Healthy Bastards 26 Part 1

Starting out of WT had me delayed due oil loss after my previous days test flight had lost 100-200 mls of oil and a slight belly oil streak was visible.  A top up of oil was required then away to Turangi, 30 minutes late, but a fine weather start.

Seeing Bill Penman in TES 30 minutes ahead of me showed me he had started on time. Passing Matamata I saw Flight Radar positioning Bob in FXC about 30 minutes behind me and us arriving in Turangi a little later than planned. With the fine weather day that wasn’t too concerning so our touchdown would get us travelling as a small 3 pilot group, after a quick discussion in Turangi.

George, a Turangi Aero Club committee man, appeared at the Turangi Aero Club hangar to have a quick discussion with us before restarting for Taihape, via the Desert Rohttps://youtu.be/APmXSaizObEad. I was first into Taihape with fine weather allowing a good view of the airstrip before landing. Virtually no wind allowed a pleasant landing and a taxi in to stop to the west of the hangars.

Two Cresco agricultural aircraft had landed a short time before us and were parked front of the open hangar. Bob and Bill followed me in to land in FXC and TES so also pulled in near me to shut down for a quick review of the airstrip. This provided our lunch stop and sandwich break.

While Bill and Bob stood chatting beside their aircraft I wandered over to chat to the two ag pilots who were on their lunch break too. Their loader driver had departed in his own aircraft for a quick flight elsewhere. Mike was one of the pilots and was interested in where we had flown in from. After mentioning Whitianga, Ardmore and Tauranga he advised he grew up in Coroglen, a township near Whitianga, on the Coromandel peninsula had had his first flight at Whitianga with ……., the retired Qantas pilot, who had the tea tree oil plantation on the hills to the northwest of Whitianga, near the Whitianga aerodrome.

He and the other ag pilot were the mainstay of Wanganui Aero Work along with the team from Taumaranui who did most of the work for the company. We also discussed training of ag pilots in the current era with Mike suggesting it was harder to find pilots now. The training was also very expensive and didn’t necessarily end with a suitable pilot.

Bob and Bill had also joined the conversation but as we had started flying a little later than expected, we shortened the chat, had a quick look in the open hangar then restarted our aircraft.

Taxiing further up the rise to the west of our parking position we took to the air again for FXC to refuel with Avgas at Feilding and for me to rectify the oil leak in the Pelican that had been identified in Turangi. Flying to Feilding again was pleasantly relaxed with fine, settled conditions to enjoy the views along the way. This flight was a repeat of my initial flight after purchasing the Pelican at North Shore, Auckland and ferrying south bound via Turangi and Taihape to Feilding.

No sheep in Feilding this time so we all landed on the grass 11 runway, for Avgas refuel for Bob and me to the Feilding Flying Club for the loan of a spanner. Stan Hyde’s car was parked outside the hangar but I was advised that he was away up Napier way checking on aircraft. I was offered spanners for loosening the leaking oil container on the fire wall which had recently been removed for cleaning. The O ring was still seated but the upper clamp had not been gripping the rim correctly.

With the leak fixed and Bob’s Carbon Cub refuelled it was then fly on to Peter Kernhan’s airstrip at Koputaroa where Bill Penman had landed before, as this was his own backyard. Bill had been Air Traffic Controlling around this area for years, based in Palmerston North and Ohakea, and had been with RAANZ (Recreational Aircraft Association of New Zealand) from the get go.

Last time I had met Peter Kernhan was at Motueka just after he had repaired his Pelican undercarriage for dispatch back to his airstrip where we had now landed. The coffee was ready and we chatted with he and his wife Pam. A quick refuel top up for TES and MAL then followed from Peter’s 98 Octane then we had our life jackets on ready to cross over Cook Strait to Port Gore.

I elected to fly directly to Port Gore while the other two aircraft flew south along the coast through Paraparaumu zone and took the shorter crossing from Mana Island to Cape Koamaru then Port Gore. The weather was settled and sunny for the crossing and the arrival into Port Gore. Always necessary to have these conditions so pilots are as relaxed as possible to arrive and land at these non-standard, one-way, uphill airstrips.

I had sent out maps to the pilots who had indicated they wanted to be part of this year’s adventure so that they could review these airstrips at their leisure. Turbulence in mountainous areas can be very hard to handle so it’s always good practice to have appropriate light winds for these airstrip operations. Port Gore turned it on beautifully and there was already seven of our friends on the ground there with tents being erected by the time we had landed. Four of these were Savannahs!

I parked at the top of the old strip which runs uphill at 90 degrees to the newer and longer airstrip that we had landed on. This was to ensure there was enough space for the two aircraft landing behind me to vacate the runway and park without obstructing others. As soon as the arriving aircraft had shut down, I wandered over to Cliff Marchant who was standing in the doorway of his hangar so chatted to him for some time. He advised he had other visitors also staying for the night but we were free to use the bunkhouse attached to his house further along the path from his hangar. This had toilets, shower and kitchen sink so meals would be no problem for those who chose this option.

Peter and Nicola and Bob and Murray took up this option while Bill Penman and I chose our tent sites along with many of the other arrival team from Masterton. I taxied my Pelican back down the steep airstrip to the hangar area for easy access to food and camping supplies.

The lovely evening settled weather made this a beautiful site for our evening meal and chat as we sat on a platform at the edge of the runway and took in the surrounding spectacular views of the mountains and Port Gore bay. A pleasant night with no wind or damp conditions was a great introduction for my flying and camping friends. Next morning dawned beautifully as well but our tent fly had a clammy dew in the inside of the fly when crawling out for breakfast. That then needed to be dried off before flight onwards to our next destination at Nopera airstrip. This was the one-way uphill airstrip on farmland owned by Ally & Helen Dowle.

While we were all up and readying for breakfast and repacking our tents and stowing equipment aboard our aircraft, I warmed my Pelican engine up ready for flight. We had a gathering to discuss Nopera airstrip and everyone voted to fly over there to inspect it with a possibility to overnight at Hopewell Lodge. Bill Penman was unable to start his Tecnam P92 so had the battery voltage checked by Cliff’s son Chris who was working in their hangar.

I was one of the first to depart to check Nopera and I flew over a couple of other airstrips enroute. Mike, from Hopewell Lodge, had been expecting us to overnight with him but on arrival at Nopera we were greeted by Ally Dowle, the farm owner. The conditions were somewhat tricky due to the wind varying all the time, from crosswind to head then tailwinds.

All aircraft arrived one after the other and seven aircraft were on the ground by the time Mike had finished his early passenger transfers and had time to drive to the airstrip to chat with us. Bill Penman arrived with Bob Gray, in the back of his Carbon Cub, as the battery was left charging at the hangar in Port Gore. Our decision for flight onwards to Omaka had already been made due to the prevailing windy conditions making a cancelled Healthy Bastards Competition a likely event if we overnighted and found conditions unsuitable for flight next morning.

Mike was disappointed to hear this but understood the problem if 5 of the competitors were stuck on the airstrip unable to leave. He was impressed with the array of aircraft on the airstrip, with the Savannahs in particular, since that is the aircraft he was still planning to own. After a general chit chat with Ally and Mike the aircraft began their next flights and generally in Omaka’s direction. Bob took Bill back to Port Gore in his Carbon Cub, to collect his belongings and fly onwards to Omaka while Bill was to reinstall his recharged battery and continue on also. I departed directly to Omaka, to set up camp beside the Bristol Freighter, just like last year.

This was a good spot beside the clubhouse with a portable shower toilet parked nearby for our use. A very neat row of aircraft was seen from above as I flew overhead a very green aerodrome that I had never seen before at this time of the year in Omaka. The recent rains around New Zealand had obviously been very good for the grass growth.

As I taxed into the first line up of aircraft I thought how neatly it had been arranged this year but I regretted not being able to tie the aircraft down on the more secure tie down positions outside the Marlborough Aero Club clubhouse where it had been coned off for other use.

I unloaded my camping gear and wandered along to the clubhouse to position it under the Bristol Freighter wing to get the shade in case of high temperatures over the following days. Being one of the early arrivals gave me choice of best positions and this was only a stone’s throw from the toilet/shower caravan parked nearby.

After setting up camp I received a call from Bill Penman stating that the real problem with starting his aircraft was a disintegrating starter motor which had been removed from his aircraft. Was it possible I could locate a spare starter motor for his Rotax engine in Blenheim?

Not really having any idea where this could be obtained and being Saturday afternoon, there were few options. I thought the best place to start would be the couple of open hangars I could see over to the east where the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre was located. After wandering along the airfield to the Marlborough Aero Club office, to pay landing fees, I was able to borrow their loan car so collected my empty fuel cans from the Pelican then set off to the open hangars.

The first had no Rotax components nor knew of anyone who may have any so I wandered into the JEM Aviation hangar next door with the same request. There was a couple of guys in the hangar and while I was talking to one of them one had rung Jay Macintyre to explain the problem and ask for suggestions. I was talking with Bill Penman by phone to Port Gore explaining where I was on the starter motor quest when I was given a slip of paper with a name and telephone number on it. After that discussion, with Willie Cross, I was to meet him at the Marlborough Aero Club hangars in an hour’s time, to unbolt the starter motor from the Rotax engine he had in his hangar.

Well, that was great news, so another phone call to Bill Penman had him excited about being able to restart his aircraft and continue his adventure with us all. My wait for Willie to arrive allowed me to drive into the downtown BP station to top up my 2 x 20 litre fuel containers and drop into the Warehouse next door to buy a new battery pack to be able to recharge my phone while on this Healthy Bastards 26 adventure.

With this all done I had time to return to the airport via Renwick to see if the Runway Cafe and Store, with the Safe Air Argosy aircraft beside it, was open and the opening hours. This done, it was back to Omaka to unload my fuel cans and await Willie’s imminent arrival.

Shortly after wards I saw him arrive at the hangar gates and followed him down to his hangar and introduced myself to him. Then it was straight into the hangar to see his engine at the rear of the building and importantly, the starter motor for Bill’s aircraft. Borrowing a few spanners from a nearby tool box had us disconnecting the starter from the engine and ensuring all the bolts, nuts and washers were all reattached, then away to the Pelican for flight to Port Gore.

I phoned Bill to let him know I was departing Omaka for Port Gore so should have him airborne again before sunset. He was very excited to see what had been achieved since his discussion earlier in the day. An Omaka direct Port Gore took me back into Woodburn controlled airspace so the Airways dollars were mounting but gave me the shortest, quickest route.

Bill had been productive while waiting for his starter to arrive and had helped Cliff remove a damaged wing from his C185.

Weather had remained fine and clear of cloud so it was another great little flight through the sounds for me. Landing in relatively calm conditions allowed me to hand the starter over to Bill and Tag, who was in the Port Gore hangar helping him with the repairs, as he was also on a flying visiting trip from Auckland. This required Bill and Tag to clean up the new starter before refitting it to the Tecnam. I also saw the damaged C185 with its wing now removed sitting in the hangar in front of the nosed in Tecnam.

About a half hour after my arrival there it was ready to start. This was successfully done so I then left Bill to get his aircraft ready for dispatch back to Omaka and I returned to the air, with Bill a short distance behind. We arrived in continuing fine conditions and parked in the lineup of arrivals, in two large straight lines of aircraft. Bill needed to set up his camping gear beside the Bristol Freighter and I needed to complete my set up that had been earlier interrupted with the call for a starter motor.

All now relaxed and settled into our camp beside the trailer shower-toilet we then had time to enjoy the aero club bar before we had our campsite dinners together. We now had all of our 10 aircraft back at Omaka so we were ready for competition day Saturday. Most of our team were campers and Bob was the only one to depart for more luxurious accommodation off site, after catching up with friends in Blenheim.

Competition day started well with us all crawling out of tents to begin our day with a campsite breakfast, showers and toileting then ready for the team briefing in front of the Clubhouse at 8:30 am. This gave everyone the overview of competition, aircraft locations and spectator transit routes around the operational aerodrome, for the successful trouble-free running of the competition. Runway 25 was the runway for the competition.

This began at 10 am so we all needed to assemble our spectator seats and food supplies to take out to the middle of the ‘drome. It wasn’t too hot but always good to have sunburn cream and big hats for a day like these with no shade out there. Plenty of competitors so pleasing to see more activity this year. As spectators we all sat in a line beside the take-off/landing threshold to get the best shots of the take-offs and landings.

The competition comperes all sat nearby on a trailer keeping the spectators amused with their comments. Keeping the flow of aircraft going steadily on this competition is a very difficult job but was well managed with so many in the air. We saw some very precise flying and Bob Swanney’s practice back in Waihi gave him the winners take-off and landing, first in the Savannah class of aircraft. Great flow, commentary and airmanship by all the competitors, flag Marshall’s, judges and commentators.

I adjourned to the Aviation Heritage Centre nearby for my lunch and ran into Martin Farrand who was passing through in his Bonanza enroute to Kaipara Flats. A quick chat with him then back to the line for more spectating which had us all heated up for refreshments by mid-afternoon so we were happy to adjourn to the clubhouse and hangars for cooling drinks at the completion of competitions.

Bill Penman and I borrowed the MAC loan car again and returned to Blenheim for fuel for his aircraft and another recharge battery for Bill’s phone. This gave us the opportunity to revisit The Runway Cafe for a view of the Argosy and a coffee stop while making our way back to Omaka. Unloading the fuel for Bill’s Tecnam and returning the MAC car keys to the office then had us return to the Patchett Ag Air hangar for drinks and prize giving.

This was another opportunity to mix with the flyers and spectators who had all been out on the flight line and to chat to some of those pilots we only see as we meet up at these events. Our big bunch from our 10 aircraft and campsite were all present and enjoyed seeing the prize giving but resisted the temptation to eat from the food caravans nearby.

As there was another loan car in our midst it was decided we could all eat in down town Blenheim for a nice meal at a restaurant. The first group had already departed to drop some at the cafe then collected fuel and brought it back to Omaka to drop the fuel off then take us remaining pilots into the restaurant. It gave us all a very nice and friendly location to end our day with good company, chatter and food.

Afterwards it was six piled into the car for return while Hamish & Tash walked their dinner off while they waited for the return pickup to collect them. A dry night allowed good camping and breakfast next morning was early out of sleeping bags for a clubhouse forecourt dinning event at the camp tables on grass. The Masterton team were pondering their return while I taxied the Pelican from the tie down lineup, in front of the MAC hangar, eastwards to the MAC Clubhouse.

This was too far to carry all my camping equipment so parking in front of our campsite eased the packing up considerably. That was the end of our Healthy Bastards 26 joint camping adventure as the Masterton flyers were now ready to fly back home. That left four of us to continue our camping and flying via a few airstrips to the West Coast.

https://youtu.be/APmXSaizObE