On Saturday November 3, Walcha will host its biggest airshow to date, featuring the internationally acclaimed AOPA Freedom to Fly Team and tours of the RAAF Hercules.
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In 2017 the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia (AOPA Australia) announced that it signed a five year sponsorship agreement with PG Airshow Promotions, forming the AOPA Australia ‘Freedom to Fly’ airshow display team.
“The team showcases a range of high-energy displays at various airshows and events across Australia, promoting the excitement and passion that general aviation inspires,” said Walcha Aero Club member Mike Faulkner.
“Freedom to Fly will put on one of these acrobatics shows with 12 pilots and 12 planes, and will also bring the new flight simulator bus to Walcha for the weekend.”
In 2017 AOPA launched a tour coach and Mobile Simulator Centre to give them a larger presence at airshows and fly-ins around Australia.
The front section of the coach is configured as a 30-seat transporter, with the back half dedicated to a digital flight studio containing X-Plane flight simulators.The studio also doubles as an aviation education and multi media centre.
“The new coach is part of a plan to bring the thrill of flight to young aspiring aviators,” said Mr Faulkner.
“Walcha is very lucky to have it visit as part of our airshow this year.”
AOPA’s tour bus is a result of a $30,000 donation and challenge last year from aviation identity Dick Smith to develop a powerful initiative to encourage young people to get involved in aviation.
“Our response to this challenge has been the development of our Mobile Simulator Centre and Junior Pilots Cessna 152s,” Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia CEO, explained Ben Morgan.
“The Mobile Simulation Centre has been specifically set up to encourage youth involvement in aviation.”
After a break in 2017 this will be the sixth airshow staged by the Walcha Aero Club.
More than two dozen aircraft landed at the Walcha Aerodrome for the 2016 Walcha Air Show with flying machines ranging from the ultra-light through to the hero: the Royal Australian Air Force Hercules. This year organisers expect an even bigger turnout.
“A similar day at Rylstone recently had 150 aircraft attend so maybe 100 will turn up on Saturday,” Mr Faulkner said.
“We are hoping between 500 to 1000 people come along and that there will be blue skies, no wind and a great day is had by all.”
The 2018 Walcha Airshow and AOPA Mobile Simulation Centre will be at Walcha Aerodrome from 8.30am on Saturday November 3. The AOPA Mobile Simulation Centre will also be there on Sunday but there will be no airshow.
Vanessa Arundale
Everyone has a story to tell and I like to help them do it.
Everyone has a story to tell and I like to help them do it.
