rob16584 42 Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 I'm determined to fly all the legs this year, so got the first one in this afternoon - YBCS-YPMP. A flight of 283nm. We're cleared to go at Cairns And the GAAR is underway as the tower waves us off Climbing to cruise altitude of 8,500ft There are a few clouds up here, but nothing serious Hot hot hot There is some great scenery along the way, thanks Orbx Airfield in sight, time for the circuit I'll be glad to get down, the weather at pattern altitude is quite bumpy Now, where can I get a roo-burger Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,487 Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 Well done Rob, it's good to get the first one under your belt Link to post Share on other sites
ddavid 149 Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 @ Rob - Nice One. Mate! @ Joe - Funny place to wear a belt... Cheers - Dai. Link to post Share on other sites
rob16584 42 Posted January 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 My target time hasn't been uploaded to the roster page yet, but my test flight was similar to yours so I think i've done OK Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted January 28, 2012 Report Share Posted January 28, 2012 Nice shots Rob - a German down under Link to post Share on other sites
rob16584 42 Posted January 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 After a night on the town with some other GAAR entrants, it was time to get back into Dizzie and take to the skies for Leg 2. This looked like a lonely leg as most of it was over water... Engines nice and warm, lets go The water looks nice and inviting, maybe I'll come back another time Not much to see over the land due to the clouds Picking up the Great Barrier Reef You've got to be kidding me! I have no fear Safely down, anyone flying leg 2 make sure you cross the threshold at virtually a stall Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,487 Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 Well done Rob, I have just taken off from there, in the wet, make sure you offload some fuel if you have more than half tanks. Link to post Share on other sites
allardjd 1,853 Posted January 29, 2012 Report Share Posted January 29, 2012 Well, it's bigger than an aircraft carrier but lacks arresting gear and catapults. Nice job, both of you. John Link to post Share on other sites
rob16584 42 Posted January 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Emma was going to be home late, it was a quiet day at work so I snuck off home early to get let 3 done... Barely making it out of Murray Island Clouds, rain & sunset, sound like my kinda flight The colours enroute were fantastic Wipers working hard to clear the windscreen - had to stick my head out of the window to see where I was going Over-flying AYPY Turning to finals, almost there now Safely down just before the AI LearJet lands That's me done until Friday Link to post Share on other sites
Tim_A 996 Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Does swimming back to shore count in your leg time? Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,487 Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Only if you were going more than 35kts when you hit the water! Link to post Share on other sites
rob16584 42 Posted February 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 After what seemed like an endless week it was time to hop back into Dizzie and take to the skies for Leg 4 We left Port Moresby without much of a fanfare... ...and climbed out just as the sun was rising, which helped us avoid the mountains Clouds are becoming a feature of this adventure Yup, the airport we are making the touch and go at is in that lot There it is! Touch And go, climbing back up to get over some more pesky mountains Almost there now, SDR runway in sight Thanks for flying, see you tomorrow for leg 5 I wasn't expecting great things from this leg but was only .46 mins late, which is about 28 seconds! If only EasyJet were that good Link to post Share on other sites
rob16584 42 Posted February 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 The snow may be falling outside my window, but in PNG it's red hot Leg 5 is by far the toughest so far, up and down and up and down over the mountains. Steep climb out and a couple of circuits to gain height. We have to get over the mountains and quickly down for a T+G T+G Complete, it's back up and over for a landing at AYAG to refuel Clouds rolling in Uh Oh The last photo reminds me a bit of this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd7ALKWFEsc The next phase of the flight was a bit easier Mendi in sight, commencing final approach Landed a little harder than usual, but it's a landing Flight time 126.58 dai Link to post Share on other sites
ddavid 149 Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Thanks, Rob - you make it seem so easy! Cheers - Dai. Link to post Share on other sites
ShrewsburyFC 215 Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 Nice shots! Link to post Share on other sites
rob16584 42 Posted February 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 As you can tell by how quickly I'm getting through these flights, I'm loving this year's GAAR. Leg 6 takes us from Mendi to Tabubil with a touch and go at Tari... Departing Mendi, had to take care not to chop the camera man up with the props. There is a rumour of canibalism around here, so he would've been cleared up quickly! Making the short trip to Tari, nice weather again Runway in sight, maybe a touch low Cameraman stayed well clear this time during climbout from Tari Onwardto Tabubil, lovely terrain and great weather for it A view of an airfield surrounded in clouds is becoming a feature of this adventure Heading along a valley to our destination Carefully setting her down Link to post Share on other sites
ddavid 149 Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 You'll have time to do the Rally twice, at this rate, Rob! Nice shots - Thanks for Trail Blazing - your comments are most useful! CHeers - Dai. :cool Link to post Share on other sites
mutley 4,487 Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 I'm really enjoying your challenge Rob, very entertaining. Link to post Share on other sites
Sabre 28 Posted February 6, 2012 Report Share Posted February 6, 2012 Great job with the GAAR Rob some excellent shots from the various legs of the rally. Good job Link to post Share on other sites
rob16584 42 Posted February 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2012 And so we move on to leg 7... Deapture was a bit tricky, had to weave through the hills Managing to stay above the clouds but still stuck in the rain (?) Makes for some good pictures though Destination in sight, time to slow her down and enter the circuit Nicely lined up Think I got a bit too close to the tower Link to post Share on other sites
rob16584 42 Posted February 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 Leg 8 of the rally and we are given a warning 'one of the shorter runways'... Climbing away from Morehead Enroute to our first stop at Saibai Island we pass this strange formation Landed, fueled up and ready to go to our final destination of Coconut Island Climbing out, the weather is perfect Clouds make for excellent screenshots Flying over YCCT, this flight just got interesting... ...very interesting There's nothing left to do but try to avoid getting wet. My flippers are packed just in case Crossing the fence (I like this one) To say we just made it is an understatement! Link to post Share on other sites
rob16584 42 Posted February 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 After allowing the brakes to cool I decided to take to the skies again I was glad to see the back of Coconut Island I'll miss these excellent weather themes when I get back to flying in Europe First sight of the mainland Lockhart River in sight, time to join the pattern Turn to finals Nice lined up and configured for landing Where's the BBQ? Link to post Share on other sites
Tim_A 996 Posted February 11, 2012 Report Share Posted February 11, 2012 What mesh do you have? I've just flown leg 6 and I had rolling hills... Link to post Share on other sites
rob16584 42 Posted February 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2012 I used a freeware PNG mesh that Joe suggested. I think it was from the OZx site Link to post Share on other sites
rob16584 42 Posted February 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2012 After 10 fantastic flights, over 2,000 miles and over 18 hours flight time it was time to bring this year's GAAR to a close... For the last time we are cleared for take-off Rumbling into the blue skies This was a nice and easy flight, a welcome break from the mountains of PNG Afternoon began to change to dusk Brilliant weather textures Dusk turned to evening as we approached Cooktown, I was expecting a bit more of a fanfare to welome me Seems I caught them by surprise, the fireworks started just after I passed overhead. Good job really! I think I'll fly a little to the left on approach View from the ground as we are almost there Thank you Andrew for a fantastic event Link to post Share on other sites
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