This weekend we gathered 4 aircraft, and 13 members of the Air Patrol an set off on a Search and Rescue training exercise. The aircraft were a 182, 172, 206H and a Piper Lance.
My role was Co-Pilot in the 206H. The aircraft is very new, well kitted out with Garmin 530 electronics, autopilot, very comfy seats and TCAS! There is an incredible difference in flying a newer aircraft when compared to the usual 35 year old birds that hang around the airport!
We arrived and Bankstown at 6am ready for an early departure and a quick hop over to Narromine, as I was co pilot, there wasn't a lot to do, so I spent most of the flight going through the GPS and MFD, learning more about navigating with these systems and how they interact with the navaids and autopilot.
Once we arrived at the Aeroclub in Narromine, it was time for our exercise briefing, coffee (a.k.a. pilot fuel) and some raisin toast provided by the club. We met with the local Volunteer Rescue Association squad who were working with us on the exercise.
We were to locate a red "aircraft" that had crashed not far from the aerodrome. We flew 1 stage of flap at 500ft as it was not a built up area in te 206h my role was to call to the observers when we were on and off the search, and direct the pilot as we performed a creeping line search.
One aircraft went out at a time and we monitored the emergency frequency on one of the radios.
The exercise was great training even though none of the crews managed to locate the site of the crash.
That afternoon and evening we had a quick look at the local aviation museum followed by dinner and some bush poets at the Aeroclub. An interesting fellow joined us who happened to be in town, he used to be a test pilot on The Sabre and is now flying around the country in his little RA aircraft.
The next morning we met for breakfast early and all took a look at the weather.
Forecast cloud on ground meant that we were going to be experiencing fog at Mt Victoria, a decent 15kt crosswind for take off and 25kt at all the lower levels meant we were in for a few bumps.
After take off the PIC asked me to assume control, this was an interesting experience being in the right seat, and flying from there.
I could immediately feel the extra weight of the aircraft and it definitely felt more powerful and stable.
As we approached Bathurst we could see the Scattered had turned into an overcast. We checked the weather for Bankstown, Richmond and Camden and it was still scattered so the decision was made by PIC to go over the top.
As we left the clear sky, I confirmed fuel quantity and flight time and quickly calculated our endurance, of which we had 3.5 hours, plenty for a 20min leg if we need to divert or turn back.
It was a surreal feeling being on top of the clouds, it's tranquil an beautiful yet at the same time scary!
Time seems to go at a different speed and its almost hypnotising, I was glad that we had 3 GPS's on board and I was reasonably sure I had a finger on the map at our position. Hats off to the aviators of old that did it with a set of dividers and charts only!
As we approached Katoomba, it was looking like the forecast scattered had also turned into an overcast, we were also out of airspace vertically as the control step was below us if we went much further. We could have asked for a clearance but I decided to turn around and head back. Halfway through my turn I noticed an elongated hole. The PIC took control and down we went through a series of decending turns through the gap.
As we headed over towards 2rn we diverted a little further south as there was an aerobatic plane at the top of a loop a little too close to us for comfort.
We headed back to the clubhouse for a top up of pilot fuel.
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