Possible forum meet in Australia

Hi all,
I thought that I’d better finally get around to making a statement about the proposed forum meet. Unfortunately it will not be happening around the time that was originally discussed. If it was, then it’d be happening within the next week or two.

The principal reason for it not happening is that I’ve been very busy of late. Thankfully some of this has been caused by actually doing things related to the project.

It would still be great to have a forum meet along the lines of that originally proposed at some stage in the future. We’ll see what happens. At least there would be more to look at on a later visit. I might have made some visible progress by then and there are also a few nice, airworthy birds coming to the neighbourhood in the near future.

Apologies for not making this post at an earlier date. Although this full blown meet isn’t happening at the moment, I’m sure there’ll be something of a meet at the Avalon airshow and it’d be great to meet a few people in the flesh.

Cheers,
Matt

Imagine cleaning the windscreen!

Further to my post two days ago. Temora’s last flying weekend this year was cancelled due to the locust plague. The RAN came visiting and did fly their Squirrel helicopter and the HARS Catalina remained static but flew home at which time this photo was taken. Credit: Keith Webb. The locusts will be long gone by February!

Chris

… and if you’re driving (or private flying) up from Melbourne don’t miss all the stuff going on at Wangaratta.
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?p=531806&posted=1#post531806

Temora – A possiblilty

Ozmatts description of the “proceedings” on Flying Days at Temora is correct. Driving from Melbourne does take a while however you do drive right past Murray Griffiths place and I’m sure JDK could take a break” on the way!

As mentioned flying and hiring a car is possible. Fly to Wagga Wagga (WGA) and then drive about 90 minutes through wheat country. From SYD use either Qantas Link (QF) orfrom MEL, Rex(ZL) . If I may be so bold I think this would be SRP’s choice given his time being at a premium.

If this all came to pass I’m sure the museum would be delighted to extend a warm (not to say Hot 42C) welcome. One very civilised feature of the museum are the very effective air conditioned hangars. How effective? Feel the cold air pour out of the hangar with the doors open! An oasis in the February sun!

By the way it isn’t always flies, this last flying weekend had contingency plans in case flying wasn’t possible due to a locust plague in the district!

Chris

I’m hoping to be in Oz for the Avalon show in March.

Can you fly in to Temora?

realistically, having moved halfway around the world (and Christmas presents) we are gonna be flat broke, so a trip to Temora is probably out, but…

Sounds great Matt – there’s some good/interesting aircraft in the museum and if many of them are flyers, that’d be pretty darn good.

The website alleges it’s easy enough to fly in to Wagga Wagga from both Sydney and Melbourne (then hire a car). That might work for the various people coming from different places and hire one or two MPV type vehicles.

My bugbear as mentioned above is that we do love the GP and will therefore very likely make the trek to MEL a month later – but that’s not yet 100%.

For my 2c worth, I say press on and see how many people respond positively to this idea/venue.

Well Steve it’d be great to have someone turn up from the Northern Hemisphere if at all possible. After reading your post, I (like Feather #3) thought that perhaps the February (5/6) Temora flying weekend would be a good one for you to attend.

I try to get to Temora at least once a year although unfortunately that won’t happen this year. For your interest as well as Gnome’s, attending one of their weekends is something that should be done whenever possible. The whole organisation and event is extremely professional. Having said that, they also manage to create a very personal feel.

They try to fly pretty much of all of their aircraft on at least one day of the weekend. Before performing it’s display, an aircraft will be positioned in front of the crowd so they can witness the starting procedures. After display, the pilot goes over to the commentator where they are interviewed about aircraft flying characteristics and such things.

When the flying is over at the end of the day, the barriers are moved a lot closer to the aircraft and the public can gain a closer look and also talk to pilots and others who are alongside their respective aircraft. As mentioned above, not all of the museum aircraft tend to fly on both days. They’re getting a fair collection now, and there’s only so much time in the day! Additionally, visiting aircraft will frequently display as well.

Temora’s downside is that it is around 6-7 hours drive from Melbourne. I’d guess at maybe 3-4 hours from Sydney. The closest centre that you could get to on an airline flight would be Canberra which I think is still about 2 hours from Temora.

Cheers,
Matt

Feather

That’s a good link and all round not a bad idea. I note that weekend is one of the “flying dates”. Anyone been there for one of those? What does it mean – what flys? And for that matter, “what flies!”. Early Feb in central NSW = fly-city!

Personally though I doubt I could be there – would struggle to get Mrs Gnome to accede to two trips to Oz in the space of a month (cos if you think I’d swap Temora for the GP – you’re well wrong).

What about Temora on 5/6Feb? Steve would enjoy it, but a trek for us all.

Have a look at http://www.aviationmuseum.com.au/

G’day 😉

I’ve got another China trip coming up in mid-February, so a stop in Australia and New Zealand on my way out wouldn’t be too difficult. If I can coordinate around an airshow, well all the better, but I’ll just have to see how the dates fall into place.

Steve

Hi all,
Well I have to say that I’m impressed with the interest in this possible meet. By placing the post both here and on the WIX, I’m trying to make it a meeting of people from both forums. Although many people use both anyway.

From people’s comments it’s probably looking like early February would be a reasonable time to make it happen. Unfortunately this is too early for those who are making a trip to the region for the Avalon show. IF (that’s a big if) a meet could be arranged the weekend before Avalon, would this be a better time? I’m just not sure that many of those who are coming for Avalon would arrive a week early. The weekend after Avalon is Easter so that’s a bad time for many people and I might be overseas anyway.

The intention was to have a meet where people can look certain things in a certain location (Ballarat in this instance). It’s quite possible that something could be arranged for Avalon as well.

Steve, would you really consider coming down for the meet or were you actually talking about Avalon? I’m sure that you’d definitely be seeing JDK during an Oz trip and he’s only going to be a maximum of about 2.5 hours away (depending on what part of Melbourne he moves to) away from me so we’d definitely have to try to catch up regardless of when you journey down this way.

Just re-capping, assuming other priorities don’t arise, the possible meet would be in early February in which case detailed organisation would begin around the middle of January. If it doesn’t happen then, it will at some stage anyway!

Cheers,
Matt

Yea, I’ll probably be there…

Here’s another thought re. dates – align with airshows!
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=35135

Ozmatt,

I’ve sent you a PM. I’m interested in a meeting sometime Jan/Feb Pt Cook, Tyabb or Ballarat is fine. If a success first time then maybe a visit to Temora to involve Forum members in NSW and Southern Qld might work.

Chris

Cool Matt

Count me in Matt 😉 , If hot cold suit will be on mate :p , Cheer’s all, :dev2: Tally Ho!Phil. :diablo:

I’ll be there. And yes, Vic is a great place to visit. Point Cook is a top museum, and though Tyabb and Morrabbin are the other side of Melbourne from Ballarat, they are also worth a look, for someone considering a visit to the state.
Cheers!

Would definatly like to meet up, but, and there is always a BUT, it will depend on the time, work commitments and spare cash. Have to take time off for the ALAC’s here at Hobart (Cambridge) 7th to 14th March.

I could be up for that! 🙂

Matt

As usual I’m going to do my best to be in Melbourne for the F1GP (weekend of 5-6 March 2005 plus the Thu/Fri before) and I’d happily bet there are others on this forum interested in F1! Perhaps a good date might be around then (weekday/s following or preceding).

Bear in mind there’s lots of other attractions around Melbourne too including the RAAF Pt Cook, a DC3/C47 that does pleasure flights, Puffing Billy, etc.

cheers Gnome