This Month – MAY

Club day is Sunday 27^th May and presents us the opportunity to introduce our new members to the club.

From the scholarship evening earlier this month we have 23 newly enlisted members including the six scholarship winners.
For many, their exposure to the club so far has been only a trial flight and the presentation evening itself so we are keen to introduce them to club members and let them see more of our  activities, facilities and aircraft on the field.

To this end can I ask you to make a special effort to attend this month’s Club Day from about 2pm and those who have their own aircraft could you  park up for a while (between flights!) outside the club? Be great to show off the range of planes flying from the field and have you there to chat with our new members about your flying (after all, there are many flavours). Apart from chatting to you all and getting to know the aircraft we’ll  show them around the hangars .
As with every club Sunday – BBQ starting around 4.30pm. Family welcome.

Don’t forget that for our Club Day special aircraft hire rate apply.

Organised flying for the day:
Just a small jaunt down to Café Kowhai for scones and jam.

From the Club Captain ..Stephanie.

What a rarity to have two great flying days over the weekend and maybe with a bit of luck next weekend will shape up the same way.

Sunday’s Dawn Raid down at Waipukurau meant a 6am wake up for us . . . and a bit earlier than that for others.  We heard while draining our wake up! coffee the alluring tones of aircraft engine starting up wafting our way from  the field.

By the time we had hauled out the cub and STM Chris R was off and gone just on MGT I think and soon afterwards  the downwind was busy with traffic as our entire fleet? of Tomahawks,  the three 172’s , our cherished Cherokee  and private planes filled the skies heading south.

.Shocked I was to hear Hamish’s 182 and Jan in the Tiger amongst that early lot!  

Our old radial was a tad reluctant. Oil temp 3C and not liking it much. Shivering in the cold . . . longing for Arizona but eventually toughed it out and coughed into life . . . as the cub waited patiently.

Beautiful early morning vistas on the way down, my  young Swiss  passenger snapping his camera,  wowing over the wonderful landscape.

Waipuk too,  looking very peaceful  in the morning light..since STM and BRO were almost ..I say almost..the last to arrive.  Bob Gunson on the ground greeting and welcoming all arrivals.

CHB put on their usual BIG breakfast and then down to the serious business of the Frogley Cup.

And we did well – our total score 370 points. Waipuk coming in at 260.

Our top 3 scores:

Sonny – with   40, 50, 50  (Tomahawk)
Glenn – with  40 , 50 , 40 ( Tomahawk)
Jan- with 40 , 30 , 30  (Tiger Moth) tied with Mads 50, 40 , 10 ( Tomahawk)
( 50 being spot on)

So we WON . . . this round – next up is Dannevirke’s Dawn Raid in June – date yet to be determined. ( We mightn’t be too complacent either. We were lucky a couple of CHB pilots were off their game on Sunday and the Dannevirke team missing in action)

Our pilots were all really  pretty evenly matched and scored well on the powered approach landings. It was the glide approach landings that were the make or break of the result.

Having so many come along. Filled aircraft. And a special thanks to private owners (I hate that term) for filling spare seats. We have very generous aircraft owners on the field mad keen on fostering aviation,

All three club instructors Nick, Kieran and Scott having a ball and shepherding our Young Eagles.

The latest newsletter from the aeroclub is now available just click on the link to download a copy APRIL 2012

29th April
Club Day  From 2pm. We’ll have the “tape measures” out and provide feedback on how close to the spot you land. Take up a club instructor for a few circuits to brush up on technique/ get a few tips. Don’t forget we have club day rates applicable. As with every club Sunday – BBQ starting around 4.30pm. Family welcome.

MAY

27th     Aero Club CLUB DAY

 SEPTEMBER

8th – 9th  Tail Dragger Weekend Jail Bar Bombing, STOL, Wild food lunch

The new law came into effect on November 1 and businesses had six months to comply. The changes came from the Civil Aviation Authority reclassifying tandem parachutes as aircraft.

It requires the operator to have in place systems and procedures to manage risks” said CAA director Graeme Harris. “It is requiring them to have qualified staff and training systems, it is requiring them to have the appropriate equipment that is properly maintained, and it is also to ensure the senior people in these organisations are fit and proper.”

Microlight and glider operators will be the next focus of the CAA, with new guidelines to be released in the next 18 months

Courage in the Skies”

By Paul Harrison and Brian Lockstone. 160 pages soft cover, colour and black and white illustrations This book is an illustrated history of the air force from the early 1900s until 1948.Special author signed copies for aviation buffs!  $20.00  + P&P direct from one of the authors. (current retail $39.95) $2.00 from each sale will got towards supporting the Aviation Historical Society of New Zealand in production of its Aerolegacy Journal. This book is now available from: Paul Harrison 12 Parakai St Paraparaumu 5032 Tel 04 902 3750 

E-mail:  pronto@paradise.net.nz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=U-epxdQnFMw

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