cazza

Hi Owi, Just a clarification on a couple of things..... 1. Natfly is ALWAYS at Easter, always has been, and probably always will be. It has nothing to do with the timing of Avalon or any other event. The nice thing is that next year Easter is early in April, so hopefully it will be warmer. 2. RA-Aus did bring down their goodies, all they could carry. 3. You didn't get a souvenier mug, because the vendor who makes and sells the sourvenir mugs didn't come. I'll tell him he was missed. Cheers, Cazza

Hi Scotty, just a response to your feedbakc. 1. Last year the biggest complaint to Couincil was the food, all the same type, no variety, no healthy alternatives and no way to sit and watch the world go by. So they decided on having a food court right in the middle of the action surrounded by vendors who provided variety and healthy alternatives. Council called for tenders and any of the organisations such as Rotary, etc could have tendered but they didn't. Those who did come, did their best, but Council has to rely on organisations to want to come and have enough staff to serve. Ideas for fixing that are welcome. 2. Wayne Matthew was covering for Steve Bell, our tech manager who scheduled the day long workshop on Thursday. Steve wanted it then and I put it on to suit his schedule. When Steve had to go for an operation, Wayne generously stepped in and did a great job. When we have put day-long workshops on Friday or Saturday, we get complaints that people are missing out on other forums. So day long forums of that nature, like the 1/2 day instructor forums will probably continue on the Thursday. AFter all, Natfly is an event that is scheduled for the Friday and Saturday. interesting forums. 3. The Temora Aviation Museum was asked to participate in the showcase. But the cost of bringing a pilot for each aircraft (even if only two are showcased), housing them, paying their expenses, paying 1/2 a dozen Museum engineers to be there to move the aircraft in and out, check it out, fuel it, pre-flight it, ensure it is ready to go and then flying it normally is in excess of 5 to 6 thousand dollars per aircraft. Because of the ANZAC committments in Canberra and other places, there was not the staff from the Museum to do the jobs that have to be done, the paper work for CASA that has to be done, including making the airspace restricted for that time, and the cost would have too be borne by RA-Aus. So we are back to, do you want to pay a $40 entry fee to Natfly? Cazza

Hi Seal, I just want to respond to some of your feedback. 1. Have been trying to get hands on for 6 years and its almost impossible. Equipment, who brings the compressor, the rivet guns, the materials and how does the presenter cope when 70 people turn up. I organised a practical workshop three years ago for doing a 100 hourly on a jab engine and we limited it to 10 people. Getting someone to volunteer their aircraft for a bunch of people is a problem, and even if you get an aircraft to 'work on', only one person can change the oil filter while the other 9 watch. I run into the same problem year in and year out. This year the SAAA wanted a hands-on workshop so I gave them a hangar and 3 hours. Did anyone go to that and did it work? Even my husband who has a hangar on the field, a compressor, rivet guns, etc, won't do a hands on with more than 2 people. Can I put you in charge of sorting that one out for next year? 2. The airdisplay was a modest start because we are not about entertainment, but about education. Mick Poole had to complete a 30 page risk assessment document for CASA months in advance, detailing everything that could possibly go wrong and then get an emergency plan and work with fire, ambulance, etc, etc. CASA wants every detail, how long each flypast, who the pilot will be, what color his hair is (just kidding), but it is not an easy task. So why don't we do a lot of other 'entertaining' things. Probably because we don't have the time to organise it. SAFETY FIRST is what we are on about. 3. Airport shuttle had a timetable and a route. In the mornings it went to all motels and back to the airfield. Around 11 am it went from the airfield to the town and back. Around 3 I think it started the route around the motels again. Yellow bus timetables were taped to the bus stop and to the signs outside the council tent. Timetables were also available in the council tent. They were on bright yellow paper. I don't know what else the council could do, but am open to suggestions. 4. About the organisation, we do the best we can. The council, the staff and I work for 8 months solid. I would happily turn it over to someone else. 5. Name tags are a great idea. All pilots gave to do is go to the RA-Aus HQ which was on the map on the website, on this site, on huge signs all around the grounds. I'm sure we can do this for next year. 6. Had the PA system covered with TEM.FM, except they didn't come at the last minute because of technical difficulties. Cazza

Hi Burbles, Will give you some feedback (in italices ) on your feedback so you have the whole picture, Carol Richards. Okay, here's a thread for some serious comments on what you thought of NatFly 2011. What works well, what's missing. I spent Friday and Saturday milling around, mainly taking pics of the crowd and trade displays. I thought the number and variety of trade displays was down from last year - the big players were there, and good to see Morgan Aeroworks and Brumby as usual. But there is room for more variety - perhaps smaller kit aircraft should be on display. Anyone who wants to be an exhibitor can be. The staff and I do not determine who will exhibit. If smaller kit aircraft people do not want to come, then there is little anyone can do to get them there. Got any ideas? One of the things I learned on the Board, is that if you have a good idea, you have to follow it through, because there just isn't the staff to follow all ideas through. I was a bit disappointed that the AWPA didn't get much exposure, stuck out on their own away from the crowd. AWPA and any other 'sister organisation is given a free site in the small site devision. Since a huge program was planned for taxiway echo hangars A and B, all of the exhibitors along there had opportunity for exposure. I haven't had any complaints from the gals in AWPA. The aerobatic display each day was great, and the fly-bys (gyro, a few others) added some excitement to an otherwise "flat" event. Natfly has never been about 'entertainment'. It has always been an event for pilots to talk to pilots, to look at aircraft, to learn more about maintaining aircraft, flying better, education and commardery. If we want entertainment, then the nature of Natfly has to change, starting with charging an entrance fee to pay professional staff to organise excitement. That won't be me. By Saturday, I thought that one thing to make it more exciting throughout the day would be more announcements. I jumped on the mic and announced the speakers program for 10.00 and 11.00. There should be a little more of that to announce events and draw a crowd for speakers. I agree and we had organised for the local community radio station, TEM.fm to be there broadcasting and announcing and guess what? On Thursday they discovered they didn't have the right equipment and couldn't do it. So then what? We need more volunteers, we need people to put their hand up now and take charge of an area and see that it happens. I have no technical expertise, and no one else in the town had the time or expertise to fix it. I only got to a few talks on Saturday, but they were mostly well attended, so it seems the right topics were covered. Organisation was acceptable. It was good to see a few people buzzing around in golf buggies handing out programs - those were good too, with an aerial pic of the venue on one side and the day's program on the other. Clever. But can someone tell me what the RA-Aus Support Vehicle was supposed to do? Four people in a golf buggy - including a couple of teens - that drove around seemingly not doing much. This is the operations support vehicle, there to assist marshallers, pilots who have flat tires, pilots who need assistance if their aircraft does a hard landing and needs to be moved from the runway, etc. If they had little to do, that is a good thing. I pick up on small details, and on my walks through carparks saw a few ladies sitting in cars reading. Was the Ladies Program (town excursions, wine and cheese trip) not good enough? It's a shame if we're leaving some people out of the action. Three of us worked for seven months on the ladies program. We advertised it in the magazine starting in December. If ladies do not want to participate, that is their right, but unless you have some other ideas and want to take over organising that program, I do not know what else we can do. Any other comments? Yes, we need more volunteers. I put a call for ideas for the program on this forum before Christmas. I put a call for volunteers in the Dec/Jan magazine. We had a good response, but it is never enough because the job is so big. Help Help Help. That's what we need to make the event what you want. Cazza

Hi Burbles, Will give you some feedback (in italices ) on your feedback so you have the whole picture, Carol Richards. Yes, we need more volunteers. I put a call for ideas for the program on this forum before Christmas. I put a call for volunteers in the Dec/Jan magazine. We had a good response, but it is never enough because the job is so big. Help Help Help. That's what we need to make the event what you want. Cazza

PS, if anyone is driving down from Canberra and has a trailer and can bring 100 chairs let me know. Also, I have a friend who has a room with a double bed (suitable for coupole) 10 minutes from the field, $90 per night including two breakfasts if you are interested, ring me on my mobile: 0407 574 467. Cazza

Hello everyone. Am trying to find answers to your questions. No, the Aeroclub is selling Grog this year, so no dinner on Friday night, however, the food court will be in operation and a bus will be going in and out of town for any eateries that are open. An answer to the wayne mATTHEWS forum will be coming soon. Program has changed hugely. Make sure you get the latest one when you arrive from the RA-Aus/Council Tent. Here is the latest one so far. Cazza Thurs prog tbl.pdf Friday table.pdf Saturday tble.pdf Sunday Program Draft.pdf Thurs prog tbl.pdf Friday table.pdf Saturday tble.pdf Sunday Program Draft.pdf Thurs prog tbl.pdf Friday table.pdf Saturday tble.pdf Sunday Program Draft.pdf

Thanks Ian for the support. Natfly 2011 is shaping up to be a great event for aviators and enthusiasts. Some new features this year are: 1. Flypast Showcasing of recreational aircraft at lunch time. 2. Live internet streaming of Natfly for three days. 3. Local radio station broadcasting from Natfly 4. Jet boat races on Friday night at the lake (a 20 minute walk from the field) Additionally there are lots of forums and exhibits. Everyone is welcome - especially the non-pilot ladies for which there is a huge program ranging from ceramic painting to a wine, cheese, nibbles and jazz in the garden excursion. Hope to see you there. Cazza (Carol Richards)#

Burbles1 Ok I will see if I can locate someone who can lay out financing and insurance options. cazza

Russ, great idea. Will get onto this one. Cazza PS did we meet up at Caboolture at your workshop recently?

Burbles 1, Do I understand correctly? You want a session for first time owners that lays out the maintenance requirements and possible costs and time for Rotax 012 and Jab2200 (and airframe issues?) Cazza

Hi Big Pete, Our resident fiberglass expert ran an 'introductory session last year, and has offered to repeat it this year, but it isn't hands onl. His advice is that to do any repairs, no matter how simple, takes a day or so of hard yakka. Will pursue it, though. Cazzz

Hello fellow aviators, Natfly 2011 is on again at Temora. Last year the members of this forum contributed many ideas for forums and, except for one, I was able to organise everything members here wanted. So again, I have the job of organising the program of seminars and workshops for Natfly. If you have ideas or want to put up your hand to facilitate a forum, let me know. Thanks, Cazza

Tomo and Mr H, yes sunblock, but also jacket and warm sleeping bag. It's turned cool now, summer is gone, the 10 kt wind takes all the warmth out of you. With all the rain, everything is green and gorgeous. PS Mr H, I lived in Olinda for several years, Roy Road, loved it. Before that I lived in Kallista. Fabulous part of the world. Cheers, Cazza

Hi Tomo, Sounds like you are doing some good planning. Very interested in meeting you face to face. When will you be arriving and will you and your mother be camping or what? Fuel at Parkes requires a special card. Fuel at Moree is carnet card and a credit card at Narromine. There is also fuel at Forbes. If you need to know anything, just email me or ring (details in the mag.). Promise you'll look me up. Cheers, Cazza

Hi Lads, The general meeting is scheduled for Friday, 4:00 pm in Hangar B. Cheers, Cazza

Tomo, Natfly isn't just a flyin. Its a total aviation experience you won't get anywhere else. Hundreds of like minded pilots, helpful, keen, forums, night entertainment, exhibitors, etc etc. When you get there, look me up. I'll shout you dinner. Myh mobile number is in the magazine. Cazza

Gosh Sue, Springsure sounds so good perhaps I'll cancel Natfly and come up. Cazza (ONly joking about cancelling Natfly)/

Bubble boy, Great that you are coming to Natfly. See you then. Cazza

That would be great, both the fuel cffontainers and doing some fuel runs for us. Send me your details on a pm. Cazza

HI Geoff, I may have to source a few more containers if we have two or three who want to get Mogas. Will work on it. Cazza

Hi Jack, The draft is the current program. So far, no big hitches (keep fingers crossed).

Hi Lads, Sorry I have taken so long to answer your questions, I've been out of town working. Things are going well and hectic, as you can imagine. You don't need to book for underwing camping, just rock up and we will direct you to a nice position, pretty close to amenities. Still working on making sure that there are plenty of food vendors and all the hungry, thirsty airmen (and ladies) are well catered for. Am thrilled you will be here on Tues, James, we will need you to direct traffic, I'm sure. Cazza

Hi again Geoff and Mark, Thanks for the vote of confidence. We won't be able to feed thousands on the airfield at night, but we can make 400 by seating people in the Bellman and by serving a roast dinner on Friday cafeteria style. We will also have the fish and chips people here. But we don't have the extensive catering facility that Narromine did, but people tell me, Narromine was also a tent city in the early days. I think Temora council has plans to build a large multi-purpose (food and auditorium) facility, but we won't have it for this year. That's why I hope some airmen will try the town eateries this year. Non the less, I am doing the best I can and will personally cook dinner for anyone who wants to stay at the airfield but missed out on the roast. No human factors this year at Natfly - too much else going on. Have you lads looked at the program? I put it up earlier in the RAA area. I think you will enjoy it. Cazza

Hi Geoff, Hopefully the Aero club won't have to feed EVERYONE. As there is a shuttle bus into town and lots of eateries will be open there, we are hoping people also take the opportunity to try out some of Temora's famous hospitality/ Bit we might need a hand with the cooking. Are you free? Caz