Little Jab Bought & Paid For

Steve Monoghan, one of our club members is now the owner of the club’s Jabiru LSA 55-0933. So this aircraft is no longer available for members to fly. Congratulations Steve on your purchase. Steve will be keeping 0933 at Horsham. So remember it’s not ours so you can’t play with it.

Been there, Done That! - Natfly 2008

The RA-Aus annual fly-in was held at Narromine over Easter from Good Friday to Easter Sunday. Quite a large party of club members set off on Thursday 20^th. PW and Wayne Jackson took the ‘Little Jabi’, Mike Hogan and Griffo set off in the ‘Big Jabi’. Phil C and Steve Schneider set off in Phil’s Jabiru and Doug Brooke and Alan Dickerson followed on the next day in Doug's J170. There was much battering between the members of the party as to which planes would carry whose tent and sleeping bags etc. There were loading issues to be considered. We also took the swags belonging to the aero club Tecnam crew as well as some parting gifts of more sleeping bags from Tony and Peter Brand. Tony and Peter were heading off on the Friday in the Eurofox.

It was a case of follow the leader as the group headed off to Griffith. Everyone kept pretty much in sight of everyone else until we passed the Murray and headed into deepest darkest New South Wales. It wasn’t so much dark as dusty. Everyone arrived at Griffith within minutes of each other. The planes and crew were refueled after the 2 and a half hour flight. Then it was on to Narromine. An uneventful leg until us and a whole heap of other aircraft all arrived at the same time. Fun and games for a few minutes.

But everyone arrived safe and sound and all the aircraft were parked next to each other. Tents were erected and camp set up before the intrepid party headed to the gliding club for a drink. In the spirit of sharing our cash around we also had a drink at the aero club, but as they were more expensive we returned to the gliding club for dinner. Those of us who dined at the gliding club ate at a civilized time. Those who ordered at the aero club had to wait 3 and a half hours to get their meal.

Friday came after for some a very restless night and a long wait for a shower. We did all the stalls and looked at all the planes. Doug and Alan arrived. Tony and Peter arrived. The Tecnam went home. I was decided that we had seen everything we wanted to see and that perhaps we’d come a bit early. So it was agreed to cut short the trip and head home on Saturday rather than Sunday. As an aside some people rediscovered how uncomfortable it is sleeping in a tent on drought baked grass and were very happy to head off one day early.

Dinner on Friday was again at the gliding club. This time it was a little bit slower as we were joined by a number extra people who were pissed off with the lack of service at the aero club.

The weather had changed overnight with a number of passing showers in the Narromine area. But everyone made it out eventually. A few miles south and it was clear as a bell with tail winds all the way home. Again we stopped at Griffith for fuel and pies and pasties. Five planes made the trip back to Horsham on Saturday.

A nice weekend all round apart from the lack of sleep, the flapping tent, the arc light shining all night etc. We didn’t need to go for three days. We didn’t even need to head off on Thursday. We probably could have made it a two day trip. Up on Saturday and back on Sunday. We still would have got to see all the things we wanted too. The aircraft traffic on Friday wasn’t as busy as I thought it would be. I think everyone thought they would arrive on Thursday to miss the chaos on Friday. But all that happened was that the chaos was one day early.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and may no represent the opinions of other members of the party. Others may fill in more detail if the wish. The editor would appreciate some other reports.

Anyway every one was back by Saturday evening sleeping in comfortable beds.

New & Returning Members

We accepted three new members into the club at the March meeting held on Saturday 8^th. So please welcome to the club; Andrew Dorman, Rohan Ellis and Auston Balon-Rothecam. We also welcome back Stephen Hughes who has renewed his membership of the club. So when you meet them for the first time make them welcome.

Notice of Special Meeting

This document is a Notice to eligible members (Full Members and Life Members) of a Special Meeting of the Horsham Flying Club to be held at the clubrooms located at Horsham Aerodrome (288 Geodetic Road, Horsham) on Saturday 8th March 2008 at 8.00pm.

This meeting has been called by the Committee to put two Special Resolutions to the members. The full details of the resolutions shall be delivered by surface mail along with a proxy voting form within one week of this posting.

This notice provides at least 28 days notice of the meeting as required under the provisions of the Corporation Act 2001.

Further details about the Special Meeting are available from Michael Hogan on 03 5022 0807.

VSA Cross County Coaching Week

Following the success of the course held at Hosham last season, another introductory cross country gliding course is being held at Horsham from Saturday 26^th January to Friday 1^st February. Coaching is being provided by VSA coaches, David Wilson, Geoff Vincent & Ian Grant as well as Bernard Eckey from South Australia in his high performance ASH25P. VMFG and Geelong GC from Bacchus Marsh are providing two Pawnee tugs as well as, a Janus & Duo Discus. Our Horsham Club’s self launching Janus and the Twin Astir are taking part. Michael Sudholz and Arnold Neiwand are taking part in the course and Max Hedt is helping out both in the air and on the ground.

Each day will include a morning lecture on topics of interest to early cross country pilots, followed by the weather forecast and a flight briefing were tasks will be set. After flying, data loggers will be downloaded, with a flight debriefing held during the evening.

There are about 9 pilots on the course, as well as a number of visiting pilots who are getting in some practice before Horsham Week 2008.

Horsham Week 2008

The Horsham Week competition is not to far away now. It all begins on Saturday 2^rd February. Lorelle needs helpers for the kitchen during the competition week. This is an important task as the kitchen is our major source of funds during the competition week. We need people to help prepare stuff under Lorelle's guidance, dish washers, people to do serving. So come out to the club and see Lorelle. She is very appreciative and the club is most appreciative of any help that can be provided. If you can keep Saturday 9^th free. This will be the wind-up night for the competition. There will be an informal dinner, presentation of trophies and their winners as well as fellowship and good fun.

No February Meeting

As the February monthly meeting falls during Horsham Week there will be no meeting held in February. The next scheduled club meeting will be held at the clubrooms on Saturday 8^th March at 8.00pm. All business and apologies should be directed to the Secretary.

Jabiru 55-0933 'FOR SALE'

At the January club meeting the decision was made to place the club's 'little' Jabiru 55-0933 on the market for sale at $40,000 (inc GST).


The idea behind the sale is that if we can get our price, we will put in an order for a new J120 which is very basic Jabiru, similar to '0933' in its layout and equipment. But at $58,000 including GST or about $53,000 to the Club (after our GST refund) we would have a brand new, nil time aircraft, at a value that will be very hard to beat.

There simply is nothing else on the market at this price along the lines of a small conventional light sport aircraft. The J120 has brought the price of all the second hand Jabs and a lot of other aircraft down already so we are trying to move before the prices come down any further. So if you are interested or know someone who might be interested give Phil Colquhuon a ring on 03 5389 1541.

Christmas Dinner 22nd December

The club will hold its Christmas Dinner on Saturday 22 December at the clubrooms from 7.00pm. Lorelle will prepare our traditional Christmas meal. Number would be appreciated for catering purposes by Saturday 15 December. You can add your name to the list on the white board in the clubroom or contact Michael Sudholz on 0417 585 747 with your name and the number attending. As in recent year there will be no flying visit by Santa, so presents will not be required. This is a last chance for the year to share some good will with your friends and fellow club members.

December Monthly Meeting Date Change

The December club meeting was due to be held on Saturday 8 December. This is the day that Lorelle had arranged to host the Ulysses Motorcycle Club for Christmas dinner at the clubrooms. We will now be holding the December meeting at 8.00pm on Friday 7 December at the clubrooms.

Monthly meetings are open to all club members and their guests. Any apologies should be directed to the Secretary (Steve Schneider) on 0427 315 845. Items of business to be raised should also be lodged with the Secretary.