THE PLAN “Dream no small dreams, for they have no power
to move the hearts of men,” and so it was that The Great
Circle Air Safari (GCAS) was conjured up by an eclectic group
of four Australians. The adventure was a fund raiser for the
Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, a group of dedicated
doctors and pilots providing emergency medical care to the
inhabitants of the vast Outback.
The quest of discovery took us from the shining seas of
Australia’s east coast, across the coastal range, through the
desolate outback, and ultimately to Uluru (formerly Ayers
Rock), the sacred aboriginal red-rock monolith.
DOUG AND ROB SIGN UP Doug and Rob, the only American
participants, heard about the tour through the aviation grape
vine, and quickly signed up, little knowing what the Outback
had in store for them.
THOUGHTS FROM THE TRIP On the first day, we flew up the
east coast at our leisurely 90 mph. The deep azure sea
transitioned to emerald hues as the swells broke on the white
sand beaches. As we moved up the coast, the beaches were
interrupted by occasional rocky-cliffed peninsulas, providing
us with the opportunity to hone our terrain avoidance skills.
to move the hearts of men,” and so it was that The Great
Circle Air Safari (GCAS) was conjured up by an eclectic group
of four Australians. The adventure was a fund raiser for the
Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, a group of dedicated
doctors and pilots providing emergency medical care to the
inhabitants of the vast Outback.
The quest of discovery took us from the shining seas of
Australia’s east coast, across the coastal range, through the
desolate outback, and ultimately to Uluru (formerly Ayers
Rock), the sacred aboriginal red-rock monolith.
DOUG AND ROB SIGN UP Doug and Rob, the only American
participants, heard about the tour through the aviation grape
vine, and quickly signed up, little knowing what the Outback
had in store for them.
THOUGHTS FROM THE TRIP On the first day, we flew up the
east coast at our leisurely 90 mph. The deep azure sea
transitioned to emerald hues as the swells broke on the white
sand beaches. As we moved up the coast, the beaches were
interrupted by occasional rocky-cliffed peninsulas, providing
us with the opportunity to hone our terrain avoidance skills.
At times we flew alone playing our game of aviation solitaire,
other times we flew formation and shared the sights with our
mates. The wonders of this flight pushed back any fears we
were harboring about the long flight ahead. Besides, wasn't
this the land of “no worries”?
On the eighth day, we first sighted the highlight of the safari, a
rust-colored pebble on the distant horizon that swelled to a
large red monolith as we approached. This was, of course,
Ayers Rock, now known by its Aboriginal name, Uluru.
Geologically, this is a bornhardt, a hunk of weather resistant
stone left standing after centuries of erosion. But the aura of
this place made us feel that we “had arrived”; that the object
of our desire was finally at hand. We were mesmerized by
“The Rock.” Whether we were standing, walking, riding, or
flying, our eyes were continually drawn to this rusty red rock; it
was, in a word, arresting. .
other times we flew formation and shared the sights with our
mates. The wonders of this flight pushed back any fears we
were harboring about the long flight ahead. Besides, wasn't
this the land of “no worries”?
On the eighth day, we first sighted the highlight of the safari, a
rust-colored pebble on the distant horizon that swelled to a
large red monolith as we approached. This was, of course,
Ayers Rock, now known by its Aboriginal name, Uluru.
Geologically, this is a bornhardt, a hunk of weather resistant
stone left standing after centuries of erosion. But the aura of
this place made us feel that we “had arrived”; that the object
of our desire was finally at hand. We were mesmerized by
“The Rock.” Whether we were standing, walking, riding, or
flying, our eyes were continually drawn to this rusty red rock; it
was, in a word, arresting. .
