Wide Bay Airshow

dunlopdangler · July 6, 2009

Well we flew over to Bundy on Friday morning and enjoyed smooth flying conditions and a fantastic tailwind and tracked in from Elliot Heads expecting to follow the traffic into rwy 25 only to have some hapless soul flying a jab try to land on rwy07 who was getting the bundy radio guy a little stressed when he continued to do it again...we joined for a landing on Rwy 14. Enjoyed the comradrie of fellow flyers and caught up with guys I haven't seen for a while, witnessed the bending of a nice looking aeroplane (hot and high and tried to land anyway from where I stood) I witnessed some fairly ordinary flying skills from both RA and GA, so if any one throws stonesthumb_down.. On Saturday, the show itself was slow and failed to hold my attention and I wasn't alone as I saw a stream of people walking out and at about 2:00pm I was back at the plane and ready to go as soon as they released the airspace. On a positive note I found the volunteers well mannered and happy doing a fairly adious task. Despite how good or bad we find these shows, we need to support them so they can continue and only get better...out of 10, I would give it a 6.5:)

HEON · July 6, 2009

Some who did not go from south of the border seem to have made a wise move.

Myself left early Fri from SE Qld to beat the bounces and only got two patches of sink crossing the ranges (plus 25kt tail wind).

An aquaitance left a day or so before from Southern NSW and split his head open after hitting the roof!

July 6, 2009

Hi Guys, just got back from Bundy with my wife after arriving there on Friday morning and had a great time with the exception of having to camp a couple of KM away and courtesy bus that was promised was a non event but other than that it was a great couple of days.

I watched many of the landings and I did not see a lot of difference between RAA and GA landings as many found the cross wind challenging and some of the better landings were actually RAA and one particular guy in a drifter who put it on the deck in great style in the blustery conditions.

My 230 went really well and with all the camping gear in the back well distributed to maintain C of G it actually handled better with the extra weight.

I have a good collection of photo's that my co pilot took and will post a few.

Watto

Harthy · July 6, 2009

I always enjoy airshows. This one as mentioned before was a bit slow, with to much formation flying but worth attending.

After speaking to some locals, what really drew the crowds was the drag between the V8 Supercar and the L39 jet. Most of them came to see that, and dispersed soon after. Not everybody is interested in aircraft, but mix it with other entertainment and you will get more interest.

I departed on Sunday morning about 7.30 and after about ten minutes into my flight the radio became very good listening. Not sure exactly what was going on, but I heard aircraft landing over others on the strip and the Mustang and Yak having to do go arounds. It all sounded a bit chaotic. I ended up changing frequancy, it got to noisy. It gets pretty busy when private aircraft are departing and the big bangers are doing joy rides all before the airshow starts. Sometimes this can be more entertaining then the airshow.

I would imagine there is alot of work and expense in organising an airshow, and they will never be perfect, but they need to be supported.

I'll be Back!

July 6, 2009

Yes Harthy it was a bit busy and I had intended leaving Sunday afternoon but due to the traffic and the airshow itself we decided to stay another night and left at about 10.30 this morning after an hour in line to get fuel, but it was a relaxed line up and good for a chat hehe!

slartibartfast · July 6, 2009

Well I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Was great to catch up with some forumites. Excellent to see you again Bernie. Love your lifestyle. Ditto Brian and Linda. Great to meet Mick, TangoCharlie123, and heaps of others. Bit too buggered right now for photos and report. Took a Canberra friend's step-son for a flight before departing this morning, then flew coastal taking in Hervey Bay, Fraser Island, Rainbow Beach, Maroochydore, Sunshine Coast, Bribie-Moreton-Stradbroke VFR lane, views of Brisbane, great views of the Gold Coast thanks to a very friendly controller at Coolangatta, Byron Bay, then a quick refuel at Lismore. Then tracked pretty much direct to Goulburn to ensure I got home before last light.

Eight hours flying today (then the 110k drive home) with one fuel stop (a 15 minute break). Compare with 7 hours on Saturday despite having to go via Narromine thanks to great tailwinds (135 knots much of the day). About 700nm each way. One fuel stop each way. Gotta love the Cheetah's legs.

Some photos when I'm next awake.

OK - a quick tease.

One for the Jab Jockeys:

[ATTACH]8369.vB[/ATTACH]

And one for Tomo:

[ATTACH]8370.vB[/ATTACH]

BLA82 · July 6, 2009

Hey Slarti,

Was that you flying around over Bagara this morning around 8:30-9.

slartibartfast · July 6, 2009

Yeah mate. That's where the step-son lives, so I took him to see it from the air.

Gets 'em every time.

BLA82 · July 6, 2009

I actually got some really good shots of you. When I process them I will pass them on.

July 6, 2009

We may have actually met as well Startibartfast, you mentioned you had to take the long way around on the way up due to weather and I told you I knew what the weather was like as I grew up in mittagong, Bowral area.

It was a great event and my wife and I were impressed by the people we met, everybody was very decent.

The Jab dinner was also a lot of fun and my wife whom I had though would be bored after the 1st day just loved it.

Watto

Tomo · July 6, 2009

And one for Tomo:
[ATTACH]11676[/ATTACH]

Cool! I even recognize it!:big_grin:

slartibartfast · July 6, 2009

We may have actually met as well Startibartfast, you mentioned you had to take the long way around on the way up due to weather and I told you I knew what the weather was like as I grew up in mittagong, Bowral area.

Indeed we did Watto. Didn't realise you were a member. There was lots of chat opportunity, and with all the sensory overload I had for those 3 days, I can't remember everyone I met.

I do remember the looks on the faces of all the kids I sat in the Cheetah.

One mother said something to her son like "that's the best thing that's ever happened to you". Seemed sad, but he's young and there's time.

Hopefully they all become pilots.

dunlopdangler · July 7, 2009

Cool! I even recognize it!:big_grin:

So do I!!:jump:

Yenn · July 7, 2009

I missed you Slarti and I didn.t even see the Cheetah. How could I have missed it?

slartibartfast · July 7, 2009

I missed you Slarti and I didn.t even see the Cheetah. How could I have missed it?

That was a bugger Ian. Would have been good to catch up.

I'm guessing you were there Saturday. I didn't arrive until 16:30 Saturday. Otherwise it would have been hard to miss - on display where everybody had to pass.