Australia doesn't have a good history with national fly-ins. Natfly, OzKosh, AirVenture Australia, Ausfly; all have tried to be our version of Oshkosh and none of them have come close to the success of the US event.
But a determined Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus) is set to play with the formula again, with the very first Fly'n for Fun scheduled at Parkes, NSW, next week.
Organised by RAAus with the financial support of AMDA Foundation, Fly'n for Fun already has 100 aeroplanes registered and an event program that RAAus CEO Matt Bouttell believes will attract aviators of all colours to Parkes.
“This first Fly’n For Fun is an opportunity to bring aviators together for a social fly-in," he said. "There will be some static exhibits on display and informative seminars, but the focus is very much about our aviation community interacting socially. Be it standing at the bar regaling stories at the end of the day or sitting around the campfire in the evening and relaxing, Fly’n For Fun is about the people and our private aviation community coming together again.”
Although a flying display is not included on the program, the weekend will feature:
- over-flys from the HARS Caribou, DC3, Grumman Tracker and P3C Orion
- static displays from Sling, Bushcat, CTLS, Tecnam, WT9 Dynamic, Alto 912TG and Cirrus
- seminars from Garmin, OzRunways, AvPlan and Angel Flight
- a presentation from air racer Matt Hall
- a bus service to the Parkes Radio Telescope
- a camping area complete with campfire and bar
- food vendors.
“The great thing about this style of event is that whilst there will be things do and see at the airfield such as static displays, seminars, and the HARS museum, you can also take the opportunity to jump on the bus we’ve arranged to visit the Parkes Radio telescope or simply visit the Parkes township and check out other local attractions," Bouttel points out.
"And for those people that fly-in, you can make Parkes your base for the weekend and within relatively short flying distance are multiple other destinations to explore including Forbes, Temora or Dubbo.”
Bouttell is confident that Fly'n for Fun can be a regular fixture on the calendar, but believes the aviation community would be best served by running the event biennially in a non-Avalon year.
“Whilst a modest size event in its first year to help us get the formula right," he said, "RAAus and the AMDA Foundation see Fly’n For Fun as a long-term initiative for private aviators to come together biennially, in alternative years to the Australian International Airshow at Avalon that will grow into a major event on peoples calendar and ultimately, stimulate the private aviation sector.”
Fly'n for Fun is on at Parkes Airport 1-3 April. More information is on the Fly'n for Fun website.