PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Written by Ray Challen

Hello Members, by the time you read this edition of Tarmac Topics 2023 will be upon us.

We had a very good finish to 2022. A relatively cool spring and start to summer delayed the usual onset of midday turbulence. To make the most of the longer daylight hours, training hours were extended from 0700 to 1800 on weekdays. Together, the great flying conditions and longer training days resulted in well-above-budget flying hours for both training and club flying.

A late highlight of 2022 for me was a fly-in visit to RAAF Peace at the invitation of Wing Commander Grant Taylor, Commanding Officer of 79 Squadron and long-term supporter of RACWA. I admit to pushing the boundaries of the invitation and politeness by asking to fly into Pearce in formation, which was actually agreed to. So, on 14 November my wife Sue and I in Vans RV14 VH-IFC flew up the coast in formation with Mooney VH-MWE piloted by Andrew Eldridge and Holly Thomas. After a delay near Burns Beach while a kangaroo was chased off the Pearce runway and the circuit was “sterilised” for our arrival, the formation was cleared direct to final on RWY 05 to land and park up in the lines of Hawk jets and PC21s, puffing out our chests and trying not to feel inferior. Each pilot had a flight in the (very realistic) Hawk simulator, finding that things happen pretty quick at 500kt and that however much of a pacifist you might be if you get into the cockpit of a fighter you WILL want to bomb or shoot something (the Perth CBD being a handy target). Leaving in formation was a well-timed event as the fast military aircraft were by this time doing circuits very quickly. Norm the Club Quokka came along for the ride and has submitted some expensive suggestions for RACWA fleet upgrades. Many thanks to Wing Commander Taylor for this opportunity.

Looking ahead to 2023, our Flying Committee has released an updated Events Calendar for the year. It is great to see that there is a flying event on almost every weekend of the year –either a RACWA competition or fly away, or events of regional flying clubs. So, lots of opportunity to get out for a fly.

An event on the calendar that I am particularly passionate about is an annual long-haul fly away in the nature of our 2021 flight to Derby and our 2022 flight to Kangaroo Island. These events allow us to see some fantastic places outside of the South West, with the benefits of safety and camaraderie of flying with a large group.

A further long-haul event is in the Events Calendar for the first two weeks of September 2023. So please mark this now in your diary if you are interested. Destinations and routes have not yet been decided but after having some cloudy, rainy and windy weather hamper some pilots and aircraft on the 2022 flight to Kangaroo Island we are contemplating a more northerly itinerary for 2023.

The multi-day fly aways can be quite time consuming to organise and we would love to have some volunteers to help out as part of an organising committee. As well as deciding a route, the organisational tasks are communications with participants; identifying accommodation; arranging en-route events; and preparing flight planning and briefing material. None of these tasks are particularly difficult or onerous if the workload is shared. If you are interested in participating in the event and would like to lend a hand with organisation, please contact either me or our Club Captain Haydn.

Whatever your preferred outing, I encourage you to get out for some summer flying.