VFR & IFR flying in Melbourne, Australia
I have not released any new videos on my YouTube channel for a while, and the main reason for this is that I have been away travelling in Australia visiting my sister in Melbourne.
I knew that I couldn’t pass on the opportunity to take in some of the stunning sights Melbourne and the surrounding area has to offer and do something that I have never done before …. to fly outside of the UK. As soon as the trip was booked, I got in contact with Royal Victorian Aero Club at Moorabbin Airport who were extremely friendly and welcoming from the first moment we spoke and quickly got a date in the diary for me to fly one of the new Cessna 172S aircraft.
I also wanted to do something else that I had not experienced before and that was to fly in IFR conditions. Being aware that cloud formations generate around the Bass Straight caused by cold air from the south combining with the warm land temperatures, I thought I would have a good chance to being able to fly VFR to take in the sights and still experience IFR conditions and my predictions were correct.
On Wednesday 24th January, to took my whole family on a trip to Moorabbin airport to take a look at the planes and watch the activity at the airfield before I went off with my instructor for the afternoon.
We planned a flight of just over 2 hours to orbit Melbourne city centre, taking in the views of the skyscrapers, sports stadiums, arenas and the bustling city life and then tracking west over Port Melbourne, Avalon Airport, Torquay before heading down the Great Ocean Road to Cape Otway and the Twelve Apostles.
Our route back to Moorabbin took us back along the coast following the Great Ocean Road to Sorrento cutting through Port Phillip Bay.
I didn’t know what to expect from the flight before departing, and I have to admit, this was probably one of the best flying experiences since gaining my PPL.
So, I had completed the pre-flight checks, a bowser had been and filled the aircraft with fuel and we were ready to go. With the engine started, brakes off we started to taxi along the apron while we obtained our departure clearance. Being unfamiliar with Australian radio procedures, my instructor handled the radio so that I could fully enjoy the flying.
As we left the apron and I increased the RPM, this is where I noticed a big difference compared to the Cessna I am used to flying out of Biggin Hill. The engine was more powerful, and must admit, the first time it caught me by surprise.
With power checks completed we departed from runway 17R with a right hand downwind departure heading towards Melbourne city centre.
It didn’t take us long to reach the city where we completed 1 left hand orbit passing over the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground), Rod Laver Arena, Eureka Tower, Yarra River, South Bank, Etihad Stadium and numerous other impressive looking skyscrapers and apartment blocks. The views were spectacular!
Knowing that we were tracking towards the Great Ocean Road and with only one GoPro camera looking out of the window, the one views of the cityscape were from the internal camera looking at myself and the instructor.
On leaving the city we passed over the beautiful Port Melbourne with the skyline in the distance. Continuing to head west, we passed over what looked like more sparse areas like Altona, Werribee and Avalon Airport towards the coastal town of Torquay.
When we arrived at Torquay we then followed the coast along the Great Ocean Road. After about 10-15 minutes of flying we arrived in Eastern View area where I got a taste of flying in IMC (Instrument meteorological conditions) by descending through a thick layer of cloud. I have never experienced the sense of speed you get when travelling through cloud, it was truly exhilarating.
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We spent the next 20 minutes or so travelling along The Great Ocean Road where we descended to 500 feet for an even better view until we got to Cape Otway where we made a 180 degree turn to start heading back towards Moorabbin. If the views and beautiful beaches from the air were spectacular, I can’t imagine how amazing they are from the ground.
We took the same route back until we got to Torquay where we then tracked towards Phillip Bay cutting through the small gap between Point Lonsdale and Portsea. Yet more amazing views with a number of small picturesque islands located within the bay.
I knew when planning the flight that my GoPro cameras have a battery life of around 1 hour 30 minutes and with a flight time of just over 2 hours the probability of me being able to capture the entirety of the flight was unlikely. With that in mind, I had to reduce the resolution of the internal camera to try and maximise the battery life. It was around the point that we passed through the entrance of Phillip Bay that both the cameras filming the cockpit and outside the window ran out of juice, but luckily the internal view recorded the remainder of the flight. Not wanting to miss some video opportunities, I asked my instructor to briefly take control of the aircraft so that I could get some footage using my iPhone.
I then took back control of the aircraft and continued our approach back to Moorabbin. We were given clearance to join downwind in the right hand circuit for runway 17R. Another experience for me was flying at an airfield with 2 active runways. Runway 17L was also in simultaneous operation for arrivals and departure in the opposite direction.
We were asked to keep a close circuit around the base leg to accommodate other traffic, and this is where I took over on the radio, just so I got some experience of the RT procedures.
On landing we proceeded back towards the apron at Royal Victorian Aero Club where I requested permission to taxi from the Moorabbin Ground frequency.
After just over 2 hours of flying, I was exhausted but buzzing with what was the most memorable and exciting flight I have completed to date. This one will take some beating.
Note: I am not an instructor and these videos are for aviation enthusiasts to enjoy for entertainment purposes only. Please always consult a qualified instructor for advice.
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View the video on my YouTube channel: