Up at 0500 hours; delay in getting taxi; hundreds of citizens up attending dawn ANZAC Day services; out at Darwin airport before dawn; microlight hangared with Canadian Helicopter Company (now just CSC- largest helicopter operators in world) courtesy of Peter and his great team.
Huge thanks for wonderful hospitality and support provided by the CHDC teams at both Darwin and Truscott- thanks guys- you are all wonderful people…
Prepped aircraft and waited as two huge Super Puma choppers departed ahead of us, taking riggers to oilfields etc.
Choppers carry 18 people, and for you anoracks about helicopters, their tail rotor unit, just there to stop the body of the machine spinning, uses as much horsepower as the main engine of a Bell Jet Ranger chopper- impressive hey?!
Slight delay getting flight clearance, then off into quite strong head winds, heading South-East across vast expanse of Northern Territory; great to be flying again, but very aware huge responsibility/challenge trying to reach Sydney by Sunday evening, as bank event planned for Monday lunch-time, also Sunrise national breakfast television programme expecting us Monday morning!
Some 2,000 miles of very barren, inhospitable terrain separating us from end of our flight across half the world, both aware the most challenging time still before us.
Refuelled at Tyndale, just passed Catherine around midday; deserted due to ANZAC Day, apart from Andrew, great Australian Flying Doctor, having day off servicing his aircraft- organised fuel for us quickly.
Andrew doing great work amongst Aboriginal Communities spread far and wide across this region; life expectancy 17 years less than other Australians; 50% over 35 have diabetes, due to dietary and lifestyle problems; hugely impressed by his commitment to help them all.
Both Richard and I very concerned by severe head winds encountered; only averaging about 45 MPH in severe turbulence at times flying around 5,000 feet.
Andrew suggested we fly higher; took off and climbed to over 10,000 feet through heavy turbulence at times; average ground speed increased to early 60’s MPH; better, but still too slow for our needs… Also made us cold, with low temperatures of only around 10 degrees buffeting us continually for hours!
Have to follow main road, 10,000 feet down below us, as too dangerous to fly over barren Northern Territory; even where scattered cattle ranches exist, some as big as 1,0000 square kilometres; mostly very arid terrain; very unforgiving if forced down there with engine failure.
Kept upwind of road far below, so, if engine failure occurs, able to glide to road where people and help available.
Our whole flight over barren centre of Australia needs to be following only roads for this reason.
Have been following road that leads to Alice Springs, but have turned east on new heading.
Were hoping to reach Tenant Creek, but, due to headwinds and turbulence running low on fuel; flying for over seven hours today; decided to land on main road outside roadside pub at place called Rimmers Springs; flew low first, confirming petrol station there for refuelling in morning; only an hour before sunset and darkness. Checked no big cattle trains anywhere in sight, then landed on main road; common thing for microlight pilots to do in back of beyond, when no airstrip around! Taxied into parking space outside pub; total population of Rimmer Springs about 16 people I understand; most of them temporary working at pub or roadhouse as they call it, catering for passing traffic from Darwin (about 900 KM away).
People came out to meet us- amazed we “just dropped in for a beer and a bed for the night!
Neil, New Zealander working there saw us on TV last night; was yelling at staff to come outside when we first flew over, telling them he was sure that must be that blind pilot man flying from London… Told them; “why doesn’t he land here instead of flying on…”; then we banked, returned and landed; small world!
Lots of pictures with staff standing by plane in parking place; more when refuelling at petrol station attached to pub.
Another driver amazed to find aircraft lining up behind him for fuel; amazed to hear we had flown all the way from Darwin- no, we said, London! Total disbelief about latter, after scepticism about first place; ended up giving us donation for our flight!Met Adrian and Colleen from Johannesburg South Africa passing through and others; all amazed to see microlight on roadside and fuelling up!
Received two more donations in bar later, one from pub staff; very, very generous and kind people, touched by reason for flight.
Had early meal, as both very tired and needing rest.
Richard particularly concerned by huge distances ahead of us, and minute time frame to achieve it.
Decided all we could do is our best, with Richard asking any interested supporters to please stop the wind blowing- would help enormously he said!
Richard showed me huge map of Australia painted on big wall in pub; awesome distances!
Best bet is to head for East Coast around Brisbane if possible, as, seeking route over central Australia and high mountain ranges in hot, extremely turbulent conditions very unwise- we both agree!
Walking to our cabin room just now, Richard took me to see size of the two road train truck units parked by microlight; three semi-trailers, each 40 feet long, carrying 30 ton loads per trailer; over all length well over 150 feet; 32 wheels each- massive!
Good plan to be up at dawn and take off before they start populating the road as well. No problem actually, as very straight road with great vies. In both directions!
First time I have had the opportunity to “drop in” for a pint- somehow think we will be doing more of it in the outback, and quite normal we are told!
Took brief video clip of landing this evening; will try to get take off tomorrow as well, so you can see what it feels like!