What is it with Airport Managers?

We only booked one night at Adels Grove and wanted to keep the afternoon free for use there so the alarm was set at 5:30am and we departed from Longreach at 7:20am.  Strong southerly winds and turbulence was forecast over our route but we settled down at 2,500ft, the view was spectacular in the early morning light and we had a nice quartering tailwind that pushed us along at 130kts.

Our route took us overhead the Combo Waterhole where Banjo Patterson reputedly wrote Waltzing Matilda.  The waterhole is in the middle of nowhere but there were some Grey Nomads parked who waved as we circled.

It was “blowing dogs off chains” when we called into Mt Isa for fuel.  Careful parking of our aircraft after refuelling in the shelter of a large tree while we went in search of a coffee raised the ire of the Airport Manager.  We hadn’t parked in the designated park and our tail was infringing (an enormous) taxiway by about 1 metre.  There was more than enough room for a large aircraft to pass behind us on the taxiway.  Most Airport Managers I know had their common-sense removed at birth and this guy was no different.  He would rather we expose our aircraft to blustery winds and damage when it could be parked in shelter without interfering with ground movements.  What is it with Airport Managers!

It was a short flight up to Adels Grove that was uneventful followed by a challenging crosswind landing onto their gravel strip which had me working hard.

Off now to explore the spectacular Lawn Hill National Park ...

Leg Summary:

Route: Longreach (YLRE) - Mt Isa (YBMA)

Distance: 320nm (593km)

Time: 3.0hrs

Alt: 2,500 & 4,500ft

Route: Mt Isa (YBMA) - Adels Grove (YALG)

Distance: 130nm (241km)

Time: 1.3hrs

Alt: 4,500ft

Early morning departure from Longreach in lovely smooth flying conditions

Combo Waterhole

Turning base onto Rwy 23 at Adels Grove. Camp is to the right of the threshold.