Annual Whale Survey - Fremantle to Ceduna 'Coastal'

[poteroo]

Due a local pilots' mishap - I was offered this 40 hr TT gig. Helps to be retired and available!

 

We used a C172 with standard 189L usable fuel tanks and a 'crew' of 3. One recorded the GPS co-ordinates and whale details, while one photographed from the open LHS window. We flew 100 Kts cruise @ 65% for 28-29 LPH, reducing to 65-70 KIAS for photography at 500ft amsl. On the Nullarbor, this places you near on clifftop level. Some legs were 4-5 hrs and were real bladder marathons.

 

WA Museum do this survey every year in August to September. It involves flights both ways along every nm of coastline - all bays and all points. Mostly 1000-1500 ft, but down to 500 ft in WA, and 1000ft in SA. Our Permits from DPW had strict rules on heights and disturbing our mammal friends.

 

Sorry I can't use any pics of the whales, (and there were hundreds) because they are copyright to the Museum. 99.9% of the whales were Southern Rights - many with calves afoot.

 

happy days,

 

 

 

[poteroo]

1.Camel pic on cliffs between Nullarbor and Eucla

 

2.Airstrip pic is Israelite Bay,(YISB) which is big whale location. Old Telegraph station in foreground. Strip is about half way from Caiguna to Esperance via the coast and usable up to C210 size.

 

 

[Tomo]

Whales are awesome to see I reckon, so huge!