TEFC - Flyaway

Merlin Magic 2010

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 05:36:00 +1000

Yes, I know we haven't have the Merlin for a while now, but I just love the name, because at Coomalie Airfield on a cool moonless night surrounded by history, aircraft, friends, music, food and a warm fire it is hard to say that there isn't a little magic in the air.

We may not have fire breathing dragons, but we do have knights of the air and saints on the ground.

It was great to see 3 gyrocopters participate in the event, the storch was given a showing and a variety of recreational aircraft from MKT and beyond came for the event.

Joe came down for the flight after a blown fuel boost pump fuse almost put paid to our journey down on the Sunday morning. It was Joe's first departure from our new bitumen strip which he celebrated with a big Woohoo! as we took off.

A single trike was heading back in the opposite direction from Coomalie as we headed down with air that was nice and smooth, unlike the gales that had been blowing over previous weeks.

As we turned across the airfield, the DC3 stood out at the end of runway 17. Other aircraft including John in the red drifter were in the circuit and wondered what Darwin tower or Brisbane must make of this activity on 126.7 around Coomalie.

After we had landed and parked up, Joe headed off with Christian, another MKT youngster and they had a great time inspecting the DC3 and sharing stories.

After catching up and looking around at all the aircraft we jumped back in and headed back to MKT. A little more wind this time, but Joe really enjoyed the flight as I did.

A big thank you to all who make this event possible - especially Richard Luxton.

Oh, don't forget to check out the newly manicured cricket pitch in the photo album which dates back to the second world war, complete with with sentinel anthills acting as fielders on the pitch.

See you in 2011.

Merlin Magic 2010

I have applied for my first ASIC card

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:51:00 +1000

Seeing as I am going through this process, I thought it best to share it with you... Firstly for those who don't know, it isn't a card that gets you into the Australian Security Investments Commission... but rather

If I may quote from Fact sheet 13 http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/transport/security/aviation/factsheet/fact13.aspx#1

What is an ASIC?
An Aviation Security Identification Card, known as an ASIC, is an identification card which is used to identify a person who has been the subject of a background check. An ASIC is required to obtain unescorted access to the secure areas of security controlled airports that have regular public transport (RPT) services. ASICs are valid for up to two years.

The ASIC scheme is a layer of security that ensures that only people who have been background checked to a certain level are permitted to be in the secure areas of airports. The ASIC scheme aims to reduce the risk of unlawful interference with aviation, not just terrorism.

Why do I want an ASIC? Read on...

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The Litchfield Lap - My Easter Flight and Video

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 05:04:00 +1000

I went for a flight on Easter Sunday and created a kind of travelogue video using my iPod (not iPad) nano and my Nikon D90. I purchased a program that I generally use for developing online learning modules but as it was a new version I decided to try it out, Here is the video...

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Weekend flight around Bynoe Harbour

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:30:00 +1000

Before I start this little story, (for our TEFC club members) don't forget the flyaway to Batchelor and cricket match against the parachutists this coming weekend.

Aerial - Palmerston

During this time of the year the air is clear which makes it perfect for photography before the first fires start turning the top end into dry haze. I took a flight up along the southern coastline of Darwin Harbour where there was a large natural gas storage ship in dock at Wickham Point taking on its cargo of supercooled natural gas bound I guess for Japan. Nearby was our power station located on Channel island.

Aerial - Darwin Harbour Developments and Skyline

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Moon Festival Kununurra Flyaway in May

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:15:00 +1000

For those at the general meeting last Sunday, Steve Allen ran through an ambitous but very doable and enticing flyaway planned for the end of May.

A dry season evening on the banks of the Ord River
– a full moon, good friends, good music, local hooch
– what more could you want?

FLY AWAY to Kununurra
for the
Kimberley Moon Experience

– an outdoor concert headlined by Johnny Farnham.
– the highlight of the two-week-long Ord Valley Muster.

Saturday evening 29 May 2010

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Daly River Flyaway the Saturday

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 07:32:00 +1000

Daly River Flyaway – Sat 8 August (Day trip only)

From MKT to YDMN is about 71nm on magnetic 193 degrees, across the western end of Darwin River Dam and east of the Tabletop Range (Litchfield NP). Coordinates are 13 45.2S 130 41.5E
The airstrip is 800m bitumen, 12/30 and about 70 ft AMSL.

The airstrip is right at the community of Nauiyu with a store and fuel only about 200 metres from the aircraft parking area. It is on the banks of the Daly River and is very pleasant, green and well kept with lots of shade. The store and the fuel bowsers opposite are only open until 1300 on Saturday and not at all on Sunday (hence the Saturday flyaway). Note that there is no Premium unleaded.

If the 50 knot aircraft left at around 0700, they should arrive around 0830, depending upon wind. If the faster aircraft left at around 0730 they should arrive within half hour of the others. There is plenty of interest along the banks of the Daly with farms and cabin parks. Remember if you need unleaded to get it in the morning.

If anyone wishes to overnight, cabins are available at the Daly River Roadhouse, about 2 to 3 km from the airstrip if you walk the track beside the river, or about 4 km by road.

Click on Steve's link below to let him know if you are coming. As it is greater than 50nm, make sure you bring your epirb/plb.

View MKT to Daly River in a larger map

Steve Allen

The Kakadu and Cooinda Flyin Story

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:27:00 +1000

Aerial - Kakadu Cooinda Flyin

With all the things on at the moment I should be working on other things like the open day at MKT Airfield Sunday 23 August (TELL YOUR FRIENDS!!) but I wanted to share the amazing weekend at Cooinda and Kakadu I enjoyed at the end of June. I need to start out with a confession. Prior to this trip I had never been to Kakadu and by road the furtherest my feet have touched earth is Cooinda.

I am not really good at camping. When I was in the army I spent a period of time digging holes in the ground and living on ration packs and carrying my home on my back. I think the experience scarred me for life.

My idea of a camping adventure now is negotiating security and check-in at the airport in sufficient time to set up camp in the Qantas lounge for a little preflight grazing before embarking on my journey.

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Crouching Tiger Moth, Hidden Harvard

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:26:00 +1000

Well the weekend down at Coomalie Airstrip went well. The NT Orienteering Championships went well and I understand that no one was left out there. We headed down in the Drifter early on Sunday morning and with my radio in for repair we used a uniden scanner that had the required frequencies already dialed into memory. With the receiver in the top pocket and the earphones in the ears under the headset now functioning as ear muffs we took off and headed South towards Manton Dam and then onto the rehabilitated woodcutter's mine (over some bushfires on the way)

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Not the Merlin Night - this weekend 4/5 July

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:14:00 +1000

This was posted under a previous posting but here it is again.

From Steve

The Top End Orienteers will be holding their NT Championships over three days on the weekend of 4 and 5 July. yippee!

What does this have to do with us?

They will be hosted by Richard Luxton at his Coomalie Creek property.

The actual Championship run will be around the property on Sunday morning, 5^th July (up in the hills, etc.)

HOWEVER on the afternoon of Saturday 4^th they plan to have World War 2 historical activities including DC3 rides and Richard is hoping that the Harvard and Tiger Moth will attend.

The water bomber will be there and Richard is hoping that someone will arrive in the Yak, as well as mobs of TEFC aircraft.

In the evening the folk band will perform and there will be a moonlight dinner.

Sound familiar? Yes! It’s the new-look

NOT MERLIN NIGHT!

- with all the old familiar stuff (except the Merlin)

. . . so be there!

Info supplied by Steve Allen, your friendly flyaway organiser

For those at the monthly meeting, Richard Luxton made a welcome guest appearence to let us know about the events going on down at Coomalie Airstrip this weekend.

Coomalie Airstrip and the surrounding area has a rich wartime history.

Have a look at what you can see in the area from the air... the township including the historic railway bridges, the cemetary and snake creek historic war buildings.

Click on the highlighted links above to see what you might see.

Here are some previous entries on the event...

TEFC - Merlin Magic 2008

Jul 10, 2008

photos: 103

TEFC - Merlin Magic at Coomalie

Jun 24, 2006

photos: 62

http://www.xsymetrix.com.au/blog/index.cfm/2006/6/27/Landing-for-the-event

The map below shows how to get to the airstrip via road.

View Coomalie in a larger map

Cooinda Flyaway Update - pilots and packhorses

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:02:00 +1000

Here is a list of known participants, aircraft and very approximate times.

Alan and Dianne Xair 0700 0900
Mark Drifter about 1400
Vince and Sam Savannah ? ?
Steve and Liza Jabiru 1400 1500
John and Carmen Texan 1630 1730
Bruce Texan 1630 1730

A few of us will be camping under the wing of our aircraft. Let us know if you are coming along... the more the merrier. steve.allen@live.com.au or markc@xsymetrix.com.au

Greg is driving out and has kindly offered a freight service.

Limited freight service leaving at 1:30pm Saturday from MKT to Cooinda.

Can carry swags, chairs tents etc but weight and volume limited to car and trailer.

First come best dressed but the price is a ride in your right hand or back seat.

Contact gregory.moo@nt.gov.au

Cooinda's mates rates for Territorians

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:39:00 +1000

For those planning on staying at Cooinda for the flyaway - State you are a Territorian and the room will cost 159 per night. The normal rate is quite a lot higher than that.

Fly Neighbourly Documents for the Kakadu Flyaway

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:34:00 +1000

Attached are two pdfs which although dated provide some detail regarding the fly neighbourly agreement in Kakadu. If anyone has anything more recent documents, sent thrm through (or a link) and I will post it.

The Agreement - the text of the agreement (4 pages) with general info plus specific info about each of the six approved low flying scenic routes and a list of no-go spots with their coordinates.

The Map - a map showing the scenic routes and no-go spots.

This is dated 1994. I think this was before the Kakadu big CTAF, so the radio frequency advice is wrong - should use 126.7 all over, not switch to the area frequency as it says.

As always, please refer to ERSA or relevant documentation and do not rely solely on the links here

Kakadu Flyaway - 20/21 June 2009

Sat, 30 May 2009 20:15:00 +1000

We haven't had many flyaways recently for a number of reasons and although I wasn't at the last meeting, Steve was elected "Director - TEFC Flyaways" and immediately set about planning a flyaway. So here are the details from Steve and I'll see you tomorrow at the monthly meeting.

ERSA Links

http://www.gagudjulodgecooinda.com.au/index.htm accomodation links

KAKADU FLYAWAY – 20/21 JUNE

A flyaway to Cooinda is planned for the weekend of 20 and 21 June 2009.

Cooinda is a resort in Kakadu, adjacent to Yellow Waters billabong.

It is proposed to fly in on Saturday and return on Sunday and to use Cooinda as a base for local flights around the wetlands and escarpment country.

Also there are the full facilities of the resort (restaurant, bar, snack bar, swimming pool, etc) and of course cruises on Yellow Waters.

Cooinda has a range of accommodation from motel-style units to camp sites.

I have determined that there are accommodation vacancies on this weekend, however they can get booked out - so book ASAP. There is information on accommodation at the bottom of this message.

Aviation stuff

Cooinda is about 88 nm due east from MKT. It has a wide, long dirt strip and plenty of tie down space. The runway is east-west (09/27). There is a 400m walk from the airstrip to the resort area, which includes mogas fuel bowsers but no avgas.

For those with family members who drive to Cooinda, the airstrip is accessible to private cars by driving along the short dirt track from the resort car park - handy for ferrying jerry cans of fuel from the bowsers to the airstrip. There is also an airport “terminal” - a medium sized shed, but it does provide shade.

For those who need avgas, Jabiru aerodrome is 25 nm to the north east. This is a long bitumen strip, also 09/27. It has a Shell avgas bowser. This can be operated with a Carnet card, or the operator will serve you and you can pay at the desk with cash or credit card.

All comms in the area are on the Kakadu CTAF, which is the multicom frequency – 126.7

There is an FNA for Kakadu (Fly Neighbourly Agreement). This is worth reading before operating in the area. It includes a range of approved low flying scenic routes which the commercial scenic tour operators generally follow – plus information on places to not fly over (such as Jabiru township) and minimum AGL for scenic operations and overflying.

Check ERSA for more detail on the aerodromes and the Kakadu CTAF (for example RH circuits on 27 at Jabiru - in the unlikely event that you have a westerly).

Please call Steve Allen on mobile 04 8811 9692 if you are planning to go or if you just want more info.

Below is a modified extract from the Cooinda accommodation web page:

Located in the heart of the Kakadu National Park, Gagudju Lodge Cooinda offers:

Superior bungalows

48 spacious air-conditioned superior bungalows. The 48 superior bungalows consist of:

· 4 family rooms (1 queen bed, 2 single beds)

· 6 Triple rooms (3 single beds)

· 38 Queen Single rooms (1 queen bed, 1 single bed)

· All rooms can accommodate, with cot and rollaway options, a maximum of 4 people.

Outback dorms

Gagudju Lodge Cooinda also offers 24 outback dorms:

· 4 double rooms (one double bed)

· 4 triple rooms (bunks and single)

· 16 twin rooms (bunk beds)

These rooms feature light bedding (sheets and pillows, no towels or blankets), air conditioning, coin-operated barbecue and eating area (enclosed with shared refrigerator), shared bathroom and toilet facilities.

Camping ground and caravan park
With full use of all leisure facilities, the camping ground and caravan park provides facilities for all travellers on any budget: independent group, backpacker, family and outdoor enthusiasts alike. It contains:

· 80 powered sites

· 300 unpowered sites

8979 0145 or email reservations@gagudjulodgecooinda.com.au

Fly Neighbourly Advice for Kakadu National Park - Correct as at 12 June 2009 [DO NOT RELY ON THIS AFTER THIS FLYAWAY - LINK TO ERSA INSTEAD] http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/publications/pending/ersa/GUID_ersa-fac-2-4_4-Jun-2009.pdf

TEFC - Flyaway

Merlin Magic 2010

I have applied for my first ASIC card

The Litchfield Lap - My Easter Flight and Video

Weekend flight around Bynoe Harbour

Moon Festival Kununurra Flyaway in May

FLY AWAY to Kununurra for the Kimberley Moon Experience

Daly River Flyaway the Saturday

The Kakadu and Cooinda Flyin Story

Crouching Tiger Moth, Hidden Harvard

Not the Merlin Night - this weekend 4/5 July

Cooinda Flyaway Update - pilots and packhorses

Cooinda's mates rates for Territorians

Fly Neighbourly Documents for the Kakadu Flyaway

Kakadu Flyaway - 20/21 June 2009

KAKADU FLYAWAY – 20/21 JUNE

FLY AWAY to Kununurra
for the
Kimberley Moon Experience