Welcome to 2025 and the year of the snake! I trust that everyone had an enjoyable festive season and got to go flying – the weather has certainly been generally conducive to VFR flights but the recent very hot weather and smoke has proved challenging.
Last December’s RFDS fund raising BBQ at Murray Bridge aerodrome was attended by about 30 members and friends. The final amount raised for the RFDS was $426.00. Thank you to everyone for contributing. Also, congratulations to member Heather Siebert who joined the RFDS as a Flight Nurse on the 20th of January.
Your Council has been developing themes to improve the Club during 2025. We are keen to drill down and find out what the members like about the club plus what you don’t like about it.
Please give some thought to this and be ready to join the forum at the 12th of February general meeting.
To assist with the forum we have made a list of activities that we will ask you to prioritise; see the list and rank each item at the forum.
- Monthly club business meetings
- Monthly dinners
- Guest speakers each meeting
- Photo/video presentation at meetings
- Workshop visits
- Hearing about progress on plane building projects
- Financial reports
- Membership reports
- Member’s flying trip reports
- Annual flying safari
- Short Lunch flights
- Overnight flying trips
- YMBD RFDS fundraising BBQs
The Council will be changing in 2025. Treasurer Greg Tabe and Secretary Chris Moore have advised that they will be stepping down after many years of service on the Council.
Please consider coming onto the Council at the April AGM.
Aviation safety has been much in the media of late. Visual lookout and clear communications are very, very important in our type of flying. Communications is the theme of Aviation Safety Advisor Terry Horsam’s current AVSAFE forum. He presented at Strathalbyn on the 1st of February and his next fora will be at Naracoorte on the 27th and Mount Gambier on the 28th of February. Very worthwhile attending.
Staying with aviation safety, the RV Association of Australia has recently publicised a recent RV10 accident involving the door of an RV10. See RVAA Newsletters here.
For your diary please note the upcoming activities:
- General meeting 12th of February at the West Adelaide Football Club. Presenter will be Councillor Rob Wintulich about restoring a vintage sailplane. Please book in via the Club website.
- Fly-in to Jamestown for lunch on Friday the 21st of March. Other clubs have also been invited by the Jamestown Flying Group.
- Sunday 6th of April Barossa Airshow at Rowland Flat aerodrome.
- Friday 11th of April fly-in and overnight stay at Vivonne Bay Kangaroo Island.
Finally, a gentle reminder to those members that have yet to renew their membership to please attend to that as soon as possible.
Safe flying.
John Siebert
President
