what experiences you’ve given me
in the outback! Lots f lown together,
others I read about, but particularly
the opportunity to test all those local
brews for impurities. You’ve got me
and no doubt plenty of others off
the couch and into the joys of f lying,
finally now with my PPL. Can’t wait
for the next chapter.”See you out there
Well, I’ll sign off now. Thanks
to our editor Hitch, for agreeing
so graciously to the ultimate
leave pass. With his engaging
and insightful journalism, how
lucky are we to have him steering
this magazine? So thanks forall the random "Hellos" over the
radio and the chats at remote
aerodromes. Always f lying a
Curtis C182 makes life very social,
I’ve found, with so many ex-Curtis
students now working around the
country, who recognise BMX and
BXO instantly.
May that all continue, as I am
hoping this decision will allow
me more time in the air. I plan
on doing loads more f lying,
until my various joints beg for
mercy or render me lame. In
the diary this winter, we have a
Kimberley/NT safari planned to
try out some new destinations,
including Shandonvale Station,
Bullo River and Davidsons
Arnhemland Lodge. Then we’re
heading to Oshkosh, and a five-
day f loat plane course in Super
Cubs in Alaska.
On the working side, I want
to stay focussed and be the best
instructor I can be. Catherine
and I are about to take WardAir
semi-outback for a week up to
the Coonabarabran Aero Club,
where we’ll base ourselves to train
some local pilots. After that, we’re
leading four aircraft across the
Nullarbor to Perth and back. I’ll
keep posting news on these air
adventures on Facebook and my
website, if you want to keep track.
OK, you know the drum. Get
that diary out and start planning.
Happy f lying, stay safe and see
you out there.
E: [email protected]
W: f lyingtheoutback.com.auAUSTRALIAN FLYING July – August 201822 Destinations australianflying.com.au
have to be red dirt. Whether it’s
overf lying the Bay of Fires in
Tassie or following the Tanami
Track through the NT, it’s all
signature Australia.
You’ll f ly low, f ly high, then
somewhere in between, always
seeking out those tailwinds.
I find myself staring down at
a remote homestead, the roof
shining silver in blistering heat,
wondering what life is like for
these resilient Australians.
It’s even better with music. A
favourite playlist never sounds so
good as when it’s coming through
your headset at 5500 feet. Thank
you Bose, I love you.
Over the Simpson Desert, you’ll
see pools of water which aren’t
there. Over Bass Strait, you’ll be
certain your engine has developed
a cough. (You might want to pause
the soundtrack for this bit!) It’s all
character building ... but nothing
that can’t be fixed with a freezing
G&T at the other end.
On that topic, Rossy has just
sent me a little note: “Shell, as you
wrap up your last story for AF ...Brakes, undercarriage, carby
heat, throttle, f laps, engine,
clear. Repeat. Now let’s get onto
downwind. I’d say them out loud
to keep me distracted from the
fact my stomach was three city
blocks behind the car.
I finally got the hang. But here’s
my answer. Number one: stay
current. And if you’re not current,
then grab an instructor until you
feel comfortable. Then, for the first
couple of safaris, don’t try and be a
hero and work it all out yourself. I
certainly didn’t. I f lew my first five
outback safaris being led by Stawell
Aviation, the first being up to the
Kimberley, during which time
I was a sponge, absorbing every
word and following every cue from
veteran outback pilot, Graeme
Boatman in the lead aircraft.
With each trip, I’d ask endless
questions but gradually found I
was making fewer mistakes, until
I felt confident enough to organise
my own.
Get a taste of f lying the outback
and you’ll never look back. And
for the record, my outback doesn’tAir adventurers making themselves at home
on the Adels Grove strip, far NW Queensland.“ Get a taste of lying the outback
and you’ll never look back”
The magnicent MacDonnell Ranges in the NT.JACK HORTON