Fly-in and have fun at the Aerodrome

18th March 2010

THIS weekend, the skies will be buzzing over Stratford as recreational aviators from all over New Zealand fly in and catch up with one another.

This year Stratford put its hand up to host the Recreational Aircraft Association of New Zealand’s (RAANZ) National Fly-In and local organisers could not be more pleased with their decision to do so.

"We have fliers coming from all over the country," says local club spokesperson, Nick Furmage.

"That means we’ll have around 90-120 airplanes descending on Stratford. It’s going to be great."

The event provides like-minded aviators with a chance to catch up with each other, swap ideas, check out each other’s planes and equipment and be in to win a number of titles, like ‘best manufactured’ and ‘best navigation.’

"There’ll be plenty for people to see at the aerodrome with all the different kinds of planes on display. There’ll be refreshments available too."

Members of Stratford’s No 48 ATC Squadron, along with members of New Plymouth’s No 8 ATC Squadron will also be on display – at least, inasmuch as they will be prominent on the organisational and event management side of the proceedings.

"ATC members will have responsibilities for marshalling and organising visitors, along with the Army Cadet Corps, and recruitment vans will be there. ATC are also putting on a lunch for RAANZ members.

"Even though it’s going to be a great weekend for the whole family, it will still be all centred on an operational airfield. It will be great to have such competent young people helping us out and keeping the area safe."

As well as microlights and general aviation planes, gliders and choppers will also be doing their thing. So too will the Radio-controlled aviation club who will be putting on their own miniature displays to amaze and delight the gathered crowds.

"The whole event will be a great opportunity to showcase the good flying there is in our region.

"Taranaki’s unique in New Zealand. It’s only two hours from most other air destinations in the North Island and on one side you have our mountain, while on the other you have the Central Plateau; we have beautiful, unrestricted airspace where there are good old-fashioned country airstrips for people to land on

The fly-in begins on Friday, lasting until Sunday and the public are more than welcome to come along to this free event and enjoy the spectacle from around 10am-4pm each day.