Out of the blue one Friday afternoon, I received a phone call from a flying friend who wanted to know whether I would like to go for a bit of a fly the next day. As if he had to ask!? The answer to that question is always a resounding, “Yes, please”!
It was going to be another horribly hot day so an early start was in order which, in turn, meant the chance of breakfast when we landed.
Come fly with me…
What?
- As you have no doubt identified by the photos, today’s post is all about an amazing helicopter flight.
- Zipping through the crystal-clear skies at 250kph, it was a wonderful opportunity to experience the Australian landscape from a completely different perspective. Truly a bird’s eye view.
- There were wind farms, small villages, and houses/farms tucked away in remote corners of scrub and buried in the densest bush. I would hate to be living there in a bushfire.
- There were pine plantations, manmade lakes and dams, and endless handkerchief-pattern countryside with the only patches of green being the small, irrigated paddocks. Ah, our Wide Brown Land.
- Normally my flying friend doesn’t fly 300km just to enjoy breakfast. He had a much more serious and important purpose – to complete some mandatory safety training including emergency procedures.
- While he undertook the rigorous training, the pilot’s wife and I trundled into Goulburn to enjoy a delicious coffee and Breakfast Bruschetta at Valerie’s Sunroom – part of the Gehl Garden Centre. It was so delicious, I didn’t even think to take a photo. Sorry about that. 😊
Where?
- We flew from Mudgee (Central West NSW) to Goulburn in the Southern Tablelands and return – about 300km each way.
- Our flight path took us due south and almost directly over Bathurst.
When?
- Mid-Summer! Ugh! It turned into yet another very hot day. Thankfully the helicopter had excellent air conditioning.
- We took off around 0715 and the cooler temperatures of the early morning meant a smooth and fast flight – around 1hour and 4minutes to Goulburn.
- It was a different story on the return flight as it was significantly hotter and the thermals made for a slightly bumpier trip. It was still wonderful though and perfectly safe.
Why?
- Why not? I NEVER say ‘No’ to a helicopter ride.
How?
- By helicopter of course! Doesn’t everyone zip around the countryside in one? 😊
Who?
- The excellent pilot.
- The equally excellent pilot’s wife and breakfast companion.
General Comments:
- What can I say? I just loved every second! I got an excited, buzzing feeling when I climbed into the cockpit and that feeling didn’t leave me the whole time we were in the air. I was a 10year old kid again.
- And just like the 10year old kid I used to be, I had to calm down a little and stop waving my arms about in case I accidentally bumped a button or switch that really shouldn’t be bumped! 😊
- I loved sitting in the cockpit and peppering the pilot with a million questions. The hundreds of dials and buttons just boggled my little mind and it was the most awesome brain food to try to understand – even in the smallest way – what was happening on the dashboard.
- Isn’t flight just the most fascinating thing? I am in awe of the brains that dreamed it was possible (Yes, hats off to the Wright Brothers) and then all the brains that continually refine the technology for higher, faster, smoother and smarter flights.
- I stood there looking at the ultra-aerodynamic helicopter and, even though my brain knows it can fly perfectly well, I still marvel that it can fly.
- The only downside to the whole experience was to see our country looking so parched. Yes, Summer in Australia is not to be trifled with and we are all commenting that this Summer has been particularly severe. In our area, it would be getting close to six months since we have had any decent rain. In Australia, decent rain is defined as tank- or dam-filling, and Yes, our rainwater tanks are getting dangerously low.
- Oh well, I guess it will rain again one day and ruin a perfectly good drought!
Thanks to my flying friends for a very special experience. While it may be business-as-usual for them, for me it was and will continue to be, an absolute thrill.
Up, up and away…
Are you a fan of flying?
#travelinspo #flight #helicopters #Mudgee #Goulburn #Bathurst #airtravel #birdseyeviews #Australia #Australianlandscape #breakfast #widebrownland #SummerinAustralia #WOWmoments #pinchyourselfmoments
Life...one big adventure 
How fantastic! I absolutely adore helicopters – when I worked with the aerobatic team we had a company helicopter and light plane that flew us between venues. I never failed to get excited when I got the chance to fly in the helicopter!
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You must have led the most diverse life of anyone I have ever known! How you could drop ‘when I worked with the aerobatic team’ into a sentence and not get a reaction, I will never know!! 🙂
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In fairness, I do believe I’ve led a charmed life of extraordinary diversity… and I totally agree – that inner 10 year-old is still alive and kicking in there somewhere!
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Sending you tonnes of wishes for more extraordinariness into the future as I know you have a bumpy ride ahead. xx
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What a thrilling adventure that was. It always pays to say ‘yes’ when presented with opportunities.
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Yes! It does! Here’s to more ‘Yes’s’ to you.
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A nice morning’s trip, isn’t it?
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The nicest!
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So fun! As you said, the answer is always yes! Yikes on the drought, though. We’re in one ourselves right now, and it’s frightening. Here’s hoping for rain for both of us.
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We have had a little rain, but definitely not drought-breaking. It will be a grim Autumn and Winter for the farmers. 😦
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A great adventure. Up, up and away!
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Yes it was and a fast one at that.
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What an incredible experience and those views over the Aussie countryside must’ve been unreal. I love your pure excitement about being in the cockpit too… totally felt that 10-year-old joy through your words. Up, up and away indeed!
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I think we all have a 10-year old trapped in us somewhere. 🙂
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So true! 😊 I think that inner 10-year-old is what keeps travel exciting. Moments like that cockpit view just bring it right back out, pure wonder, and no filters. Love that you embraced it!
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Ah, I hadn’t thought of it like that re: 10yr old and travel. You are spot on!
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Stay wandering and stay wondering!
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Wow!! Lucky you 😀
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Definitely!
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Fantastic! You lucky lass xx
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Yep, I’m a lucky duck!
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I’ve flown in helicopters for work and, more recently, on a heli-hiking holiday with CMH in Canada. The holiday flying was much more fun (and less scary) than the work flying. Careful or you’ll be getting rid of your backpack and saving up for a heli of your own! 😉😀
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Oooo – that’s a big call and an even bigger budget!! I think I will stick with my backpack and just keep on the right side of my flying friends. 🙂
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Great photos. I remember flying into and out of Uluru and seeing it from up high. It was spectacular. You are literally part of the jet-set now. Or is it heli-set? Either way, I’m glad you got such a unique opportunity. The Husband would be very jealous.
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It is a little unreal, isn’t it? Making the countryside look a little toy-like. Not sure that I will ever be classy enough for the jet-set, but I can dream. Hope you are both on the mend. x
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How exciting!! It’s like being in the lifestyles of the rich and famous 😊 Maggie
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Just for a morning! 🙂 Then it was back to reality with a THUD!! 🙂
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How thrilling! And what views you had, it is certainly a Wide Brown Land. I wish I could send you some of our rain, well actually, all of our rain. it hasn’t stopped! Every day this year and set to continue. The ground is saturated. As for helicopter rides, I’m not sure I would cope. Smallest plane I have been on is a 6 seater Cessna over the Okavango Delta and I did manage not to lose my breakfast!
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Oh, how we would love that rain. Or some of it. Why is our World at such extremes?? We have had a little rain to add to the rainwater tanks, but so much more is needed. It sounds like you prefer your two feet firmly on the ground! 🙂 Have a great weekend, Jude.
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It’s amazing to see the world from above. And a pity it’s so dry – same here with us, but we had our first good rain a week ago and it seems we are going to have a wet and cold winter … I’m not exactly thrilled about that, but that’s just how the seasons turn, right? Great photos!
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Hopefully your cold, wet Winter will fill up the aquifers and give the trees and plants a reprieve. I am afraid to go out in to the garden to see what has died! 😦
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Such a unique way to explore and have fun!
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A very special way to spend a morning! I’m a lucky gal.
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BTW..do you get updates on my posts, just checking??
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Yes, I do receive your posts and like them. You have some fabulous photos. Does my ‘like’ not come through?
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Thanks for confirming! Yes, I do see your likes 😊, I only asked because a few people mentioned they were not getting updates, so I just wanted to double-check. I really appreciate the support!
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All good – love your photos.
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well that sounds fun. Little bit envious actually. I love flying too Hope you get rain soon. It’s been so patchy.
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and I am envious of your glorious island adventure. We must compare notes soon. x
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Wow, we are famous. It’s not every day a well known blogger writes about us 😍And, yes, agreed, breakfast was lovely, as was the company Cheers Kate 🚁
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I doubt that I qualify as a ‘well-known blogger’, but I am an enthusiastic passenger and breakfast companion! Thanks for a wonderful experience. X
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Check you out in your private helicopter! How amazing Mel, what a wonderful way to arrive at breakfast 🙂
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Yes, I know! 🙂 Very fancy-pants!! 🙂
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Fantastic Mel and what an experience! In another life I was fortunate to fly in a few helicopters and it’s certainly a different experience of flying compared to sitting on an Airbus or Boeing! 😀
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Agreed, even though you are zipping through the air at the greatest of speed, it does feel like you are interacting with the landscape more…as long as you don’t interact with a massive thud!! 🙂
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😂
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