Flying Around Melbourne (Lots of Pictures)
Discussion
Whilst on holiday in Oz I wanted to take the opportunity to go flying in the nice weather. Although I'm not a qualified PPL, I have completed all of the flying syllabus apart from the final GFT. I am far from current (last flew 5 years ago), but was reasonably confident I'd remember a lot of what to do. So I rocked up at Moorabbin airfield yesterday (absolutely HUGE General Aviation airfield in the south of Melbourne) with log book and some ID in hand hoping to convince someone in The Royal Victorian Aero Club that I wasn't a terrorist and could I please book an aircraft and an instructor and see if I can remember how to fly an aeroplane.
Well, they could not have been more accommodating and friendly. Within a short time I had been assigned an aircraft, an instructor, and thrown the keys to a gorgeous low hours Cessna 172SP. I pointed out that I had never flown a 172 before, all my learning was on a 152 but the instructor said I'd be fine, it's a lot more stable its just some of the numbers are a bit different. Oh, and it has a fuel injected engine, so no messing about with carb heat is required.
Whilst I clambered about on the wings checking fuel, Milad the instructor completed the rest of the walk around and untied her. Within a very short time we were on board, engine started and Milad just turned to me and said "off you go then".
It was at this point it dawned on me that he really was taking me at my word, and having not looked at my log book to confirm if I really had the hours I claimed, and having been told I have not flown a 172 before and nor had I any familiarity with Moorabbin or its procedures, I was in command and he was leaving it to me to get the thing airborne.
At that point we quickly established that he needed to at least tell me what to do and make the radio calls. Moorabbin is extremely busy with multiple runways in operation and several tower and ground radio frequencies. So Milad took care of the radio initially and I concentrated on the run up, pre flight checks and very soon we were airborne.
We pootled around for a bit, taking in the view. It was a gorgeous day, great vis and very smooth. Milad got me to do some steep turns and a bit of slow flight, then suggested we could track the coast up towards the city and he'd contact ATC and ask permission to enter controlled airspace so that we could do some orbits of the city itself.
Here we are holding just off of the coast by Albert Park, waiting to get a word in with Essendon Airport to request permission to enter their controlled airspace ahead.
Permission granted, we go ahead and complete a couple of orbits of the city.
Inbound to the city.
Yarra River bisecting the city.
Etihad Stadium
Eureka Skydeck 88. Highest viewing platform in the southern hemisphere, outer walls covered in gold leaf.
Central Business District.
The MCG, Rod Laver Tennis Arena and Olympic Park.
Flinders Street Station, St.Pauls Cathedral and Federation Square with Melbourne Tourist Information Center:
City orbits completed, we headed back down the cost towards Brighton Marina.
Then Milad suggested I try a couple of circuits (what a trusting chap!) so we headed back to Moorabbin.
Must confess to being a bit nervous at this stage but everything went well. Milad told me a couple of numbers and was completely hands off as we completed a couple of circuits before a final full stop landing.
All in all, an absolutely superb hour of flying. A fantastic experience.
Edit: Back in the UK, I have re-uploaded the pics. Hopefully they work now.
Well, they could not have been more accommodating and friendly. Within a short time I had been assigned an aircraft, an instructor, and thrown the keys to a gorgeous low hours Cessna 172SP. I pointed out that I had never flown a 172 before, all my learning was on a 152 but the instructor said I'd be fine, it's a lot more stable its just some of the numbers are a bit different. Oh, and it has a fuel injected engine, so no messing about with carb heat is required.
Whilst I clambered about on the wings checking fuel, Milad the instructor completed the rest of the walk around and untied her. Within a very short time we were on board, engine started and Milad just turned to me and said "off you go then".
It was at this point it dawned on me that he really was taking me at my word, and having not looked at my log book to confirm if I really had the hours I claimed, and having been told I have not flown a 172 before and nor had I any familiarity with Moorabbin or its procedures, I was in command and he was leaving it to me to get the thing airborne.
At that point we quickly established that he needed to at least tell me what to do and make the radio calls. Moorabbin is extremely busy with multiple runways in operation and several tower and ground radio frequencies. So Milad took care of the radio initially and I concentrated on the run up, pre flight checks and very soon we were airborne.
We pootled around for a bit, taking in the view. It was a gorgeous day, great vis and very smooth. Milad got me to do some steep turns and a bit of slow flight, then suggested we could track the coast up towards the city and he'd contact ATC and ask permission to enter controlled airspace so that we could do some orbits of the city itself.
Here we are holding just off of the coast by Albert Park, waiting to get a word in with Essendon Airport to request permission to enter their controlled airspace ahead.
Permission granted, we go ahead and complete a couple of orbits of the city.
Inbound to the city.
Yarra River bisecting the city.
Etihad Stadium
Eureka Skydeck 88. Highest viewing platform in the southern hemisphere, outer walls covered in gold leaf.
Central Business District.
The MCG, Rod Laver Tennis Arena and Olympic Park.
Flinders Street Station, St.Pauls Cathedral and Federation Square with Melbourne Tourist Information Center:
City orbits completed, we headed back down the cost towards Brighton Marina.
Then Milad suggested I try a couple of circuits (what a trusting chap!) so we headed back to Moorabbin.
Must confess to being a bit nervous at this stage but everything went well. Milad told me a couple of numbers and was completely hands off as we completed a couple of circuits before a final full stop landing.
All in all, an absolutely superb hour of flying. A fantastic experience.
Edit: Back in the UK, I have re-uploaded the pics. Hopefully they work now.
Edited by mattdaniels on Thursday 5th April 05:13
Hmmm you're not the first person to say that. Not sure what's going on, I just used the standard PH uploader to Thumbsnap and I can see the pics in the thread and so can my Oz host on his computer. Maybe something is affecting the bit of wet string between Oz and the rest of the interweb.
I'd like to see them at least, so please do!
Now I have my ticket, have been thinking about similar things and how feasible it would be to go for a flight if and when I happened to be in some far-flung corner of the world - I'm guessing that unless I wanted to go through the expense and rigmarole of club membership/check flight etc., would have to have an instructor with me, but that's no biggie as far as I am concerned...
Now I have my ticket, have been thinking about similar things and how feasible it would be to go for a flight if and when I happened to be in some far-flung corner of the world - I'm guessing that unless I wanted to go through the expense and rigmarole of club membership/check flight etc., would have to have an instructor with me, but that's no biggie as far as I am concerned...
I'd say go for it. Seriously. I am not qualified, I just paid the wet hire + instructor rate and could not log it as P/UT as I had a friend in the back taking pics. Fantastic experience and flying over Melbourne has really re-energised my enthusiasim for learning about signal squares and flares and how to pass Air Law 
Puggit said:
Piccy no worky - in IE or Firefox 
Ali Chappussy said:
No piccies for me either.
Vieste said:
Me no see any pictures
Hopefully the pics are working now.
Also here is a quick video of one of the T&Gs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0p21q0xgVQ&fea...
Also here is a quick video of one of the T&Gs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0p21q0xgVQ&fea...
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