Kyneton to Rockhampton - Sonex 894 - 1900 NM round trip

Tell about and show off the best photos from your cross country trips

Kyneton to Rockhampton - Sonex 894 - 1900 NM round trip

Postby peter anson » Thu Aug 18, 2016 8:06 pm

I recently did a 1900 nautical mile (nearly 2200 miles) round trip in my Sonex, from Kyneton in Victoria to Rockhampton in Queensland and return. Here's a link to my blog on the first half of the trip, including a few photos.
http://www.ansoneng.com/sample-page/sonex-trips/kyneton-to-rockhampton-part-1-930-nautical-miles/
This is the longest distance I have flown. My Jabiru engine performed flawlessly and the Sonex was comfortable enough so that I felt fine at the end of a day's flight. I spent about 7 hours in the air in one day on the return trip. I couldn't quite do the trip in one day - the winter days here are just a little short for that, although it would be possible.

Peter
Sonex 894
272 hours
peter anson
 
Posts: 543
Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2014 2:34 am
Location: Mount Macedon, Australia

Re: Kyneton to Rockhampton - Sonex 894 - 1900 NM round trip

Postby vigilant104 » Thu Aug 18, 2016 10:45 pm

Peter,
Thanks for writing that up, looks like a great adventure. Crocodiles, mud flats, lots of wilderness--that'll make you listen very closely to that engine. Glad you had a good trip.
Mark Waldron
Sonex 1230 (Builder: Jay Gibbs)
Aerovee, Trigear
vigilant104
 
Posts: 265
Joined: Wed Nov 09, 2011 3:34 pm
Location: Near Dayton, OH

Re: Kyneton to Rockhampton - Sonex 894 - 1900 NM round trip

Postby sonex892. » Fri Aug 19, 2016 2:44 am

Good effort Pete. As always, very classy limerick.
Steve
Sonex 892
Steve
Lazair kit 1981 sold
Sonerai 2LS plansbuilt 2003 sold
Sonex kit 2010
Sonerai 2LS project rotax 912
User avatar
sonex892.
 
Posts: 392
Joined: Tue Oct 27, 2015 12:32 am

Re: Kyneton to Rockhampton - Sonex 894 - 1900 NM round trip

Postby Corby202 » Fri Aug 19, 2016 3:08 am

Good effort Peter, thanks for sharing
Phil Bird
Sonex 759 JAB 2.2 Tailwheel
Mittagong NSW Australia
http://www.mykitlog.com/corby202/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/78427482@ ... otostream/
Corby202
 
Posts: 223
Joined: Mon Dec 30, 2013 2:08 am

Re: Kyneton to Rockhampton - Sonex 894 - 1900 NM round trip

Postby andrewp » Fri Aug 19, 2016 2:27 pm

Just got back from visiting family in Australia, down in Melbourne and up in Noosaville. Should have hitched a ride with you. Alas the closest I got to airplanes let alone a Sonex was the bar at Royal Vic at Moorabbin.

What a great journey ... loved your post.
andrewp
 
Posts: 213
Joined: Mon Oct 14, 2013 11:10 pm

Re: Kyneton to Rockhampton - Sonex 894 - 1900 NM round trip

Postby Msing48 » Sat Aug 20, 2016 9:20 am

Interesting write-up and photos, Peter! I always wondered how you guys down under manage to fly upside down and keep from falling into outer space.
Msing48
 
Posts: 66
Joined: Tue Aug 27, 2013 4:39 pm

Re: Kyneton to Rockhampton - Sonex 894 - 1900 NM round trip

Postby peter anson » Wed Aug 24, 2016 9:35 am

Here's a link to part 2 of my trip.
http://www.ansoneng.com/sample-page/sonex-trips/kyneton-to-rockhampton-part-2-the-return-970-nautical-miles/
I really enjoyed the trip and didn't find a day of flying too taxing. I don't have any sort of autopilot so found I was busy the whole time trying to maintain an accurate course, keep a lookout and monitor the the engine. I was definitely not going to doze off.
I have often read opinions that the Sonex is not suitable for long trips, but one of the things you need for a trip is speed. I used to own a Skyfox, a factory-built Kitfox, which was a nice aircraft to fly but had a 2 1/2 hour safe range at 65 knots. In Australia, that often won't get you to the next town. Trips which took careful planning and a favourable wind in the Skyfox are almost inconsequential in the Sonex.

Peter
peter anson
 
Posts: 543
Joined: Thu Jul 31, 2014 2:34 am
Location: Mount Macedon, Australia

Re: Kyneton to Rockhampton - Sonex 894 - 1900 NM round trip

Postby Brett » Wed Aug 24, 2016 6:04 pm

I love your epilogue in part two ;)

-Brett
Sonex 1645
VH-VWS
Tailwheel
Former Aerovee Turbo
Rotax 912
Brett
 
Posts: 269
Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2014 3:49 am
Location: Geraldton W.A Australia

Re: Kyneton to Rockhampton - Sonex 894 - 1900 NM round trip

Postby Corby202 » Wed Aug 24, 2016 7:37 pm

Another good write up Peter. You might have to make a trip to "Gulargambone" to see what limeric you can come up with.
Phil
Phil Bird
Sonex 759 JAB 2.2 Tailwheel
Mittagong NSW Australia
http://www.mykitlog.com/corby202/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/78427482@ ... otostream/
Corby202
 
Posts: 223
Joined: Mon Dec 30, 2013 2:08 am

Re: Kyneton to Rockhampton - Sonex 894 - 1900 NM round trip

Postby tonyr » Wed Aug 24, 2016 11:07 pm

Corby202 wrote:You might have to make a trip to "Gulargambone" to see what limeric you can come up with.
Phil


Dont encourage him.. :lol:
Sonex #813
First Flight... 4 Oct 14
298 hours having fun!
http://sonexaus.wikispaces.com/Tony+%28Richo%29+Richardson+Sonex+813
User avatar
tonyr
 
Posts: 200
Joined: Thu Jun 27, 2013 12:50 am

Next

Return to Trip reports

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest