Tamworth Aero Club - Open Day

My local Aero Club held their Open Day this past weekend.  The event was well supported by local media with my participation covered several times in local newspaper and on TV a couple of nights.  The weather on the day turned out nice and I flew my display with family, friends and work colleagues all looking on ...
It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed helping out the Aero Club.

http://tamworth.iprime.com.au/index.php/news/prime-news/topguntraining-video

Much to my surprise, after the display, the President, Eric Munro, presented me with an honorary members badge.  I was quite chuffed ...  This club has an amazing history in its membership and association with World War veterans.

My units display pilot, Jakes, did his first public display in this role.  His flight in a CT4 was very well received and the club was very happy to have the support - thanks mate!

Jakes!!

Media Release: 17^th September 2010 

TamworthAero Club

Since 1930

Tamworth Aero Club - FlyingAgain!

After an absence of some years, the Aero Club is reintroducing flying. The club is seeking expressions of interest from anyone interested in learning to fly. Recreational flying is open to all; young or old, fit or not so, it is the most accessible way to realize that dream of learning to fly.

Aerobatic Display and Open Day

 From 12.00 on September 25^th   the club will be holding an open day to give all those interested a chance to gain more information and register their interest. The highlight will be an aerobatic display by RAAF Squadron Leader Tony Blair, currently the NSW Advanced Aerobatic Champion. Tony has over 1000 hrs clocked up in F111’s and will be flying his Rebel 300. This thrilling display will commence at about 1.45 p.m.

The club already has people from far away as Sydney indicating interest in getting their wings here.

President Eric Munro said it was very satisfying that flying was returning to the club. “The club has a rich aviation heritage. We owe it to those aviators who started the club to support the love of flying. One of the foundation members of the current club (opened in 1957) flew the Lancaster bomber ‘G for George’ over Berlin in W W 2. Those blokes were amazing pilots. Their photos are on the walls here. I’d like to think they’ll be smiling on 25^th. I know we will be.”

For more information;

Eric Munro (President) 0428 604123

Adele Mazoudier (Hon. Sec. Manager) 0419978011

 

Tamworth Aero Club

Cowra Sports Aircraft Annual Function

This past weekend was the SAAA annual convention held at Cowra, NSW.  The weather turned out nice for most of the weekend, despite all the rain the week prior.  It was good to catch up with Paul Goard and have a look at his factory where the Brumby aircraft is produced.  The Brumby is a great little aircraft and I wish them every success.  There was some interesting avionics on display which gave me some ideas for an upgraded engine monitor for the Rebel 300.

Best mate Stu Hutchison visited on Saturday flying a Mooney from the Richmond Flying Club.  

Stu always manages to get some great pics - thanks again Stu.

Next weekend is the Tamworth Aeroclub Open Day.  It is drawing some good media coverage and will hopefully generate some new interest in the club.

Dalby Wings and Wheels Spectacular

Some gyro in the Rebel 300

This past weekend I attended the "Dalby Wings and Wheels Spectacular".  It was a great little Airshow combined with Cars to make it appealing to almost anyone.  For the size of Dalby and it's location, the crowd seemed very large but the organizers were actually a little disappointed at the turn out this year.

Multiple snaps

For me it was pleasant flight north from Tamworth.  A chance to catch up with some old mates in the Roulette's formation aerobatic team and my mother.  Mum hadn't seen me fly at an Airshow before and apart from being a little nervous about some of my figures, she seemed to really enjoy it.

Good size crowd

This event is essentially run by the local kindergarten to raise money for their establishment.  They have some valuable aviation input from local enthusiasts but what a fantastic job for a group of "kindy Mums".

The Roulettes looking sharp as always
Thanks to Thomas Scott for the pictures!!

World Time Attack Video now available

This is the Youtube promo for the 2010 World Time Attack video which has just gone on sale.
A first class product, definitely worth a look!
And by the way, we provided the lunch time entertainment ...

Dalby Wings and Wheels

http://www.dalbywingsandwheels.com.au

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Venue: Dalby Aerodrome 9am - 10pm
GOLD COIN ENTRY

Dalby Wings & Wheels Spectacular will be an interactive family event that showcases Dalby and the South West Region and features fantastic air and ground displays. It's a great day out for the whole family, so ride, drive or fly on in to Dalby Wings & Wheels Spectacular on Saturday, August 21 Visitors will have the chance to buy an experience from joy rides in aircraft, helicopters and hot air balloons to Harley Davidson bikes. The sky will come alive with all kind of air craft such as warbirds, hang gliders, microlights, model aircraft as well as high energy aerobatic displays, balloon nightglow & fireworks. On the ground there will be motor displays such as hotrods, classic and vintage cars and motorcycles and car events that include drags, power skids and burnouts. Market stalls, family entertainment and various children's rides and activities will also be available.

Aviation Trader Cover

Tyabb Airshow News Article

The latest from Allianz aviation insurance ...

Airflow Performance now powering our Rebel 300.

I'm pleased to be making the upgrade to Airflow Performance fuel injection on our Rebel 300.

It is well known that Don Rivera's fuel systems are the best.

Thanks for your support Don, I look forward to working with you in the future.

I'll post more information and pictures in the near future!

In the meantime, you can check out the Airflow Performance web site:

www.Airflowperformance.com

Eastern Creek - World Time Attack Challenge

This past weekend I took the Rebel down to Sydney to fly at Eastern Creek Raceway.
The weather getting to Sydney was challenging with storms and rain.  I ended up diverting to Cessnock for more petrol and to check the weather.  When I arrived at Richmond, there was a storm over one end of the airfield!

Luckily, the weather was fine the next morning for the actual display.  The track is in a bowl with very large power lines running through it - this made for an interesting display flight.  A lot of fun!  Being close to Sydney airspace and Bankstown, CASA required a ground observer to clear me into the site and also coordinate with local ATC.  Stuart Hutchison took care of this, and things ran exactly to plan.  Thanks mate!

After the display I landed back at Richmond and then took a helicopter ride back to the track.  A couple of hours later the helo took me back to Richmond.  The only way to travel - thanks Mark!

The Superlap Challenge was a great success, my congratulations to Ian and the other organizers!

Newspaper Article

World Time Attack Challenge

22 May - Eastern Creek Raceway - Hope to see you there!!

http://www.superlap.com.au/

I'll be flying over the track just before lunch time on Saturday.

Mudgee Airshow 2010 **Updated**

I've just got back from the Mudgee Airshow! It was a terrific event with something there for everyone. There was plenty of cloud in the morning and most of the other display and visiting aircraft could not get out of Sydney for the trip across. We joked about how many displays I might need fly to fill in the day ... Luckily, the weather cleared and everyone arrived, albeit, a little late. Rob and the other organizers did a great job massaging the program and things ran smoothly for the rest of the day - good job everyone!



I flew my 5 minute aerobatic display and received some great feedback from various people. My display is certainly a work in progress and I'm adjusting it as I get feedback. Different people like different things but in general I seem to be heading in the right direction.




A little later in the day I did a couple of drag races with this race car, it is a very nice Lola.
It looks like I'm winning but it was actually a very fast car. Even though the Rebel is probably the highest power to weight aerobatic aircraft in the country, he was able to beat me until about mid runway when I would slowly start catching up. He reached over 300 km/hour, which is impressive - the Rebel was just reaching its stride of course. The car was in front virtually all the way to the end of the runway!

It certainly was a lot of fun and no doubt a spectacle for on lookers.

I've now received some information about the Lola. It is a 1987 Lola F3000 with a Lites 630 HP Buick engine. It has a top speed of around 350 km/hour, does 8 second quarter mile passes and has a better power to weight ratio than a current Formula 1 car. The car won the Australian hill climb championships in 1989, 2004, 2006 and 2008. It also does 0 to 200 km/hour in just 6 seconds.

Doug Parry - you have a very impressive car!

No wonder it was hard to catch, even in the Rebel ...

Another interesting spectacle was this helicopter that dropped a car from 1000 feet directly in front of the crowd - it certainly got a cheer!



Overall a great event, crowd numbers were good and so the hard work of the Mudgee Aeroclub was rewarded. Congratulations to all involved.

Mudgee Airshow -WWW 2010

Hope to see you there!

www.wingswheelsandwine.com.au

Tyabb Airshow 2010

This past weekend I made the trip down to the Tyabb Airshow near Melbourne. This was probably the main Airshow in Australia for 2010 and it was a huge success. Judy Pay and the members of Peninsula Aeroclub did a fantastic job. The Air Program ran very smoothly, there were no incidents all day, the weather was near perfect and the crowd was huge. Apparently there were traffic issues for those driving to Tyabb but orgnizers will be on top of that in 2012.

I arrived about 1500 local the day prior, enough time for a practice flight. This was a good idea as there are all sorts of obstacles around the Tyabb airfield when operating low level ...

The Allianz team were out in force. We put the Rebel in amongst the Allianz area which worked very well.

The Mudgee Airshow is just around the corner and plans are well underway for an Eastern Creek Raceway event , The World Superlap Championships, on May 22.

NBN News Story

Click below for a short NBN News article:

AEROBATIC PILOT - TONY BLAIR

Australian Aerobatic Champs

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We just got back from the 2010 National Aerobatic Championships which were held in Parkes NSW. It was good to attend this event again, my first time at Parkes was in 2008 and I missed last years event because of a technical problem with the Rebel. The weather was near perfect but just like 2008, the weather deteriorated significantly the day after the comp which made the trip home less than fun ...

The local council and Mayor held a civic reception for us the evening before the comp started, they go to a lot of trouble to make us feel welcome.

35 pilots entered, which is pretty good for this event.

My family made the 6 hour drive to join me for the Easter holiday. It was great having them there. It helped me not get too carried away by the seriousness that usually accompanies these competitions.

Whilst I'm almost ashamed to admit this, I hadn't flown an Unkown sequence since the last comp at Temora last year, and only did my Free once before heading to Parkes and hadn't flown the Q until actually arriving in location. I had been in the aeroplane with display flying, so I was comfortable in the aircraft but not necessarily with Aresti (competition style) flying. My start to the year has been busy with a new flying job and its associated ratings and there is also the new house etc.
So excuses aside, the results ....
I won the Advanced Free, placed second in the Advanced 1st Unknown and 3rd in the 2nd Unknown for 2nd Overall. I had some pretty hefty penalties in the Unknowns, in fact, about 10% of penalties in the second Unknown for going low and having a break etc.

I learnt a lot but more importantly learned were I need to improve.
My aim for the comp was to win the Advanced Free trophy so I feel satisfied with my performance.

This event has reinvigorated my motivation for competition flying which had faded in recent times. Having said that, I've got 2 Airshows and a display at Eastern Creek Raceway over the next month - no time to rest!!

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Angela and I at the presentation dinner.
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The weather for the trip home was not so great ....

A week in sunny East Sale ...

I've just got back from a week in East Sale to renew my military Instructor Rating. I always expect terrible weather in Sale but this past week was mostly good. It was good to catch up with some old friends down there including Glen Canfield who is now the Roulette Leader, congratulations mate.

The trip home was pleasant and interesting - an old student of mine dropped me back in a PC9. It's those kind of moments that draw me to being an instructor.