The Anonymous Widower

Flying The Queensland Coast

When C and I flew around Australia, one of the highlights of the flying was to take the plane off the Barrier Reef from Dunk Island and fly down to Brisbane. 

It was a long flight of about eight hours and it was necessary to refuel the aircraft half-way.  There were two choices; Rockhampton and Mackay. Rockhampton, which features in the floods as I write and reminded me of this story, was a little early, so I decided to use Mackay.

The flying was wonderful, as we at about eight thousand feet following the coast at a speed of about `120 or so knots.  We were also one of the few planes in the air, as the Australian airline pilots  were on strike, so there were no airliners at all.

Mackay welcomed us with open arms and the two refuelling companies almost fought to give us the best service.  We even ordered snacks over the radio on final approach.

In the end, we were on the ground for perhaps fifteen minutes on the one and only time I set foot in that part of Queensland.

January 1, 2011 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Australia, Flying