Post by uhug on Mar 14, 2015 14:45:20 GMT
GAAR 2015
Flight 14
Goulburn Island Croker Island
After a short rest here at Goulburn Island, I’m ready to proceed with flight number 14. Its quite a short flight so my cruising altitude will be 2500ft AMSL only.
Still owning 3500lt of gasoline and some cargo, my TOW amounts to 11.4 tons.
All set in the cockpit, so lets make..
.. a backtrack to runway 10..
.. and soon after, a dusty take off roll!
Some crosswind from the right with 9kts and at 2:47am Zulu (10:47am local time) airborne again!
After gaining a save altitude and climb speed..
.. turning right for my course 291°. Below the village of Warruwi.
Westbound – the Arafura sea..
.. and a stunning mix of natural landscapes..
.. with sweeping marshlands, harbouring an abundance of wildlife. Mount Norris Bay just in front of me!
Croker Island is well known for its richness in fish. Barramundi, Crayfish and other species!Turning into a long final for runway 31
On a mid final runway 31. ‘Fly Tiwi’ offers a daily schedule flight service from Darwin to Croker Island and as well as a number to other remote Arnhem Land airfields.
A nice long and wide runway to land on!
Jamming on to the pedal and swinging around..
.. into the small ramp! I feel hungry!!
GAAR 2015
Flight 15
Croker Island to Snake Bay
Today, looks like, I’m busy all the times! As the C-117 is nearly empty, I was asked to load some small cargo for Snake bay! They call this SMALL? My TOW rises up to 11.6 tons and the outside temperature is high as 36°C !!
Quick calculation: With that weight, I need 1304m for the take off roll – and Croker Islans owns a comfortable 1438m dry sandy runway! OK – cargo is accepted!
Cheerio and Au revoir!
Taxiing to the take off point..
.. and I will use every millimeter of the runway!
Mates, you should hear the roar!
It takes a while until lift-off – You can’t beat a fine calculation tool!
As soon as possible, turning onto my course!
Shortly after, I’m about to reach the Cobourg Peninsula ~350km east of Darwin.
The Penisula is deeply indented with coves and bays and covers a land area of about 20,000 km²
While overflying the Dundas Strait, it connects the Arafura Sea to the Van Diemen Gulf, I met this fleet of tankers – where are they bound for?
The Tiwi Islands are part of the Northern Territory, to the north of Darwin where the Arafura Sea joins the Timor Sea..
.. they comprise Melville Island, Bathurst Island, and nine smaller uninhabited islands, with a combined area of 80,000 square kilometres.
This must be the ‘Jessie River’. A fishing paradise: Mangrove jack fish and Barras etc. Hmmmm !!
Nice to have – a straight-in-approach to runway 31
Final check done, Gear down – lets hope for a good time!
Trees!
Full flaps!
Phew! – that was a hard landing!
Check after landing – my time is definitely nailed down! Target: 36.66, my time: 36.69 !!!!!!!!!!!
Helping hands for off-loading the freight!
And then I heard Thom’s voice! “USAF 8056, final runway 31”..
Ah, there he comes.. lets have a look, how he is managing the final and landing!
Not bad, and no trimming trees!
Firm but fair!
Welcome pal!
He became persuaded to load some cargo as well! Haha!
Did I say "last BBQ?"
Crazy Snake Bay! A big party after 6pm! Firework and BBQ, with all the frills!
After a hard working day, Thom and I enjoying some nice cold Chardonnay!
Well, I think a grilled Barra would be fine for dinner! It’s a good life here!
Rob??