Reynard

Both are commendable and solo PIC. The big lap is a serious undertaking by any measure.

Thanks Garfly, Watching/waiting with interest for access to the greater Sydney basin, Williamtown coastal, Coffs Harbour, Ballina, etc, etc. Once RA Aus receives approval from CASA, they will then need to roll out the training package to instructors, and then for the instructors to deliver and sign off the endos to prospective pilots. I suspect all of that could take some time. is it a safe assumption that all current RAAus instructors already have CTA (current) experience and can sign off an endo ? Just like a PPL will an endo require an entry to Class D and C airspace ? That’ll be more fun for the tower lads and ladies at Canberra et al, even more than the current stream of student PPLs making their first pilgrimage from Bankstown! Lots of questions…….patience is a virtue !

Located 110km south-west of Winton, in central Queensland, Lark Quarry is home to the only known evidence of a dinosaur stampede, with 3,300 fossilised footprints dating back 95 million years. Recent evidence suggests that the footprints were made over a number of days at a river crossing, which quickly succumbed to rising water levels and deposits of silt which eventually compressed into rock. OZLKQ, 10/28 gravel 1000m long., The airstrip for light aircraft is located just outside Lark Quarry Conservation Park.

Dinosaur footprints.

Here’s a close-up of the strip - it wasn’t too bad at all on std 4x6 tyres They had done an inspection of it that morning, by driving along it. I suggested they needed to drive along it at 110kph to get a proper feel of it. That’s spinifex under the windsock.

A rarely used strip less than 1km from a major QLD tourist attraction!

Not quite 49000’, closer to 4900’ but I got overtaken by Rex out of Winton. Good separation by good communication.

But the RPL has a critical distance limitation. It limits you to buzzing around your home airfield. It is a useful stepping stone however, as it always was, all the way back to the GFPT or restricted PPL.

There is an article in today’s SMH….. Revealed: The secret plan to turn this Sydney airport into housing, extend metro To summarise, Aware Super (YSBK airport leaseholder) has floated an idea to the NSW state govt to convert the Bankstown airport to housing for 30,000 homes and extend the metro line to support it. It is nothing more than a concept with an artists impression at this stage, and drew lots of “no comments” from related parties and references to existing planning legislation. Aware Super’s only comment was “ we continuously seek opportunities to unlock value across our portfolios for the benefit of members” Stay tuned.

I note AOPA has a petition out to stop the re-introduction of annual registration fees for VH aircraft as announced in the budget. For once RA-AUS doesn’t look so bad after all.

No. Completely abandoned and heavily rutted.

These guys (AMSL) are using the more common fuel cell route. Dubbo Council media relations manager certainly gave it there all with this media release. HYDROGEN AVIATION TESTING HAPPENING AT WELLINGTON AERODROME Liquid hydrogen will be used at the Wellington Aerodrome and Recreational Park, following approval by Dubbo Regional Council. The approval will allow AMSL Aero to continue testing its Vertiia test vehicle, supporting the development of hydrogen-powered aircraft designed to deliver long-range, zero emission flight AMSL Aero has been undertaking on-the-ground testing at the Wellington Aerodrome of their hydrogen-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which has been designed to take off like a helicopter and transition to efficient wing-borne flight. Dubbo Regional Council Manager Airport Strategy and Operation Matthew Linsley-Noakes said the decision shows Council is committed to supporting innovation and attracting emerging technologies to the region. “The Dubbo region is embracing its status as an outdoor test and evaluation hub for companies such as AMSL Aero and playing an important role in advancing our aviation industry. “Supporting the next phase of hydrogen aviation testing at Wellington Aerodrome shows our commitment to regional innovation and to creating opportunities for high-tech industries,” Mr Linsley-Noakes said. AMSL Aero CEO Dr Adriano Di Pietro said the decision by Council will allow them to conduct further on-the-ground testing and operational evaluations associated with liquid hydrogen fuel systems. “The ongoing partnership between Dubbo Regional Council and AMSL Aero highlights the role regional aerodromes can play in supporting the development of next-generation aviation technologies. “Projects like this demonstrate how regional infrastructure can support cutting-edge research and development while bringing new opportunities, investment and highly skilled jobs to regional communities,” Dr Di Pietro said. This project received funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) as part of ARENA's Advancing Renewables Program Wellington Aerodrome and Recreational Park is a hub for aerospace testing, training and aviation activities, supporting both recreational aviation and emerging aviation technologies.

I’m only interested in ongoing Avgas supply. “80% of aviation fuel is continuing” most likely solely refers to Jet A1.

The Geelong refinery fire apparently damaged the alkylation unit. Guess where Avgas is made in the refinery !

I haven’t yet seen any specific reference to Avgas (that would specifically be the alkylation unit), only Mogas, which is a little more generic.

Waiting to hear if Avgas supplies will be affected by the Viva refinery fire. Almost all of Australia’s Avgas comes from this refinery- the rest is imported.

Not quite southern NSW, but Wings Out West are based at Dubbo. They had a Cub at Parkes which was RA-AUS registered.

Oil refiners routinely call it Mogas. It is the cut from the atmospheric distillation column where ~C5 to C10 hydrocarbons condense and are separated…..and after a little more refining and blending becomes what we call petrol. I don’t know the exact origin of the word mogas, but understood it to be a simple shortening of motor gasoline. Outside the refinery gate, I have only heard the term used in aviation - I can only assume it is used to differentiate its use from Avgas. I don’t see a lot of mystery and intrigue here.

Probably - available fuel tankers (and DG drivers) all tied up trying to keep up with petrol and diesel demand, while Avgas was further down the list.

There was direct public access to the Fly n forFun site. However, I also think Narromine would be better. Although there was a free shuttle bus into the Parkes township, at least at Narromine you could walk.

Excellent question! You would think that Avgas demand would not have significantly changed over the past month, so something doesn’t stack up.

An earlier poster indicated he had been told that 100% of Avgas consumed in Oz, was produced locally. My post was to provide data that Oz does import ‘some’ Avgas. in relative terms to mogas and diesel that are both produced locally and imported, the Australian consumption of Avgas is very small. I have no data to compare Avgas consumption with other countries. Additionally, it should be obvious the consumption of Avtur vastly outweighs that of Avgas in Australia.

The import stats in the attached file seem very ‘lumpy’, and don’t really provide much insight. Unless the Geelong refinery alkylation unit was down for an extended period in 2024 ?? - unlikely. Bottom line, yes Australia does import ‘some’ Avgas, but the volumes are small, probably because the consumption is small. Australian Petroleum Statistics - Data Extract January 2026.xlsx

As a side note here, if you want to receive ‘internet ADS-B traffic’ while using OzRunways, you need the $299/yr Australia Plus subscription. if you have the OzRunways Essentials version for $219/yr and add AvTraffic Premium (iOS only) for $29.99 you will get the same result. Yes, it’s still expensive.

The consumption of Avgas shouldn’t have changed over the past month, but a number of airfields have now run out. This points to major supply chain issues not demand, but the price has still gone up dramatically.