Future Fly-ins
Spring Fly-in 2010 - Cessnock Airport, Hunter Valley, NSW
September 10, 11, 12.
This Fly-in will be located in the well known Wine Growing district of the HUNTER VALLEY. Numerous activities and sight seeing, scores of Wineries including many of the makers of some of your favourite wines, Hot Air Ballooning in the early morning with Champagne Breakfast right at the Airport. Good accommodation, and a visit to Potter's Hunter Brewery with a tasting of their Boutique Ales is a must. The Hunter Gardens are only a short distance from the Airport and are well worth a visit. Click here for Cessnock Brochure.
Autumn Fly-in 2011 Port Lincoln, SA
Details for this event are still being finalised and will be updated here shortly.
Other destinations for future Fly-ins being considered include ADEL'S GROVE in Queensland and DARWIN in the NORHERN TERRITORY.
Past Fly-ins
ARKAROOLA FLY-IN 26 27 28 MARCH 2010.
This was our 22nd Fly-in to a truly spectacular part of the country, the Flinders Ranges of South Australia. Recent rains in the area have transformed the landscape into greenery contrasting with the terra cotta red of the Ranges, a magnificent sight. Weather for the weekend was perfect with cool nights and just the right daytime temperatures.
Thirty-one aircraft and some seventy members and guests were treated to a magnificent weekend, six aircraft arriving on the Thursday with the remainder all in by sundown Friday. The resort provided their 22 seat bus, and a couple of volunteer member drivers transferred us the 15 km to the Resort for registration and refreshments.
Friday evening was enjoyed with a barbeque outside, and a lot of catching up taking place. President Trevor Corlett welcomed everyone, especially new Members and First timers. He introduced Marg Sprigg, co-owner of the Resort and she told us a little of the history of the place, and some of the geological features that we would see during our stay.
Following an early breakfast the first Ridgetop Tour departed with 44 passengers on the spectacular four hour trip along some early and very basic mining access roads, and finishing at Sillers Lookout, giving a magnificent view of the Ranges and of Lake Frome and the desert beyond. At each stopping point along the way, we were treated to a most interesting and detailed talk by Resort co-owner Doug Sprigg who is undoubtedly a walking encyclopaedia.
For those who were going on the afternoon Tour, the morning was spent with a trip in the bus to the Waterhole, and a walk among the amazing rock formations, with photographing of the magnificent colours, tiny frogs and some of the birdlife.
Saturday evening Dinner was held outside the Ningana Centre, with a quietly burning log fire and the mountain behind softly floodlit. Catering by the Arkaroola Staff, great food and a good selection of refreshments made for a memorable evening, Doug Sprigg entertaining us with some interesting stories of dealings with CASA and the ATSB.
Sunday morning saw us gather in the Ningana Centre again for our AGM. Missing from the AGM was the familiar face of our regular Returning Officer, Alan Kellett, whose aircraft VH-AAT was diagnosed with a chronic ailment ....... a broken piston ring, a few days before the Fly-in.
Following on from the AGM, Andrew Denier from Riverina Air Motive gave an informative talk on things that go on inside the power unit in our aircraft.
WAGGA WAGGA FLY-IN 4 - 6 September, 2009.
This was our tenth Anniversary in the City where our Association was formed in 1999. Weather on the weekend was kind to us and a great Fly-in of Fellowship, Fun and Friendship was enjoyed with some 80 attendees and 29 aircraft, and rounded off with a spectacular flying display at Temora.
Watch this space for more details and photographs of this memorable Fly-in.
BENDIGO FLY-IN 1 - 3 May, 2009.
The Victorian city of Greater Bendigo was the target on the WAC for many aircraft on Friday. After registration matters were completed, Colin ran the shuttle bus in to town to our accommodation for the weekend. The three motels used were almost side by side across the road from picturesque Lake Weeroona. Early arrivals made their way into the city to check out the lay of the land. Although there was a layer of high cloud threatening some inclement weather, the rain held off until the evening. This meant that umbrellas and rain jackets were unpacked for the short walk to the Boardwalk Cafe for our first get-together.
As is the tradition with our members, a lot of time was spent catching up with friends not seen for six months or more. President Ceri welcomed all to Bendigo and took the opportunity to thank the staff at the Boardwalk Cafe and Colin and Karen for their tireless organising. She also took the opportunity to welcome "First Timers" to the Bendigo Fly-in.
Saturday morning was spent exploring the CBD of Bendigo, travelling on the Talking Tram, and for those not suffering from claustrophobia, an underground journey into the Central Deborah mine. After lunch most members gathered at the Information Centre to board the busses to the Bendigo Pottery. This establishment is celebrating the fact that it is the oldest operating pottery in Australia, having been working on the same site for 150 years. Much of the early equipment and some of the early wood fired kilns have been retained and a very informative interpretive tour takes in a lot of the history and showcases the modern approach to an old art. The pottery has a vast showroom where many indulged in purchases of quality pottery and chose some pieces from the "seconds" area. Many pilots were mentally calculating revised weights and balances.
After sufficient time for a general sprucing up, members then converged on to Tram Stop No. 5 to catch the special tram into town for our "Gala Dinner" which was to be held at the magnificent Shamrock Hotel, one of Bendigo's fine period buildings with high ceilings, plaster balustrades and plenty of stained glass. The three course dinner was befitting of such an historic venue. During the evening numerous raffles were drawn, President Ceri thanked members of the Bendigo Flying Club for their assistance, President of the Cessna Pilots Association of Australia, Garth, presented wings to Tony Human on completion of the Cessna Pilot's Proficiency Course, a photo opportunity of all past presidents presented itself with only Dick English being absent. The guest speaker was John, who told of his exploits in the early days of outback tourism when he owned the iconic William Creek Hotel. The hotel's proximity to Lake Eyre prompted John to offer scenic flights over the lake and he soon had a very successful business. He did feel that it was his duty to "talk-up" the imminent filling of the lake every time there was significant rainfall in north Queensland. He also confided to us that it was quite possible that Lake Eyre would not fill again in our lifetime. One interesting anecdote involved the offering of Chinese takeaway meals to hotel guests. Little did they realise that this required John to fly to Coober Pedy to collect the meals and return in time for the guests to have their dinner. A good night was finished off with some couples dancing to the 70's style music, until two designated non-drinking pilots were detailed to drive the shuttle busses to return the revellers to their respective motels.
Sunday morning had us all gathered at the Lakeview resort to attend the Annual General Meeting of the association. Allan Kellett presided over the election of Committee members after the usual presentation of reports etc.