)

 

 

 

Having left Shepparton in reasonably good weather, we encounter some scattered cloud on the way home which turns to 8/8ths by the time we near Heathcote. As we approach the circuit we hear Warren and Col inbound in the RV at the same distance and altitude as us...but not in sight. A few more radio calls and we get a visual on them and position to follow them into the circuit.

 

On the ground there's more folks around with a few hangars open and a few visiting aircraft about so we continue the "meet and greet" day with some of the locals that we'd not had the chance to meet yet.

 

After a great day's flying, catching up with old friends and meeting new friends, we roll MCT back into the hangar and head home. What a great day!

 

Cheers,

 

Matt & Kaz

 

 

[Deskpilot]

Nice report Guys, thanks. One day, I'll get my nav endorsement and do like wise but till then, I'll enjoy flying with you. Great to have the photos as well.

 

 

[slartibartfast]

Great stuff Matt and Kaz.

 

Matt, I'm not saying you're vain or worried about self-image, but I'm pretty sure no-one in the history of flying has ever stopped on the way to a day's flying to get a haircut!

 

I'll have to join you there when the days get a bit longer - to give me time to get home (2.5 hours).

 

 

[BigPete]

Had a great day at the Echuca Airport on Saturday. With grandson in tow (LittlePete) we sat in the sun and counted....

 

three Jabiru 160's and one 170, one Sting, one Cessna 172 and 210, one Sabre, one Piper Chieftan, two Cherokee's, one Piper Lance, one YAK 52, one Savanah, one Quicksilver, and one Zodiac 601.

 

"Well it doesn't get much better than this" I thought to myself as the radio speaker came to life ".....CT4 is 10 miles to the South at 2500 inbound Echuca"

 

Now I'm not a fast thinker, but I knew there aint to many of those kicking around. (CT4's) This could be the famous Matt and Kaz flying duo I said to LittlePete. :thumb_up:

 

And so it came to be. Had a wonderful chat with our Kyneton neighbors and Ben Longden. LittlePete was so chuffed to get a sit in the CT4. (As soon as we got home he downloaded one for his flight simulator)

 

All in all - a great day.

 

regards

 

 

[Ben Longden]

I have to agree, Bigpete. It was a top one.

 

Great to finally meet you Kaz -n- Matt :thumb_up:

 

Ben

 

 

[Guest brentc]

Seems I only just missed you BigPete as I taxiied out as you came in. I was in the 'stretched' 160 as per above pic. Better luck next time.

 

PS: Would have washed my wheel spat if I'd known pics were going to be taken.

 

 

[BigPete]

Well Bum - I'm sorry I missed you too Brentc - nice looking bus you have, :thumb_up: and I do like your description. Quote "...the stretched 160..." Unquote

 

ah well, next time.

 

:big_grin::big_grin::big_grin:

 

regards

 

 

[BigPete]

Hey Kaz - I'm very impressed with the quality of your photos. :thumb_up::thumb_up::thumb_up: What camera are you using? (Meant to ask you on Saturday!)

 

regards

 

:big_grin::big_grin:

 

 

[Guest Tristo]

Hey,

 

was great to meet you two, sorry i didnt get much time to talk.

 

Tristan