Surfers Paradise airfield / VH-WAS
 

I recall hiring in 1978 a PA28 Archer with a "Pommie" mate
and "Aussie" Instructor to increase my hours. I remember
flying to the Moreton Bay area, before returning to Surfers,
and some touch and goes.. The a/c was VH-WAS, and
sadly written off after a mid air collision over water with
another PA28. The occupants of VH-WAS survived but
the aircraft sank in the sea. It was operating a scenic
flight from OOL (Coolangatta) which I believe is now
named Gold Coast. I find no info on Surfers Parades
Airfield, from where VH-WAS bas based. Does it still
exist ??

Lance Shippey.

Long gone owing to residential land demand - see https://www.pprune.org/pacific-gener...-airfield.html

I landed there 1976 with family to visit my parents? It was at the Surfers Paradise International Raceway.

I think it was located approximately opposite where Carrara Markets are now around HERE.

There was a Tiger Moth joy ride organization also based there.

Found more information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surfer...tional_Raceway

More, including mention of the 3,400 foot x 200 foot grass airstrip: SURFERS PARADISE INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY - speedwayandroadracehistory

Just to the northwest of Carrara Markets.. Emerald Lakes.

The raceway was built by Keith Williams. He also had a Water Ski Park and Show next door on the river.

The land is now, a residential complex (where the runway was,and across the road on the northern side, a golf course, named "Emerald Lakes". The course was initially named "Cararra Golf Club" with an army hut acting for the club's booking facility, equipment hire and sales and the purchase of a limited range of refreshments. During that time, the runway was still active. Now, the residential facilities exist on both north and south sides, substantially and the runway has disappeared.



PJAC

Thanks for the great response, It was the
raceway. I remember the grass runway,
and a number of great number of a/c
parked to the left in a line.
Sadly the airfield at Hoxton Park, near
Liverpool NSW went the same way.
I was lucky to do my training at Bankstown
but also got my hours up in Qld, Vic, and
NSW. Remember doing "Touch and Goes "
in a C150 at OOL. and landing a PA28
cruiser at SYD and MEL.
Lance Shippey

I would like any info on VH-WAS and VH-DMB.
When I hired VH-WAS in 1978, from YBCG
(Surfers Garden} The a/c appeared to be based
at Surfers Garden. Can anyone tell me who
owned the a/c, [ was it an aero club, or one man
operator ? ] Was the instructor of VH-WAS involved
in the collision with VH-DMB the same as the
instructor that would have operated ten years
previously from Surfers Garden, as I see that
VH-WAS. was operating from OOL prior to the
terrible collision ? Had VH-WAS changed owner
and operational base ? Did the Instructor continue
to fly after his survival from VH-WAS.
Would also like to know who VH-DMB was registered
to, and was that fateful day from Surfers Garden
a sightseeing flight, or pilot training flight ?
Lance Shippey

Flying solo Australia
 

Hiya Lance ,
I was there on your first flight SOLO , have a pic you standing back of your car LS502
Thanks for your message , we did send a card last year , glad we got yours a few days ago.. Geoff Steel (and Chris)

Thanks Geoff and Chris. I was looking back at a photo of my first licenced PPL flight on a dull rainy morning from Bankstown . Not sure if the a/c was VH-SVW or VH-IAL.{Both PA28 cruisers) direct imports from the USA, and put into the Chieftain aviation hire fleet. easier to learn on with a trim wheel rather than the winding handle in the cockpit ceiling. I ended up using a PA28 Dakota at EPPS air services at De Kalb airport, Atlanta to get a FAA licence endorsement. I have you to thank for learning to fly. I remember after my horrific road accident with the Citroen Dyane I had driven overland from Frankfurt to Calcutta in the centre of Sydney, I asked you if I should replace the written off French car with a Triumph TR7, or learn to fly. The choice became obvious. and after going through a few instructors, I finally got the right one in Sterling Preston. I will always remember him punching me on the leg, after I let my speed drop to a very low speed on finals, and him shouting "I will die because of you decision, but I will not die because of your indecision, put some f-ing power on" .

Lance

Lance
Have a look at Tony Arbon's wonderful AustAirData site which has its history and a photo:
Refer VH-WAS#2

Dear Fris,
Thanks so much for the info on AustAirData. I found a great photo of VH-IAL in its original green / white colours at Bankstown as I remember it when I qualified with a PPL Much of my training was on VH-SVW which had a similar colour scheme as IAL but red / white.. I also flew on occasions a Grumman Cheetah, and Cessna 172.

Lance,