PDA

View Full Version : Sparrow Hawk visits Karamea


Colin Gibson
04-18-2012, 12:13 AM
A couple of weekends ago I got an E mail saying there was going to be a gathering of west Coast pilots at Karamea on the west coast of South Island New Zealand for the weekend. I had promised a friend a trip on the Sunday so decided to fly over to Karamea on Saturday for lunch and meet up with my friends.
I left Nelson at 11.30am to avoid the fog which can be in the Karamea mountains in the morning. My passenger was 25 L of fuel.
I used lift off the ridges to get up around 4000 ft to get around Mt Author and into the Leslie river valley which runs into the Karamea river at the renoun Karamea Bend (in the river)
Here is a selection of pictures of the journey.
Turned out, everyone else plnned to arrive late in the afternoon so I ended up having lunch on .my own. Went for a walk to the beach after to fill in time until around 4pm. With no one arriving I climbed out towards Nelson to the tune of pilots calling destination Karamea. They were on their way but to late for me. Passed Lloyd and Jan in ZK-RAE as I entered the gorge. We circled each other and exchanged greetings before going opposite directions. I hear they had a great time.

Colin Gibson
04-18-2012, 12:30 AM
Some more pictures looking down river to the west.

Colin Gibson
04-18-2012, 12:35 AM
Sarrow Hawk at Karamea and some pictures flying back the same route except I had a tail wind. This gave great lift and I went thru a narrow saddle in the Mt Author range.

Vance
04-18-2012, 03:08 AM
Nice story too!

What a beautiful place to fly!

Thank you for having us along, Vance

StanFoster
04-18-2012, 03:25 AM
Colin- Beautiful pictures and write up. When I view such terrain like this and where Vance flies, I am always imagining me going down near a ridge, and finding a place to set down. Stan

Colin Gibson
04-18-2012, 10:04 AM
Plenty of places on that river bed to set down on. Was very comforting for me as I was expecting it to be a lot more rugged with few emergency landing spots. I felt there was only about 5 min over the Leslie river that I might have been in a tree if it all went quiet. Although the Sparrow Hawk hasn't let me down, I'm always looking for a plan if it does. That trip I would do again with no worrys. I got some good video too.
Was a cracker day, only sorry I missed the others at Karamea.
Colin

Timchick
04-18-2012, 07:31 PM
Great scenery. Thanks for posting.

Rusty Russell
05-07-2012, 01:31 AM
That South Island flying looks great Colin.. Nice pics.
Having fun and putting in lots of hrs in ZK-KIW.. Lots of folks quein up for rides.
How is John getting on with RCO? Great to see Paul flying again eh!
R

Steve McGowan
05-07-2012, 04:45 AM
Have you ever thought about a BLAZZZZING Orange color for your aircraft.??

You Be VERRRRY Brave ,,Grass Hopper.. :peace:

All_In
05-07-2012, 06:20 AM
Spectacular scenery Colin!
Thanks for taking us alone!!!!

Colin Gibson
05-08-2012, 01:19 AM
Rusty
Good to here you are back in the air. I drop in on John every now and then. Will be good to see blades turning there eh.
Sorry Steve on the orange colour. I like the one I have.
Colin