Bankstown Saturday 7th March
 

I was out at Bankstown again this morning, taking BVM up along the Northern Beaches for some GPS familiarisation. There was early morning low cloud and fog patches however after topping up the tanks, I departed around 0815 and headed north. Climbing out over Parramatta towards Hornsby things looked fairly bleak, cloud below 2000ft and an all over foggy haze with limited visibility. I could only see about half way to Hornsby so I decided to turn back and try again another day. By about 0930 the skies began to clear and things started to look quite nice. All was not wasted, I used the Garmin 430 for Coms and some brief Nav, and my approach and landing were smooth as.

After completing the paperwork I headed out for a walk around the airport.

N214JL Bell 214B-1 (28066) - Bank Of Utah Trust - parked next to the DC-3 and Catalina
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/...-03-07_002.jpg

N214JL Bell 214B-1 (28066) - Bank Of Utah Trust - the rotor blades on the 214 are incredibly wide.
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/...-03-07_003.jpg

VH-EAK Pacific Aerospace 750XL (110) 2004 - operated by Australian Aerial Surveys - basically a Fletcher fitted with a PT6A-34 and
larger cabin. Normally there is only one seat in the rear for survey work, but today they had five fitted (and two up front).
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/...-03-07_006.jpg

VH-EAK Pacific Aerospace 750XL (110) 2004 - operated by Australian Aerial Surveys
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/...-03-07_007.jpg

VH-LRE Cessna O-1A Bird Dog (21491) 1952 - from the Temora Air Museum - in Bankstown for maintenance. Looked to have electrically
operated missile launchers under each wing. One seat up front and one in the back.
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/...-03-07_011.jpg

VH-TEA Piper PA-44-180 Seminole (44-7995119) 1979 - Avair Aircraft Rentals
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/...-03-07_015.jpg

VH-NEQ Cessna 510 (510-0029) 2007 - Skypac Aviation - parked in the hanger next to Schofields with a Robinson R-22.
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/...-03-07_016.jpg

VH-YEP Bell 47G-3B1 (2779) 1962 - Helicopters Pty Ltd - heading out for a joy flight.
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/...-03-07_021.jpg

VH-LIY Tamarack TH-1F (66-1236) 1966 - McDermott Aviation - parked on the northern perimeter along from Aerospace.
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/...-03-07_029.jpg

N238HL Bell 205A-1 (30161) 1974 - Bank Of Utah Trust - parked on the northern perimeter along from Aerospace.
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/...-03-07_031.jpg

VH-LGC Cessna 310R (310R1827) 1980 - Skypac Aviation - a very nicely presented aircraft.
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/...-03-07_033.jpg

VH-AZD Cessna A-37B Dragonfly (68-10807) 1965 - as well as the wing tip tanks, the aircraft has two external fuel pods under each wing.
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/...-03-07_034.jpg

VH-SWB DHC-2 Beaver (1557) 1964 - Krug Agencies - an aquatic workhorse.

http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/...-03-07_035.jpg

VH-FKS Cessna U206F (U206-03130) 1976 - operated by Findelta Pty Ltd
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/...-03-07_036.jpg

VH-PPH Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub (18-8470) 1966
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/...-03-07_037.jpg

VH-WWC Cessna 337 (3370193) 1965 - the push/pull 377 was my favourite light aircraft when I was learning to fly back in the late
sixties.
http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/...-03-07_038.jpg

Grahame what hanger was VH-NEQ C-510 in?

Hi Phil, I have just added the comments for each image. NEQ was in the hanger next to Schofields, the main doors were open so I walked inside for a quick shot.

Thanks

Great shots Grahame, my father and I were also at Bankstown today. He was taking part in a flight with AusCAP which was recorded by Channel 9 and 7 news this evening doing patrols searching for Sharks off the northern beaches. Their aircraft was a C182 VH-SPH.

I was undergoing training, and eventually my first solo aboard C152 VH-JSN!

I saw a few of the planes you photographed in action as well. Great to see you got some good shots of them.

Dan

One of those big blue and yellow Bells (with the belly tank) flew over my parents' place in the Highlands this arvo, tracking south-west... they're noisy buggers!!

Hi Dan, congratulations on your first solo, I was reading about AusCAP in Fridays Manly Daily.

Adam, not surprising that they're noisy, the main rotor blades are so wide, maybe 30cm or more.

Well done on first solo Dan!!

Thanks for the congrats messages guys :)

Grahame, if the article's any good would you be able to scan or digitise it somehow? I think Dad's already bought the Daily Telegraph and recorded Channel 7 and 9's coverage so that would be the missing link.

Dan