Launceston

• Partnavia passengers return from their trip
• On board the airport fire engine
• Copiloting WLS enroute to Wynyard
• Scencery over the mouth of the Tamar River
• Arrivals back at Wynyard airport

FunFlight Day 2008 in Launceston was hosted by the Tasmanian Aero Club and organised by their Chief Pilot, Tony Jacobs. Although a smaller scale event to the 'mainland', thirty participants from Heartkids and the Starlight Foundation were hosted and a fleet of eight aircraft undertook twelve flights for the day to give them a birds-eye view of Launceston and the Tamar Valley.

The Tasmanian Aero Club's volunteers gathered early on Sunday, 9th of November to be greeted with sunshine and light winds. Several aircraft were dispatched to Wynyard to meet up with a local pilot, Kerry Edmonds from Western Aviation, and bring back three families to Launceston.

Meanwhile, the other participants had gathered at Launceston and were entertained by an audio visual display, inspection of the aircraft - ranging from a Stinson Voyager to a Nanchang, a good look at the Launceston airport fire engine and, of course, lunch! Shortly before planned departure time, the chance to look over a Convair also arose and so everyone clambered aboard to look inside a workhorse of our skies.

Finally, the time came for pilots and passengers to board, strap in and start their flights. The local air traffic controllers (:Launy Tower") did a magnificent job of getting all of the aircraft ready at the runway in a line and then firing them off at the minimum interval allowed. The local residents and passengers waiting in the main terminal must have been confused!

In a convoy of fastest to slowest, the fleet made it's way over Cataract Gorge and up the west side of the Tamar River. Just short of Georgetown, the families from Wynyard and their crews continued to head north and then along the coast back to Wynyard while the rest of the fleet returned via the east side of the river. Approaching Launceston again, Launy Tower did a magnificent job of sequencing the arriving fleet safely back onto the ground where stories were exchanged, photos taken and families headed off at the end of a tiring day.

The Launceston event went smoothly and well - mostly due to the planning of Tony Jacobs and the aero club as well as the professionalism of the crew. Our thanks go to them, Launy Tower and the local firefighters, Western Aviation and our supporting organisations - Hearkids and the Starlight Foundation.

Richard Ogilvie

FunFlight Director  & 'out of town' pilot