Hi all, Just for your interest (if interested) this is the spreadsheet I did for our current trip over the Nullarbor. Shows all averages and cost per KM

Only if you are interested..  Cheers

-- Edited by Phil C on Tuesday 26th of April 2016 05:08:53 PM

-- Edited by Phil C on Tuesday 26th of April 2016 05:11:03 PM

Obviously not an exciting trip Phil. You had planty of time on your hands by the look if that sheet. I should imagine your typwriter needs a new ribbon after that lot mate 

hako wrote:

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Very interesting Phil - surprising that fuel usage can vary 65% for 10 to 16.5 l/100km.

Regards

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 We had a rather nasty headwind and rain as we headed west, then on the way back it seemed all up hill... perhaps the Nullarbor doesn't like me... lol

The trip from home to Port Pirie was a tail wind or calm, we experienced a calm day or two going west, then headwinds up to 30KM/H thank goodness for ESC.

Its the fuel prices that astounded us, on the way back up by 3 or 4 cents a litre.... go figure Perth prices had hardly changed when we left.

Still a great trip.

Gday...

Buggered if I would complain Phil

When I did the Nullarbor in 2013 - diesel was $1.52/litre Penong, and after Nundroo was never under $1.90/litre (except for Eucla @ 1.87/litre) - the highest was at Nullarbor Roadhouse at $2.01/litre. Even Norseman was $1.58/litre.

Different time, different economy, same journey. Unfortunately, one cannot traverse a country like Straya without the regular and constant need for fuel. 

If we only travelled when the fuel was at a low price - we would all be tucked up in our lounge rooms watching My Kitchen Rules   

cheers - John

rockylizard wrote:

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snip "we only travelled when the fuel was at a low price - we would all be tucked up in our lounge rooms watching My Kitchen Rules   

cheers - John"

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Aussie Paul. 

Greetings young fella

As an aviation fanatic would love to get into your RAAF history. Did my apprenticeship as a F/T with CAC

Loved your print out so using your wizard mind if we were to swap the tug and the van and insert a Territory (petrol) and a 15ft Coromal at a rough guest how would things stack up  anticipate leaving Modbury Heights on the 30th July for close to 16weeks

geoffc 

LLD wrote:

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Straya - only habitable continent without international borders.

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 Ahh, but have you heard about Hutt River Province???

PS, good read Phil, got to sleep faster last night. (just kidding).

-- Edited by madaboutled on Thursday 28th of April 2016 08:34:28 PM

WTF

Thank you Phil.

We also keep records of our fuel usage and cost of our tours, it not a big thing but it allows us to know where our money going, the real budget needed for the next tour.

Once again thank you for sharing.

LLD wrote:

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Was wondering if someone would pick up on the Hutt River Province?

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 Been there.... Done that.... got me passport stamped!. 
There's actually quite a few micro nations within Australian Borders see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Micronations_in_Australia

geoffc wrote:

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Greetings young fella

As an aviation fanatic would love to get into your RAAF history. Did my apprenticeship as a F/T with CAC

Loved your print out so using your wizard mind if we were to swap the tug and the van and insert a Territory (petrol) and a 15ft Coromal at a rough guest how would things stack up  anticipate leaving Modbury Heights on the 30th July for close to 16weeks

geoffc 

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 Welcome to the gang Geoff, and thanks for your interest in my career

Spent 12 years in the RAAF as an electrical fitter, then avionics tech. Worked on MB36H macchi (fanta cans) A and E model Hercules, HS748, C47 Dakota, CT4 plastic parrots, P3B Orions and a few choppers. The last 2 years I did a few rotations with the roulettes. Had a ball.

Thats about it.

Cheers

Hello Phil C

I also keep a spreadsheet, (not of cost as that will frequently change) but of mileage and fuel used.
This helps in the planning of my future trips

For example my next long trip will be approximately less than 12,000 kilometres

Knowing that over the previous 22,000 kilometres, in my current vehicle, I have averaged 8.5 kilometres for each litre of diesel used, I will calculate my fuel use at 8 kilometres per litre to give myself a margin
I therefore plan to purchase less than 1,500 litres

At the time I leave, I look at the average (lowest and highest divided by 2) price in my area, and then add 50%, as regardless if I was to travel East, or North, there are some higher than my area fuel prices. This also gives me a margin
If I was leaving today the average for South West of Western Australia is approximately $1.20 per litre. 70 outlets below, and 7 outlets above, this price.

Adding 50% to my local average price indicates that I shall in a normal situation, purchase no more than 1,500 litres @ $1.80 per litre
I will have this $2,700 set to one side, for fuel use only, prior to leaving.

I have found out over the years, on all my trips with different vehicles that I have always returned to home base, without spending my entire allocated fuel budget, due to my home made built in margins

I do know of others who were not as fortunate as myself
They had started their lap, to find that their budget, was not sustainable, and had to return without completing their planned trip

Your spread sheet will be very handy for those who have the same rig as yourself

Tony Bev wrote:

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Hello Phil C

I also keep a spreadsheet, (not of cost as that will frequently change) but of mileage and fuel used.
This helps in the planning of my future trips

For example my next long trip will be approximately less than 12,000 kilometres

Knowing that over the previous 22,000 kilometres, in my current vehicle, I have averaged 8.5 kilometres for each litre of diesel used, I will calculate my fuel use at 8 kilometres per litre to give myself a margin
I therefore plan to purchase less than 1,500 litres

At the time I leave, I look at the average (lowest and highest divided by 2) price in my area, and then add 50%, as regardless if I was to travel East, or North, there are some higher than my area fuel prices. This also gives me a margin
If I was leaving today the average for South West of Western Australia is approximately $1.20 per litre. 70 outlets below, and 7 outlets above, this price.

Adding 50% to my local average price indicates that I shall in a normal situation, purchase no more than 1,500 litres @ $1.80 per litre
I will have this $2,700 set to one side, for fuel use only, prior to leaving.

I have found out over the years, on all my trips with different vehicles that I have always returned to home base, without spending my entire allocated fuel budget, due to my home made built in margins

I do know of others who were not as fortunate as myself
They had started their lap, to find that their budget, was not sustainable, and had to return without completing their planned trip

Your spread sheet will be very handy for those who have the same rig as yourself

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 Cheers folks.

I love your calculations and estimations.

I went the other way with worst case scenarios, allowed $1.60 per litre at 16L per 100K. That calc went into the trip budget. I then saw the average price per KM from the spreadsheet and worked out (or at least the speadsheet did). how much I should be spending.

For budget purposes it works out I have over estimated.

Cheers for that one.

geoffc wrote:

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Young Phil I would hazed a quess the the only reason that you stayed out at Bullsbrook was that you had to get your fix of Avtur plus I would bet any money that you had to watch the RAAF and Singaporeien flying their Pilatus a/c
Geoffc

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 They wouldnt let me on the base, so we sat at the end of 23 and watched for a while. Nice bird the pilatus.

Cheers

iana wrote:

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Thanks Phil, cut and pasted into Excel for future use, hope I haven't violated your copy rights?

I used to work at the place where the T series and the CT4's were made. A couple of fellows there who went through their apprenticeship with me did much of the development. These aircraft were originally Australian designed and built by none other than Victor (lawn mowers). The Victer Air Tourer, a little two seater and their big cousin the Victer Air Cruiser. NZ brought the rights for the aircraft, and began to modify and develop them with more powerful engines. The Air tourer became the T3, T4 etc, sold to air forces such as Australia, Thailand etc.
The Air Cruiser came out from the wraps and was developed more as a military trainer. Went from a 4 seater back to a two seater, the cabin door replaced by a ejectable canopy. My job was mainly fixing snags after flight testing or doing mods to earlier aircraft.

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 No worries iana. Feel free to copy. I remember going on a test ride in a CT4 with Jeff Trappet at Sale, I had an inner ear infection I didnt know about. When he put it into an inverted spin my gyros went haywire and he had to land to let me out. I was so disorientated I exited at the leading edge and nearly walked through a spinning prop.. Lucky for me the groundy grabbed me and saved my miserable hide.

Nice little aircraft the parrot and the airtourer, did a few flights in those as well, bit hard getting use to the joystick in the centre.

Cheers