G'day!
After an achy FSX-Timeout - I did some travelling - I'm back on the scene!!
Here you see me at the apron at Rockhampton (YBRK), QLD, Australia. Ready to load 2.1 tons of all kinds of Cargo.. (mostly plastic household- and examination gloves made in China)
My destination is Mackay (YBMK), also in Queensland. It's only a short hop, 153NM north of Rockhampton.
All datas received, the weather is fine - starting the engines...
.. and ready for taxi!
Rockhampton Airport is a major Australian regional airport that services the City of Rockhampton and Central Queensland, with flights to Brisbane, Gladstone, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns.
Wind: 10008KT, CAVOK, 15/15 Q1013 and runway 15 is in use. I have to hold short, due to traffic on final!
A short backtrack and taxiing into take-off position.
Voila, here we are..
.. and shortly accelerating to full power. (52" 2800 RPM)
After takeoff and climb check, up I go to 6000ft. First I follow the runway heading until advised!
I'm cleared for a right-turn to angle my radial 321°
.. and soon I'm established on my way up to Mackay.
Below the City of Rockhampton and the Fitzroy River.
Rockhampton experiences over 300 days of sunshine each year, which lends itself to tourism activities all year round and an abundance of outdoor activities.
BUT: A series of floods hit Queensland, Australia, beginning in December 2010. The floods forced the evacuation of thousands of people from towns and cities. Rockhampton was badly flood damaged.
Heading north, the Broad Sound comes insight! British explorer James Cook, in HMS Endeavour, sighted the bay in May 1770, naming it for its size. The Bay is about 50 km long and 20 km across at its widest point. The Torilla Peninsula forms the eastern side of the bay; Shoalwater Bay is on the other side of the peninsula.
The Coast Ranges to my right side..
.. and the Conners Ranges with it's Mount Ossa National Park.
G'day Mate!!
TOD about 25NM south of Mackay and descending to 2500ft AMSL. It will be an VOR/DME approach to runway 14.
Nearly over the airport and VOR-Station.
Turning right to pick-up radial 337°
8 DME, about time to turn left for final runway 14
Fully established on final 14 and cleared to land.
Even the cockpit-crew is ready!!
Well done and save on ground!
Flight-time: one hour and eight minutes. Vacating the runway to my left, into taxi C
.. and reaching the RPT apron for gate number 3
The Ground handling is very efficient - hope not they wreck the aircraft!
Cheers uhug
