HOPETOUN (YHPN) Mini FLY-IN 3 AUGUST 2008

[Matt]

RSVPing - expect 8-10 for lunch from Kyneton...reference Kaz's post above.

 

PS> This is shaping up to be the "biggest mini fly-in" I've been to!

 

 

[Guest Bendorn]

Mini No Longer.....

 

This is shaping up to be the "biggest mini fly-in" I've been to!

I agree Matt. As I orginally stated, I was hoping for about a dozen planes.

 

NOW..... 58ish. There are still 4 newspaper articles to go out.

 

I was going to put a bit of a program together for the day, but there is going to be so many people, I think just wandering about will take up everyones time.

 

Program

 

Land Park Chat Eat Chat Depart

 

How does that sound?

 

 

[Guest brentc]

I'm sending my apologies in advance. My fuel cost alone will be approximately $198.00 for the trip not including any away from home landing fees and difference in fuel cost. Whilst I am a rich IT professional, I had to draw the line and as much as I don't like to say it, 4 hours in the seat is a long time! (oh golly I must be getting old or something)

 

I wish you all luck and hope that the fly-in goes well, sounds like there will be dozens there without me!

 

 

[BigPete]

RSVP - Just me for lunch :big_grin: - Only weather will stop me. Looking forward to meeting many of the members of this forum for the 1st time. :thumb_up:

 

:big_grin::big_grin:

 

regards

 

 

[Matt]

Only weather will stop me.

Echuca elevation = 323'

 

Hopetoun elevation = 256'

 

Given the above, as long as the cloud base is at or above 2000', you should be right!...pretty flat out that way, all down hill for us from Kyneton at 1650'

 

 

[Geoff]

Hay big Pete little Pete not coming ?

 

 

[BigPete]

No Geoff - lives in Melbourne - only see him up here (Echuca) on school holidays.

 

regards

 

 

[AlanB]

Add 1 Sapphire. All available seating filled.

 

See you there. Alan

 

 

[tvaner]

Great Job Ben

 

You sure have given new meaning to the word "mini" Ben. Great job. This should certainly impress the locals and create interest in flying and training throughout the community. Hope the weather holds out for you all.

 

Now, I wonder who will be organising the Recreational Flying FLY-IN's in the future??? ;)

 

Only wish I was available to attend but, unfortunately someone has to work.

 

 

[Guest Andys@coffs]

Weather looks fine, I'll be in around Midday or so, plus 10yr old daughter in the 230

 

 

[slartibartfast]

I won't be there now Ben. See this thread.

 

Have a great day everyone.

 

 

[Geoff]

Sorry to hear about the cat Ross:censored: I did get there here are some pic's of some of the planes and a real strange man who was trying to fly a computer.

 

 

 

 

 

[Matt]

weather!!!!!!

 

Kaz and I drove through cloud to get to Kyneton to be greeted by cloud on the ground. Optimistically we prepared the aircraft and waited...and waited...and waited...after a few hours of coffee and chatting with some of the other grounded locals we headed in to town for lunch. During lunch the cloud turned into solid rain for about 15 minutes and then cleared to blue skies...above the airfield...still cloud on the ground all around. By then it was mid afternoon and time to pack it in and head home.

 

Thanks for posting the photos Geoff, makes me even more depressed that I couldn't get in the air and to Hopetoun today

 

As mentioned at the top of the post... weather!!!!!!

 

Hope all those that made it had a great time, the weather looked great and the turnout looks impressive as well.

 

PS> Congratulations Ben on a job well done! :thumb_up:

 

PPS> While we had no flying, at least the CT4 is in one piece...sorry to hear about the Cheetah Slarti, hope it won't take too long and too much to repair her. Glad to hear that you and your old man walked away with a story to tell.

 

 

[Captain]

Me too, and I can't believe the skies in those photos.

 

It was spitting rain here as I went to the hangar this morning with heavy looking clouds at times, so I wimped out.

 

Belated apologies to you Ben.

 

Regards & the photos look terrific. You must be pleased with that roll-up. How many did you get in the end?

 

Geoff

 

 

[Guest Bendorn]

What A Day.......!!!!

 

Today was a great success with a fantastic turnout of Microlights, Ultralights and GA aircraft.

 

We had 57 planes converge on the Hopetoun and District Airport with over 300 people attending. There were a number of TIFs done as well as quite a few joys flights.

 

I sincerely thank everyone who was able to attend. Some could, not due to poor weather conditions at home, but I know your support was behind me.

 

I should pass on some kind words to the pilots and their radio etiquette. As you can imagine, the radio traffic and circuit was quite intense for a while and they should be congratulated.

 

I've attached a couple of photos for your viewing.

 

If anyone has some aerial shots share of around midday when we were full, please drop me a line. Our photographer took some rippers, however he forgot to put the SD card into the camera, so we have no record......

 

Again, thanks to all.

 

Ben

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[flie43]

Well done Ben,

 

It was a great day and well organised. We left Wang in light rain but by the time we got to Hopetoun the weather was great. Was glad to get back to Hopetoun and be apart of the numbers there. As said in an earlier post the traffic etiquette and radio calls could not have been better. I had one local ask me where was the controller organising the pilots and couldn't believe it just works.

 

Well done Ben

 

Terry

 

 

[BigPete]

Had a great day at Hopetoun. :thumb_up:

 

Light rain at Echuca as I checked the Jabby. Waited 10 minutes and departed around 9.00pm. Dodged rain and low cloud until past Boort. Weather improved and I flew via Wycheproof and Birchip. :)

 

Listened out on 126.7 - boy - lots of calls - lots. Arrived and slotted in with all the other aircraft around 5 in the circuit, but no dramas. :thumb_up:

 

Landed and parked. Haf the crowd were Jabirus and some very good ones at that.

 

Caught up with Ian, Ben, Geoff, Decca and met a lot of great people.

 

Barbeque was great and lots of free coffee. i_dunno

 

Blue skys for around an hour and then the cloud came over again. It didn't seem long until aircraft started to leave and then it was just me and a few others - time to hit air.

 

Good trip home - 13 knot tailwind and dodged a bit more rain. Put the Jabiru in the hanger and drove home. A great day - very well organized by Ben. Congratulations to everyone for another great fly in.

 

Sorry to hear about those that couldn't make it especially Slarti :yuk: - hard luck mate, but well done on the outcome - aeroplanes, we can rebuild them.

 

For those that haven't met him, below is a picture of Ben - Lets see who can come up with the best caption for the photo. :big_grin::big_grin::big_grin:

 

regards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest Decca]

Commiserations to those who were unable to depart their own bases this morning.

 

The Ballarat Group left YBLT after 11:30, so it was a late lunch for us but fortunately the BBQ ran into mid afternoon.

 

Before I knew it my aerial chauffeur announced departure time in 15mins, but I was able to say a quick hello to event organiser Ben, Big Pete, Ian, Fact Hunter, & who did I forget?

 

Well done Ben, I wish you every success with your future plans for Hopetoun Airport.

 

For those I missed - Matt & Kaz, Geoff, I knew I should not have started, & especially Ross, until the next fly-in, safe flying.

 

Regards, Decca.

 

 

[planedriver]

Well done!!

 

Well done Ben (OFFICIAL UNDERSTATEMENT)What a wonderful turnout, even given the weather and associated problems which prevented even more attending.I would have loved to have been there.Take a sincere pat on the back, because you most obviously deserve it, and your hard work was obviously appreciated by so many.Regards Alan

 

 

[Ferris]

Congratulations Ben

 

Well Done Ben. It seemed that most of Hopetoun turned out to have a look, as well as people coming from a long way away (apart from the flyers). It should be the good basis of a terrific aero club. As a relatively inexperienced pilot, the courtesy extended over the radio was tremendous and the 'system' worked very well. Hopetoun Footy Club turned on a good feed, even though they were a bit stiff and sore from yesterday's bruising - as was Ben for that matter.

 

After speaking with Ian over the phone a number of times, it was great to finally meet him, and have a fly on his flight sim. Ian..... I forgot to wish you all the best for the election, while I was talking with you, so all the best for the election.

 

Well done to all those who organised the day.

 

Cheers

 

Shayne:thumb_up:

 

 

[Kaz]

Congratulations Ben Looks like it was a great day!

 

We were very dissapointed we couldn't make it, the weather played up all weekend and although we prepared the plane on 3 different occasions we didn't get to fly once

 

Glad so many others could make it there and we hope we'll catch you all at the next event! :thumb_up:

 

 

[Guest David C]

Likewise Ben ....Many Congrats . I was commited to business activities , and couldn't make it either , however , that just makes me more determined to make the next fly in . Once again well done mate .

 

Dave C