GAAR 2012 - a diary...

[ddavid 149]

Thanks to Andrew Godden, of Bluegrass Airlins, and Mutley's Hangar, of course (!), we have a new challenge - the 2012 Great Aistralian Air Rally - GAAR 2012. Starting from Cairns International, this year's GAAR takes us around Papua New Guinea and the northern section of the Barrier Reef before returning to Cooktown, just a few nautical miles from the start, 10 Flight Legs later.

The first Leg, from Cairns to Pormpuraaw, looks like this (thanks to Tim Arnott's Plan-G):

It's a nice afternoon at Cairns. The old DC Airways DC-3 is ready to go:

Climbing out and on our way to the first waypoint, the BIB VOR:

Turning onto the 290 degree radial from BIB:

The river below is Maddigan's Creek, where we turn for the KOW NDB at Kowanyama:

That's Kowanyama (YKOW) behind us as we fly up the coast to Pormpuraaw:

Downwind at YPMP:

Long final, after turning south:

And we're down:

Tomorrow, we head up to Cape York and over the water to Murray Island.

Thanks for flying with us!

Cheers - Dai.

[mutley 4,487]

Nice to see how it should be done Dai, I'll be waiting on Murray Island with the BBQ going!

[ddavid 149]

GAAR 2012 Leg 2 coming up - here's the Flight Plan - fairly straightforward except for the dead reckoning navigation to Murray Island - no NDB/VOR...

It's another bright afternoon and we're ready to depart from Pormpuraaw:

Climbing, we head further north up the coast:

First waypoint at Aurukun airport (YAUR):

Passing the WP (WEIPA) VOR as we head towards Cape York:

Making the turn at Cape York and heading out over the sea:

At this stage we're flying with dead-reckoning only as there are no nav aids for Murray Island. With an easterly wind of around 13 knots blowing us westwards, we set the AP heading a few degrees east of our Flight Plan and hope for the best...

And, we're in luck as, after nearly an hour of worrying, Murray Island magically appears ahead:

We're west of the field and it doesn't look terribly big:

Circling and losing altitude, we find ourselves on Lon Final:

Down to 90 knots, we approach the decision point:

Throwing caution to the wind, which, at least, is from the right direction (front!), we decide to make an attempt:

... which wasn't too bad. At least we stopped before the palms!

Another interesting gem from the hand of the master - Thanks, Andrew!

Join us again for Leg 3, when we reach Papua New Guinea - at night-fall...

Cheers - Dai.

[mutley 4,487]

Dai..

Nice detail and shots, what happened to the airfield at Murray Island?

[ddavid 149]

The strip was there, I think? Didn't have the jungle 'til you turned up!

Cheers - Dai.

[PanzerFodder 0]

Good stuff Dai, keep them coming

Cheer's...Graham...

[mutley 4,487]

Dai,

Apparently, according to Andrew, it does sit atop a plateau, about 300ft MSL formed by a volcano gazillions of years ago.

Google Earth.

[Sabre 28]

Great shots Dai. It's interesting following the GAAR legs.

Is there a way to have a go at the GAAR in an unofficial capacity to see what it's like and what's required. It would be quite interesting to try out some of the legs by following the flight plans if they were available.

Hmmm.. suppose I could unofficially make a copy of your posted routes

[mutley 4,487]

Hi Graeme,

The GAAR website is here http://www.bluegrassairlines.com/operations/gar_gp/2012/gaar/index.html there's nothing to stop you downloading the flight briefings and situation files but the whole thing revolves around a test flight that determines target times for the flights. If you are not worried about that and just want the navigational challenge then go for it.

Keep an eye out for the UK version of the GAAR, coming to a Hangar near you at Easter

Cheers...Joe

[ddavid 149]

Graeme, you're more than welcome to join us in Team-Mutley. At least 2 of the Legs are unspoken for - Legs 6 & 7, so let us know if you'd like to take part. Check out the Rules and you'll need to fly the DC-3. At this stage, we can accomodate you not having flown the Test Flight, I think.

Cheers - Dai.

[Sabre 28]

Graeme, you're more than welcome to join us in Team-Mutley. At least 2 of the Legs are unspoken for - Legs 6 & 7, so let us know if you'd like to take part. Check out the Rules and you'll need to fly the DC-3. At this stage, we can accomodate you not having flown the Test Flight, I think.

Cheers - Dai.

Thanks for the offer Dai but I think I'm still a bit too much of a raw recruit for this atm. I'd need to brush up on my navigational skills considerably plus I'm not too familiar with the DC-3.

I'll have a bit tinker and get the files as Joe suggested and have a bit practice.

[ddavid 149]

Why not have a go at the up-coming Mutley's Easter Bunny Air Rally (MEBAR)? it will be shorter than GAAR and you can choose your aircraft.

Cheers - Dai.

[ddavid 149]

Leg 3, of GAAR 2012, takes us to Port Moresby at the south-eastern end of Papua New Gyinea. Here's the Flight Plan (c/o Plan-G - Thanks Tim!):

It's a pretty straightforward flight - just take off, climb and head for the PY VOR. There's a steady drizzle as we set off - the runways a bit slick and it ain't that long. Sooo - we give it the welly and a bit of flap, just to be sure we clear those palms...

Didn't realise how late in the afternoon it was - the sun's getting low:

We reach our cruise altitude of 8500', throttle back to 45% - 140 knots (TAS). Now, where's that thermos?

Now, that reminds me, where is that Creedance CD...

Time passes - the DMI says 30 miles so we start our descent. Soon we have visual on BNG:

Entering the circuit at AYPY:

It's a clear night - the runways clearly visible as we make the Base Turn:

Long Final:

Short Final - looks easy - and it was - well, at least the Old Girl's behaving herself...

We might even hit the numbers - Ha!

Tail wheel down and braking gently - no rush, it's a long sunway (This Time! - Ed):

Leg 3 Flight Time = 88.90 min and 103 gallons of fuel used. Time for a beer with Joe and ask him what took him so long in the Team-Mutley DC-3 - spot of engine trouble, maybe? Or did he just switch on the AP and drift off?!?

Tomorrow's a big day - up the length of PNG over the hills. Well, at 10000', some of those hills could be classed as mountains. Here's the Flight Plan:

See you then - Thanks for watching.

Cheers - Dai.

[mutley 4,487]

Nice easy flight that one, nice to see it from your perspective, good luck tomorrow, that looks like quite a haul!

[aeromax 10]

Cool Trip !! So, enjoy :-)

[ddavid 149]

Leg 4, of GAAR 2012, takes us from Port Moresby in the south of Papua New Guinea to Saidor, in the north. There are 2 airports on the way: Woitape (WTP) and Buloio (BUO), where we'll need a Touch & Go. Here's the Flight Plan (c/o Plan-G - Thanks Tim!):

Just managed to grab a bacon sandwich whilst the mechanics warmed her up and we're off, heading south east towards the Coral Sea:

Still climbing, we're turning back towards the PV VOR to intercept the 354 degree radial for WTP:

Around 5000' and still climbing, lean the mixture a bit for the altitude - and here's the sun:

There's Woitape ahead:

We've reached our cruising altitude - just above the canopy:

And there's Buloio in the valley ahead - time to descend for the T&G:

Wind's behind us, so we'll have to turn 180 degrees:

Lining up for the T&G - looks steep for the climb-out...

... and it was!

Making the turn at the NZ (Nazgar) VOR:

Up and over those 'hills' again:

And there's Saidar ahead, after flying up the narrow coastal plain:

We've a bit of altitude to lose, so we're descending out over the sea:

Down to 2000' and on Long Final:

Finding the field was fun - another bl**dy grass strip (Thanks, Andrew!):

For the record, we did manage to stop - just before the perimiter fence (if there'd been one...):

An enjoyable flight with some hairy moments - particularly the T&G. The NZ VOR helped the navigation - let's hope it didn't ruin our Flight Time! Which was 130.33 min with 216 gallons of fuel used.

The next Leg is almost as bad - another cross country flight - here's the Flight Plan:

But that's for another day - first I need some sustenance.

Thanks for watching.

Cheers - Dai.

[ddavid 149]

Another early breakfast of shrunken-heads on toast, and we're ready for the off. Today is Leg 5 of GAAR 2012 - from Saidor to Mendi, somewhere in the middle of the PNG Highlands. The Plan looks a bit more complicated than usual (Thanks, Andrew!), there's a Touch and Go at Gusap follwed by a Full Stop at Goroka for re-fuelling, before finishing at Mendi. The Plan-G Flight Plan looks like this:

Andrew has asked all participants to carry some cargo on this, and the next 2 Legs. He mentioned a contract with FedEx, or something. Anyways, here we are, leaving Saidor:

Turning over the sea, back towards the south...

... and the hills:

Dead reckoning gets us close enough to Gusap - Lucky!

Lining up for...

... the T&G:

Then, we're up and turning west:

Up, up and over another pass to pick up the Goroka NDB:

There's Goroka on the starboard bow:

Turning on the circuit:

Nice and easy - Short Final:

We got a rollicking from the tower - something about not filing an IFR plan! They made a point about filing one in future, before letting us unload and refuel. Here we are ready to leave:

Say "Bye-Bye" to the tower...

Following the Highland Highway, hoping to pick up the MH NDB:

Wasn't until we reached Kundiawa (AYCH) that the ADF responded:

Some interesting scenery to the west:

Turning south-west at the MH VOR:

That's Mendi, our destination, up ahead:

Base Turn:

Short Final:

And the Leg is complete - time taken 94 minutes:

The next Leg is to Tabubil (AYTB), with a Touch and Go at Tari (AYTA). Here's the Flight Plan:

Thanks for staying with us - see you after Leg 6...

Cheers - Dai.

[mutley 4,487]

Superb Dai, when will the film be out?!

[ddavid 149]

The DVD mastering is just waiting for the Out-Takes Section to be finished...

Cheers - Dai.

[mutley 4,487]

Who did you get to play you? I reckon Basil Rathbone would have done a great job

The Dawn patrol

[ddavid 149]

As Richard Todd died in 2009. it'd have to be Nicholas Cage!

Cheers - Dai.

[ddavid 149]

Just to round off my GAAR 2012 Diary, here's a slimmed down set of screen shots from Leg 6 through 10.

Here's the plan for Leg 6: Mendi (AYMN) to Tabubil (AYTB):

Out from Mendi and some interesting topology on the port side:

Recovering from a rather badly judged T&G at Tari (AYTA):

Turning on to the OKT NDB:

Joining the circuit at Tabubil:

Base turn ...

... and stopped on the ramp:

Next is Leg 7: Tabubil (AYTB) to Morehead (MHD) - here's the plan:

Returning to the OKT NDB:

And turning south at OKT:

Turning onto the 95 degree radial from the MKE VOR:

Morehead ahead ...

... and over the threshold:

Stopped at Morehead:

After a good night's sleep, it's time for Leg 8: Morehead (MHD) to Coconut Island (YCCT):

Leaving Morehead:

Sabai ahead - Touch and Go coming up:

And on we go towards Coconut Island:

Mid way acroos the Coral Sea

Linig up for a straight in approach at COconut Island:

Skipping over the waves on Short Final:

No fuel here, so we carry on with Leg 9: Coconut Island (YCCT) to Lockhart River (YLHR):

Leaving YCCT behind:

Descending over Iron Range Point:

Downwind at Lockhart River:

And stopped at YLHR):

Here we are, ready to start the last lap - Leg 10: Lockhart River (YLHR) to Cooktown (YCKN)

Leaving YLHR in the late afternoon:

Coming up to Cape Melville:

Picking up the CKN NDB:

That's Cooktown's lights, up ahead:

Downwind:

Final Approach:

Over the threshold for the last time in GAAR 2012:

And That's It, Folks:

Thanks for watching our progress. I hope you enjoyed GAAR 2012 as much as I did! And a Big Thank You to Andrew for planning and executing such a brilliant Rally! Cheers - Mate!

Adios Muchachos - Dai.

[mutley 4,487]

Well done Dai, I really enjoyed watching your progress, one of your best posts in my opinion.

Bring on the MEBAR, it's going to be awesome!

[hurricanemk1c 195]

Bravo Dai!

See you in the team for MEBAR?