Flying the Outback

03/05/2024

Day 5 of our little Autumn flying adventure delivers us to the remote and fabulous south-west coast of Kangaroo Island.

11/03/2024

When you’re really hoping the boat doesn’t stall …

16/09/2023

For my non-pilot mates, I thought you might be interested in seeing ‘the office’, and what we’ve been staring at (when we wrench our eyes away from the landscape) for the past 9 days.

15/09/2023

And so that hard working globe goes down for another night … Good night Birdsville !

15/09/2023

Another day, another desert for our WardAir crews. This one’s the Simpson - not Australia’s biggest, but perhaps the best known.
Impossible to photograph the awe inspiring expanse of 175,000 sq kms of red sand dunes, it is totally unforgettable to see it from 5,500ft above.
Chasing the favourable winds departing Ross River homestead this morning, some flew high today, some flew low. Destination: Birdsville

13/09/2023

Thanks so much for all the birthday love yesterday. With all that, and flying Uluru- what a happy day! My mission this year is to still be able to climb up here to refuel on my next birthday. Anything’s possible, right?

12/09/2023

On our way up to Uluru, celebration lollies at altitude for the birthday girl! . 🎉🎉 At this age, I reckon I can have lollies whatever time of day I want ‘em! 🤣🤣

12/09/2023

Morning! A slice of red desert at 6,500ft to have with your morning coffee. This one’s the Great Victoria Desert in central SA.

11/09/2023

We’ve packed a lot into 3 days … flying across the NSW border through the Strzelecki Desert, over beautiful Lake Frome and into SA’s Flinders Ranges is dress circle viewing.
The WardAir crews are doing a lot of smiling. 😎

09/09/2023

Good morning from Packsaddle! Haven’t misplaced any of the WardAir crews yet - happy days!

02/09/2023

Massive congratulations to another hard working WardAir student, Angus Maunder nailing his first solo today out at Coonamble.
Well done Angus. 👏👏👏

13/06/2023

Take a bow, our ladies of literature. Adrianne, Kathy and our fabulous Nancy Bird … your books are in great company. Latest edition of Australian Flying mag, nice to see.

12/05/2023

PILOT PALS: I’m looking for some anecdotes to help with a magazine feature I’m preparing on weather & forecasting. Anonymous or with a byline is fine. Please DM me. Maybe you have something to offer that could one day help another pilot?

Have you had a close call with weather? How did it pan out?
Fog? Ice? Thunderstorm? Duststorm? Low cloud? Mountain waves?
Have you had to divert a flight or replan an itinerary due weather?
Have you ever been really scared by a weather event?
As a VFR pilot, what’s your biggest takeaway from encountering IMC?

THANK YOU!! Many different stories make for much more engaging reading.
Cheers, Shelley

06/05/2023

Yahoo … great job by all involved.

14/02/2023

I’m considering a visit to ADELS GROVE later this year. I’ve flown in about ten times over the years, but not since the management change. I’d like some honest opinions please. Who has visited recently? How was your experience? Would you recommend a visit? DM me if you would prefer. Many thanks in advance. Shelley

23/12/2020

My job in life, as you well know, is to raise your spirits and empty your bank account. Here’s a new little safari to mull over with a beer from your Christmas hammock.

https://www.flyingtheoutback.com.au/air-safaris-routes/tracking-the-great-australian-bight/

This little safari gets you across the Nullarbor, no matter which way you're heading. One of the most iconic and must-do safari routes in Australia.

13/12/2020

Five beautiful minutes. Happy Sunday!
https://vimeo.com/98004861

Oscar-winning movie ‘Out of Africa’ conjures images of the quintessential African setting: breathtaking savannah plains, bountiful wildlife and snapshots…

19/10/2020

Shipping containers turn up in the darndest places ...
The brand new Callubri Station came onto our radar recently, so we figured Flying the Outback should be their first fly-in guests. Located half way between Tottenham and Nyngan in central NSW, you can land at either airstrip, or the neighbour’s, and get a pick-up.
Hosts Angie and Michael are super keen to share their beautiful slice of Australia. Beware ... Angie’s a GREAT cook!

08/10/2020

Walking across the outback with your previously happy partner and a one-year old? What could possibly go wrong with that idea?
I’ve just bought my ticket.

Crossing The Outback Online Show We are proud to announce the North American premiere of the film Crossing the Outback. Directed by Justin Jones, we follow his journey with his family as they walk 1800km unaccompanied and self-supported across the [...]

05/10/2020

Yay for school holidays!! Max scores a blue bird day yesterday for his first Harbour Scenic flight with the WardAir team. 👏👏👏

05/10/2020

The pilots arrived at WardAir on Friday pretty intimidated by ATC ... after three days of immersion in all the civil and military controlled airspace we could drum up for them, they had grins from ear to ear.

21/09/2020

Last Sunday morning was foul weather in Sydney - low evil clouds, raining, blowing a gale, massive swell. It’s always worth a look across the Heads to see the drama.
It occurred to me how absolutely precarious (and temporary) that small blue hole in the clouds looked ... I’ve never lost my absolute fear of relying on finding a hole to allow me to descend safely below a cloud layer.
Thank god for instrument ratings.