– Steve Hitchen
No-one ever wants to see an aviation company get into the sort of trouble that Icon Aircraft now finds itself. The company has gone into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to ensure it can freely restructure itself without having to fend off the demand of creditors. But this doesn't appear to be simply a case of financial or operational mis-management. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is involved as they examine whether or not the majority shareholder, a Chinese company, sent–or attempted to send–intellectual property back to China that could have military implications. In short, what a mess. The tragedy is that a great little aeroplane has been caught up in all this. Several commentators within the GA community have expressed a lack of surprise that Icon has ended up in Chapter 11. It is true that the company has struggled to reach its potential over several years of operation, restrained by rising costs and an inability to keep up with demand. Mind you, asking potential customers to sign a controversial purchase agreement that included waiving the right to sue after a crash probably didn't further the cause of public relations. Icon's plan now is to find a new owner, which may be just as fraught because offers are most likely to come from Chinese concerns, which have demonstrated in the past their desire to get into GA through acquiring US companies in particular. That pretty much guarantees the FBI may have some say in the eventual outcome just as much as the bankruptcy court, either through some form of veto or because their involvement simply scares off Chinese investors.
The US philosopher Alan Kay and former president Abraham Lincoln have both been credited with the quote "the best way to predict the future is to invent it". Who said it is not as important as the truth behind it, and that is an attitude that needs to be applied to GA fly-ins in Australia. AMDA and RAAus would appear to be determined to do just that: invent a future for Fly'n for Fun. There was a vibe about the event at Parkes on the weekend that pulsed with energy and anticipation at the beginning; Avalon has a similar feel on Day One. The difference between the two is that after 30 years of Avalon we know what to expect, whereas Fly'n for Fun is only on its second installment and is still a largely unknown quantity. The key to success is to make it a known quantity, and one that engages the GA community and promotes growth. But already Fly'n for Fun is attracting the same criticism that Ausfly was saddled with at inception: it'll never be as good as Oshkosh. That's possibly true, but what's the point of making a comparison that just about every other fly-in event around the world fails to rise to? That's planning to fail right there! AMDA Foundation is not one that plans to fail, and the presence at the event of AMDA board members is encouragement enough to believe that they are serious about throwing their substantial weight and influence to ensure Fly'n for Fun becomes a highlight on the Australian GA calendar. They understand the weaknesses of the 2024 event, and are already in discussions with HARS about improvements to the grounds and with suppliers about an event greater weight of numbers in 2026. They, and RAAus, are showing great faith in the Fly'n for Fun formula, and its now up to the GA community to reward that faith by committing themselves in greater numbers as well, which will in turn multiply the fun factor.
Formula One released the 2025 grand prix calendar on Saturday morning our time; an event that normally would not rate a mention in The Last Minute Hitch. However, the calendar lists the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne as the first race of the series, slated for 16 March. That's only eight days before Avalon 2025. In March this year, AMDA Foundation announced that Avalon 2025 would run from 25-30 March 2025, the latest Autumn slot it had ever been scheduled for. But is eight days between the grand prix and the air show enough clearance so as to not put excessive strain on Melbourne's logistical resources? I suspect that AMDA may have been hoodwinked here by rumours at the 2024 GP that Melbourne would open the season because the two races that have become staples at the beginning–Bahrain and Saudi Arabia–have had to be shifted to later to avoid a collision with Ramadan. It would be fair then to presume that Melbourne would move to one of the early March dates normally occupied by those two races, prompting AMDA to switch to late March to avoid their own clash. I can only imagine what AMDA is thinking now that Melbourne has moved only one week earlier, breathing life back into a conflict once thought to be laid to rest.
May your gauges always be in the green,
Hitch