CROSSING THE MURRAY AND HEADING NORTH FOR PARKES, THE CLOUDS BEGAN TO DISSIPATE AND THE WARM AUTUMN SUN SHOWED ITS FULL STRENGTH. IF WE WERE LOOKING FOR AN OMEN AS TO HOW FLY’N FOR FUN WAS GOING TO GO, WE’D FOUND IT.
Traffic was busy at Parkes as Editor Nicholas Heath and I joined circuit. There were 30 or so aircraft already on the ground and plenty more on their way in that Friday. We were all, of course, here for the second instalment of Fly’n For Fun, presented by RAAus and Principal Sponsor the AMDA Foundation.
The mood on the ground was buzzing as pilots landed and exchanged stories of their travels. The parking area quickly filled with different aircraft types from across the country, making a pre-event wander through the parking area a necessity.
With the main festivities kicking off on the Saturday, Friday offered eventgoers a chance to browse exhibits from a spate of aviation brands, including Tecnam, Bose and Garmin, at a more relaxed pace.
Several exhibitors came bearing exciting news about their aircraft. The updated 2023 model of the Aerospool WT9 Dynamic made an appearance, featuring a new wing design and a smoother transition from cowling to cockpit, giving the aircraft a more streamlined profile. An updated ATEC 321 Faeta NG was also on show, featuring added baggage space in the cockpit.
As the sun began to set, attention was turned to the campfire. The bar opened and eventgoers settled in for a night of catching up and talking aviation. While some elected to head back into town for accommodation, many stayed to camp under-wing with their aircraft.
The event site was bustling the next morning, as even more aircraft began to arrive. The day was opened with a speech from RAAus CEO, Maxine Milera, who welcomed all travellers and thanked the event’s sponsors. This was followed by speeches from two major partners, the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) and AMDA Foundation, whose efforts truly made the event a possibility.
The seminar tent struggled for seating as people packed in to see the day’s presentations, beginning with OzRunways who provided a tutorial, Q&A session and a look behind the scenes at the EFB’s newest developments. This was followed by a presentation from Terry Horsham of CASA, with important information on sharing the air and a few helpful tips and tricks to avoid making mistakes when it comes to communication and protocol. RAAus also presented several helpful seminars throughout the day, including sessions covering Group G, the new Flight Operations Manual and the new RAAus instructor syllabus.
With not a cloud in the sky and only the slightest of breezes, conditions were perfect for conducting Trial Instructional Flights. Parkes Aero Club, Flying With Grace, and the Australian Sport Rotorcraft Association (ASRA) were in attendance to provide eventgoers with trial flights in both fixed-wing aircraft and gyrocopters. No doubt several budding aviators were formed over the weekend, hopefully we’ll be seeing them solo in the skies soon enough!
The afternoon saw Michael Halloran, CEO of Jabiru, share some insight into the iconic Australian manufacturer’s new developments.
The impacts of the FAA’s new Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) proposal were discussed, with the company expressing hope that CASA adopts something in a similar vein here in Australia. Perhaps the most exciting announcement from Jabiru however, was that the company is developing a fuel injection system for Gen4 Jabiru engines. The prototype system flew from Bundaberg to Parkes for the event, with the company expecting to be completing deliveries by the end of the year.
Day one had drawn to a close, and the campfire was lit once more. People gathered for live music, trivia and the hotly-anticipated pilot and aircraft awards.
Sunday brought just as much sunshine as its predecessor, another perfect day for more aviation fun. An RAAus Members’ Forum gave eventgoers the chance to have dialogue with RAAus staff, while presentations from OzRunways and IOR Aviation brought in crowds eager to learn.
With seminars concluded, it was time for Paul Bennet and his team of daredevil pilots to take centre stage. The team’s aerobatic displays and low passes were enough to make even the most seasoned pilots hold their breath, as the laws of physics were pushed to their limits. The crew’s showmanship and professionalism were on full display, chatting with crowds and signing autographs before and after the show.
All in all, the 2024 iteration of Fly’n For Fun was a resounding success. A significant step-up on the inaugural event back in 2022, this year saw more displays, more seminars, improved event areas, and a record number of attendees, with over 1,200 people and 300 aircraft across the weekend. The work done by HARS to prepare the event space was incredible, and with plans to continue to improve the area, it’s safe to say the 2026 event will be another monumental step in the right direction for an event that is quickly finding its footing on the aviation calendar.
A huge congratulations must be given to the entire RAAus team for their tireless work coordinating an event of this size. Everything from landing on Friday to taking off on Sunday ran smoothly, and not a single complaint was heard during our time.
The SportPilot team can’t wait to be flying back into Parkes in 2026, we hope to see you all there!
