12AUG22 | Townsville to Charters Towers

This flight tours some of the historic WW2 aviation sites around Townsville.

Simulation Date/Time: Current date set to daylight.

Weather: Real World / Fair weather if real world is unsuitable for VFR operations.
Please note Rule B13 in the VATSIM Code of Conduct regarding weather.

Distance: 149 nm

Est Flight Time: Approx 75 min

Aircraft: Any GA aircraft capable of 130 kias.

Altitude: Remain in Class G airspace outside Townsville Military CTR. See waypoint notes below.

Flight plan

File as: YBTL SUA ANP YSDK DOP YDOP GIRU YAYR YMLO YRVW YMCS YCHT

GPS flight plan is available for FSX/P3D .pln, MFS2020 .pln, X-Plane .fms and Little Navmap.

Navigation: Pilots are encouraged to navigate visually. For those less familiar the GPS flight plan is the recommended method of navigation.

Communications

Australia uses CTAF (Common Traffic Advisory Frequency) for radio comms at uncontrolled airfields. During an event, Pilots are requested to broadcast intentions on the published CTAF. Pilots should also be aware that it is a VATSIM CoC (Code of Conduct) requirement that all pilots at uncontrolled airfields should monitor UNICOM on 122.800. Pilots should ensure that at least one of their radios (COM 2 being the most likely) is tuned to receive UNICOM transmissions in addition to transmitting and receiving on the published CTAF.

Pilots also should read this post regarding the implications of using VATSIM UNICOM for CTAF. It provides some insight into potential pitfalls for the unwary when monitoring 122.80 in a CTAF environment.

Scenery

Due to the plethora of simulation platforms now being used, scenery is left to the discretion of each pilot. Updated X-Plane scenery is available for Townsville and for other airports (this includes Montpellier Airpark which is not in default X-Plane).

Flight details

• TOWNSVILLE [YBTL] Takeoff
  elev: 18
  rwy: 01/19 07/25 asphalt
  TWR/CTAF: 118.3
  VOR/DME: TL 114.1
  NDB: TVL 276
  
  Tune DME to Townsville VOR/DME.
  
  Not above 1500 ft within 11 DME TL or as directed by ATC.
   
• STUART [SUA} overfly not above 1500 ft - visual along Bowen Road
  
  Not above 2500 ft within 18 DME TL.
   
• ANTHILL PLAINS [ANP] overfly not above 2500 ft - visual along Flinders Highway
   
• MONTPELLIER AIRPARK [AU999] T&G - adjacent ANP
  Note: Montpellier Airpark does not have an ICAO or local code but is identified in the GPS flight plan as AU999.
  elev: 154
  rwy: 01/19 04/22 09/27 grass
  CTAF: 126.7
  
  Montpellier Airpark was formerly known as Anthill Plains Aerodrome and home to the USAAF 35th and 36th Pursuit Squadrons (P-39 Aircobra) and 33rd Bomb Squadron (B-26 Marauder) in 1942.
  
  Not above 3500 ft within 25 DME TL.
   
• STARKE FIELD [YSKF] T&G - visual along Flinders Highway
  elev: 294
  rwy: 16/34 grass
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• DONNINGTON AIRPARK [DOP] overfly not above 2500 ft - visual along James Road
   
• DONNINGTON AIRPARK [YDOP] T&G - adjacent DOP
  elev: 250
  rwy: 11/29 grass
  CTAF: 126.7
  
  The straight section of Woodstock-Giru Road north east of Donnington Airpark was one of the runways of Woodstock Airfield, the home of USAAF 19th and 498th Bomb Squadrons (B-25 Mitchell) during WW2.
   
• MAJOR CREEK overfly not above 3500 ft - visual along Woodstock-Giru Road
   
• FOUR MILE CREEK overfly not above 3500 ft - visual along Woodstock-Giru Road
  
  Not above 5500 ft within 36 DME TL.
   
• IRONBARK CREEK overfly not above 5500 ft - visual along Woodstock-Giru Road
   
• GIRU [GIRU] overfly not above 5500 ft - visual along Woodstock-Giru Road
  
  Not above 8500 ft beyond 36 DME TL.
   
• AYR [YAYR] T&G - visual along the railway or Bruce Highway
  elev: 40
  rwy: 01/19 asphalt
  rwy: 11/29 grass
  CTAF: 126.7
  
  Ayr was home to a USAAF radar station during WW2.
   
• BURDEKIN BRIDGE overfly - visual along Bruce Highway
   
• MILLAROO [YMLO] T&G - visual along the Burdekin River
  elev: 148
  rwy: 11/29 dirt
  CTAF: 126.7
   
• RAVENSWOOD [YRVW] T&G - H-247° D-20 nm
  elev: 950
  rwy: 06/24 gravel
  CTAF: 126.7
  
  Ravenswood was an Emergency Landing Ground for aircraft based in the Townsville area during WW2.
   
• MINGELA overfly - visual along Burdekin Falls Dam Road
  
  Mingela was the site of a RAAF High Frequency Direction Finding Station (HF/DF) during WW2.
   
• MACROSSAN [YMCS] T&G - visual along Flinders Highway
  elev: 870
  rwy: 07/25 grass
  CTAF: 126.7
  
  Macrossan Airfield was the home of RAAF 84 and 86 Squadrons (P-40 Kittyhawk) and a stores depot during WW2.
   
• CHARTERS TOWERS [YCHT] Land - visual along Flinders Highway
  elev: 955
  rwy: 06/24 asphalt
  rwy: 01/19 gravel
  CTAF: 126.7
  
  Charters Towers was home of the USAAF 3rd Bomb Group (B-25 Mitchell) and RAAF 22 Squadron (A-20 Boston) during WW2.

Charts