THIS coming Saturday two very well known locals will be taking off from Cootamundra airport in a two seater plane, flying clear across the continent to Esperance in Western Australia to take part in a trip that is truly a once-in-a-lifetime event.
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And if you thought the transcontinental journey seems like a feat, that’s only an entree.
Wallendbeen’s Phil Hines and Jane Crichton, who is Young born and bred, are to spend around two weeks flying the skies in an air race that is to traverse the Australian outback.
The Steadfast Outback Air Race is a GPS-based navigation time trial throughout the remote Australian outback.
With as many as 52 competitors in 26 aircraft, pilots nominate an elapsed time between two visual waypoints, receiving points for both time and location accuracy.
The route will take them from Cootamundra to William Creek in South Australia. From there they travel to Esperance in Western Australia. And that’s just to register for the race.
They then loop back to Forrest on the Western Australian/South Australian border where the race begins and then it’s across to Uluru, Alice Springs, Bridsville, Davenport Downes, Winton, Karumba, Cooktown and finishing on Hamilton Island on September 4. They will return to Cootamundra on September 5.
With the aim of raising funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), competitors and spectators participating in The Outback Air Race have raised over $1.5 million since its inception in 1996.
All funds from each race go towards outfitting RFDS aircraft with essential medical equipment, vital for treating sick and injured patients.
The 2015 Steadfast Outback Air Race will be held from August 23 to September 4 and aims to raise over $250,000 from participants alone.
The team of Phil - as captain and pilot - and Jane, - as navigator and flight attendant - have dubbed themselves Race Villain 7.
They both go well equipped - with 25 years’ flying experience under his belt, Phil holds an airline transport license for fixed wing aircraft in addition to a commercial helicopter license and has flown everything from crop dusters to commercial passenger aircrafts.
And he is highly motivated. Phil’s sister and her family live on a remote property in far western NSW, and have witnessed firsthand the importance of the RFDS role in rural Australia when they assisted them during a medical emergency following an accident on the property with one of their children.
Jane Crichton, the daughter of John and and the late Heather Crichton of “Murray Park” at Tubbul, says she was game for the challenge.
“When Phil invited me to join Race Villain 7 I jumped at the chance – flying across Australia in a two seater plane - it’s the opportunity of a lifetime and I’m very keen to raise awareness and money for a charity that is close to my heart,” she said.
Both Phil and Jane have worked in rural and remote communities across Australia and have an incredible appreciation and understanding for the integral role the RFDS plays in assisting families in these areas.
Their combined goal is to raise $25,000 – “as well as surviving each other” - and would love your support to help get them there.
As of Friday afternoon they had raised $6,365.25.
If you would like to support their efforts you can do so at: https://oar2015.everyday hero.com/au/race-villains-no-7.
