Nice quiet Ultra-Light aerodrome near Sydney to learn to fly

[A37575]

Advice requested please. Friend of mine from yesteryear has 240 hours on Chipmunks and Tiger Moths but hasn't flown since 1954. He is 76. Retirement is getting at him and I am about to suggest he could enjoy himself at relatively little cost by taking up flying recreational aircraft such as Jabiru or similar. Not flapping wings or powered parachute types though.

He lives in Sydney. Can anyone suggest a quiet aerodrome within driving distance of Sydney where there is a reputable recreation flying school but not bedevilled by hordes of Cessna/Warriors bashing the circuit. Somewhere with a nice club atmosphere.

Request average cost dual and solo that could be expected.
Thanks for your replies.

[Robin Pilot]

Hey mate, good to see he wants to get into it again!!

Not an ultralight flyer myself so no experience of any of the schools, but if you haven't already, check out the RA Aus website at Welcome to Recreational Aviation Australia (http://www.auf.asn.au/) where you'll find a list of all schools available.

I would have thought that given his experience he'll pick it up again in next to no time and will be sitting a checkride far sooner than most.

Good luck to him - I hope I'm still flying at 76!

[sms777]

Try Wedderburn, about half our drive to the south east of Cambelltown.
YWBN: Lat.34 11.2 S Long.150 48.3E
CTAF 122.55 Runway 970 m Sealed bitumen Elev.850 ft

They have a club house with instructors, very friendly relaxed atmosphere, exactly what you are looking for. You can call David the president on 0425 380 965 for more info.
Other than that you got BK (too busy), CN (again too busy) and Hoxton which is closing in 2 months. Lot of flyers ended up at YWBN after the announcement of HOX closing down an BK becoming a money making industrial estate.

PS The NSW Sport Aircraft inc. holding an annual open day and fly-in on the 9. Nov.at YWBN. Drop in and check it out

:ok:.

[BoundaryLayer]

Maybe also try The Oaks, SW of Camden. Mostly ultralights operating there.

[VH-BCY]

SMS777, there are no flight training facilities at YWBN. Yes it is a friendly, relaxed atmosphere club but strictly no comercial operations are allowed. That includes training, even though some members are instructors. You can check out our website NSW Sport Aircraft Club - Wedderburn (http://www.wedderburnairstrip.com.au) and yes we are having an open day on the 9th Oct, all are welcome. :ok:

[sms777]

I stand corrected...
My apologies for misleading information...should have checked before opening my big mouth :oh:

[i.dingbat]

A friend soloed in July with the Sydney Recreational Flying Club at The Oaks and speaks highly of the place, so look no further.

See http://srfc.org.au (http://srfc.org.au/)

[Ultralights]

Sydney Jabiru flying school at Hoxton park

[sms777]

Hoxton Park???

I am sure our elderly aviator friend would be keen to fly well beyond the 15.DECEMBER 2008!

[criticalmass]

Dave's Flying School at The Oaks trains on Jabiru LSA 55. They also have a satellite training facility at Wollongong (Albion Park Rail) operating Friday and Saturdays only but that may be too far to travel. They also use an LSA 55.

The other problem with Wollongong is it can be very busy with everything from HARS Connie, charter jets, helos from Nowra doing the NDB approach, aircraft from Bankstown doing the published GPS approach on rway 16, locals doing crosswind circuits on all runways, plus microlights, to say nothing of visiting aircraft from Camden, Goulburn, Wedderburn, Jaspers Brush and travellers up and down the coast. Add a rescue helicopter service on call 24/7 and I think you'll agree this might be "too much in the mix" for an elderly gent returning to aviation.

The Oaks might be a good option though.

[Kickatinalong]

A37575,
Your friend may have had 250 hrs in Chippy's & Moths BUT it's been 54 years since he flew.
GET REAL do you want someone who wants to fly "cause he's getting bored in retirement" in the air with you.(get him to do his medical first)
Let him go and take a TIF and see what it's like nowdays, The radios , airspace & regs would blow him out of the water. Cost about $100.
Another idea is let him hire a plane & Instructor and go up with him for an hour or so it'll cost about $250 - $270 - $300.
Good luck
Kickatinalong.

[Kickatinalong]

Probably just near his "nus"
OR
You could look just west of Mt. Coolangatta just past Berry I think it maybe in Nowra's airspace.
Look for Jaspers Brush not Box.
Maybe us hams should should stick to Radios 2KKK:ugh:
Kickatinalong.:ok:

[TwoTango]

Hoxton Park???

I am sure our elderly aviator friend would be keen to fly well beyond the 15.DECEMBER 2008!

I wouldn't be entirely surprised if it stayed open past that date - they're probably going to keep pushing it back a month at a time until everyone on the field leaves out of frustration, and then they can say that everyone left of their own accord, and the closure was 100% justified. That and if the lack of evident sales activity is anything to go by, they could probably do with whatever money they're getting from the aviation activity.

As for the criterion "not bedevilled by hordes of Cessna/Warriors bashing the circuit" though, I think you'd be out of luck. It is fairly heavily used as a reliever facility for Bankstown, and its not uncommon to have half a dozen aircraft banging around in the circuit, not always in an orderly fashion, and sometimes it would be better described as a circus. In addition the locally based aircraft are up a lot of the time. Then again, sometimes it is so quiet you'd expect the tumbleweed to start bouncing down the runway...

TT