Plane-Talk Newsletter October 2011 1 From the President With the all of the recent happenings at the club we thought another edition of Plane-Talk Newsletter was timely. Thank you all for the positive comments we received about the production of our first issue of Plane-Talk and thanks too on your behalf to our Editor in Chief, Owen Peake for putting it all together. You will notice this edition sports the new Club logo. Your committee felt that our “old mate” the red aeroplane, although he has served us well, needed updating. The new logo reflects the heritage of the airfield with the red, white and blue and it also importantly identifies the Tocumwal location of our club. It is pleasing to see the number of requests we are receiving to host aviation related functions on the aerodrome utilising the facilities and in particular the opportunity for us to facilitate the catering. It is also pleasing to see an increasing number of members enthusiastically offering their help. Most of you may already know by now that the National Aerobatic Championships are now a definite fixture at Tocumwal in October 2012. The application to host this event was positively supported by the Berrigan Shire Council and will go a long way to ensure the continued sustainability of the Tocumwal Aerodrome not to mention the economic benefits brought to the area by the visitors. Sandy Massina RECENT EVENTS Woodleigh School visit: During August MBFC hosted a group of students from the Woodleigh School at Baxter on the Mornington Peninsula. Some twenty students, Teachers and Flight Instructors flew various aircraft to Tocumwal. They ranged from a Liberty and Gazelle to GA Cessna and a constant-speed, retractable Piper Arrow. Of the 800 students at Woodleigh a good majority have a pilot’s licence (which can be obtained at age 16). The visit to Tocumwal enables them firstly, to gain a basic licence, then up-grade to a GA licence and obtain endorsements on various aircraft. They also gain valuable navigation experience here. Our trusty MBFC volunteers led by Secretary Mark provided a Farewell BBQ for their last night at Toc. A special thanks to all involved for their help with this very successful event for the “Qantas Captains” of tomorrow.
Transcript
Plane-Talk Newsletter October 2011
1
From the President
With the all of the recent happenings at the club we thought another edition of
Plane-Talk Newsletter was timely. Thank you all for the positive comments we
received about the production of our first issue of Plane-Talk and thanks too on
your behalf to our Editor in Chief, Owen Peake for putting it all together. You will
notice this edition sports the new Club logo. Your committee felt that our “old
mate” the red aeroplane, although he has served us well, needed updating. The
new logo reflects the heritage of the airfield with the red, white and blue and it
also importantly identifies the Tocumwal location of our club.
It is pleasing to see the number of requests we are receiving to host aviation
related functions on the aerodrome utilising the facilities and in particular the
opportunity for us to facilitate the catering. It is also pleasing to see an
increasing number of members enthusiastically offering their help.
Most of you may already know by now that the National Aerobatic
Championships are now a definite fixture at Tocumwal in October 2012. The
application to host this event was positively supported by the Berrigan Shire
Council and will go a long way to ensure the continued sustainability of the
Tocumwal Aerodrome not to mention the economic benefits brought to the area
by the visitors.
Sandy Massina
RECENT EVENTS
Woodleigh School visit:
During August MBFC hosted a group of students from the Woodleigh School at
Baxter on the Mornington Peninsula. Some twenty students, Teachers and Flight
Instructors flew various aircraft to Tocumwal. They ranged from a Liberty and
Gazelle to GA Cessna and a constant-speed, retractable Piper Arrow. Of the 800
students at Woodleigh a good majority have a pilot’s licence (which can be
obtained at age 16). The visit to Tocumwal enables them firstly, to gain a basic
licence, then up-grade to a GA licence and obtain endorsements on various
aircraft. They also gain valuable navigation experience here. Our trusty MBFC
volunteers led by Secretary Mark provided a Farewell BBQ for their last night at
Toc. A special thanks to all involved for their help with this very successful event
for the “Qantas Captains” of tomorrow.
Plane-Talk Newsletter October 2011
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Woodleigh School Picture Parade:
Flying does tend to increase your appetite and the Woodleigh guests made short
work of the BBQ feast. MBFC Geoff can be seen describing the finer points of
glider-flying to an interested Woodleigh Teacher/Flight Instructor. Presumably
the carving-knife is to cut the rope from the tug aircraft?
Some of Woodleigh School’s aircraft.
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The MBFC Function Room was converted into a “Flight Briefing Room” for the
Woodleigh visit. The MBFC volunteers did a splendid job of catering for the crew.
Footnote:
During the Woodleigh School event we were visited by the yellow Highway Patrol
Police car from Finley, complete with lights and siren…someone forgot to cancel
their SARTIME…No, it wasn’t a student of the school, the pilot shall remain
anonimous, however it’s a timely reminder Don’t forget to cancel your SARTIME
Although, the fact was, SAR was canceled some 20 minutes before the arrival of
the police car, however, late cancelling does create uncertainty for Emergency
Services. Don’t forget to cancel your SARTIME
Chipmunk Rally:
Despite some rather ominus looking weather conditions the Antique Aircraft
Owners Association managed to attract several aircraft to Tocumwal for the
Celebration of 65 years of the de Havilland Chipmunk. The Chipmunk was built
as a military training aircraft to replace the de Havilland Tiger Moth, and is still
the longest serving aircraft in the RAF. (No Chipmunks saw service in the Royal
Australian Air Force). Once again Secretary Mark and his team of MBFC
volunteers cartered and hosted this event which included Saturday lunch,
evening roast dinner (with full bar service, thanks to President Sandy) and
finally a gourmet Sunday breakfast. Particular thanks to the ladies, Flo, June,
Jenny, Joy and Ester…excellent sweets!
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Tiger Moth VH-AZF arrived Saturday for the Chipmunk Fly-in with a very very
cold crew aboard, we really appreciate your effort in flying up from Kyneton,
particularly when there’s a real tin aeroplane with a heater in it (Piper Cherokee)
in the family. Well done!
The visit by the Kittyhawk P40 from Albury thrilled all at the airport (and most of
Tocumwal as well) with an impressive flying display above 09 27 Excellent !!!
Top: Boeing Stearman…Kittyhawk P40 (picture Mark Fraser)
Lower left: “I don’t want to know!”
Centre: “Where are we?”
Right: Dick Gower explains the complex technical features of the Chipmunk to
an interested observer.
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During Saturday the Tocumwal car enthusiasts…Hot Rodders and Classic Cars
provided a display of their vehicles on the grass area beside the tarmac.
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To finish off the Chipmunk Rally weekend an impromptu working bee occurred
with vacuuming, grass cutting, tree trimming and disused pine posts removed
from the fence line. During the working bee a type-endorsement was carried
out. Unfortunately in the early stages of the endorsement the applicant failed
the test on directionnal placement of the machine, (he could not adjust to the
fact that you need to turn the steering wheel to negotiate obstacles, you cannot
pull back and fly over them). No problem, we will eventually find another drain
can for the BBQ.
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Many of us have enjoyed local Historian Bob Brown’s presentations of the history
of the Tocumwal Airport. Bob has provided details of the memorabilia he has
available.
The Tocumwal Historic Aerodrome Museum seeks to inform the wider community
of the significant WW II history of the Tocumwal Aerodrome. It does so by the
opening of a Museum in Tocumwal, the pole mounting of a gate guardian 28 foot
wingspan Liberator and commemorative plaques and signs in various locations.
Reunions are offered for veterans, presentations are made to tour groups,
school groups, veterans and the aviation community and distribution of
publications, DVDs and Tocumwal Historic Aerodrome Caps. The items available
are as illustrated, with suggested donation amounts indicated, plus $3 per item
for postage.
The book “RAAF 7 OTU Tocumwal” by John Lever covers the experiences of the
Liberator air and ground crews during 1944/45 and the destruction period after
the war.
The booklet “Tocumwal Historic Aerodrome Museum” by Bob Brown covers the
story of the war years at Tocumwal Aerodrome and is the subject of the talks
given on behalf of the Museum.
The “Tocumwal Historic Aerodrome Caps “ are sought after by veterans and
aviators as a memento of their visits to Tocumwal.
The DVD is a record of the October 2010 Reunion at Tocumwal and the
