Sunday 25 October 2015

Saturday 24th October

Another beautiful morning in Central Otago, with ideal flying conditions. Dave King was busy getting the Control tower operational again before the Rally, and taking to the air himself. Today I was flying a route that I have flown since 1975.

As a young Commercial pilot, I was always told to look after your passengers. They pay your wages.

I found that knowing the history of the land you were flying over, and being able to throw in a few local stories, was my way of making their flight enjoyable.

Heading out of Alexandra, the gold dredging, Frasers Dam and the Clyde Dam always provides a good subject for a commentary. However, there are a few stories to be told about our destination, the Cromwell Aerodrome.



We have all seen the 45 Parallel sign on highway 6. If you head north off runway 36 for 2700nm, you will be at the Equator, head south for the same 2700nm and you are standing on the South Pole.

But did you know that if you head West for 70nm, you will be standing on the beach on the West Coast, and head East for the same 70nm, and you are on the beach on the East Coast. And where is the further most point in New Zealand from the ocean? Yes, you guest it, the Cromwell Aerodrome. Well, almost. It is a point less than 1nm to the East.





The Royal Throne


In the early 1960’s the Queen visited New Zealand. After a reception in Dunedin, she was flown by the Airforce to spend time in Queenstown. The old landing strip at Queenstown was too short to land the DC3, so the plane landed at the Cromwell Aerodrome and she was transported by car to Queenstown.

A rabbiter on a paddock near the aerodrome, watched as the plane landed and taxi-ed to the waiting Rolls. Before getting into the car, the woman from the plane disappeared into the hut near by. After a short time, she re-appeared and was escorted into the waiting car.

While nobody will confirm it, but it is believed that the long-drop toilet in the building is the only time such a toilet has been used by Royalty, at least in New Zealand.




Happy Flying

Stephen Morton

Friday 23 October 2015

18th and 22nd October 2015

Sunday 18th was too windy to fly. Instead we did some maintenance: Adding new shock rope, changing oil on winch, and draft-sealing JW canopy, plus a clean of car and winch engine bays. Rabbit holes got another filling...Thanks to all the helpers (Roland, Phil, JR, Pete, Roy and Doug)


22nd looked like a good thermal day. Gary aerotowed Phil and John into a nicely unstable sky. Soaring was pretty good although the wind affected the thermals in places and high cloud came and went. John flew to Rock and Pillar Range. Phil and John both flew about 3.5hrs and reached good heights (9000' in places). Thanks to Roy for wing-running and Gary for tows.

Monday 12 October 2015

Gliding 11th October 2015

Only John wanting to fly so we decided to try one winch launch (the day didn't look that great...). Then Derek Emeny arrived, helping John rig KG. Derek is a long time glider pilot and used to own a PZL Cobra, He was keen for a flight in JW if it was soarable. So John launched, climbing in weak thermals and finally reaching the wave after some time. Meanwhile Phil and Derek got JW out, John returned to earth from 13000' to backseat in JW.

Thin snow on the hills now spring is here. Old Man Range etc. from 12000'

This time the sky was quieter but despite reaching over 5000' a couple of times they were unable to contact the wave. However Derek had 1 hour plus soaring and very much enjoyed the flight. Hopefully we'll see him clocking up some more JW time soon.
Thanks to Phil for the 2 launches.

Mt Aspiring trip (Stephen Morton)

One of the joys of living in Central Otago, is easy access to the Southern Alps.  Saturday was one of those outstanding days.  Clear visibility for at least 100km in all directions, and not a lot of wind.  By 10.00am, I had refuelled and heading for Cromwell.  My brother Peter was to come with me, but had been called away to fix an irrigation problem.  Getting airborne again, we headed up the valley, climbing to 6500ft over Wanaka.  The radio was full of chatter, but I managed to get in a position report and let the Jump plane know where I was before he released his load.  
 
The Fiordland CFZ starts at the Matukituki river, so on to 119.2 and another position report.  By now we are cleared to climb to 10,000ft.  Leaning the fuel mix again ERW is hard pushed to make that height, with such a clear day, the view is simply magic.  It is always a good idea to have an escape route whenever mountain flying.  I have had experiences of dropping several thousand feet flying round Mt. Cook and Mt. Aspiring. The wind was around 10 to 15kts and from the west.  So most of the sight seeing will be from the Western side today. Avoid the lee side. 


 
The south side of Aspiring is almost vertical for 2000ft or more.  And the snow field along side it is something else. For me, this is the flight that I always recommend if you want to show NZ to your visitors.
 
Heading back to Cromwell and through Wanaka was straight forward.  Plenty of activity their on a Saturday morning.  Landing on our strip on the Sugarloaf also proved interesting.  By now the model planes were out in force and the local helicopters seem to be busy with the heli-bike tours onto the Pisa Range. 
 
Alexandra was a little quiet with a changeable wind, but Dave Mitchell taxi-ed out to do some circuit practice just as I was leaving.
 
Happy flying
Stephen Morton