I have returned from my long overseas holiday which was absolutely wonderful.
Over the next couple of meetings I will give reports on the aviation bits that you may be interested in.
I was lucky enough to visit the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, the premier military airshow in the world. I also went to Brooklands and Old Warden museums.
Whilst in Kent I made a pilgrimage to the Battle of Britain Memorial, overlooking the white cliffs of Dover. Quite a moving place for an aviator.
Back in Adelaide, recent club events included a workshop visit to Chris Moore’s Lancair project, where some two dozen members inspected the recent progress.
Last week, 35 of us visited the new RFDS facility at Adelaide Airport. A briefing by Charlie Patterson and Peter Docking gave us an insight into the RFDS history, it’s current role and services, how it is funded, and an overview of the new Pilatus PC-24 Jet due to join the fleet in December 2018. We then went down to the hangar floor to get a close up inspection of the PC-12 fleet.
From it’s small beginnings in 1929 it is hard to imagine the outback functioning at all without the RFDS services enjoyed today. Through their network Australiawide, someone benefits from an RFDS service every 2 minutes around the clock! It was all wrapped up with a very nice dinner at the Lockleys Hotel.
Coming up soon, 17th September in fact, is another workshop visit organised by Henry Schultz.
This one will be at the Classic Jets Museum workshop on Anderson Drive, Parafield Airport from 2-4pm. There is a single seat gas turbine helicopter, a Helicycle, being built there, which is nearing completion. Also in the hanger you can view a SIAI Marchetti S211 jet and a completed Lancair 4P, all owned by Jim Walley. As the hangar is an active workshop for the museum, it goes without saying that other projects in there must not be touched.
At the September club meeting we will have Dr Paul Dare speaking about his business, Aviation surveying, mapping and photography, particularly how he uses aircraft to achieve this. It should be really interesting.
If you have not yet booked a meal for the meeting please email Steve Biele now. Be reminded that from now on emailing will be the only method to book a meal as the paper method has been discontinued.
From next week we will also be selling tickets for the club Christmas dinner on November 17th. Steve Biele has negotiated a marvellous 3 course Christmas Dinner, including a pre dinner drink for just $50. Where? At the Public Schools Club, our monthly meeting venue.
After looking at several other possibilities for the dinner, it was impossible to improve on the deal that our chef, Michael, offered. After enjoying his meals for a year and a half now we look for to seeing what he can produce for our big event.
If you missed Michael Smiths premiere of ‘Voyage of the Southern Sun’ at the Capri earlier in the year it will be screening at the Wallis Mitcham Cinemas for one showing only on 29 October. Details in the Calendar.
As the weather starts to improve with the arrival of spring, we can expect to see more flying events on the calendar. Coming up in October is AirVenture in Narromine, The Jamestown Flyin and the AAAA Flyin at Clare. Details can be found on the club website calendar, with links below.
Blue Skies,
Steve
If at first you don’t succeed, then skydiving is not for you.
