Northerners heading South for the Seaplane convention at Rathmines....

[David Isaac]

Yee haaawww ... ya redneck ... ROFLMAO. Luv that there ute!!!

 

 

[Keith Page]

Hell we're not fussy who we hang around with !............but the Lightwing doesn't usually need a support vehicle....

Gosh that is a great camp, plenty of shade for the repaires to happen.

Regards

 

Keith Page.

 

 

[derekliston]

Took my 3yr old grandson along to Rathmines today to suss out the situation for tomorrow, didn't stay long though, stinking hot and no shade, a bit concerned for tomorrow now if the weather is the same! Still I'll be there at least for a while and try to put faces to names, number again is 0412144489. Five aeroplanes on the hard-standing when I arrived and a bright yellow buccaneer? taking off. .

 

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Hi Derek, Missed you yesterday as we all went out to a small strip to look at a new aircraft up by Wallsend. As the conference is now officially over, we'll be on the hard stand today helping out, and generally promoting the whole thing to the public. Was quite hot yesterday, but should have some cloud cover today, and hopefully not too much rain....I have your number and will call you mid morning, to see what you are up to ...........Cheers............Maj......

 

 

[derekliston]

Well 'twas as I expected, bloody hot, especially on that expanse of concrete. Well worth the effort though, great to put faces to names of fellow forumites. Pity the big cat only flew by but I can understand the concern about salt corrosion.

 

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

The gang at Rathmines today on the ramp.........

 

Left to right....Don Ramsey, Derek Liston, Evan Lizeraldi, Ross Millard, Julie Wells , Ian Wells, Dexter Burkill

 

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Well the first annual Seaplane convention is over, with everyone including the organising committee extremely pleased with how it went. They expected to get 25 participants and instead got 75 !........Lots of good info was shared, and the crowd was amply entertained by all the speakers, including an amazing presentation by Matt Hall, and visiting Texan John Proctor who has flown his self restored large Albatross amphibian all over the world.

 

The Hawaiian party last night was a hoot, and the airshow today at Rathmines included Matt Hall, RAAF Orion, Avenger, Pitts aerobatics , L-39 Albatros jet, Tigermoths x 4, Sydney Seaplane Beaver rides, and passes by the amazingly good looking HARS Catalina in her stunning new black paint job.

 

Four of us from the north scored rides in the Super Petrel this morning with instructor Rohan Whittington, for some 'on the water' floatplane instruction. ( you want what now ?...a high-speed on the step taxi !!??...yeah right..)

 

Todays airshow and open day highlighted the support that The Newcastle locals have for this event, and for the Historic Rathmines Catalina base.

 

They will be awarded in the next few years with the erection of a new hangar on the site, to house the recently purchased non- flyable Catalina which will be prepared and displayed in the hangar on site. This will no doubt cement the future of the Rathmines base for future generations..........Maj...

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Drove up to Denman yesterday to spend the evening with Dexter Burkill,.......the upper Hunter region is beautifull flying country that's for sure. Thank you for a lovely evening Dexter, we'll go for a ride in the tank next time. !......

 

This was after Ian Wells purchased an unused set of Full- Lotus floats from a Lake Mcquarie aviator, for an obscene price. The floats are now on their way to 'Heathrow' by road. Watch this space. !!!.........I jumped on the burner this morning for the trip back to Townsville, Ian and Julie are spending a few rec days in the Hunter region, and Mangrove Murry is on his way back by road, after picking up the newly purchased floats. All agree the trip to the Seaplane conference at Rathmines was well worth the effort.....Maj........