ON THE WING | APRIL 2011 | VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4
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WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR PPL…
(BEC AND JACKSON’S AWESOME NAV)!!!

Two young adventurous flying enthusiasts and the need to get some more flying hours…. what to do, where to go? How about, take the Piper Arrow and fly from Bunbury all the way across Australia to Brisbane, then turn around and come back again. No kidding, this is just what Rebecca Henggeler and Jackson Woodforde did recently, here is their account:

“Friday 8th April 2011… Deciding to start with a nice easy day we left after lunch, leaving just enough daylight to make it to Kalgoorlie in the clearest weather we were going to see all week. The following day, we were at YPKG aerodrome at stupid o’clock in the morning to pre-flight, taxi, and line-up in the dark, ready to open throttle right on first light. The first leg from Kalgoorlie to Forrest was a reasonably uneventful start to the day, but that was about to change. Running into the back of a huge cold front that forced us down to 500 ft AGL about half way between Forrest and Coober Pedy found us diverting to Nullarbor Motel, and a day behind plan.

On day 3 we made it to Roxby Downs, where we met an Alliance Airlines Fokker 50 First Officer, who showed us around the flight deck of his “slightly bigger Arrow”. Accommodation that night was shared with a family of mice, who rued the day they messed with Bec!

And the flight continues…..

The next day we made it to Broken Hill, Burke, and Moree in blue skies, before the skies darkened again near Warwick QLD. The combination of low cloud and the rising terrain of The Great Dividing Range made for an interesting landing at Texas ALA involving an unexpected game of chicken with Skippy, and a quick phone call to the Met Bureau. This resulted in us flying via Inglewood to try to sneak around the mountains, but the weather was only getting worse so we had to divert again. We spent our fourth night in Inglewood, less than half an hour from Warwick.

Next morning we stopped in Warwick to pick up a hitch hiker, and tracked via Toowoomba to avoid Amberley Military airspace. We finally made it to Redcliffe, Brisbane, after 5 days and 24 hours of flying!

After a well-deserved sleep-in we started on our journey back home to Bunbury. After checking the satellite weather we had to get going.

The next night we managed to get to Roxby Downs (fewer mice there this time). From there, after 10 hours of flying we made it back to Bunbury. 42 hours, 4365nm, a real cross-country nav!”

Someone is Watching Over You

The water bombers and FESA helicopters based here are a little quieter now. The official bush-fire season is over, although the spotter pilots are still keeping an eye on things. We can’t over emphasise the fantastic job these guys and girls do. Please be aware of the would we be without dangers they face in their daily duties and do your bit to prevent fires.

The Flying Doctor crews have been busy too. These people and the ambulance and medical teams give so much to look after our communities. Where them?

Australia relies heavily on those who dedicate so much to make our remote and vast land the wonderful place it is to live in.

Have You Visited Us Lately?

Bunbury Flying School is constantly evolving. Not only do we have a plane on a pole outside our office, we also have two street lights with propellers attached to them outside now too! These props are huge, they are from a DC4. Watching the guys put the poles and props up was also very entertaining!

We don’t just show you the sights, we also teach you how to fly. Whether you want to fly as a Recreational, Private or Commercial Pilot we can provide the training necessary to achieve these goals.

We also cater for those who want to go for a scenic flight in a gentle 4 seat plane, or a much more adventurous aerobatic flight in our Nanchang CJ-6. You can also have a trial instructional flight where YOU take control!

Gift Vouchers Available Here

Wilbur Wright got it Right

The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our ancestors who, in their grueling travels across trackless lands in prehistoric times, looked enviously on the birds soaring freely through space, at full speed, above all obstacles, on the infinite highway of the air.

- Wilbur Wright

A Bit About the Weather

Rainfall totalled 55.8mm,
Wettest day - Wednesday 27th.
Highest temp -Friday 1st - 30.9oC
Lowest temp - Friday 8th - 6.1oC
Windiest day - Wednesday 27th gusts of 70 kph at 6:35pm
Sunrise now around 6:25am
Sunset now around 5:35pm

• Weather forecasts are horoscopes with numbers.
• Remember, gravity is not just a good idea. It’s the law. And it’s not subject to repeal.
• You know you’ve landed with the wheels up when it takes full power to taxi to the ramp.
• It’s best to keep the pointed end going forward as much as possible.

Bunbury Airport
PO Box 1230
Bunbury, WA 6231

Phone:  08 9725 4145

Fax:  08 9725 7724

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it