Competition day at Gympie

[wags]

On Sunday 4th October Gympie Aero Club will be hosting a day of fun and games.

 

Although this is billed as an inter-club competition, all aviators are invited to attend and test your skills in the events planned. See attached flyer for details. Pilot briefing at 9:30 am, flying starts at 10:00 am. Sausage sizzle and drinks available all day. Call Jennifer 0419 784715 for entry details etc.

 

[ATTACH]8759.vB[/ATTACH]

 

Pilot Briefing Notes - Competition.pdf

 

Pilot Briefing Notes - Competition.pdf

 

Pilot Briefing Notes - Competition.pdf

[Yenn]

Any provision for single seat aircraft?

 

 

[wags]

Single seat???

 

Of course Yenn.... but you will have a hard time convincing everyone you flew so accurately you didn't lose a single point!

 

The event is not about the points scoring however... it is designed to get a few like minded aviation types together and have a chin wag and a bit of flying fun over a sausage and a cold drink.

 

Gympie Aero Club has a new Committee in place and they are really trying to get some momentum going, especially among the younger aviators... and from what I hear you qualify perfectly on that score Yenn!

 

The Committee have even got an evening up and going with the CASA CEO John McCormick as the guest speaker... that's happening on 5th December. Good chance to come along and ask some of those awkward questions we all have about our aviation future. Give our Pres (Jennifer) a call on 0419 784715 or email at [email protected]

 

 

[Guest 1134581]

Dont know exactly but isnt it illegal to throw ANYTHING out of an aircraft without a permit ?

 

I know when throwing fox baits they need to get all sorts of permits from Helicopters i would expect bags of flour would be the same ?

 

 

[Barefootpilot]

Most aeroclubs can get a CASA dispo to do flour bombing for things like this. So I would assume they have one... or will be getting one very soon :)

 

 

[wags]

Permission.

 

Must say there is a huge difference in dropping baits all over the countryside and getting permission/s for such an event as this. The drop zone is not a public area and the flour bombs are not highly poisonous.

 

The idea and planning of the event was not entered into lightly or without considerable thought and consideration of what restrictions and permits etc would be required.

 

Adam Holt is quite correct, CASA does issue permits in certain circumstances.

 

 

[Guest 1134581]

Sorry i wasnt raining on your parade, i was just pointing out that it was illegal to throw things from planes.

 

The helicopter thing i was talking about was private land near Casino not public land.

 

I read somewhere also about some kid getting his eye taken out by a hard lollie at a christmas event? Thats going to hurt the tosser financially.

 

Do you have a permit (just out of interest), i have heard the toilet paper cut is also a thing of the past due to littering etc, we are an overprotected lot securely held by the govt but i would hate to see people participate, get filmed and then charged or something.

 

 

[Yenn]

Toilet paper cutting is good fun, but has been known to cause overheating problems. I will have to see if I can cut a hole in the fuse to drop flour bombs through!

 

 

[slartibartfast]

I'm glad they've stated that the safety pilot will be doing the dropping where possible.

 

Someone told me a tale at Cowra about a flour bombing run, only they forgot the flour. "No problem", someone said. "I've got some lime" (you can see where this is going).

 

As the pilot reached the drop point, he threw the bomb out the window. It caught the latch, broke the bag and emptied the contents into the cockpit. The pilot couldn't see for the tears and stinging, but luckily the safety pilot got his head outside and kept them flying until they could sort it out.

 

[preacher mode]There's a lesson there for all of us I think[/preacher mode]

 

 

[wags]

Permission.

 

"1134581".... To answer your question, still waiting and the flour bombing side of the event will not proceed unless a permit is issued.

 

This event was conceived as a way to get all our club members (and other like minded aviators) together to enjoy a day of flying and fun while giving each pilot the chance to hone his flying safety skills and airmanship in a somewhat controlled environment.

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Recently did a flour bomb drop comp at the Ingham Aero club fly-in. (which I just happend to have won by the way, nice throphy!) All the killjoys came out with "oh you can't do that anymore" Aviators have been throwing out simple harmless brown paperbags, with a few ounces of harmless flower in them for decades, and I don't ever remember anyone getting killed by one.

 

The issue of course is control of the aircraft with door off, or open, whilst lining up for the drop. The regulators don't want the drop to be done by the pilot.

 

Where will the chair bound regulators stop ??....next they will want to outlaw the venerable spot landing comp, which we have been doing safely for years also.

 

Either of these events can be, and have been, conducted safely over the years with the selection of suitable pilots, and a properly conducted safety briefing, outlining the do's and don'ts, to assure a safe, and fun event..........................................................

 

 

[Tomo]

The issue of course is control of the aircraft with door off, or open, whilst lining up for the drop. The regulators don't want the drop to be done by the pilot.

Sooo If it's been done for ages, and no one has been killed, what's the issue of the pilot doing the drop? It's like talking on the mobile phone while driving... sure it's dangerous if you're not conscious of what's happening around you. But technically thinking if you can't drive safely and still talk to someone without being distracted, you shouldn't have a license!! Not that I'm against the new rule of talking on a phone while driving... I'm just using that point of saying, we should be able to multitask ourselves and still be safe... surely!? Why, all the older generation did and are still here! sure todays generation aren't as self... err... motivated? than we used to be. Mind you I'm from todays generation too!

 

Anyway, sorry I'll stop complaining!

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

You calling me old Tomo ? :gerg:

 

 

[Yenn]

How old do you have to be to be old. Seems I am young according to wags.

 

"Gympie Aero Club has a new Committee in place and they are really trying to get some momentum going, especially among the younger aviators... and from what I hear you qualify perfectly on that score Yenn!"

 

 

[wags]

Permit given by CASA.

 

OK Yenn... if you're not "young" - and you're not "old" - why not get down here to Gympie and show the "newer" aviators how to do it. Now it would be a real competition if the reigning champion Maj came as well... seeing as how he already holds a bomb dropping endorsement - with trophies to prove it!

 

We have a permit, came through earlier today, but we might have to "up" our bomb release altitude a little. That will be discussed at pilot briefing time - 09:30 am on Sunday 4th Oct.

 

Seems strange to me because that only ensures the "co-lateral splatters" will be over a larger area. Guess that is what is required, so who are we mere mortals to argue with the rule makers? Just happy that our "improve your skills while having some flying fun" day can proceed as planned.

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

The Maj would be happy to show you how it's done, but it's my birthday that day so I'm not available.................................................................................

 

 

[Barefootpilot]

Another year older Maj??? that might just push you over the edge from being young to old! ;)

 

 

[JimG]

Hey Wags , so how did the day go last sunday. Did the club have plenty of pilots get envolved.

 

Fill us in with all the details and who lifted the trophy.

 

JimG

 

 

[wags]

A great day!

 

Gympie had a great day with 13 different aircraft and 20 pilots competing.

 

Maroochydore Aero Club won the Club competition. A competitor in a very pretty Pulsar showed everyone how to do it by being right on the mark in the spot landing event and within 3 mtrs of the mark in the forced landing event. Only one hit was accurate with the flour bombs and the judges had much earlier decided sitting on the target was the safest place to be!

 

The conditions were somewhat difficult but the day went without a hitch (except maybe for some organizational stuff-ups early in the day). Everyone wants to do it again and so the Gympie Aero Club will be looking to conduct the event again sometime in early 2010... but this time you will all get plenty of warning. But get in early because with the responses the Club received on the day numbers will need to be limited.... or run it over 2 days.