15/3/14: Cross Country Navigation #2 (Dual) - Stanthorpe and Grafton (fuel diversion to Lismore)

A glorious day for flying today!  :-)

Arrived at my flight school where my pre-flight planning was reviewed.  The cross-country flight with my Flight Instructor today will see my make a Southern departure from Archerfield (YBAF) tracking to Logan Village (LOGAN), making a turn to Stanthorpe (YSPE) then to Grafton (YGFN)and back to Archerfield inbound from the South via park Ridge (PKR).

My fuel calculations indicated after the Grafton to Archerfield leg would see me eat into my fixed reserve fuel, which you're not allowed to do, so we checked ERSA for AVGAS availability at Stanthorpe and Grafton.  Neither have the required fuel, so we checked Casino which I basically fly over after Grafton heading North back to Archerfield.  No AVGAS there either.

So we planned to make a diversion to Lismore (YLIS) after Grafton for a re-fuel stop and continue back to Archerfield.


Nav #2: YBAF - LOGAN - YSPE - YGFN - YLIS (divert) - PKR - YBAF

Departed from runway 28R with a left turn onto crosswind ATC instruction.  Off the crosswind circuit leg, I picked up our track to Logan Village to clear YBAF Class D airspace.  Abeam Logan Village, I picked up the next heading for Stanthorpe.


Nav #2: YBAF outbound to South & inbound from South

Nav #2: LOGAN - YSPE leg

Stanthorpe was a touch-and-go landing flying overhead and joining circuit height on downwind.

The Stanthorpe to Grafton leg was uneventful, performing the usual en-route navigation techniques until I was coming within the vicinity of Grafton.  I made the 10nm inbound CTAF radio call, using my pre-written radio call sheet although blindly read out the Stanthorpe inbound call by mistake  :-)  Another pilot in the area soon corrected me by saying "This is Grafton". I replied with "Correction, Grafton traffic, Cessna 8329"  :-)

To save time, we overflew Grafton picking up our track towards Archerfield knowing we'd need to divert soon to Lismore for re-fuel.


Nav #2: YGFN - YLIS leg



Checking the VNC, I had selected a major power line that crossed my flight path as my first time check after leaving Grafton.  This power line then veered off to the right going in a straight line direct to Lismore.  I basically followed this power line direct to Lismore as it was an easy ground reference and also helped me avoid nearby restricted airspace.

You can see in the YGFN - YLIS GPS track, the turn North-East to pickup the power line tracking towards Lismore.  As we entered this leg, I turned to my Flight Instructor and mentioned my Mum and her partner Col lived in Lismore.  He said, can they be at the airport within about 15 minutes?  I said yes if they are home.

So I asked if it was ok to text and call Mum to see if they'd like to meet us at Lismore airport as we'd be making a short stop for re-fuel.  My flight instructor took the controls while I texted and called.  They are on their way!  :-)

I landed and during the taxi saw them at the terminal giving them a wave.  I parked up near the fuel bowsers while my Flight Instructor offered to re-fuel I walked over to the terminal to greet them.  :-)  Mum & Col were so happy and excited to see me and it was great to share my flying experience with them.  We had a short chat, bathroom break, drink and then took off from Lismore heading back to Archerfield.  This leg of the flight was quite scenic as we flew over the ranges including Mt Warning.

Arrived back to Archerfield with Southern inbound procedure via Park Ridge.  A great cross-country flight totalling 4.0 hours flight time!  :-)

Nav #3 is booked in for Saturday 12th April which will see me flying to Casino and Inglewood.