March 3, 2011

Wanaka

With a “fair bit of wind” forecast, Matt suggested that we fly to the fighter pilot museum in Wanaka, then fly on to Glenorchy for lunch and go on the Jet Boat. We met our co-pilot of the day, named Megan, and off we went to the plane. Once again the winds were strong and gusty but the sun was out and it was a partly cloudy, but cold, day. Megan suggested we take off downhill, again a crosswind with a small tailwind component, circle in the valley to get up to 3,500 feet to go through the pass to Lindes River Valley and then around to the north to Wanaka. So we were off, climbing through the gusty conditions and riding the leeward ridge to gain more lift. We went through the pass into the Lindes Valley and, crossing a ridge line, cut the corner toward Wanaka, on a long final for runway 29. With the gusty conditions, Megan suggested we stay high and keep the final flap setting of 30 degrees for short final. We landed on the paved runway and taxied in to leave TRS and to pick up Whiskey Alpha Xray (WAX) in which we would continue on after visiting the museum. Megan led us to the museum which, unfortunately, had closed 2 days earlier for 6 months. Megan sweettalked the lady into allowing us in (having risked our lives to get there), so we had the run of the place for 30-45 minutes. It was well stocked with period memorabilia, especially WWII. The part I liked the best were the stories of all NZ aces, i.e. those who have shot down five or more enemy aircraft.

Megan

We took off from Wanaka headed for Queenstown, up Lake Wakatipu to Glenorchy for the jet boat ride up the river Dart. The wind was howling as we climbed up to 5,000 feet and headed west then south over Crown Saddle and then turned west to overfly Queenstown Airport. It was a bumpy ride and got even bumpier as we flew out over Lake Wakatipu. When we finally made the turn to the north, the weather over Glenorchy did not look good, with lowering clouds and imminent rain. We decided, much to Sugar’s relief, that we would turn back and land in Queenstown. After holding to the east for a landing Boeing, we joined a long final for the grass runway that is perpendicular to the paved runway. The winds were very light until we came out of the wind shadow of the hill to our left, when we picked up about a 15 knot crosswind. I wrestled the plane to the ground and we tied her down in the general aviation area on the grass.

To make a long story shorter, we went out to Jack’s Point so that we could have lunch and I could play 9 holes of golf. During lunch, Megan, a 35ish, attractive blond, told us that she knew Maine having stayed in Camden summers working on a private yacht. She also worked for Larry Ellison on his 150 foot boat that had a crew of 14 and had made several Pacific crossings, and had also been on this yacht during the America’s Cup. Since a woman’s place on his boat appeared to be belowdecks cleaning up, she eventually tired of that and quit after 10 months. She landed a job on an 80-footer and cruised between Camden and the Caribbean. Finally, she and her partner got their own 70-footer and offered crewed charters. She is a very businesslike, no-nonsense, not going to pat you on the back unless you really deserve it type of person. She grew up on a farm but is allergic to all the hay, etc., rides a motorcycle but doesn’t have a license, skis, bikes, and oh, in addition to being a pilot and flight instructor, having flown Tiger Moths for 2 summers, she is an air traffic controller by profession. Her home base is Queenstown although every several weeks she goes to Milford Sound to handle the air traffic there.

Jack’s Point

Sugar and I grabbed a cart, I loaded up with 6 golf balls, rented some clubs, and headed out on Jack’s Point Golf Course, a beautiful course with the Remarkables mountain range on one side and Lake Wakatipu on the other. The course had no trees and resembled a very windy and hilly field. And of course, the first five holes are into the wind and uphill, so it was a struggle. We finally reached a downhill hole, a par 3, the green sitting on a shelf before a huge decline into the lake, and with the wind howling into my face, I chose a club that was four clubs more than what I would need for a 150 yard downhill shot. As soon as I hit it, I knew it was perfect, that is, until I felt the wind completely die and saw the ball soar well over the green and out of sight. I finished the nine holes with two - two balls out of the six I had left the clubhouse with. Sugar and I enjoyed the spectacular scenery if not spectacular golf.

Return to Geordie Hill

We took the Victoria Bridge departure straight out of Queenstown as we had flown with Peter on our first day. So the mountains looked familiar but the conditions were far different from Tuesday’s. We flew up the valley as it narrowed and turned left into the gorge coming out into the Lindis River valley, still getting thrown around, and trying to descend to see if it would be less turbulent at a lower altitude. Megan pointed out the gorge to pass through the mountains to Geordie Hill Station, and we flew through at 2500 feet. Once through, I flew to the far side of the valley to avoid the downdrafts and to scope out the field to see which runway was favored. Again it appeared to be the uphill runway with a crosswind from the left. Flying a right downwind and a right base, I turned onto final with 20 degrees of flaps and crabbed toward the runway, all the while descending, with power on and then off dependng upon the puffs, crossing the cow pasture with the cows right beneath me, over the two fences and touching down with left wing lowered and quite a bit of right rudder. It was a tough day and it was nice to end the flying part of it on a good note.

And I can’t say enough about Sugar and her courage sitting in the back seat getting thrown around - so much so that she has several bruises to show for it. It’s much easier sitting where I’m sitting since I have some control over the plane. And Megan also exclaimed how nice it was to travel with a passenger who was so calm and cool. And Megan doesn’t hand out praise easily so I’m sure she meant it.

With a lousy weather forecast tomorrow, we won’t be flying but Matt suggested that we learn more about the ranching if we wish. So we can sleep in, and wander over to see what they are doing when we are ready.

Good night to you all. Belated Happy Birthday to Will who we will hopefully see in less than 2 weeks. Happy Birthday to Linda, and happy birthday to our girl, Maggie, on the 4th.

Love, Dad, Nat, DB, Matt, etc.