GAAR 2020 Leg#1 Darwin to Tindal
WHAT? Rainy weather and cold.. and that in Darwin? I thought we are in sunny Australia? But of course we are curious about GAAR 2020 in any weather!
As you can see, our two discarded B-25s are ready to fly. It was quite a bit of work!
The B-25 is one of the most dazzling birds ever built. In WW2 the "Mitchell" fought from the Northern Pacific to the South Pacific and the Far East. Many stories are related to the famous twin-engine "Mitchell", which got its epithet in honor of General William Mitchell.
Some history..
Shortly after take off from RAAF Base Darwin on April 5, 1943, a B-25 Mitchell Bomber crashed off-shore in Darwin, killing two Australian and three Dutch airmen on board. The wreckage, 800 metres off the coast of Nightcliff is still visible today during extremely low tides.
It is five o'clock in the morning, but a few daring visitors cannot miss the fun!
The first stage leads us to the RAAF Base Tindal, a few kilometers outside the village of Katherine on the Stuart Highway! About 285 kilometers southeast of Darwin!
As usual, there are some rare flying specialties!
Thom is still fueling his machine..
.. while I set up in the brand new cockpit!
Engine start!
I don't have much practice yet, so I monitor the engine instruments very carefully! The displayed values are correct and I am happy!
Ready for a taxi! The Fairey IIIF on the left belongs to a multi-millionaire from scotland.. that's why I let him go first! You never know!
Via a jumble of taxiways I reach the "Stop Bar" on runway 11 and make some noise!
Engine run-up!
Ready for departure!
I use 2600RPM and 44 in MAP, 1/4 flaps and cowling gills open.. The instruments spin up.. releasing the brakes and accelerate!
Pulling the stick slightly at around 65 knots. The front wheel will lift off and the rest will fly at around 100 knots..
After cleaning up, climbing at 2400 RPM and 34 in Map and..
.. 1100 fpm in climb, results in approx. 140 knots IAS
Once at cruising altitude, I set 2000 RPM, and adjusting MAP for 170-175 kts IAS. Mixture is set short to peak.
At 7000 ft cruising altitude this results in approx. 189 knots groundspeed.. without wind. A little gimmick..
Then adjust the seat and enjoy the flight!
The weather is improving and I'm in the Adelaide River village area. It is located on the south bank of the river of the same name, 114 kilometers south of Darwin.
Adelaide River emerged as the relay station of the Trans-Australian Telegraph Line, to which the Stuart Highway was created in parallel.
About 20 miles before Tindal-Airfield I start my descent to 2000 feet AMSL and reduce my speed to 150 knots IAS.
Katherine
The city is located approximately 317 km southeast of Darwin on the Stuart Highway. It lies on the former North Australian Railway and the current Central Australian Railway. Nearby is the Nitmiluk National Park and the world famous Katherine Gorge!
Of course.. thick and low rain clouds cover the Tindal airfield!
A little zigzag and I follow the lefthand downwind approach to runway 32
A final curve to final approach 32
The last checks are done, height and speed are right.. that doesn't look bad!
Great approach! It really brings joy!
Perfectly successful!
GAAR-parking.. very well organized!
Even better!!
I see, the competition doesn't sleep!
End point for today!
In the meantime Thom has also arrived and I am excited to hear his report!!
Where can you do that better than in a cozy marquee? With a few drinks, of course!
Some history ..
The airfield was built in 1942 and was known as Carson's Airfield during the Pacific War. In the decades after the war, it was expanded for civilian flight operations. In 1984 the government decided to set up an air force base in Katherine, which was then named after Archibald R. Tindal.
Of course, some facilities are closed to visitors. But a little look is not forbidden.
Aha.. a C-130 and cargo.. that's all we can see. The rest of the facility is top secret!
Anyway.. we have a marquee for that, we're in a good mood, hungry and especially thirsty..
The GAAR 2020 is already in full swing.. as always!
Cheers
....
