Organisers of the first AUSFLY national GA fly-in have rated the event a huge success, as have the many pilots and vistors that attended.
AUSFLY was held at Narromine NSW September 13-16 and organised jointly by the Sports Aircraft Association of Australia (SAAA), Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and Australian Warbirds Limited (AWL).
It was conceived to be a fly-in for all aspects and interests of General Aviation from private pilots to sports aviatiors, recreational aviators, gliders and just about everything else with wings.
AOPA President Andrew Andersen was ecstatic about the turn-out of 300 hundred or so aircraft.
“It’s been a remarkable success. AUSFLY has brought together aviators of all backgrounds and interests for a couple of days of fun and education.
“What we’ve seen is a wonderful spirit of co-operation between non-commercial associations and the regulators, and volunteers for the unicom.
“Whether the next one is held next year or in 2014, AOPA looks forward to working with the Sport Aircraft Association again.”
Andersen’s enthusiasm for the outcome was reflected in the comments of several exhibitors, some of whom were reported exceeding their targets for the weekend by lunchtime on the Saturday.
In conjunction with the exhibition area, air displays were held on the Friday afternoon and twice on the Saturday, anchored by aerobatics champion Paul Bennett and his twin Pitts Specials. Bennett’s contribution to the show was extensive, with his Grumman TBM Avenger probably being the airside queen as far as onlookers were concerned.
CASA and AOPA held a series of safety seminars in the auditorium, and various lectures and workshops were going on around the airport at any given time.
Although no-one is hailing the show as the beginning of an Oshkosh-like national fly-in, the resulting turn-out is encouraging, and should serve to entice more exhibitors and flyers to AUSFLY next time.