Transitting Darwin

[Evan]

Are the aardvark's still flying :?:

They are due to retire about now.

Yep, still around, No 1and No 6 still operate them as i understand. And i think probably a year or 2 more (2010 is the set date for retirment), i would imagine very reduced hours now as the F/A-18F's are delivered.

Noticed the Caribou's are all retired now i remember being in one of them a few times and doing some crazy thing like the pilot showing how it can touch and go on the front wheel down a runway.

I have yet to see one of the C-17's i was suprised to hear we purchased even 4 of them but interesting to watch all the same, sort of like the A380 whale jet but not graceful !

No Hornets will be bothering you, they almost need a drink in the air for that 177 mile turn around KTR-DRW

E

 

[markis10]

No Hornets will be bothering you, they almost need a drink in the air for that 177 mile turn around KTR-DRW

E

The Super Hornets have a range of 2300km clean with the exception of two AIM9's which is a 41% improvement over our old birds, at least if we get approval for the Growlers there will be something interesting to look at in Darwin when the F111's go!

 

[Evan]

The orignal hornets 1300 miles range was crazy in country the size of ours... do have to wander what out defense guys were thinking on that purchase... then again the only other option would have been the expensive F-15 with CFT's.

I guess the 18G's are a the most sensible replacement for the EF-111's

I wonder how long we will keep the 18F's after the 35's arrive ? i guess we may try to sell them for a good price, or maybe they are on some un-disclosed sell back deal or something, would not hurt to keep them.

E

 

[russ]

You just have to hope ... that there is something on the red rooster menu you have not tried

Don't get me started on Red Rooster at QP DRW! It's the only chicken shop I've ever come across that regularly runs out of chicken!

 

[Mal]

You just have to hope there is a visiting aardvark doing circuits and bumps to keep you busy (there was one last time I was in DRW) or that there is something on the red rooster menu you have not tried

Isn't there a restaurant type place in a golf course or some other type of sports club just across the road from the airport? Am sure someone once posted about it... or is that a different airport?

 

[oz_mark]

5. If you are connecting to a Qantas flight at lunchtime I would seriously consider pre-booking a room from the night before at the Darwin Airport Resort. Being able to get to sleep while it's still dark not to mention sleeping in a proper bed does wonders to keep jetlag at bay. Maybe stay another night in Darwin and have a bit of a look around. You will definitely be in better shape by the time you get home. Believe me it's money well spent and you will thank yourselves for doing it.

I will likely be looking at an option like this, but may nip into town to the CP or something. Fly to BNE then onward on sale price tickets can be a viable option i think.

 

[russ]

If you stay in Darwin, don't forget dinner at Hanuman! http://www.hanuman.com.au/

 

[Evan]

Don't get me started on Red Rooster at QP DRW! It's the only chicken shop I've ever come across that regularly runs out of chicken!

I have been to a few Chinese resaurants in China that have run out of rice !!! Kind of the same thing i guess.
Is there a KFC instead ?
E

 

[markis10]

I will likely be looking at an option like this, but may nip into town to the CP or something. Fly to BNE then onward on sale price tickets can be a viable option i think.

The airport hotel is like most airport hotels, remarkably quiet given its vicinity to the runway but poor value compared to town options, Skycity is consistantly cheaper for instance.

Not a big fan of the CP either, the HI Esplanade has always done an outstanding job of looking after its plat guests and I was lucky to score its best room last time which was easily 200m2, felt a little lonely it was so big .

 

[anat0l]

I have been to a few Chinese resaurants in China that have run out of rice !!! Kind of the same thing i guess.
Is there a KFC instead ?
E

Better than a pub (or a QP) that runs out of beer.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Bali Belly

Seeing as QF Club is closed you could jump on the Darwin Airport Resort Shuttle bus and have a couple of cold ones at the bar. It'd be a pity to
miss out on happy hour which is 1730-1830 on Fri & Sat evenings.

Swimming is meant for guests only (I think for insurance purposes) so may be difficult to sign for a towel, however if you had your own you'd probably find a quick dip nice and refreshing at that hour of day.

Just make sure the hotel gets you back to the airport one hour before to give you plenty of time to clear customs and buy duty free etc.

 

[serfty]

Bali Belly

Seeing as QF Club is closed you could jump on the Darwin Airport Resort Shuttle bus and have a couple of cold ones at the bar. ...

Geez OBB, you paint a great picture ... wish I was there now ... :mrgreen:

 

[Bali Belly]

gee i was just of to the pet shop for some bird seed now i will have to pack my mask and snorkel
the things we do for a cold beverage
thanks obb i will have have an extra for you