Where are you going in 2018?

[Matt_01]

I was born in Woomera - childhood was trips to Andamooka looking for opals

In a previous life I used to go to Woomera to conduct surface to air missile firings. One of the highlights was as Aircraft Liaison Officer (unofficial title the G&T Officer) as I spent a week flying in Lear 35 or 36?? that had been a private jet and was being used as the target towing aircraft.

 

[TomVexille]

Here's a destination I doubt few AFF flyers will get to that I will reach in 2018 - OLP

Been booked to go before the job got cancelled once

 

[JessicaTam]

Here's a destination I doubt few AFF flyers will get to that I will reach in 2018 - OLP

I was there a few years back, and drove past just a couple of weeks ago.

I was born in Woomera - childhood was trips to Andamooka looking for opals

My grandfather worked for WRE at Woomera for many years. Some of the rockets he worked on are on display in the town.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I was born in Woomera - childhood was trips to Andamooka looking for opals

I have great memories of taking the kids noodling, although at Lightning Ridge, not Andamooka!

In a previous life I used to go to Woomera to conduct surface to air missile firings. One of the highlights was as Aircraft Liaison Officer (unofficial title the G&T Officer) as I spent a week flying in Lear 35 or 36?? that had been a private jet and was being used as the target towing aircraft.

You'd want to hope they're on target!! No heat seekers, I assume? I think I'd prefer the G&T on the ground in that case!

 

[OATEK]

We are booked for June 2018,which includes CX/AY J to SYD-HKG-HEL, where we take a few days to overcome jetlag. Then to Warsaw for 5 days, express train to Berlin, drive around part of Germany and back to Berlin (abt 12 days). Fly to ARN for 2 days, and then Royal Caribbean cruise around Baltic, including a return to St Petersburg (spent 4 days there this year). Then fly home AY/CX in J ARN-HEL-HKG-SYD,

Just realised we will be in St Petersburg during the football World Cup, so will be able to show the flag for the Socceroos! They may not be playing there, but I expect the World Cup will dominate for those few weeks, and being connected to one of the teams will only add to the visit.

 

[Matt_01]

You'd want to hope they're on target!! No heat seekers, I assume? I think I'd prefer the G&T on the ground in that case!

Tow cable was just under 2000m long, missiles were hitiles or proximity, not heat seekers.

The unofficial G&T title was due to the fact that although contracted to the military the Learjet still came with a stocked bar placed next to the scientific recording instruments. My job was to sit in the back double seat (width or the aircraft) and ensure that the G&T was consumed and check that it was refilled each day

 

[Deleted member 29185]

That's my kind of job! Now Sidewinders ... I have a few stories about those too, but not for this forum!

 

[AisleSeat]

It now appears that Christmas 2018 might be in the USA.

And now we're throwing ideas around about stopovers on the way to Cleveland. Hawaii maybe, or use a transit stop in California or Texas for a short break on the side. With two small kids I don't think anything adventurous is on the cards. We toyed with maybe a side trip to Boston, but I don't want to risk being trapped in a snowmageddon

 

[smithy]

Here's a destination I doubt few AFF flyers will get to that I will reach in 2018 - OLP

I know OLP.......my brother was on the original WMC exploration crew back in mid 70's... At that time OLP was a drilling rig, 3 caravans and half dozen 4x4...total persons....6... And now it has it's own post code...

 

[Scout]

I enjoy hearing about where others are planning on going for their holidays and I know that my fellow AFFers are keen on travel!

So far for 2018 we have a trip booked to Perth, Denpasar and Singapore in January 2018 (well the Perth leg is post Christmas 2017). Still considering what else I can schedule in for next year - places I am considering include Luang Prabang, Tokyo and Koh Samui. As much as I would love to head back to Europe again, it is unlikely in 2018.

So where are you going next year? Or where are you thinking of going?

*****
No plans at present, but can fully recommend our Wendy Wu Land of the Dragons tour back in SeptCathay Pacific flights were fine as was the bullet train option.

 

[CMak]

Booked so far
Easter spent with friends in our roof top camper in northern NSW
Early May - Sri Lanka , mainly to see lots of leopards
May/June/July - across to WA to drive the Canning Stock Route, Anne Beadell Highway (past the Woomera Test sites, the Painted Desert and then across the Simpson/French Line from the west and then back to Queensland.
I am also hoping that there may be a trip to Canada later in the year to visit family and the Polar Bears

 

[JohnM]

May/June/July - across to WA to drive the Canning Stock Route,

Ears pricked up as I did it earlier this year - sensational BTW.

What's your plan? N-S or S-N? What type of vehicle? Solo, group or tag-along? How many days? etc...

 

[JessicaTam]

Ears pricked up as I did it earlier this year - sensational BTW.

What's your plan? N-S or S-N? What type of vehicle? Solo, group or tag-along? How many days? etc...

Goodness me. Such enthusiasm!

 

[BenSQ380]

Noumea in Jan; London, Dublin & Moscow (maybe MIG-29 flight) in March; Vegas in April; Japan late Aug (tentative); Europe River Cruise Dec with Xmas in glass igloo in northern Finland and new years in London.

 

[juddles]

Noumea in Jan; London, Dublin & Moscow (maybe MIG-29 flight) in March; Vegas in April; Japan late Aug (tentative); Europe River Cruise Dec with Xmas in glass igloo in northern Finland and new years in London.

Noumea / Dublin / Moscow / Vegas / Japan / Finland ??? That is an awesome year of variety you have ahead

P.S. You just needed Colombia........

 

[BenSQ380]

Noumea / Dublin / Moscow / Vegas / Japan / Finland ??? That is an awesome year of variety you have ahead

P.S. You just needed Colombia........

South America will be 2020 - luckily I won't need to purchase any 'headphones'

 

[JohnM]

Goodness me. Such enthusiasm!

Well, it certainly isn't for the fainthearted or unprepared Jess! But, that said, it could be one of the best things ever done in one's life - like it was for me. So, just keen to know just how CMak is planning to approach it.

 

[CMak]

Thanks JohnM
We are doing the Canning from north to south and the Anne Beadle Highway and the Simpson from West to East - Basically a round trip from Queensland.Travelling in a group of 4 vehicles and whole trip expected to take 7 weeks. Really enjoy remote area travel - see a lot of Australia that most people never get to see
CMak

 

[JohnM]

Thanks JohnM
We are doing the Canning from north to south and the Anne Beadle Highway and the Simpson from West to East - Basically a round trip from Queensland.Travelling in a group of 4 vehicles and whole trip expected to take 7 weeks. Really enjoy remote area travel - see a lot of Australia that most people never get to see
CMak

Cool! - they say N-S is a better way to do the CSR. Some claim the dunes are steeper on the N side, so that's a better way to attack them, but I'm not so sure. I think one advantage of N-S is that the sun is behind so it makes it shadier in the front of the vehicle and makes for better photography if taking pics through the windscreen, like I was (see TR link below).

What type of vehicle and how long are you planning to be on the CSR itself? I hope you are not intending to tow a trailer!

 

[Milboo]

Booked so far
Easter spent with friends in our roof top camper in northern NSW
Early May - Sri Lanka , mainly to see lots of leopards
May/June/July - across to WA to drive the Canning Stock Route, Anne Beadell Highway (past the Woomera Test sites, the Painted Desert and then across the Simpson/French Line from the west and then back to Queensland.
I am also hoping that there may be a trip to Canada later in the year to visit family and the Polar Bears

Don't have high expectations re amount of leopards. We saw one, from a distance, up a tree (in Yala) and otherwise did not really enjoy the 'safari' experience. Saw more in Africa.