From our local paper

[skeptic36]

Ben’s New Guinea bound in an ultra light aircraft

 

Councillor, football umpire and legendary aviator, Ben Buckley, has again taken to the air in an ultra light aircraft, this time bound for New Guinea.

 

Ten years ago the now 73 year old crossed the Tasman Sea in an ultra light and landed, without entry documents, in New Zealand.

 

He has assured the Bairnsdale Advertiser that this time his papers are in order and the aircraft while categorized as an ultra light, is a sleek and fast flying machine, not an oversize coat hanger.

 

Together with 74 year old friend, owner and co-pilot of the Italian made Alpi Pioneer 200 aircraft, Bruce Hammit, Ben joined the Papua New Guinea Air Safari with a group of other light aircraft.

 

The aircraft all rendezvous at Horn Island off the tip of Cape York before flying as a group over two weeks to Madang, Karawari, Mt Hagen, Tari, Bensbach and Daru in Papua New Guinea. The aircraft then return to Horn Island before dispersing to their various Australian home ports.

 

Ben said this was the first time an ultra light aircraft had been included in an air safari.

 

“It was allowed to join because it is a modern, high performance aircraft with high equipment levels,” he said.

 

“It is well up to the task of the short over-water crossing and flying in the tropical New Guinea conditions.”

 

Regards Bill

 

 

[Guest brentc]

Another notch for Ben's book of achievements.

 

They are an interesting couple to see, watch and hear in the aircraft together.

 

I heard them 'practicing' on Sunday.

 

It's a slick looking machine that they are going in, complete with retracts and a pricetag to match :-)

 

 

[poteroo]

Hope it's got the full 100HP + a CSU up front, because it will need to climb like a bird en route to Hagen and Tari as most of the 'gaps' are minimum 7500 to cross early AM - and maybe 12000 later on. And it will really be a good test on departure either of those locations because they are both flat, and at 5700 ft amsl or so.....add another 2800ft for density altitude! I reckon there'll be some 'pedalling' in that cockpit.

 

happy days,

 

 

[Guest brentc]

No dramas for this aircraft and it has already been tested at high altitudes hence my comments earlier about things being 'interesting' in the cockpit. Wink Wink Wink.