Pilots' Paradise near Port Macquarie

Just five nautical miles due west of Port Macquarie, lies an 800m private grass strip. The owners of this well-tended strip – Clyde and Sue Stubbs – have built a home any aviator would envy: an architect-designed modern house with a four-place hangar and wonderful district views. So tranquil is their spot - a mere 30 minutes from the town of Port Macquarie - they recently made the decision to share their paradise with the rest of the aviation community. In the style of their house, they built The Hideout, a modern, fully equipped two bedroom self-contained cottage, constructed to showcase its rural setting, with a fabulous wide deck and access to the 15m solar heated saltwater pool and three person hot tub. To make catering easy, the Stubbs’ will provide breakfast and dinner food hampers, if ordered in advance. The tastefully decorated cottage is wonderfully appointed for families or small groups, offering a second bedroom with a flexible configuration to suit families. Small dogs and children are welcome and Clyde and Sue are warm and hospitable hosts, with a passion for aviation.

The southern edge of the property borders a branch of the Hastings River and provides a perfect spot for fishing from the bank or simply enjoying the serenity of the river.   Nearby Wauchope is surrounded by blackbutt forest and is best known for the nearby Timbertown theme park.  The town has a good range of shops, cafes and banks.

Both pilots, Clyde flies a Cirrus SR22T and Sue is the proud owner of a Cessna 150B. “We love hosting pilots,” says Sue. “There are no extra charges for fly-in visitors. We also understand that bad weather can throw schedules out when flying, so we will accommodate changes in plans as much as possible.” Hangarage is available for guests’ aircraft during their stay.

Port Macquarie, situated at the mouth of the Hastings River, has possibly the most favourable climate in NSW.  There are wonderful beaches and for water sports enthusiasts there is jet boating, parasailing, deep sea fishing, scuba diving and beach and estuary fishing.   Enjoy whale-watching cruises in season and a wide variety of river cruises, or simply stand on the beach and watch the dolphins at play.  There are a number of vineyards and a great boutique brewery.  The area is a haven for koalas and they can be seen at the various wildlife parks or at the koala hospital in town.  Port Macquarie boasts a wide range of restaurants, bars and cafes to suit every taste. 

“If you’d like to visit some of the local attractions we can also make available a vehicle for your use – you will not be stuck without transport,” says Sue.

“All landings on our strip require prior permission, and you must read the airfield information sheet (http://www.dexfieldpark.com). Occasionally, the strip is unserviceable after heavy rain, but Port Macquarie airport is only 5nm away, so there is a good alternate.  Fuel is available at Port Macquarie airport.

Hangar House

During Ausfly, a gentleman by the name of Bradley approached me at the AOPA stand and declared I must visit his new bed and breakfast, Hangar House, in Mudgee. He left me a card, said, “you’ll love it” and went on his way.

A week later, I received an email saying, “Are you coming to visit?” 

I was, of course, intrigued. With weather too blustery for me to fly, I engaged a more experienced pilot - my friend Andrew, with his trusty C182S - and embarked on the 50 minute flight from Bankstown to Mudgee.

Upon landing on runway 22, I spied a fabulous looking building, which I quickly deduced must be the bed and breakfast. It turns out Hangar House is as minimalist and intriguing as Bradley himself. 

After collecting us in a luxury 4WD, Bradley introduced us to his partner, Alex, and we began the tour of the dream project they have dedicated three years to building. 

Alex and Bradley

“In Australia, the concept of an airpark has been fairly limited,” explains Bradley. “The pioneers were developments at Narromine and Temora Airports, where you could hangar your prized aeroplane and live basically alongside it or attached to it. These types of airport developments are common in the United States and have proved very popular with the general aviation enthusiasts there. A notable example is John Travolta, although his house is more airline than general aviation!” 

The hangar is the integral focus of Hangar House, with magnificent curved beams, covering an area suitable for four to five light aircraft. The hangar space makes a unique, attractive venue for a variety of aviation themed events, and has already been home to an AirTourer convention and an Australian Women’s Pilots’ Association social event.

 “Hangar House is situated on a small subdivision tendered out by the Mid Western Regional Council.  When the opportunity presented on the proposed subdivision, Brad and I jumped at the idea of setting up their dream,” said Alex.

The house itself is a two story steel structure designed by  Sydney based architect, Maurice Patten of Patten Design - (www.pattendesign.com.au).

The hangar is accessable from the western end of the living area, where the first suite, The Skymaster, is located. The Skymaster suite consists of an intimate lounge with Jetmaster fireplace joining a large open kitchen and dining area flowing to an informal TV/lounge area.  The first floor is the home of the Airtourer, Bonanza, Baron And Constellation suites, where is a tea/coffee station at the top of the stairs for guests.

The layout is spacious and airy, with an impeccable eye for detail. The furniture is a wonderful blend of modern, antique and exotic (as Alex hails from Cuba), with the décor having a distinct aviation focus. A giant mural of the sky, onto which each visitor’s aircraft is laminated, fills an entire wall. Alex is in the process of organising an aviation themed bar, and of course, each suite is named after an iconic aircraft type.

Were I to offer three superlatives to describe this remarkable living work of art they would be: Fabulous, stylish and cutting edge.

Hangar House also offers accommodation for students; conference facilities and a private chef for dinner parties, functions or corporate events. A courtesy car is available for fly-in guests and as well as hangarage for up to five aircraft, allowing you to taxi right up to the hotel.

Located on the northern apron of picturesque Mudgee Airport and only less than a 5km drive north of the town centre, the Hangar House is an ideal location to explore the area’s 35 plus vineyards as well as Mudgee’s cafes, restaurants, pubs and nearby historic villages such as Gulgong and Rylstone.




The Chief Pilot of Observair, Brad Welch learnt to fly way back in the early 1970s with the Hazelton clan at Orange and Cudal Airports and has always loved the Central Tablelands of NSW. Mudgee is relatively close to the large coastal population bases and is an ideal base to conduct the specialised aerial services that takes Observair Australia wide. In the last couple of years, it has completed major aerial surveys for Flinders University , Murdoch University and  International Wildlife Foundation, in the research of dolphins and whales breeding grounds and Blue Whales migratory patterns.

To host your avation event here, please visit www.hangarhouse.com.au

For the aviators, location YMDG - S32 33.7 E149 36.7


 

A Whole New Attitude

Since my very first TIF, back in 2010, I've dreamt of learning to fly helicopters. Even though I would have to grow another limb to gain the coordination necessary to fly a chopper, I've salivated over helicopters ever since, even going as far as applying for a conversion scholarship.

Although sometimes even an optimist has to put dreams in the 'save for much later' basket, it doesn't stop one seeking out time in other peoples' magnificent machines. Imagine my good luck, then, when the lovely Bas Scheffers of OzRunways 'broke the news' that I would be returning to Bankstown from Ausfly in an R44. Poor me.

Neil Weste is part of the OZRunways success team,  a Cirrus AND R44 owner, and extremely generous to boot. A helicopter pilot before he was fixed wing, I sense Neil's real passion is with chopper flying and as we begin the start ups for departure from Narromine, he has that look I know so well.

A Whole New Attitude

As I sit there, transfixed while Neil speaks the language of chopper, watching gauges unfamiliar to me and twisting levers I don't have, we begin the magic (or the magimix, as an old instructor used to call helicopters) of hovering. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, it really does feel like magic. I realise this illustrates my scant knowledge of helicopter aerodynamics, but I'm going to risk looking light-headed (again) and simply say - "wow!" You don't know you're flying until you're taking off vertically and floating along to the runway - look no taxiways for me! - to take off in a glass bubble.  It really is the most sophisticated form of flight. It is, however, a little slower, but in my mind, certainly on this trip, a 100 knot cruise only furthered my enjoyment of the scenery, above which we remained low enough to see people's washing on their lines. Thankfully, Neil only had one set of controls fitted, so he wasn't obliged to give me any 'hands on time' which was (frankly) a bit of a relief, as I remembered the 'pat your head and rub your stomach' technique of keeping everything upright and stable from my TIF.

After a blissful hour's flight, peppered with my shortfire questions to the very patient Neil, we landed at Cessnock for fuel. Although the aerodrome was as busy as a fly-in day (who says General Aviation is dead?) we didn't have to worry about joining circuits at 1000ft. Helicopters have their own circuit height, and as we were the only one there, it was straight down onto the grass for us. As Neil shut down, I offered to go and fetch coffee. Upon my return, I spied a fabulous old Bonanza (which the owner wouldn't sell, alas) as well as SkyThrills pilots Jodie and Jeremy, in their Decathlon and newly acquired Nanchang.

After refuelling, with both coffee and Avgas, we departed and headed coastal for the most scenic and stunning part of the trip. Neil resides on Lake Macquarie - an area I've visited by road, but is most certainly best seen by air. As we did a touch-and-go on his front lawn (which was really no bigger than a handkerchief!) I realised this amazing area, with houses perched on the side of the lake, is something of a residential secret (until now!) You really wouldn't know it was here, in all its hidden magnificence, unless you were looking for it.

As we continued coastal at 500 ft, we spotted a whale. I sighed in perfect contentment, and started mentally selling my shoes and frocks to save up for chopper lessons. Neil, however, had saved the piece de resistance for last. "How'd you fancy a harbour scenic?" he asked. Nodding furiously, he took my 'yes' and went on to say, "this will be quite different from a fixed wing scenic."

It turns out, to my utter astonishment, that choppers don't need clearance into the harbour. Not only THAT, they get to fly at 500ft, just skimming the harbour bridge AND are allowed west of the bridge, down the Parramatta river all the way to Bankstown. I don't know what kind of special place helicopter pilots have in the 'can do' drawer at CASA, but this was beyond amazing. No wonder Sydney chopper pilots look so damn smug!

Our landing at Bankstown was an eye-opener, too, with the chopper circuit being quite busy. "Choppers West" and other inbound points I'd heard on the radio, but never really acknowledged, became a reality as we headed for 'the main pad'. After the pad, we danced over to Andrew's hangar, where he and his son came out to gush over the R44. As I alighted the fabulous machine, I felt like a movie-star, giddy with excitement, privileged in experiencing something only a very few are allowed. 

Once again, I reminded myself that while I may not have fallen into the most well-paid profession in the world, I get to fly in (and on) the most amazing machines in the world and am lucky to meet the most fabulous people.

And, this time, when asked if I enjoyed the flight, I didn't answer, "oh my! The EARTH moved!"

Which is progress.

A Good Old Dose of Optimism

I have had the most incredible two months, and as tempting as it is to use this space to tell you all about the wonders of flying in the USA, the thrill of landing at Oshkosh and the fabulousness of flying in an R44 through Sydney Harbour (thanks Neil Weste!) upon my return, I felt I needed to bring to your attention something a little less exciting: our industry’s apathy.

A year ago, when I became editor of Australian Pilot and implemented an ‘anti-whingeing’ policy in this magazine. I vowed I would not carp on about restrictive regulations, the red plastic ASIC which we all loathe, or the frustratingly poor customer service that is indicative of so many flying schools. I promised I would be the go-to publication for positive stories, to promote progressive businesses and share the excitement of flying. And yet, after returning from the USA, I no longer felt like the Doris Day of Aviation.

After a month of American FBOs providing me with $10 per hour hire cars, aircraft hired for $103 per hour and airstrips every ten nautical miles in every direction, I could be forgiven for not being a Pollyanna pilot. After receiving over 25 emails detailing increases in landing fees, airport closures and wrestles with AvMed, I felt like hanging up the headset and applying for the green card lottery.

And then, something fabulous happened: I attended Ausfly. After four days with the nation’s most enthusiastic aviators, I realised all is not lost. Not at all. We might be smaller than the USA, we may well be over-regulated and we might just have a twentieth century attitude to flight training, but we are a nation of determined individuals who are prepared to continue to fly against some very tricky odds.

Among the fine aviators—and aviatrixes—of Ausfly, I met: a young couple with a flying school so progressive, the bulk of their students are under thirty; a remarkable young man who flew solo around the world despite a significant lack of sponsorship and no donor aircraft; an aircraft distributor who had taken a punt on a new aeroplane because they really, really believe it’s the best trainer on the market, and a man who sold his house to buy his dream machine. I chatted with scores of people who flew in every kind of aircraft, from every corner of the country, to be with like-minded people. I saw children staring open mouthed at the flying displays, and wallets opening at the speed of light to fly in a Pitts.

photo by Phil Buckley

At the Ausfly dinner, I listened with interest to SAAA President, Martin Ongley’s speech about the importance of joining organisations and supporting the industry, and I joined the crowd in a standing ovation for Ryan Campbell. I calculated the average age of my table’s diners to be around 50 (which is lower than the average pilot population—or maybe it was just the mood lighting!) and felt positive that Ausfly is succeeding in the very thing our industry needs—a good old dose of optimism.

photo: Phil Buckley

Everybody I spoke to agreed we have a long way to go, yet each had a personal story about flying and how it had enriched their life; journeys one could never have without having flown; marriage proposals in Tiger Moths and beautiful picnics at coastal airports. Tales of aircraft built, rivet by rivet, year by year, were shared among stories of lives saved by pilots, apps designed to make lives safer and friendships formed at aero club sausage sizzles.

Photo: Phil Buckley

We may not have courtesy cars at our airport, our CPL may still require the passing of seven exams and we might have to dangle an expensive piece of red plastic from our shirts for a long while yet, but while there is fuel in the bowser and gable markers on the runway, we will fly. And while I’m editor of this magazine, I will not whinge. Instead, I will take my lovely new Bose headset with me into the sky and visit the remarkable pilots who keep this industry the only one to which I am happy to belong.

Photo: Phil Buckley