Avalon Airshow
https://www.airshow.com.au/airshow20...organisers.asp
No Avalon East is a major blow. Google says the drive from Lethbridge is 42 minutes. Lethbridge is a great airport and good on the Baum's for stepping up, but Point Cook, Bacchus Marsh and Barwon Heads are all significantly closer. If the Aishow organisers were really interested there are more convenient options. The first few airshows we used to be able to fly into Avalon Main. As far as I'm concerned this is another sign that the organisers have no interest in GA. Its a defence industry show with something for the general public for PR value.
Lethbridge is actually closer than both Bacchus Marsh and Barwon heads :-)
Moot point though… they have lost the plot severely.
Moot point though… they have lost the plot severely.
The following users liked this post:
Sqwawk, my reading of the Avalon show some years ago was that they haven’t lost the plot, they just mirror the Government attitude to GA. which is that we are an irritation that they wish would go away.
‘I predict that The forthcoming white paper will just reinforce that attitude.
It would be a different matter if we had a Chairman’s lounge, an officers mess and could generate regular business trips for public servants to Los Angeles, Paris, London, Toulouse, Filton, Seattle, Cincinatti, Hartford, Boston and Montreal.
To put that another way, hell will freeze over before CASA sends the DAS to OshKosh in her official capacity.
‘I predict that The forthcoming white paper will just reinforce that attitude.
It would be a different matter if we had a Chairman’s lounge, an officers mess and could generate regular business trips for public servants to Los Angeles, Paris, London, Toulouse, Filton, Seattle, Cincinatti, Hartford, Boston and Montreal.
To put that another way, hell will freeze over before CASA sends the DAS to OshKosh in her official capacity.
Last edited by Sunfish; 7th Jan 2023 at 17:51.
The following users liked this post:
Lethbridge is actually closer than both Bacchus Marsh and Barwon heads
Sunfish
I think just follow the money. Avalon is a defense show with a public event attached to it for PR value.
In many ways it mirrors the F1. In the early days the AGP engaged well with the car clubs which, in return gave them lots of free marshalls and cars for display. Thats all pretty much gone now. I think the organisers of these events go towards the minimum number of groups / people they need to get things done and engaging with a disparate group witn no peak body becomes too hard.
Sqwawk, my reading of the Avalon show some years ago was that they haven’t lost the plot, they just mirror the Government attitude to GA
I think just follow the money. Avalon is a defense show with a public event attached to it for PR value.
In many ways it mirrors the F1. In the early days the AGP engaged well with the car clubs which, in return gave them lots of free marshalls and cars for display. Thats all pretty much gone now. I think the organisers of these events go towards the minimum number of groups / people they need to get things done and engaging with a disparate group witn no peak body becomes too hard.
Spoiler
Reality is Avalon East is likely closed for one reason as someone else eluded to - no capacity from AsA to supply controllers. Insert tower here these days and there is a NOTAM of them closing early due to a lack of staff(although apparently there is no staffing issue). No way they would be able to free up enough to go and sit at Avalon East. Fingers crossed AVV isn't a CTAF for the airshow.
What was Avalon East patronage like last time? I drove in with a mate, right past it, can't recall what trade day, next to nobody there.
Flew in on a trade day 25? years ago, it was packed, and a fun thing to do.
Flew in on a trade day 25? years ago, it was packed, and a fun thing to do.
The following users liked this post:
Peeps we quoting 200+ movements on the main days.
Thread Starter
Is anyone bothering to fly “to” the airshow via Lethbridge..?
At the best of times, it’s a 45min drive, but given the horrific traffic in & out of the airshow on public days, you can safely double those times.
Seems easier to just join the traffic on the princess freeway (and probably still quicker overall)
Wonder how often the “regular bus” will run between the two fields.
At the best of times, it’s a 45min drive, but given the horrific traffic in & out of the airshow on public days, you can safely double those times.
Seems easier to just join the traffic on the princess freeway (and probably still quicker overall)
Wonder how often the “regular bus” will run between the two fields.
The following users liked this post:
Faster to drive? That depends where you’re coming from eh?
You can park at Lara station and pay the coach fare if you want to avoid the traffic, I recall they enter via the Avalon terminal not with the general traffic flow. The last few times we drove in, was about an hour from leaving the highway and walking from the car to the gates. Mind you that was 10am arrival with most of Melbourne at the same time.
I would expect a fairly sizeable turnout this year considering the pause recently. I would strongly advise to arrive when the gates open. Weather looks the goods Saturday, just don’t arrive at 10am with half the state!
I would expect a fairly sizeable turnout this year considering the pause recently. I would strongly advise to arrive when the gates open. Weather looks the goods Saturday, just don’t arrive at 10am with half the state!
Lethbridge: Garry and Trish Baum and the Aero Club guys have busted their butts to get the airport ready. On-site camping, toilets, showers, a BBQ and a bar. The busses will take 35-40 min to get to Avalon but they come from the West,not East, and get priority access into Avalon. Truly, in past years it took us not far off that time queue up for the bus from Avalon East to the entrance. Lets see how they cope on the public days but they really are trying their best. Oh, and no landing fees and avgas will be on a par with or cheaper than YMMB. JetA1 for the PC12 set and Mogas for the Ra-AUS
The following 4 users liked this post by thunderbird five:
Well that's a first, they are not selling anymore tickets for Saturday and apparently Sunday is nearly out. Definitely get down there before opening folks!
I heard about midday at Avalon that they had sold out Saturday. There may still be some post-Covid limits still lingering on large events, so with any luck that doesn’t mean it’s standing room only.
Sunfish Recants. I have been continuously negative about Avalon for years.
Considering the troubles in Ukraine and the efforts of RAA and exhibitors like Swish Projects who are building an aircraft on site, I would very much have liked to attend after all.
However minor surgery now prevents it.
Good luck and I hope its a great weekend.
Considering the troubles in Ukraine and the efforts of RAA and exhibitors like Swish Projects who are building an aircraft on site, I would very much have liked to attend after all.
However minor surgery now prevents it.
Good luck and I hope its a great weekend.
The following users liked this post:
Hundreds of GA planes showing on the Lethbridge web camera. Sorry, dozens. Well, I see two.
Anyone have any pics on the ground at Lethbridge?
Back in July 2010, my airfield was assured about 100 planes would be flying in for the Centenary of Powered Flight celebration at Mia Mia VIC.
We had volunteers, marshallers, a bus to take them out there. ONE plane turned up. Talk about DOH!!!!
Anyone have any pics on the ground at Lethbridge?
Back in July 2010, my airfield was assured about 100 planes would be flying in for the Centenary of Powered Flight celebration at Mia Mia VIC.
We had volunteers, marshallers, a bus to take them out there. ONE plane turned up. Talk about DOH!!!!