MIG Jet Flight, Rockhampton, QUEENSLAND
Airing Date: Oct 3rd, 2005
If you know your jets and love your jets, you'll be signing up for this thrill ride of a lifetime. In Rockhampton, we've found one of the fastest jets that the general public can fly in, in Australia.
Most jet rides offer a maximum speed of around 800 - 900 km/h. But take a ride in this MIG 15, and you'll experience speeds of up to 1,076 km/h!
The MIG 15 jet boasts four tonnes of turbine engine, producing 6,000 pounds of thrust. What this means for you is a rare opportunity to experience up to five or six G's as you fly through a series of fast aerobatic manoeuvres at an altitude of up to 6,000 feet. To put this in perspective, your average rollercoaster reaches one to one and a half G's - quite a difference.
You might have heard of MIG jets in every jet enthusiast's favourite movie, Top Gun. They are the jets that the enemy flies, and are described as faster and more manoeuvrable than the American planes. In reality, there have been a range of MIG jets built throughout the 20th century, but the MIG 15 is probably the most famous, since it kicked off the MIG jet phenomenon. Built by the Soviets between 1950 and 1958, it was the first swept-wing jet fighter to see aerial combat (in North Korea). It was way ahead of American flight technology at the time, and they letter-bombed North Korea to find a defector willing to teach them how to build jets like these. They were successful, and the arms race was on. You could almost say that the MIG 15 effectively kicked off the Cold War!
Further information
MIG Jet Adventures are offering a special price for The Great Outdoors viewers. A Full Monty package including one hour preparation time and 25 minutes flight with full aerobatics and high G's is $1,950 per person (a saving of $350), for the first 100 callers only.
Telephone: 1300 302 660
Website : www.migjet.com
The BIG 4 Tropical Wanderer Resort has self contained cabins starting from $84 a night. Open Plan Villas (sleeping six) - two person rate $84 per night, Leisure Villas (4.5 star cabins) - two person rate $132 per night and Tropical Spa Villa (five star accommodation) - four person rate $168 per night
Telephone: 1800 815 563
Website: www.tropicalwanderer.com.au
A rental car from DriveAway Holidays starts from $56 per day. (Based on Toyota Echo or similar)
Telephone: 1300 363 500
Website: www.driveaway.com.au
Prices correct 03/10/05
Qantas and Qantaslink will fly you to Rockhampton. Prices start from, $194 ex Sydney, $245 ex Cairns, $249 ex Melbourne, $259 ex Adelaide. Includes taxes.
Telephone: 13 13 13
Website: qantas.com.au
Prices correct 5/9/05
