The Nats Trip

bones · 26-03-2008, 08:32 PM

Ok after working out the distances and time the followng is what happened.

The trip down was about 1030 nautical miles, approx 1950kms for a total flying time of 14.5 hrs to get there, so an average ground speed of about 71kts.
The distance back as i went a different route home was about 1100 nm approx 2200 kms for a total flying time 20.5 hrs, pushing into a 30 kt head wind at some times for the first 1.5 days, so a average ground speed of 53.5 kts.

So it was a big trip for me anyways, pushing the machine along at 75kt ASI and late on the first day up to 85 kts Asi to make i before dark, it was a good trip, very comfortable considering the whole thing.

I would like to really like to thank alot of people whom keep a check on me on the trip down and back, first of Peg, as i was texting her when i left and landed, on the way down thanks babe, also my friend Geoff Payne, who also keep checking my progress, on the way home there was no less than about 4 people constantly checking my progress, Peg, Rosie and Brian Reid, Murray Barker, Geoff Payne, also there was people randomly ring or texting me to ensure i was safe, this to me was a great sign of the friendship that exist in the small group of people whom love these machines, even though i had an eperb with me it made all the difference to know that people apart from Peg cared enough to check on my progress, and from the bottom of my heart i thank the whole lot of you.

I really enjoyed meating a heap of people at the Nats, just a few are, Rosie and Brian Read, Jacko, Sam, David, Rick, Neil, Darrell, Kevin, and of course me ol mate Sonny J from the states.

I truely look forward to seeing you all again some time in the not to distant future. There are others that i have missed but i really enjoyed being there, but if i may not turn this a little bit nasty, i was really disapsappionted in the turn up, like i mean to say if i can fly from one end of the country to the other nearly, surely the people whom gathered a few hundred kms away should be ashamed of themselves for not making the effort to support ASRA whom is driving ahead with the new changes in the part 142, so i am sre that these peopl wont want the benifits of these changes and wont bitch about things if and when they are excluded.

There are a heap of photos to come some of the most beautifull country i have ever flown over is right on my door step so to speak, it is only about 600 kms away, and i was doing it right to 100' about the trees, the only way to fly if you ask me. so i will try to downsize them a few at a time and keep the pics coming over the coming days.

Enjoy as i did.
Bones

dg2829 · 26-03-2008, 08:38 PM

Good to see home after what would appear to good trip back well done.

Hope catch up sometime in the future and have a

again

Brian · 26-03-2008, 09:46 PM

Good to hear you are home safe and sound Bones, was a pleasure keeping an eye on your progress although our mobile coverage stopped just after we left Mildura.
Your trip is a testimony to the reliability of the modern gyro, its not all that long ago that much shorter trips were a real big deal and were supported by ground crew etc.

It was an excellent test for the red machine and its done you proud Bones and that 85 knts indicated is a very respectable speed. Rosie and I enjoyed meeting you and the other's who came along and we are looking forward to next year already.

BTW Birdy, Bones was very well behaved.

Murray Barker · 27-03-2008, 10:22 AM

Good to see you home and safe Mark, hopefully if I have my way you wont have to travel so far next year.

I too was dissapointed there are some who stayed away at another airstrip close by. Maybe they were afraid of mixing with us or some sort of notion that there were too many rules?

Brian, I have your Warp Drive protractor here that I forgot to give back,whats the best address to send it?

Brian · 27-03-2008, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murray Barker

Good to see you home and safe Mark, hopefully if I have my way you wont have to travel so far next year.

I too was dissapointed there are some who stayed away at another airstrip close by. Maybe they were afraid of mixing with us or some sort of notion that there were too many rules?

Brian, I have your Warp Drive protractor here that I forgot to give back,whats the best address to send it?

I forgot about it too Murray, there's no hurray but the address is
Kinross Station
Pooncarie NSW 2648

Birdy2 · 27-03-2008, 07:43 PM

Top stuff Bonsey, good to have ya join the 'long legs' leage mate.

I cant think of a better way to kill a week.

on the way home there was no less than about 4 people constantly checking my progress, Peg, Rosie and Brian Reid, Murray Barker, Geoff Payne,
Geez, maybe i should git sum friends too, never heard boo from anyone the last 2 years wen i was traveln.

BTW Birdy, Bones was very well behaved.
I have no dout Brian.

Thats probably why he's got friends.

Brian · 27-03-2008, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Birdy2

Top stuff Bonsey, good to have ya join the 'long legs' leage mate.

I
on the way home there was no less than about 4 people constantly checking my progress, Peg, Rosie and Brian Reid, Murray Barker, Geoff Payne,
Geez, maybe i should git sum friends too, never heard boo from anyone the last 2 years wen i was traveln.

.

When you get a mobile phone and have coverage, we will be only too happy to keep track of your trips. Rosie was quite concerned about your trip to Lameroo and back but I told her you were a big boy now and could handle any problems !!

Birdy2 · 28-03-2008, 08:59 PM

Thanx Brian, i could feel sumone thinkn of me.

Oh, BTW, recon itll be a coupla years yet before theres fone coverage in the Simpson mate.

bones · 03-04-2008, 05:40 PM

Righto finially got time to resize these pics, i wil try to remember where they are a little latter on.

Ok i thikn this is about right.
1. landed for fuel, about 40kms outside Bourke
2 A large salt lake about 100nm south of here
3. Yep only hill i could see and my gps says go over the top of it
4. More of the salt lake
5. The side of that hill, i went around it

6. Just miles and miles of red sand.
7. Just bored and a shot ofthe dash

8. Yarrawonga about 30nm out of Wang, nice big lake once again the gps says go over it, not likely.
9. The end of the said lake
10. Yep more red sand.

I should loaded them differently but you get the idea, the next lot of coming home i will try to load in order.

niquenaque · 03-04-2008, 07:33 PM

Awesome Bonesmeister...

Cheers,

Nic