Page 99 - AA 2018_11

OUTBACK AIR RACE

Payne said that planning for the spoiled for choice: “There are so many take the scenic route: west, then flying
race starts about two years in advance, places with so many different types of down the coast over some of the most
with potential competitors making appeal,” he said. spectacular scenery in the nation.
suggestions about possible routes That said, he recognised the “It would be a waste not to do that,”
and stops along the way. This is then growing popularity of the race poses he said.
balanced against accommodation and its own problems. “However, that does mean quite a
sight-seeing potential as well as, more “One of the things we grapple with long flight.”
importantly, the capacity of a venue to is that the bigger it gets the more To make sure the competitors were
cater for multiple aircraft arrivals and restrictive it gets in terms of where you kept safe, his volunteer team ensured
parking and refuelling. can go. there was a fuel stop on the way.
“If places pass muster, you mark “We want it to keep its integrity “We had a contact through the
them on a map and then, when you as an outback air race rather than an Bishop of Broome who administers
have eight or 10, start to join the dots. urban air race, so we don’t just want the Aboriginal village of Kalumburu,
“We do have a tradition of always to go to big centres – that is not in the so we organised a fuel stop there,”
making a different route, usually spirit of the event.” Payne said.
traversing most of the country either Did this year’s event pose particular “They don’t normally provide,
east to west, west to east, north to challenges? but one of the sponsor companies,
south or south to north.” Payne pointed to the final leg Air race participant Caleb Kneale Recharge petroleum, organised to get
Payne said that within Australia, between Kununurra and Broome with from Team Dicky Downwind. the fuel to them while the community
the Outback flyers found themselves an option to fly direct overland or ed jones organised for the people there to hand
pump the fuel.
Race winners Show Me The “You can imagine hand pumping
Mooney celebrate their victory. 20-odd aircraft. They really went to
scott palmer a lot of effort to make sure we got
through there safely.”
The next Outback Air Race in
favour of the RFDS is scheduled for
2021.
Watch this space.

This feature first appeared in the October
issue of the newly‑relaunched Aviator
magazine. For more great Aviator
content, focused on pilots who fly for
fun, look out for Aviator at your local
newsagent or visit aviatormag.com.au

The Outback Air Race 2018
fleet at rest at Adels Grove.
dr tom huang

NOVEMBER 2018 99