Blue Mountains - Katoomba Airfield 16th March

mental4astro (Alexander) · #1 28-02-2013, 04:01 PM

Hi all,

Rod at the Airfield's given the ok for us to use it on Saturday 16th of March. Fingers crossed for a good, cloudless evening.

Access to the Airfield is via Medlow Bath. Head into Station Street and hang a left onto Rutland (also called Grand Canyon Rd). The Airfield is 4km from this intersection, with the last 3km being unsealed, and can have errosion damage. On entering the Airfield, turn left at the entrance and head past the "No Entry" sign, and turn right at the buildings to the main runway. We use the concrete slab on the left just before the runway proper. The picture below will help with the route through to the set up slab.

We are welcome to stay overnight as there is plenty of space in the office building.

The Airfield is a total BYO situation: your own power, food, water, etc. There are loos for the ladies and kids.

Come for a couple of hours or stay all night

Mental.

Wavytone · #2 28-02-2013, 05:42 PM

Count me in, for sure - if the weather will cooperate

AG Hybrid (Adrian) · #3 28-02-2013, 08:42 PM

I'll be there

AstroJason (Jason) · #4 28-02-2013, 09:56 PM

Just got Alex's message. Really looking forward to joining you guys. Also really hoping the weather is great by then. Can't wait!

rogerco (Roger) · #5 01-03-2013, 01:53 AM

I will consider it, weather permitting. Unless we have someone closer to the field I can give a weather report in the afternoon as I am on the mid mountains.

Has someone checked the road? we got a lot of damage to the mountains dirt roads in the recent rain.

Roger

vic4loc (Victor) · #6 01-03-2013, 05:39 PM

Would like to tentatively register my interests as well.

Victor.

Wavytone · #7 01-03-2013, 10:05 PM

Roger, there's a good chance earlier in the day I'll be flying at Blackheath if the weather is nice, I can report what the clouds are like first hand

Also the webcam at the katoomba scenic railway gives fairly good idea of cloud and wind, if you check before 5pm (they switch it off at 5 sharp), more than you can see from Woodford.

rogerco (Roger) · #8 02-03-2013, 08:30 PM

Actually its still on tonight, not that you can see much through the rain

pity their Alt control only goes down a few degrees rather than up

Anyway, yes it sounds like you will have a better view, anyway the weather can be very different. The other week when we had a rescue on the other side of the valley from the airstrip we were telling the rescue team that they were having large hail and wind at Hazelbrook, but they didn't get anything over there.

Here's hoping for a clear night
Roger
from misty, rainy, damp, cool

Woodford

killswitch (Edison) · #9 02-03-2013, 08:33 PM

Count me in, weather permitting.

MortonH · #10 04-03-2013, 06:34 PM

I hope to be there. Negotiating babysitting/car availability!

pluto (Hugh) · #11 05-03-2013, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogerco

Actually its still on tonight, not that you can see much through the rain

pity their Alt control only goes down a few degrees rather than up

That frustrates me too but I've found that if you choose "lilianfels/Echo" from the "Select an item of interest" pull-down menu it will point at a spot much higher than you can reach with the alt control. Then you can navigate side to side from there and see a fair bit of the sky while zoomed in.

Disclaimer: I'm pretty sure it's "lilianfels/Echo" but I can't check as it's night and I can't really tell what it's pointing at!

Manav (Yugant) · #12 13-03-2013, 11:24 PM

I'm in for now...scope less still

AstroJason (Jason) · #13 16-03-2013, 08:35 AM

Well it looks like its going to be a cracker of a day! Is aiming to get there at 5pm too early?

AG Hybrid (Adrian) · #14 16-03-2013, 08:36 AM

yeah 5 PM is quite early I don't think we start even getting there till 7-8

AstroJason (Jason) · #15 16-03-2013, 09:31 AM

Ok no worries. Might aim for around 7pm then cause I don't want to set up if its too dark

vic4loc (Victor) · #16 16-03-2013, 09:48 AM

I'm confirmed as well, although its a bit overcast where I am at the moment (Hurstville area). Will be there regardless

Victor.

MortonH · #17 16-03-2013, 10:14 AM

Damn. Can't make this week due to family stuff

eclipse (Leslie) · #18 16-03-2013, 01:22 PM

We can't make it tonight, but hope you all have a great time, as weather seems very good.

Les and Deb

mental4astro (Alexander) · #19 16-03-2013, 01:33 PM

Ok, just spoke with Rod & says the wind is from the west! Excellent.

The bad news, I can't make it,

And it looks like it's going to be a cracker,

Peter hopes to get there round 6:30.

Have fun for me!

rogerco (Roger) · #20 16-03-2013, 01:45 PM

Sorry, I can't make it either, nursing a head cold and having equipment problems, I'll stay at home and draw the clouds away from the rest of you

Have a good time