The day began with an 8.30am departure from Bathurst airport, clear blue skies and a 10 knot headwind at 8500 feet. Twenty five minutes later passing Cowra the talk on Melbourne Centre was repeatedly about multiple vfr radar paints converging on Temora, as the the controller said " a lot of vfr aircraft plus some !". At 40miles to run Centre advised there were 30 vfr aircraft converging and within 20 miles of Temora. Jenny had wisely chosen to fly home and let me deal with the traffic at Temora!
Switching to the Temora airport frequency the inbound and circuit calls were almost nonstop with a mixture of singles, twins and jets coming from all directions, almost impossible to get your mind around where they all were.Joining overhead and descending on the dead side for runway 18 we were both scanning every which way, Arrow behind us, Gulfstream jet also passing behind for another runway, about six in the circuit. Did an extended downwind and turned base number 4, and hello, someone else on final having done a straight in approach (unannounced), powered up a little and did another mini downwind to join base, number 5. On short final, watching the gulfstream landing on the intersecting runway, it pulls up OK and we are on the ground, short run through and exit into the parking area with efficient marshals showing the way. Avionics off,mixture full lean, engine stopped - phew, good to be in the parking area.
Flying display started at 11am and finished at 3pm with the Sabre and a visiting F18 hornet putting on a spectacular finale display. The RAAF commentator explains that the Hornet pilot's helmet actually beams all the key flight data directly into the pilots right eye so he can see it all the time. It also aims the weapons wherever he is looking! The hornet display is at half its maximum speed to avoid shattering windows. If breaking glass was not a consideration the Hornet could get back to Williamtown in 12 minutes! It took us 60 minutes back to Bathurst at 140knots.
Jenny took us home after an enjoyable flying day.
 |
| Temora Sept09 |
