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News from Lake Cargelligo |
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Dan Nickens - May 18,2007
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News from Lake Cargelligo<br />Dateline: May 19, 2007<br /><br />Down Under News - Spotty reports are coming in about the fates of a flight of small experimental aircraft headed for Lake Cargelligo, Australia. North American sources have now learned that all the air crew have survived and are resting comfortably in a somewhat shabby old hotel.<br /><br />The aircraft, a flight of SeaRey amphibians, left the Bankstown airport Friday afternoon in route to Lake Cargelligo as part of a cross continent trek. The first day of flight pummeled the small craft with ferocious winds and scattered rain showers. After a greatly delayed launch time, the intrepid fliers managed only to cross the Blue Mountains for a relieved let down at a small, obscure outback town.<br /><br />The epic flight, dubbed the Great Australian SeaRey Adventure v 2.0, was scheduled to land at Lake Cargelligo on the first day. Instead, they found themselves a four or five hour flight away, victims of time and weather.<br /><br />Wicked weather has haunted this GASA, as it did the first. After a decade of severe drought, a huge area of rain moved into the flight path on the day of departure. The flight was forced to wait at the Bankstown Airport near Sydney and evaluate the prospects for flight. “It was like getting a consensus from a debating club,” the flight leader is reported to have lamented. At 1300 hours the gaggle decided to have a “look see.”<br /><br />They apparently liked what they saw, at least initially. Through widely scattered showers they scaled the coastal mountains. The Blue Mountains are locally known to pilots as “Tiger Country” because of the airplane unfriendly terrain.<br /><br />It was over the mountains that the wind whipped them into a flying frenzy. With ground speeds averaging 25 knots, the little craft were tossed to and fro like kids’ kites. Patches of rain wrecked havoc with the formations. Several craft were heard radioing “lost contact!” and “I can’t see you,” “where are you?” and “Take me to your leader!” The sighting of a small interior landing strip known only to the flight leader, Commander Rob, was a welcome relief.<br /><br />Relief was short lived. The wild winds whipped across the runway at an awkward angle. The craft struggled to get down safely. One did not. A wheel let go on touchdown, sending the aircraft careening across a ditch. All aboard survived and the gear has already been repaired at a local welding shop.<br /><br />Excitement is nothing new for some of these Aussie airmen. Two of the crew, Kyle and Adrian Gardner, crossed over the notorious Bass Strait in their light amphibian to join the GASA air circus. The Tasmanian sea is renowned for its treacherous nature and yachtsmen world wide give it fair respect.<br /><br />The crew of adventurers is reportedly sleeping well tonight in an old hotel far from Lake Cargelligo. Rain that plagued the first day’s flight is expected to continue. The only good news is that with Lake Cargelligo at historic low levels (max depth 3’), the rain may offer future hope of liquid landings.<br /><br />The adventure will likely continue tomorrow.<br /><br />
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Kenneth Leonard - May 18,2007
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I was wondering 'where in the world is Dan?' and was missing reading about your annual summer fling.
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Jon Ladd - May 18,2007
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Dan, Since this doesn't take place until tomorrow (May 19) maybe Rob can reconsider the departure. <br />Ken, Dan is still lurking in Central Florida.
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Dave Lima - May 18,2007
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Ah.... but it is ' tomorrow ' in Australia.
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Dan Nickens - May 18,2007
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It's true, Ken, that I'm still lurking around Florida. It is equally true, Dave, that it is 15 hours in the future in Australia as compared to Florida. All I'm doing is reporting 'the news, fair and balanced, so you can decide.' Yeah, right.
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Frank A. Carr - May 18,2007
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I visited Rob in Sydney in February. The Bankstown Airport is kinda different; it has 3 runways--all parallel.
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Dan Nickens - May 19,2007
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Wandering SeaReys Waylaid<br /><br />Dateline Lake Cargelligo<br />May 20, 2007<br /><br />The flock of migrating SeaReys was waylaid again yesterday. Despite an improvement in the weather, Thursday’s mechanical woes were revisited. The planned arrival at Lake Cargelligo has now been postponed indefinitely.<br /><br />After a night of furious wind and rain, the adventurous crew once again prepared for a departure westward into the weakening wind. It was decided that the stricken but repaired aircraft should have the first go for departure. Taxiing across a rough patch of ground, the new weld failed abruptly, aborting the day’s plan.<br /><br />When confronted with the broken parts, the original welder confessed that he had improperly repaired the wheel spindle. “I should have cooled it quickly in water. Instead it cooled slowly and turned brittle.” The confession did little to mollify the angry mob of SeaRey gurus. Instead, the disgruntled group marched across the street to a guy with a TIG welder for a proper repair.<br /><br />Nursing the new repair, the twice bitten SeaRey managed to get off quite nicely. The others quickly followed in sequence.<br /><br />Departure came too late for the planned flight to Lake Cargelligo. Instead the flight diverted to Mudgee where the group was joined by another flight that had just made Cargelligo an hour earlier, only to be re-directed by the day’s events.<br /><br />The day was not without aeronautical controversy. The group’s most experienced military formation flier is an advocate of a traditional up-stepped echelon right formation. Advocating for a down stepped left echelon formation is the modern position. “Up stepped right is for old codgers,” a shrill modernist howled over a frosty mug. “The only proper way to fly it is down left,” a grizzled veteran countered, tossing back a pint of bitter.<br /><br />A compromise position has been proposed. One SeaRey flier suggested “We should all just learn to love each other and fly right straight around square in a circle.” Skeptical wingmen pointed out that was “just the alcohol talking, or maybe he's having a flashback from his hippie days.”<br /><br />Tonight there are nine GASA SeaReys slumbering peacefully in anticipation of another most excellent adventure on the morrow.<br />
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Dan Nickens - May 21,2007
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Dateline Cessnock, New South Wales<br />Tuesday, May 22, 2007<br /><br />“Another amazing day” is the way the GASA leader described yesterday’s SeaRey frolics. The folks in Mudgee have a different perspective. “This matter is under investigation,” Mudgee law enforcement agents are saying.<br /><br />Flight logs show that the SeaRey flight passed over great mountains, long lakes and rugged scenery after departing Mudgee. “It was a day of sharp contrasts,” SeaRey Admiral Rob Loneragan reported. “The world's canvas was brilliant under blue skies, awash with calm air, covering terrain unblemished by human meddling.”<br /><br />“That is not to say there were not adrenaline filled moments,” he added. Without a doubt operating the light aircraft over remote terrain engendered its share of excitement. There were close calls and spirited discussions among the crew. It all ended well, however, with nine SeaReys parked at the Cessnock aerodrome.<br /><br />Back in Mudgee authorities are investigating a fire that occurred early Monday. The local pub burned to the ground shortly after the airplanes flew off. Credible witnesses told authorities that the SeaRey gang kept gas cans in their rooms during their overnight stay. “The old hotel at Mudgee is not rated for aviation fuels or hazardous material storage,” a grim fire marshal responded.<br /><br />“We’ll not be hanging around to answer any silly questions,” one of the senior SeaRey guys, Pirate Jack Peters was reported to have said. “We’re off to Old Bar tomorrow,” a two hour flight to the beach resort on the NSW coast. “You can find us at Tiona on Wednesday if you can catch up,” he radioed from an airplane painted with a Jolly Roger and punctuated with a hearty “hardy, har, har.”<br /><br />Preparations are underway for the seaplane festival later this week at Tiona. The national park had originally prohibited seaplane operations at its new marine park. Seaplane Pilots Association President Robert Loneragan pointed out that boating, skiing and other activities are permitted. “Another case of discrimination against fun,” the President said in a letter to dour park officials. A permit was issued by the park as a temporary accommodation for the invading seaplane horde. “All I can say to them is that fires are not allowed in a marine park,” Ranger Ratched warned.<br />
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Dan Nickens - May 22,2007
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Dateline Old Bar<br />Wednesday, May 23, 2007<br /><br />And then there were eight. Nine SeaReys spent the day frolicking along the coast. Eight will do it again tomorrow.<br /><br />What is the measure of a day? How will history record day four of the Great Australian SeaRey Adventure v. 2.0? Will archivists note the fantastic flying weather? The spectacular scenery uncovered? The warm camaraderie of a band of brothers sharing great adventure?<br /><br />A local newspaper caught the gang of swashbucklers plying a local river. The flashing bright airplanes will make the cover edition of today’s news. The sobering events of later in the day will go unreported. That is perhaps as it should be: an enduring image of the very best of life.<br /><br />Tuesday ended with a sobering reminder of a sharp, underlying reality: in fluid flight there is the risk of taking a dunk. Taking a dunk is exactly what happened when one of the SeaRey voyagers alighted on a patch of glassy water. With the nose of his old ship just below the critical angle, the water grabbed hold and sharply swung the craft about, bringing it to rest awash.<br /><br />The pilot escaped physically unscathed. In short order his mates arrived to secure the airplane. A local boater pulled the crippled craft to safe haven as the pilot was taken straight away to a warm shower and a shot (or two) of whisky. Both are resting comfortably this evening.<br /><br />Repairs will be required to put the airplane back into the air. The front deck was crushed and the canopies swept away. A wing was slightly dimpled. A plan has been formulated to remove the wings and temporarily store the airplane until after the GASA is completed.<br /><br />The great gaggle of GASA SeaReys, minus one, will fly on for their scheduled splash in at Tiona. Undeterred by a bit of momentary adversity, the planeless pilot will press onward with the rest of his mates.<br /><br />Perhaps history should well note that the band of valiant airfarers were unbowed by adversity. All that has been thrown at them has been taken in stride and they have partied on. Viva la voyage!<br />
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Jack Peters - May 28,2007
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Hey Dan, what about the fealess four who made it through the best rain in years to Lake Cargelligo to put on a show for almost the whole population (20).<br />Head winds 'what' at least 'Our Father Who Art In Sydney' Rob didn't burn down the Mudgee Pup till we got there, but wait for the formation shots NINE SEAREYS.<br />incomming ! !
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Dan Nickens - May 28,2007
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I heard there were four really, really clean SeaReys that swam upstream to get to Mudgee. I'll bet there was some yellow painted on your SeaRey radar! As for the fire, I'm sure the authorities have noted that the pub didn't catch fire UNTIL the four Lake Cargelligo SeaReys arrived.
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