Southern Microlight Club of Victoria
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West Sale to Porepunkah and back by trike by Alf Jessup
Grand final day had Mick and I at the aerodrome by 6am readying the trikes for a quick trip to Porepunkah and back. The trip would consist of Mick (Outback Cruze), Terry (ST3) and myself (SST) departing from West Sale (WSL) and heading up the Licola valley past Mount Skene to the open valleys of Mansfield, then along the King valley to Whitfield, then east to Lake Buffalo and over the majestic Mount Buffalo and into Porepunkah.
As we waited for Terry to arrive from the Latrobe valley we preflighted the trikes, grabbed our epirbs, punched in the flight plan on our GPS's and warmed the beasts. After Terry's arrival and a quick toilet stop for him we departed at 7.30am from runway 27 and tracked north west for Glenmaggie weir staying at 1500 ft due to a low cloud base this side of the ranges.
Half way up the Licola valley with the cloud base rising we finally came out into the clear blue skies with Licola ahead and Mount Skene sitting in her splendor 20 nautical miles further on with nothing but a clear blue sky as far as the eye could see, a comfortable 69kt ground speed and a heavily snow covered Mount Buller ahead and off to our right of track.
With the Licola valley now behind us and well within gliding range we tracked for the lightly snow covered Mount Skene as this was our next option if the trusty 912's decided to let us down, the Mount Skene option might not be too kind on the undercarriage but would be kind on us.
With Mount Skene now well behind us we tracked for the safety of the open valleys around Mansfield, aware that for the next 8 minutes we were in no mans land if one of the ever so reliable 912's decided to call it a day. Once we werer within gliding range of the open valleys we changed course and headed NE to intersect the King Valley and track for Whitfield as our GS reduced to 50kts.
The view was spectacular once again heading up the King valley with Lake William Hovell below and off to our right, Powers lookout to our left and Lake Buffalo off in the distance to the east.
Approaching Whitfield saw us turning east towards Dandongedale and Lake Buffalo 17nm ahead with plenty of bomb out options if we needed them, on approaching Lake Buffalo we ascended to 7500ft to clear Mount Buffalo and give us a little space whilst staying under Alburys control zone.
A 10 nm inbound call out from Porepunkah whilst crossing the grandeous landscape of Mt Buffalo a familiar voice of my instructor Steve Ruffels was heard on the CTAF earning a living on this majestic day, crossing the last of Buffalo we reduced power and descended into the Porepunkah valley joining a mid downwind for Runway 36 and pulled up outside Steve’s hanger at 09:45 a mere 2:15 flight time.
Terry made a short field landing and tracked straight for the toilets at PPKA (I can't wait to get older) while Mick arrived 5 minutes later gently floating down 36 to pull up outside the hanger completing the first part of the journey.
Greetings made and coffee consumed with Steve busy with flights we lounged around in hanger for an hour or so before sharing the 40 liters of fuel between the 3 trikes that Steve had kindy got for us, it just gives you a warm fuzzy feeling knowing you have more than ample fuel onboard even though we had enough to get back home without refuelling.
We planned to fly back over the snow covered Mt Hotham and down the high plains road to the Dargo Valley then across to the flat plains of Gippsland but noticed the clouds starting to build over Mount Hotham so a decision was made to track direct to WSL from Porepunkah a mere 82 mn away.
All saddled up and goodbyes given we departed at 11:15 am from Runway 36, climbed and turned south for our return trip home, upon reaching our assigned altitude we were greeted with an 80kt groundspeed most of the way with clear blue skies and the beautiful Wonangatta valley flashing past us below with the high plains airstrip fast approaching us ahead and off to out right.
15nm out from Valencia Creek which is the start of the flatlands in Gippsland I wound the trim off and pulled the power back a touch and gently descended knowing full well we would make it if the old girls stopped now I remained at 4500 ft once over the plains until 3mn from WSL using the added free GS and smooth air while Terry and Mick decided to ride the bumps of the thermals lower down for the last 17nm inbound to WSL.
All calls made joining circuit for 09 WSL. Terry and I landed at 12:30 a mere 1hr and 15 mins after leaving Porepunkah with Mick arriving safely 5 or so minutes later capping off a very successful and thoroughly enjoyable flight between 3 good mates and 3 different winged trikes.
The flight back home took us over some serious tiger country but we were in no mans land for no point longer than 8 minutes, the only downside is that if one of us had to put down the recovery time would be many many hrs as a drive to Wonangatta is 7 to 8 hrs from here but it is a calculated risk we take every time we fly.
There are a lot more options than you think going over the ranges as this is now the 9th time I have flown to Porepunkah and back going various routes. We even got back in time to watch the grand final for what it was worth but overall we had a great time and a fantastic flight.
Total engine time 3hrs 53mins & fuels used about 38 liters for a 210nm jaunt.
Cheers
Alf
Grand final day had Mick and I at the aerodrome by 6am readying the trikes for a quick trip to Porepunkah and back. The trip would consist of Mick (Outback Cruze), Terry (ST3) and myself (SST) departing from West Sale (WSL) and heading up the Licola valley past Mount Skene to the open valleys of Mansfield, then along the King valley to Whitfield, then east to Lake Buffalo and over the majestic Mount Buffalo and into Porepunkah.
As we waited for Terry to arrive from the Latrobe valley we preflighted the trikes, grabbed our epirbs, punched in the flight plan on our GPS's and warmed the beasts. After Terry's arrival and a quick toilet stop for him we departed at 7.30am from runway 27 and tracked north west for Glenmaggie weir staying at 1500 ft due to a low cloud base this side of the ranges.
Half way up the Licola valley with the cloud base rising we finally came out into the clear blue skies with Licola ahead and Mount Skene sitting in her splendor 20 nautical miles further on with nothing but a clear blue sky as far as the eye could see, a comfortable 69kt ground speed and a heavily snow covered Mount Buller ahead and off to our right of track.
With the Licola valley now behind us and well within gliding range we tracked for the lightly snow covered Mount Skene as this was our next option if the trusty 912's decided to let us down, the Mount Skene option might not be too kind on the undercarriage but would be kind on us.
With Mount Skene now well behind us we tracked for the safety of the open valleys around Mansfield, aware that for the next 8 minutes we were in no mans land if one of the ever so reliable 912's decided to call it a day. Once we werer within gliding range of the open valleys we changed course and headed NE to intersect the King Valley and track for Whitfield as our GS reduced to 50kts.
The view was spectacular once again heading up the King valley with Lake William Hovell below and off to our right, Powers lookout to our left and Lake Buffalo off in the distance to the east.
Approaching Whitfield saw us turning east towards Dandongedale and Lake Buffalo 17nm ahead with plenty of bomb out options if we needed them, on approaching Lake Buffalo we ascended to 7500ft to clear Mount Buffalo and give us a little space whilst staying under Alburys control zone.
A 10 nm inbound call out from Porepunkah whilst crossing the grandeous landscape of Mt Buffalo a familiar voice of my instructor Steve Ruffels was heard on the CTAF earning a living on this majestic day, crossing the last of Buffalo we reduced power and descended into the Porepunkah valley joining a mid downwind for Runway 36 and pulled up outside Steve’s hanger at 09:45 a mere 2:15 flight time.
Terry made a short field landing and tracked straight for the toilets at PPKA (I can't wait to get older) while Mick arrived 5 minutes later gently floating down 36 to pull up outside the hanger completing the first part of the journey.
Greetings made and coffee consumed with Steve busy with flights we lounged around in hanger for an hour or so before sharing the 40 liters of fuel between the 3 trikes that Steve had kindy got for us, it just gives you a warm fuzzy feeling knowing you have more than ample fuel onboard even though we had enough to get back home without refuelling.
We planned to fly back over the snow covered Mt Hotham and down the high plains road to the Dargo Valley then across to the flat plains of Gippsland but noticed the clouds starting to build over Mount Hotham so a decision was made to track direct to WSL from Porepunkah a mere 82 mn away.
All saddled up and goodbyes given we departed at 11:15 am from Runway 36, climbed and turned south for our return trip home, upon reaching our assigned altitude we were greeted with an 80kt groundspeed most of the way with clear blue skies and the beautiful Wonangatta valley flashing past us below with the high plains airstrip fast approaching us ahead and off to out right.
15nm out from Valencia Creek which is the start of the flatlands in Gippsland I wound the trim off and pulled the power back a touch and gently descended knowing full well we would make it if the old girls stopped now I remained at 4500 ft once over the plains until 3mn from WSL using the added free GS and smooth air while Terry and Mick decided to ride the bumps of the thermals lower down for the last 17nm inbound to WSL.
All calls made joining circuit for 09 WSL. Terry and I landed at 12:30 a mere 1hr and 15 mins after leaving Porepunkah with Mick arriving safely 5 or so minutes later capping off a very successful and thoroughly enjoyable flight between 3 good mates and 3 different winged trikes.
The flight back home took us over some serious tiger country but we were in no mans land for no point longer than 8 minutes, the only downside is that if one of us had to put down the recovery time would be many many hrs as a drive to Wonangatta is 7 to 8 hrs from here but it is a calculated risk we take every time we fly.
There are a lot more options than you think going over the ranges as this is now the 9th time I have flown to Porepunkah and back going various routes. We even got back in time to watch the grand final for what it was worth but overall we had a great time and a fantastic flight.
Total engine time 3hrs 53mins & fuels used about 38 liters for a 210nm jaunt.
Cheers
Alf