Aviation

What happened to Paradise? 9 Great Barrier Reef Island Airports.

By Andrew on 22/01/2023

This article is another in my series on Australian Airports. Most of the iconic Great Barrier Reef resorts have fantastic little airstrips conveniently connecting them to the mainland. The airports remain but most of the resorts lie in ruins waiting for brave investors to return them to their former glory. Growing up in Australia during […]

Australia’s Top End Beach Airports

By Andrew on 08/01/2023

If you don’t mind swimming with Crocodiles and you don’t need waves then this list of Top End Airports is for you. I found these airports while searching for Australia’s best Beach Airports. They didn’t make the shortlist but they are definitely worth a look. Of particular beauty are the 3 Western Australian beachside Airports […]

Airports of the Torres Strait Islands

By Andrew on 08/01/2023

The Torres Strait Islands Archipelago is located between Cape York in the far northeast corner of Australia and Papua New Guinea. It consists of 133 islands, sandy cays and rocky outcrops of which 38 are inhabited. 12 of those have airports. The most northern island is right to the doorstep of Papua New Guinea less […]

11 Gorgeous Tasmanian Airports

By Andrew on 08/01/2023

Tasmania is a gorgeous part of Australia and for us Aviation enthusiasts there are a bunch of spectacular airports that link up the island. What makes these airports so lovely is the surrounding nature. The east coast of Tasmania has lovely beaches, the west coast has the wilderness and the north coast and central belt […]

22 Best Beach Airports Down Under

By Andrew on 06/01/2023

If you like the idea of taking a plane to a beautiful beach check out this list of Australian beachside Airports. There is something on the list for every type of pilot and plane. All the 22 airports on the list are within a short walk of the beach and are all unique in their […]

Got the PPL, now what?

By Andrew on 17/10/2020

The day I got the my PPL (Private Pilot’s license) felt like a big achievement. Getting the license was a lot harder than I had expected, especially passing the theory exams. Being able to fly with family and friends was awesome. It opened up possibilities for new adventures. At first we did some great trips […]

Aircraft Float Manufacturers

By Andrew on 30/09/2020

Being able to land an aircraft on water is a spectacular way to open up a whole new world of flying. Aircraft come in all shapes and sizes and there are a surprising number of float options available. We will explore the float options available for General Aviation aircraft starting from the smallest and cheapest […]

Fancy a Flying Boat?

By Andrew on 29/09/2020

If you want a Seaplane and your budget is tight maybe one of these Flying boats might suit you well. Not sure how much commercial success any of the following designs has received but they sure do look fun. Don’t expect to cruise fast, cruise speed for these craft is around 40 knots with stall […]

The Best Ultralight Seaplanes

By Andrew on 28/09/2020

Today we are looking at what we refer to in Europe as Ultralight Seaplanes (LSA Seaplanes in the USA). This list is dominated by monohull designs. Strangely, I was only able to find one factory built ultralight aircraft offering floats as an option. There are however many aftermarket float options available for just about every […]

My story – How I got my Pilot’s license

By Andrew on 24/09/2020

A Simmering Passion I grew up in a military town called Richmond on the outskirts of Sydney Australia, close to an Air Force base. Hearing the frequent and powerful roar of C130 Hercules aircraft pass our house on training flights planted the seeds for a lifelong curiosity and passion for flight. Like it is for […]