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Come and Get It Trophy Rev. 15; page last updated 9 February 2010 Details of trophy relocation from Portland to Broken Hill added

The Come and Get It Trophy was created in 1990. The Trophy is available to any RA-Aus certificated pilot in an RA-Aus registered aircraft who is prepared to make the journey to retrieve it. The inbound and outbound legs for the retrieval journey must each exceed 100 nm. Flight details must be completed, kept with the Trophy and a copy returned to the RA-Aus office. Information supplied should include date/s, pilot, aircraft and registration, flight from/to, fuel used, flight hours and other items that may be of interest to members. Claimants are required to add a plaque to the Trophy and enter flight details into the trophy book.

Current location of the Trophy The Aero Club of Broken Hill, NSW S32° 00.1'     E141° 38.3' Contact: Brian Walker Mobile: 0458 989 176

The Come and Get It Trophy at Cherryton, NSW August 2006

Trophy location [up to location 30] and retrieval journey history

The originating location for the Trophy was the airstrip at Millbrook Estate, Albany WA Location 2: 'Corio', Ravensthorpe WA 1 June 1990 Pilot and aircraft: Chris Coxall, Chinook WT II 10-0140 Return flight: Albany WA to Ravensthorpe WA Total flight duration: 5.5 hours; ground speed: 25 knots

Location 3: Kanowna near Kalgoorlie WA 23-24 January 1992 Pilot and aircraft: Peter Harding, Airborne Edge Return flight: Ravensthorpe WA to Kalgoorlie WA Total flight duration: 12 hours; ground speed: 37 knots

Location 4: Ravenshoe FNQ 22 March to 25 April 1992 Pilot: E.B.McCormack, LightWing 25-0034 Return flight: Kalgoorlie WA to Ravenshoe FNQ. E.B.McCormack holds the distance record departing Ravenshoe FNQ for Kanowna via Mount Isa, Katherine, Broome, Carnarvon, Perth picking the Trophy up at Kalgoorlie and carrying it to Ravenshoe via Port Augusta, Mount Gambier, Warrnambool, Bathurst, Moree, Rockhampton and Townsville during a 5715 nm journey over 21 flying days and 130 flight hours.

Location 5: Cooktown FNQ 9–10 August 1992 Pilot and aircraft: K.Greenslade, Drifter 503 Return flight: Ravenshoe to Cooktown FNQ Total flight duration: 9.5 hours.

Location 6: 'Pioneer Valley' near Atherton FNQ 24–25 September 1992 Pilot and aircraft 1: Werner Grimm, Drifter 25-0145 Crew: Sandra Gillanders Pilot and aircraft 2: Bob Plant, Drifter 10-1259 Return flight: Cooktown FNQ to Pioneer Valley FNQ Total flight duration: 4.9 hours; ground speed: 50 knots

Location 7: Tamborine SEQ 6–8 March 1993 Pilot and aircraft 1: Bill Knight, LightWing 25-0433 Pilot and aircraft 2: Peter Stuy, Calair Skyfox 55-0636 Pilot and aircraft 3: Richard Faint, Sapphire Mk2 25-0057 Return flight: Pioneer Valley FNQ to Tamborine SEQ Total flight duration: 24.75 hours; ground speed: 65 knots at average cruise of 73 knots IAS. Aircraft fuel consumption over 1611 nm [the aircraft flew in company]: LightWing Rotax 582, 6100 rpm ,576 litres @ 23.5 litres/hour Skyfox Rotax 912, 5200 rpm, 350 litres @ 15 litres/hour Sapphire Rotax 447, 5500 rpm, 305 litres @ 12.5 litres/hour

Location 8: Lethbridge VIC 28 December 1993 to 9 January 1994 Pilot and aircraft 1: Russell Arthur, Corby Starlet 2100 cc VW 28-0902 Pilots and aircraft 2: Alan Bridges, Peter Gorton, Garry Leach, Kolb Twinstar 503 10-0167 Return flight: Tamborine SEQ to Lethbridge VIC Aircraft fuel consumption: Kolb 17 litres/hour @ 42 knots IAS cruise, flight time 45 hours Corby Starlet 10 litres/hour @ 70 knots IAS cruise, flight time 22 hours Read the journey log below.

Location 9: Tamborine SEQ 14 March to 5 April 1994 Pilot: Lloyd Salisbury Ground crew: Robin Salisbury Aircraft: Winton designed 'Gold Coaster' 10-1177 Outbound flight: From Tamborine SEQ to Lethbridge VIC via Boonah, Warwick, Inglewood, Goondiwindi, Moree, Narrabri, Gilgandra, Narromine, Parkes, West Wyalong, Narrandera, Jerilderie, Tocumwal, Shepparton, Echuca, Kerang, Swan Hill, Wycheproof, St Arnaud, Stawell, Ararat, Derrinallum, Cobden. Return flight: Lethbridge VIC to Tamborine SEQ via Sunbury, Mangalore, Holbrook, Parkes, West Wyalong, Gilgandra, Narrabri, Moree, Goondiwindi, Inglewood, Warwick and Coomera. Total flight time: 25.9 hours

Location 10: Deeral FNQ 23 September to 21 October 1994 Pilot and aircraft: Arthur Stroud, Drifter A582 Return flight: Tamborine SEQ to Deeral FNQ Total flight duration: 41 hours; 1957 nm; ground speed 48 knots

Location 11: Evans Head NSW 26–28 December 1994 Pilot and aircraft 1: Bill Knight, LightWing 25-0433 Pilot and aircraft 2: Bob Paulson, LightWing 25-0428 Pilot and aircraft 3: Richard Faint, Sapphire Mk2 25-0057 Return flight: Deeral FNQ to Evans Head NSW Total flight duration: 23.2 hours; ground speed: 75 knots. Aircraft fuel consumption over 1733 nm [the aircraft flew in company]: LightWing Rotax 582, 489 litres @ 21 litres/hour LightWing Rotax 582, 487 litres @ 21 litres/hour Sapphire Rotax 447 [new], 248 litres @ 10.7 litres/hour

Location 12: Woodstock near Townsville FNQ 17 March to 1 April 1995 Pilots and aircraft: Peter Sargent, Eric Dundas; Jabiru 55-0933 Flight details: The aircraft flew from Woodstock FNQ to Kadina SA via Bundaberg, Coonabarabran, Narromine, Avalon and Waikerie, thence to Evans Head NSW via Griffith and Moree to collect the Trophy and return it again to Woodstock FNQ. Total flight duration: 61 hours Aircraft fuel consumption over 3842 nm 620 litres avgas

Location 13: Jacobs Well SEQ 9 - 14 June 1995 Pilot and aircraft: Roger Porter, LightWing Rotax 912, 25-0427 Crew: Mariska Gilbert Return flight: Woodstock QLD to Jacobs Well SEQ Total flight duration: 24.3 hours

Location 14: Beechwood NSW 4 June 1997 Pilots and aircraft: Nestor Slepcev, Mark Townsend; Slepcev Storch Return flight: Jacobs Well SEQ to Beechwood NSW

Location 15: Jacobs Well SEQ 30 December 1997 Pilot and aircraft 1: Bill Knight, Amethyst Falcon 10-1932 Pilot and aircraft 2: Richard Faint, Sapphire Mk2 25-0057 Pilot and aircraft 3: Don Mellows, Sapphire Mk2 25-0146 This flight was Bill and Richard's third and Don's second 'Come and get it' journey. Return flight: Beechwood NSW to Jacobs Well SEQ

Location 16: Woodstock near Townsville QLD 2 August to 1 September 1998 Pilot and aircraft: Owen Scown, Jabiru 55-0933 Crew: Jill Scown This was the second long 'Come and get it' flight for Jabiru 55-0933, see the 17 March - 1 April 1995 flight. Flight details: departed Woodstock for Darwin via Horn Island, Karumba and Gove thence to Alice Springs, Winton and SEQ to pick up the Trophy. Return to Woodstock via Bundaberg, Rockhampton route. Total flight duration: 67.6 hours Aircraft fuel consumption over 4800 nm 830 litres avgas

Location 17: Malanda QLD 28–29 November 1998 Pilot and aircraft: Sandra Cameron Lightwing 25.0087 Crew: Werner Grimm Return flight: ??

Location 18: Lismore NSW 25 September 1999 Pilots: Bruce Taylor, Bob Clark, Ian Byrne, Ken Eyears [Drifters?] Return flight: ??

Location 19: Cranbourne TAS Mid-April to 31 May 2000 Pilots: Peter Butler, Kevin Whittaker Return flight: Lismore, Goondiwindi, Winton, Townsville, Innisfail, Weipa, Horn Island, Cooktown, Cairns, Bundaberg, Caboolture, Ballina, Hoxton Park, Yarram, Cranbourne.

Location 20: Leewave TAS 24 September 2000 Pilot: K. Bradshaw Return flight: ??

Location 21: Wynyard TAS 10 January 2002 Pilot: Bryan Raven Return flight: ??

Location 22: Rosebank near Lismore NSW 2–10 March 2002 Pilots: Bruce Taylor, Bob Clark, Paul Bright, John McConnell [4 aircraft] Return flight: Wynard, Flinders Island,Yarram, Merimbula, Wollongong, Crookwell, Cowra, Gunnedah, Lismore.

Location 23: Cooranbong NSW 21 August to 3 September 2002 Pilots: Peter Jentsch, Phil Murdoch Return flight: Maryborough, Lismore to Cooranbong NSW

Location 24: Alstonville NSW October 2002 Pilot: Bob Clark, Paul Bright Return flight: ??

Location 25: Sandfly near Kingston TAS 26 April 2003 Pilot: Lawrie Barton-Johnston Crew: Suzi Barton-Johnston Return flight: Helidon, Redcliffe, Inverell, Mudgee, Temora, Shepparton, Latrobe Valley, Flinders Island, George Town, Sandfly.

Location 26: Heybridge TAS 5 October 2003 Pilot: Darrel Peatey Return flight: Sandfly to Heybridge.

Location 27: Lennox Head NSW December 2003 Pilot: Gale DeJong Return flight: Heybridge, ?, ?, Lennox Head.

Location 28: Dog Plain NSW 11 July 2006 Pilot: Lee Ungermann Return flight: "Saltwater" Northern Rivers NSW, Armidale, Bathurst,Goulbourn, Polo Flat, Dog Plain.

Location 29 and 30: Cherryton NSW 29 August 2006 Pilots: Geoff Bell, Denis Vanzella This was a two part retrieval; Dennis picked the Trophy up from Dog Plain and deposited it at Snowy Plain for an elevation record of 4800 feet. Geoff carried it from Snowy Plain to Cherryton. For details see Denis Vanzella's and Geoff Bell's high country flights.

Location 31: The Oaks NSW 3 April 2007 Pilots: Darren Friend, Michael Kelly Aircraft: Jabiru 230 Outbound flight: The Oaks - Bathurst - Goulburn. Darren met Geoff Bell who took him in his Storch to Cherryton for the official trophy handover as the Jabiru would have difficulty operating into Geoff's airstrip. Return flight: Goulburn - diversion to Moruya to check transponder problems and weather - VFR GA lane thru Nowra and coastal to Thirroul - Appin - The Oaks. Total distance travelled 342 nm, flight time: 4.3 hours.

Location 32: Riddell, Victoria 25 August 2007 Pilot: Ian Baker; crew [outbound]: Caitlin Baker Aircraft: Flight Design CTsw 24-4848 Outbound flight: Ian and his 9 year old daughter Caitlin, on her first cross-country in her Dad's CT, flew the 370 nm from Riddell to The Oaks on Saturday August 18, but the weather was unsuitable for return home in the CTsw the next day so both returned via a commercial flight. Return flight: Saturday August 26 Ian flew commercial to Sydney then flew the trophy back to Riddell in the CTsw via Mittagong – Yass – Tumut – Holbrook and around Albury CTR. Flight time for the 370 nm from The Oaks to Riddell was 3.3 hours. Pictures of the trophy handover by Darren Friend can be found in the forum thread http://www.recreationalflying.com.au/forum/showthread.php?p=23691#post23691.

Location 33: Woodleigh Station WA [220 km south of Carnarvon] 18 September 2007 Pilot: Barry Stoney Aircraft: Jabiru J230 Flight: Barry and his wife Elaine picked up their brand new J230 at Bundaberg Qld and instead of flying straight back to Western Australia they detoured to Melbourne to collect the trophy. No other information yet available.

Location 34: Carnarvon WA 13 October 2007 Pilot: Keith McGillivray Aircraft: Lightwing 55-4230 Flight: Carnarvon and return via Carbla Station, Woodleigh Station and Billabong Roadhouse. Total distance 310 nm, flight time: 3.8 hours, fuel used: 70 litres, ground speed: 81 knots.

Location 35: Walgy WA 26 July 2008 Pilot: Alan Sattler Aircraft: Hornet STOL 19-4732 Flight: Walgy and return via Bindoon, New Norcia and Moore River. Total distance 220 nm. Below: Alan Sattler with Angie and Julie Stitt.

Location 36: Kambalda WA 7 September 2008 Pilot: Keith Fowler Aircraft: Jabiru LSA 55-4065 Flight: Kambalda and return via Kalgoorlie and Walgy. Total distance 513 nm, flight time 5.8 hr, fuel used 73 litres. Ground speed 88 knots.

Location 37: Walgy WA (again) 5–7 March 2009 Pilot and aircraft 1: Alan Sattler, Hornet STOL 19-4732 Pilot and aircraft 2: Rod Higgins, Hornet STOL 19-4251 Flight: departed Walgy (Beverley, WA) March 5 for Southern Cross, Coolgardie and Kambalda to pick up the trophy, then back to Coolgardie for the night. Rod Higgins in Hornet STOL 19-4251 accompanied Alan for much of the journey. They departed Coolgardie March 6 for Walling Rock Station then on to Sandstone, Mount Magnet and Nallan Station. Camped at Nallan for the night. Departed March 7 for Mount Magnet, Ninghan Station, Wongan Hills and Walgy. Hornet STOL 19-4732: total distance 906 nm, flight time 14 hours, fuel used 270 litres, ground speed 65 knots.

Morning departure from Coolgardie; second leg of the journey for Alan, first leg for Rod Higgins.

19-4732 between Mount Magnet and Nallan Station.

A rifle range — not an airstrip as first thought by Rod.

Ninghan Station — another refuelling point on the way home.

Ninghan Station — parked on the cross strip refuelling and waiting for the station owner to collect the morning paper.

Alan and Rod on return to Walgy with the trophy. Peter Harding (on the right) is the second person with his name on the trophy, having flown a 12 hour 'come and get it trip' in an Airborne Edge in January 1992.

Location 38: Coolgardie WA S30° 58.5'    E121° 04.8' March 2009 Pilot: Rod Higgins Aircraft: Hornet STOL 19-4251 Flight: Coolgardie to Westonia to Walgy Farm. Walgy Farm to Southern Cross to Coolgardie. Total distance 460 nm, flight time 7.1 hr, fuel used 162 litres. Ground speed 65 knots.

Rod Higgins and Hornet STOL 19-4251.

Location 39: Narromine NSW May/June 2009 Pilot: Barry Black Aircraft: Sportstar 24-5005 (Full details and photos in September 2009 RA-Aus magazine, pp 50-51) Outbound journey 28–29 May 2009. Day 1: Narromine to Ceduna via Nyngan, Cobar, Broken Hill (refuel), Yunta, Willington, Port Augusta (refuel), Kimba, Wudinna. Day 2: Ceduna to Coolgardie via Twin Rocks, Eucla, Forrest (refuel), Kalgoorlie, Boulder (refuel). Return journey 1–4 June 2009. Day 1: Coolgardie to Eucla via Longana (refuel). Day 2: Eucla to Venus Bay via Nullarbor Motel, Ceduna (refuel), Streaky Bay. Day 3: Venus Bay to Port Pirie via Port Augusta (refuel). Day 4: Port Pirie to Narromine via Peterborough, Broken Hill (refuel). Total distance = 3019 nm. Total time =27.6 hours. Average ground speed =109.4 knots

Location 40: LaTrobe Valley, Vic S38° 12' 26" E146° 28' 13" 23 July 2009 Pilot: Kev Young Aircraft: Jabiru J170 24-5336 Outbound flight: LaTrobe Valley, Tooradin,(diverted due to bad weather at Kilmore) Torquay, Lethbridge, Heathcote, Tocumwal, Narromine. Distance 559 nm; time 5.6 hours; ground speed 99 knots Return flight: Narromine, Narrandera, Yarrawonga, Eildon Weir, Healsville, Latrobe Valley. Distance 447.7 nm; Time 4.4 hours; ground speed 101 knots. Total fuel used 165 litres (16.5 l/hr).

Kev (left) receiving the Trophy from Barry Black.

Location 41: Lethbridge Airpark, Victoria S37° 55.1'     E144° 06.1' 18–19 August 2009 Pilot: Robert Musgrave Aircraft: Boorabee, 19-3037, 582 Rotax Outbound flight: departed Lethbridge (YLED) at 1030, flew to Phillip Island (YPID) to visit the Vietnam Veterans Museum adjacent to the airfield. A strong westerly sprang up making a return trip a bit hard so, noticing Latrobe Valley (YLTV) was only another 66.5 nm further to the north-west, I made a phone call to check if the CAGI trophy was still there. I departed YPID at 1330, and 0.9 hrs later arrived at YLTV. The west wind was still strong so stayed the night, hoping weather would improve next day. Return flight: left YLTV at 0655 (first light) to try and beat the wind. Within half an hour I had 10 knots headwind and, by the time I crossed Port Phillip Heads, the headwind was 30 knots plus. Arrived back at Lethbridge at about 0930. Total distance 287 nm, flight time 4.8 hours, fuel used 83 litres, fuel burn approx 17 litres/hour.

Location 42: Stevens Creek — 9 nm north of Broken Hill, NSW S31° 50'     E141° 29' 9–11 October 2009 Pilot: Brian Walker Aircraft: Jabiru 170, 19-5675, Outbound flight: departed Stevens Creek 9th October, overflew Broken Hill and Wentworth for a landing at Donald for a pit stop and oil check before continuing on to Ballarat, to top up the wing tanks for the last leg to Lethbridge. Return flight: planned for the 12th but departed a day early to beat the poor weather outlook. Left Lethbridge twice, firstly at 1135 and again an hour later, after returning for the trophy — need to add an extra line to my pre-flight check list for miscellaneous baggage. Landed at Ballarat on second attempt, to refuel before retracing my outbound path. This time overflying Donald and landing at Wentworth for a break and oil check. Final leg was a direct track to Broken Hill before turning for home at Stevens Creek. As a low-hours (82 hours total, 24 hours on type) pilot on my first solo cross country since qualifying, I found the experience extremely rewarding (despite the head winds), for the experience, the journey, the fellow aviators encountered along the way and for the destination. Thanks to the aero clubs at Stevens Creek, Donald, Ballarat, Lethbridge, Wentworth and Broken Hill for sharing their facilities and advice. Special thanks to 'Boorabee Bob' — Robert Musgrave (Location 41) who visited Broken Hill for the Auster rally the week before my departure and inspired the spreading of my wings. Outbound journey: distance 400 nm, flight time 5.5 hours, fuel used 76.2 litres, fuel burn 13.8 litres/hour, average ground speed 80 knots. Return journey: distance 440 nm, flight time 6.4 hours, fuel used 88.1 litres, fuel burn 13.7 litres/hour, average ground speed 76 knots.

Location 43: Lethbridge Airpark, Victoria S37° 55.1'     E144° 06.1' 7–10 November 2009 Pilot: Robert Musgrave Aircraft: Boorabee, 19-3037, 582 Rotax Outbound flight. Day 1: Lethbridge to the Holbook flyin, via Melton and Locksley. Day 2: Holbrook to Hay. Day 3: Hay to Stephens Creek to retrieve trophy. Return flight. Day 4: Stephens Creek to Lethbridge via Wentworth and St Arnaud. Total distance 965 nm, flight time 16.2 hours, average groundspeed 59.6 knots. fuel used 308 litres, fuel burn 19 litres/hour.

Location 44: Portland Aero Club, Victoria S38° 19.1'     E141° 28.3' 23 January 2010 Pilot: Justin Emerson Aircraft: Savannah, 19-4996 The journey included six other aircraft: two Eurofox, two Jabiru J170, a J430 and the Portland Aero Club's J160. Flight. The flight to Lethbridge Airpark and return in the Savannah were direct. Total distance 254 nm, flight time 3.1 hours, average groundspeed 82 knots.

Location 45: The Aero Club of Broken Hill, NSW S32° 00.1'     E141° 38.3' 5–7 February 2010 Pilot: Brian Walker Aircraft: Jabiru 170, 19-4576 Outbound flight: departed Broken Hill noon Friday February 5, direct track to Wentworth against a 25 knot headwind before turning for Ararat and on to an overnight stop at Lethbridge. Strong winds predicted Saturday, spent time at a 'Day on the Green' at Spray Farm, east of Geelong. Departed Lethbridge 11 am Sunday February 7 for Cobden, Twelve Apostles, with a landing at Warrnambool for fuel before continuing to Portland. Return flight: Portland, Hamilton, Horsham landed Wentworth for a pit stop before tracking to Broken Hill. Total distance 1030 nm, flight time 12.5 hours, fuel used 179.8 litres, fuel burn 14.5 litres/hour, average ground speed 83.4 knots (mostly head winds).

The flights undertaken to retrieve the Trophy vary considerably. Some are single pilot, single purpose, out-and-back in a day, trips while others are in the nature of a grand tour. E.B.McCormack holds the record for distance covered. He picked the Trophy up at Kalgoorlie WA and took it to Ravenshoe FNQ, during a 5715 nm journey across Australia, in March/April 1992.


The following is the condensed journal of one determined 'come-and-get-it' mission that had the distinction of the families following — or perhaps leading the way — in ground vehicles.

Aircraft and pilots:
  •   Corby Starlet 2100 cc VW, #28-0902; pilot: Russell Arthur.
  •   Kolb Twinstar 503 DC. #10-0167; pilots: Alan Bridges, Peter Gorton, Garry Leach.

Ground crew: two vehicles with trailers —
  •   Joan and Patrick Leach, Wendy, Daniel, Cristian and Saby Gorton.
  •   Owen and Josh Bridges; with Marion Jordan and Judy Donavan for part of the time.

Flight log:

  •   28 December '93. Corby Starlet: departed Lethbridge, proceeded via Echuca to Leeton. Kolb Twinstar: departed Benalla, proceeded via Yarrawonga to Coleambally.

  •   29 December '93. Both aircraft met at Leeton, proceeded to Gunnedah, via Parkes, Wellington and Coolah. Russell landed in a field about 10 km south of Gunnedah, and hitched into town. Celebrated Peter's birthday at KFC.

  •   30 December '93. Built an airstrip for Russell to take off, then proceeded to Glen Innes via Inverell, to meet Bob Goodey. Bob accompanied both aircraft to Evans Head.

  •   1 January '94. Peter went to Mt.Tamborine in company with Bill Knight, Dave Donahoe, John McCarron, Bob Poulson, Wendy and Daniel Gorton. Took some photos to prove we were there, and collected the Trophy. Travelled via Tom Cadet's strip at Kyogle, Bob's farm at Gleneagles near Beaudesert. Returned via the coast route; over Murwillumbah, Byron Bay and Ballina to Evans Head.

  •   5 January '94. Departed Saltwater, via Tenterfield for Glen Innes. Strong winds and smoke from bushfires precluded flying after 11 am. Camped in the Aero Club.

  •   6 January '94. Inverell, Gunnedah. Bob Goodey accompanied us part way through extreme bushfire smoke. Strong winds precluded flying after 11 am. Spent afternoon at the local swimming pool.

  •   7 January '94. Coolah, Dubbo, Parkes. Strong winds stopped flying activities at noon. Camped in the Aero Club.

  •   8 January '94. Forbes, West Wyalong, Narrandera, Oaklands. Extremely strong winds grounded the Kolb in the afternoon. Russell flew on to Echuca.

  •   9 January '94. Russell proceeded from Echuca to Lethbridge. The Kolb was ferried to its new home at Yarrawonga.

Performance:
  •   Kolb Twinstar: average fuel consumption 17 litres/hour at 42 knots. Total flying time about 45 hours. Maximum height due to smoke, strong lift etc. was 9 000 feet. The only damage to the aircraft a slightly bent undercarriage leg. Fuel used was unleaded, with Penrite TS40C oil.

  •   Corby: average fuel consumption 10 litres/hour at about 70 knots. Total flying time 22 hours. Routine maintenance included some work on binding brakes at Parkes. Fuel used was 230 litres of Super grade, with 400 mL of oil.

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