Leg 11 Broken Hill - Home... well almost!

I was planning on going to the Nat Fly (National Fly-in) at Temora over the Easter weekend and get back Sunday so Lida (my support crew) could get back to work, however as the engine on my aircraft wasn't being totally cooperative I decided it would be best to go straight home from Broken Hill.  Good decision!

Although it had moments of running rough, I knew the engine wouldn't stop, and the rough running was only periodic.  On the flight from Broken Hill it was really nice, smooth air, aircraft purring along, and the scenery was slowing changing with more roads and buildings coming into view.  Its funny how used I got to the empty landscapes devoide of civiliseations in such a short time.  It was a a novilty seeing more cars, crops and the expanse of towns towards the Murry River.

Wentworth on the Murry River - more civiliseation!

 Just after passing Mildura the engine started to run rough again, so I cleared it by throttling back and up again.  This seemed to cure the problem.  As I got closer to Swan Hill, it became much more consistant, so I decided that this would be the final stop.  

Overflying Swan Hill with the town in the distance

If I continued, it probably would of got me home, however I'm not willing to take the risk to my passenger or aircraft.    Its dissapointing not to make it back, but better to play it safe and fly another day.  Anyway thats flyng for you!!

V/line had a train leaving at 4pm so it worked in quite well.  We tied the aircraft down, so glad I got the cover for the aircraft from Punkin Head Airsports to keep the water out with the rain, contacted Cliff Banks of Sun Centre Ultralights and he will look at the engine on Monday, then went to the  RSL for a couple of beers.

Out of the pilots seat and now the passenger.  Damn!

Hopefully it should be something fairly simple and I will go back to Swan Hill next weekend and fly it back home, which will officially complete the On a Wing & a Chair Central Australia Training Flight.

It was a great adventure, with many experiences, a few stressful moments, many fun ones, and met some great people.  I have learn't alot from this experience which will help alot with the planning for my Solo Round Australia Flight.

Stay tuned for more blogs to come.

Over & Out!

Leg 10 Noccundra Hotel QLD - Broken Hill NSW

The flight from Noccundra was short, only 2.5 hours. I refueled at Tiboorburra NSW, I had to book this fuel 6 weeks ago. When I rang up to confirm the fuel in the morning they had no record of me. Don't know what happened there, but they had some for me anyway.

I'm starting to notice much more civiliseation now, I got used to seeing no buildings or roads.
Broken Hill is a really nice place, I have been here twice before, but there were a couple of sights I wanted to see before leaving as I have missed out each other time.

Over flying Broken Hill

We went to the Pro Hart Gallery, I had no idea he had done so much work, it was well worth a look. Alot of it is of the Broken Hill area which is really interesting.

Pro Harts Rolls Royce, he painted a murel on it.

Finally got to the Palace Hotel. This is where Pecilla Queen of the Desert was filmed and it has these great murels painted on the walls and ceilings by some well known local artists years ago. Its a great old pub and has really good food.

Palace Hotel where part of Precilla Queen of the Desert was filmed

Murels painted on many walls

Murels also on many ceilings

Going home tomorrow, back to the Big Smoke!

Over & Out!

Leg 9 Birdsville - Noccundra Hotel QLD

I was planning on stopping to see the Bourke & Wills Dig Tree on this leg but unfortunately it is still under water from the flooding river. On route though the Cooper Creek was an amazig sight the whole area an array of greens and creeks that look like arteries. There are no places to land out here, and this is some of the most remote area of the flight. It puts me on edge if the engine sounds a little rough at times, but most of the time its my mind.

The Cooper Creek

Noccundra Hotel was a great place to stop at, it has its own airstrip and when you land you taxi to the front of the pub, get out and have a beer. It was really cool and I have been looking forward in coming here for a while. The hotel is heritage, built in 1882, and is on a cattle station, that Packer used to own.

Overflying Noccundra, it has a huge strip



The historic Noccundra Hotel

 The accommodation is basic which are "Donga's" like a site shed with a bed. It was a good experience. They guy's were great, helping me to fuel the plane, tie it down, and were really interesting to chat with over a couple of beers. I learn't a bit about how to muster cattle. No imported beer out here!

Parked out the front of the Noccundra Hotel

Over & Out!

Leg 8 Mount Isa - Birdsville

I tried getting an aircraft mainteance company to check out my engine before leaving Mount Isa, but they wouldn't help me out so I ended up getting a local auto mechanic to have a look. Everything looked OK so we continued on.

The problem came back when I was half way to Birdsville which is becomming a real pain. I spoke with Jabiru and others but no-one can put their finger on the problem. I just need to get the plane home. The engine wont stop but it makes flying real stressful and takes the fun out of it.

Water is the main theme for this trip, it was amazing to see so much water with towns cut off such as Bedourie surrounded by water.

The town of Bedourie

It was great to get to Birdsville and finally see it.  The Birdsville Hotel had a great wheelchair accessable room and the food was really nice.

Bridsville Hotel

Overflying Birdsville

I have to go back and see the Birsdville Race this year.

Over & Out!

Sunshine, 28 deg C, great to be in Mt Isa QLD, Leg 7 done

I had my first good night sleep for the trip!  Its great not to feel so tired.  The flight and Alice Springs has been really hectic, but I need a rest, so decided to have a day off and do NOTHING today (Sunday) and recouperate.   

The most I have done was get up late, 9.30, I normally get up round 5.30 - 6am, went to the shops for breakfast, do this blog and facebook, watch 3 movies and do my flight planning for Leg 8 from Mount Isa to Birdsville.  The Outback Motel is set up well for a wheelchair and is very nice, which makes it just that much better for relaxation.

It was a slow flight from Tennent Creek to Mount Isa.  I had a 30 knot head wind to the first refuel spot Barkly Homestead NT.  Its not far from Tennent Creek, round 1.25 hours flying following the highway, but there is nowhere else to refuel.  Barkly Homestead has camp ground and motel units, it looks like a bit of an oasis out there, and nice gravel runway.

There were some interesting sights along the way, I had to fly over smoke reaching 4000 ft from scrub fires which looked really ghoastly, and running rivers that are a normaly rare event.

Smoke from scrub fires

From Barkly I  flew higher to get the lighter head winds which were only around 10 knots.  I had the rough running engine issue again which is becoming a real pain as it keeps me on edge the whole time. This is the type of thing you don't want flying out here.   The engine runs fine at high revs, so it doesn't appear to be anything major to stop it running.  I'm going to get a mechanic look at it on Monday before going to Birdsville.  I will be following the roads just in case.

Mount Isa is an interesting sight when you come into land with the mine right next to the town.  They mine copper, lead and some gold.  The town is really nice, clean, has everything you need, and I could even get a good coffee from the Coffee Club cafe'.

Mount Isa mine right next to the town

Over & Out!

Half way there....Leg 6 Alice to Tennent Creek done & dusted!

First impression of Tennent Creek from the taxi driver "Don't go out after dark and the taxi doesn't operate at night!"

Well there goes our night on the town!  Taking a roll down the main street, was a little confronting, security screens on many shop windows, and that wasn't for cyclones.  

Tennent Creek Hotel with bars on every window 

When I booked the motel accom the manager told me that the pizza shop has a delivery van used as a taxi and is wheelchair accessable.   I was surprised as its such a small town but you never know!  Put the plane to bed with its protective cover donated by Dianne McNamara from Punikin Head Air Sports, called the taxi, they have a van alright but surprise, surprise, its not accessable at all.  Its been a bit of a common theme on this trip.  But thats just part of the adventure!!  It all worked out, a really kind bloke, Graham from the pizza shop agreed to come with the taxi driver and help get me in.  It may be a little rough in this town but there are some very kind people here.  I'm getting the motel manager to get me in the taxi tomorrow!

The flight from Alice to Tennent Creek was nice and short, only 2.5 hours, and just followed the highway up.  I can go direct from Alice which saves around 20min but you cross tiger country (bush & scrub), and if the fan decides to stop, your a little screwed being so far from population.  There were a couple of moments that the engine ran quite rough, but I think it was a bit of carburettor icng, where ice forms in the jet of the carburettor.  It cleared up, but it gets your heart going, all the same.  I rang up Jabiru for their opinion and they advised the same.  I will see how it goes tomorrow, and yep following the highway again.   

Over flying Tennant Creek prior to landing

Next stop Mount Isa.

Over & Out!

Leg 5 Ayers Rock - Alice Springs

I set of early on Tuesday for the next leg to Alice Springs, but before, to fly around the "Rock" Urulu and the Olgas with the clearer air in the morning.  It was spectacular seeing both formations from the ground but from the air it gave it a totally different dimension and was absolutely stunning.

Uluru at 4000 ft

Onto Kings Canyon, leading into the Macdonall Ranges some of the most spectacular scenery yet.  The outback is always changing which I find it hard to get bored of. I was expecting to see just red dirt, but with all the rain there is vegetation every where, this is something that hasn't been seen for 25 years, so a couple of the locals say.  I will have to come back again and see it when its just red!

Macdonnell Ranges

As I am licensed as a recreational pilot, I can't fly into controlled airspace, so I had to land at Bond Springs just 20km north of Alice Springs.  The Chief Flying Instructor Ciff McCann from Alice Springs Aero Club got one of his instrctors to drive him up and Cliff flew in with me to  Alice Springs Airport, which was alot of fun as I hadn't done it before. 

I needed to get my aircraft serviced, Cliff made arrangements with the airport maintenance company which took alot of stress off me.  In addition to giving me hangerage, Cliff got approval for me from the Air Traffic Control to allow me to fly out and back to Santa Teresa which was awesome.  Cliff McCann and the Alice Springs Aero Club, http://www.alicespringsaeroclub.com.au/ have been so generous with their time and assistance to make my trip so much easier, I can't thank them enough.

Chief Flying Instructor Cliff McCann and myself

Others have given me support in various ways such as Andrea Sullivan manger of the Memorial Club in Alice Springs, who gave myself and Lida a great meal.  I have received support from different people and groups on the flight so far, whether its just giving me a hand to get into a 4wd, its these people who are making this adventure much easier.


Alice Springs has been busy, I haven't had any time to see the sights, with local news paper, ABC radio, and TV interview over the last two days.

A highlight of Alice Springs was going to Santa Teresa Community today (Thursday) meeting some of the kids at the school, gave a quick talk to one of the 6th grades and having a bbq.  The kids were so friendly and really inquisitive, especially how I got my scar on my throat (tachiostomy scar from my accident).  Its funny I've found indiginous kids are the only ones that have ever asked me about it.

Giving a talk to Santa Teresa grade 6's

Following a briefing by an instructor, Jackie Chan, no not the actor, getting through controlled airspace at Alice was a little challenging, as its new to me, but I got there and back without any dramas which was geat. 

Onto the next leg tomorrow, Tennant Creek.

Over & Out!

Leg 4 Coober Pedy - Ayers Rock (Yulara)

To fly from Coober Pedy to Ayers Rock is over remote desert country so if something happens it would take a while for anyone to get to you.  I stopped first at Cadney Homestead which is a Roadhouse around 150km north of Coober Pedy to top up my fuel and to add some more oil.  I'm keeping a very close eye on the oil consumption in the engine as I'm buring much more than I should, so to be safe I gave it a little top up.  There were a number of remote air strips close to my route, which gave me a little confort if I had to land.


The flight was quick with a 15 knot tail wind and as we approached Ayers Rock it was an amazing sight.  This flat country, then these two huge rock formations appear, Ayers Rock (Uluru) and the Olgas, much more prominent and spectacular than I thought they would be.

 I wanted to see Ayers Rock from the ground as well as well as the air.  I soon found out that it was looking as though I wont see it from the ground, apart from the view out of the door of my hotel room.  There aren't any taxi's here, the only mini bus that is wheelchair accessable was booked out for Tuesday and there were no available rental cars, or accessable busses.  I couldn't believe it!  A place that was built for specifically for tourists with alot of elderly ones, there is no transport for the disabled.  Figure that one out! 


My day did change for the better in the end, the Desert Sands Hotel assistant manager was very understanding and arranged for one of the porters, Matt, to drop me and Lida out at Uluru and bring us back for a fee.  This hotel has gone the extra mile to help make my experience memorable, which I greatly appreciate.

Getting out to Uluru was a fantastic experience, it was much more impressive than what I had seen in photo's and I can see why the indigenous people find it such a special place.  When you approach it, it does have a real spiritual quality about it.

With all the rain they have had it has been a great time to come and see the Red Centre maybe they should call it the "Green Centre", even flying out here you'd think it was Victoria.

Some of the walking tacks are indicated as wheelchair accesable and I could push on most of it, however there were some spots that were a bit hard due to soft sand. The funny thing is that although some of the walks are specifically indicated as wheelchair accessable, you can't get their if you don't have your own car or can get on a standard coach by yourself.

This experience has been a highlight of the Central Australia Training Flight and I'm looking forward to flying around Ularu and the Olgas tomorrow, on the 5th Leg to Alice Springs.

Thorny Lizard rescued from being squashed on the road

Over & Out!

Leg 3 Arkaroola - Coober Pedy

My parents dropped myself and Lida off at the airfield early on Friday morning to make use of the calm air for the second flight over Lake Ayre on my way to Coober Pedy.

It was great to catch up with them and spend the time touring around as I wouldn't of been able see the area from the ground without them and their 4wd.

I refueled at Maree, had a chat to a pilot as to what areas are best to see and headed back over Lake Ayre to see some different parts of the lake.  It was better this time being earlier than the day before, the air was smoother as the heat of the day hadn't created many large thermals and the air was much clearer that made the colors more vibrant.

After a bit of low level fun (always at 500ft agl) I headed to William Creek to refuel again, get some oil, and have lunch.  By this time it was getting really hot and the huge thermals were really pumping.  Had to tighten the seat belts a bit more to stop our heads hitting the roof.  I've had worse in the microlight I used to fly.

There isn't much at William Creek a small General Store/joy flight booking office that doesn't have much and the Pub.  The people were really friendly always up for a chat and let us sit inside the store as I was really feeling the heat and needed to cool down a bit before doing the last leg to Coober Pedy.  Alot of the pilots come to these areas for a few months while there is the peak season and move on til the following year. 

Flying into Cober Pedy was a sight, it looks like there has been swarms of ants digging ant hills, as there are hundreds of piles of spoil from the opal mining all over the place.

The people are really friendly, so are the flies.  When you open your mouth half a dozen try to see what you had for lunch. We did some touristy things today after a good sleep in as I feeling pretty exhausted at the end of each day.  We went to the mining museum which is well worth a look and the underground Catholic Church next to our hotel.  Very unique!

As alot  of people live underground in dugouts, so I thought I better get the experence and my room is 3m underground.  The temperature in it is a constant 24 de Call year round without heating/cooling, now thats sustainability, well apart from the lack of water! And I can get into this shower!

Off to  Ayres Rock tomorrow, so stay tuned.

Over & Out

Leg 2 Murry Bridge SA - Arkarola SA

I haven't been able to do a blog for a few days as the internet available at Arkoroola didn't work most of the time. Next time I will invest in a satelite phone internet connection, so I'm always in touch!

I've had a great couple of days, been tiring but great! After leaving Murry Bridge I refueled at Port Augusta, and luckily I was able to get some oil as after the reconditioning done on the engine it has been burning allot of oil, which I hadn't planed on. I'm hoping the oil consumption wont get any worse, just have to wait and see what happens. It is playing on my mind a bit though!

On route to Arkaroola I flew over Wilpena Pound that I had wanted to do for many years but just never got there. The Pound is like a crater that is surrounded by a mountain range. It was really spectacular it, the photo's I took don't do it justice.

Following Wilpena I got to our final destination for a few days at Arkaroola South Australia and caught up with my parents. Its a very harsh but beautiful place at the top end of the Flinders Ranges.

The landing was really fun, the strip is very short but it slopes up hill when landing from the south so if you don't get it right with the approach you can hit pretty hard or overrun the strip. I got it down well, but I like these little challenges as it keeps you on your toes,and I get a bit of a kick out of it! Check out the two part youtube videos of the landing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFQGHzdkaH8&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6KYOHlpq_I&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

On Wednesday we went out to some of the water holes that don't usually have water, with the red rock and red gum tree's looking so vibrant with healthy green leaves, it was a rare sight.

I met the local chopper pilot George Hancock of Helivistta P/L, www.helivista.com.au, who runs the local scenic flights at Arkaroola and offered to take me up. I think he noticed my glazing eyes when he told me about what he did, so had to put me out of my misery and take me up. With no doors, it was great fun, my first time, very differnet from my fixed wing, and as its so manoverable you can fly realy low around the ranges. There was a moment of jealousy!

I have never taken my father Brian up in my Jab even though I've been flying it for two years, so I  flew him to Lake Ayre to look at the water, a once in a life time experience. The expanse of water is so vast, and its not full yet, the water streatches as far as they eye can see. Its an amazing sight, but one of the unusual things was the lack of bird life. I was told as there is so much water elsewhere they haven't come. (Check out more Lake Ayre photo's in the next blog).

Over & Out!

Its Started - Leg 1 Tooridan to Narracoorte SA to Murry Bridge SA

It was great to get going today.  But as I drove down to Tooridan the thick misty clouds were hanging low in the air, and I just wondered, although I had planned everything I could have, would it be my luck that the typical weather of Melbourne was going to stop me?  The weather forecast indicated that it should be reasonable but they aren't always right!

I always find the night before a big trip, (and this was the biggest and most challenging I have ever done) I always have a lousy sleep, it must be the anticipation and I just want it to happen. But once I get in the plane it doesn't mattter how tired I am, I just come alive.

Fortunately the weather was clearing to the west and myself and Lida (support crew) got off the ground around 9.30am.  There were a few rain showers about, but I can fly around these easily as my aircraft is reasonably quick.  Its also more fun than going in a straight line.  I was hoping the weather would clear near the 12 Apostles (not really sure how many are left) as they are reallly spectacular whhen the sky is blue which makes the water a fantastic blue due to the reflection.  Well not this time.  I quickly snuck past before a huge shower came in.

12 Apostles on a cloudy misty day

I  had been in contact with Leon Brice from Naracoorte SA recently who's son had an accident and ended up with quadriplegia, similar to me.    His son Charles has a web site where people can offer support check it out at www.briceybestrong.com.  As Naracoorte was my refuel stop, the Naracoorte Aero Club gave me a great  welcome putting on lunch, Leon organised the local media to cover the flight, and provided me with a tank of Avgas.  The generosity and hospitality of people in these comunities, is amazing and I greatly appreciate their support and assistance.  

Lunch put on by the Naracoorte Aero Club

I would of like to of stayed longer and chatted but I had to get to Murry Bridge SA for my overnight stop. The late afternooon was clearing and it was fantastic to fly along the coast toward the mouth of Lake Alexandrina with blue sky and the warmth of the sun coming through the cockpit window. 

Nice weather towards the mouth of Lake Alexandrrina (mouth of the Murry)

Following the rebuild of the topend of the aircraft engine, it now runs much better and with a tail wind of around 15 knots  we made some quick ground today.

I'm off to Arkaroola at the top of the Flinders Ranges tomorrow where I will spend two days and catch up with my parents to do some 4wding.  I wont have mobile coverage there so I will do my next blog at Coober Pedy.

Over & Out!

Tech Head Talk

Its just two days to go before I set of on the On a Wing & a Chair Central Australia Training Flight.

So I though I'd give you a bit of a run through on what type of aircraft I fly and how I fly it with my modifications before my Central Australia Flight is underway..

The aircraft I fly is a 2 seat Jabiru J230D recreational aircraft.  The maximum take-off weight (MTOW) is 600kg, flies at around 120Knots (220 km/hr) with 5 hours flying time without reserve.

Following a motorbike accident when I was 19, I was left with high level quadriplegia.  I have no finger function, limited arm function and cannot move anything from my armpits down.  For me to be able to fly I had to design my own hand controls as there were no off the shelf adaptations that I could use.

Rudder Steering

The rudder controls the yaw of the aircraft, turning the nose of the plane left and right and also steers the aircraft on the ground.  I operate the rudder/ground steering by pushing a lever forward to turn right, and backwards to turn left.  Because I have no finger function to grip the lever, wrist supports holds my hand in place. Normally the rudder is controlled with foot pedals.

Rudder/Ground Steering Control

Throttle Control

The throttle controls the speed of the engine.  I control the throttle by sipping and puffing through a plastic tube, which is attached to my headset. The sipping and puffing switches are connected to a small electric motor located under the dashboard and connected to the throttle. When I sip on the tube the engine slows down, and when I puff the engine goes faster.  The existing throttle on the dashboard that is normally push/pulled out can still be operated manually if the plane’s electrical power fails.

Throttle Control - Sip/Puff System

Brakes

The brakes are used to stop the plane when it has touched down on the runway or is being taxied on the ground.  I can't operate the brake lever so I installed a pneumatic (air) system.  I activate the brake by flicking a toggle switch on the dash board up and down with my hand. When the toggle switch is flicked up, compressed air drives an actuator (a piston in a cylinder), which pushes the existing brake lever on.

Control Column

The control column controls the pitch and roll of the plane.  The pitch is the upward and downward movement of the front of the plane.  Pushing the control column forward causes the nose of the plane to angle down, making the plane lose height. And pulling the column backwards causes the nose of the plane to angle up, making the plane go higher.

Control Column

The roll is the sideways movement of the plane. Pushing the control column left causes the left wing to dip, turning the plane left. Pushing the control column right causes the right wing to dip, turning the plane right.

Because I don't have any finger function to hold the control column, my wrist is supported between the two upright posts. My hand and fingers are wrapped around the centre post. This securely locks them in place to allow movement in all directions. I can also remove my hand easily and quickly by sliding it out upwards.

I have a number of other modifications on switches, trim control, flaps etc to allow me to use them easily, however a big obstacle was how do I get into the aircraft.  Geoff Higgin's the guy who built my modifications came up with a very lite scissor lift that goes into the back of the plane.  The lift sits under my chair, raise's it, and my support crew helps me get my bum in the plane.  Really simple!!

Over & Out!