Seaplane Weekend 2005 Albury

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The Seaplane Site Thru 6/10/2005

This year it was decided to layout the area for the seplane event at Lake Hume on the day before the event. Gus had picked up the fencing for Blowie to take out to the weir. Blowie had his new ride-on lawn mower ready to prepair the site and a few people turned out to set the site up, Dave, Ken, Terry, Tony, Chris and myself. The lake this year is nearing full and is currently at 80-90% and filling very fast after some big rain fall.

What not to do.... Drive a big bus on some wet ground..

The poor bus got a little stuck in the mud before the event. Trying to find a nice place to park. After a few attempts to move the thing it was decidced to call a truck tow and do what they had come for, fly. So out with the seaplane, After all it's not a bad view to wake up too.

Fencing

Tony mapped out the area for the event and the star pickets and fencing were installed. The area is a lot larger this year to allow for plenty of room to move and a lot of pilots. Blowie gave the lawn mower a good run with quite a big area to level.

Blowie Mowing

The finishing touches to the canteen kitchen area. The hub of the event. With the layout all set up Friday the 7th will just be setting up the tents, PA, kichen, pit box's and the flight line. Some early birds had arrived in a bus :> and caravans ready for the big weekend and wasted no time getting the planes wet with some great dusk flying on glass like water. Must say that sounds like a good way to spend a weekend away.

Fri Day 1, Tent set up and the rest.

The first day of the Seaplane event is really Saturday, however over the years things have just got bigger and bigger. Work started early for the TCMAC mob, Ken and GUS did the ground work picking up toilets, generators, tents and other items required for the day. I picked the generator up a droped it to the reserve, Once there work began on putting up the tents and a couple at that. Now we have a catering, Transmitter pound, Hobby shop and a pilots lounge tent. After all the tents were up it was a matter of collecting the kitchen from the flying field.

Empty Kitchen and the lunch crew

Lunch time had arived and while the kitchen is on it way crissy had made some nice rolls and muffens to keep the early birds well feed. Scott at the helm and ray giving a helping hand keep the flyers happy. Saturday and Sunday are the big days in the kitchen.

It's it a plane or a boat.

How fast can you go on water and not get airbourne. well not fast enough if you are the owner of this um, err, boat, seaplane. After zooming up and down the water with not a sign of getting into the air it was decided to take of from the grass. Good Idea, the crowd cheered and the seaplane few quite well untill it run out of fuel, It must be a seaplane as the pilot stated,"The grass was wet so it did take off from water"

Sat Day 2.

An early start was in order and all eyes were on the the weather. The forcast was grim, Rain. Breakfast was prepaired in the kitchen and the menu consisted of bacon & egg rolls and Wayne Miller Pancakes, Coffee and tea was also a popular choice. The day saw many flights as many pilots were keen to have a fly no matter what the weather. Whith many succsess full flights there were a few casultys, A helicopter sunk to the bottom of the lake and the floats were all that were recovered.

David Balfours .

Starting UP safety a must

Caig and Nevile are seen in this photo starting one of craig planes. Moments later the wind flip the plane up side down in the water. While the rescue boat was getting ready the recover the plane the wind and waves flip the plane back on it's floats. Not long after that it was back in the air.
Craig also had a lucky escape the previous week and a test flying day. While just finishing a loop the back of the floats came loose and caused the floats to fall forward. Throwing the C of G out, Every one watching throught the worst as the plane droped quickly. Craig skillfully brought the plane in on water as if nothing had happened and even managed to taxi back to land.

Day 3

The final day and the weather did not improve, windy and overcast. The pilots still made the most of it.

3 PM The presentaion

The offical part of the day saw many prizes handed out. Every entrent received a goblet for there entry along with other draws such as.

Awards

Longest distance taveled
Lamb Shank
Most persintant
Best Crash

Seaplane Raffle 2005 Winners

1st Prize Name withheld
2nd Prize Scott Brown
3rd Prize M Magoo

Pack up time

Time to pack up arrived and in no time every thing was pulled down and put onto a trailer or 3 to be taken away. All the club members put in and helped remove the set up, many hands make light work.
The end result was a great event with plenty of flyers even with the less than ideal weather.

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