This history has
been cobbled together from a number of different sources. If
you read something that is wrong or inaccurate or you want to
add to the information, please email me with your corrections
or additions. Lyndal Coote
|
| 1953 |
"Clearing started in 1947-8 with extensive weekend working bees ( tea was made in a 4 gallon kerosene tin so numbers of participants were significant).
As a 13 year old boy I was on site with my father Wal Robinson who managed the Radiola store in Horton street.The business sold and serviced Radios with
the AWA Radiola being the principal brand.
There were 2 small tractors with a chain between them pulling over the smaller trees. AD4 bulldozer equipped with a winch was handling the larger trees.The procedure was to anchor the bulldozer against one tree with the wire rope from the winch attached to the tree to be pulled down. Gelignite was then exploded under the tree roots to assist the winching operation.
With the site cleared operations may have been suspended awaiting further authorisation or funding or the 1949-50 floods may have left the site waterlogged for a number of years...It is extremely unlikely that the A40 was anything more than a publicity stunt." Thanks to Royden Robinson for this update on the statement below.
Alex
Oliver cleared a 500 yard landing strip, following earlier clearing,on the present airport site
using an Austin A40 and a log |
| 1955 |
Port Macquarie
Airport opened |
| 1958 |
Hastings
District Flying Club formed, inaugural President and CFI was Joe
Lee who finished his aviation career with QANTAS training CLIPS-commercial
intake pilots on DC3s.
Foundation members
included Barry Cunning, Greta Yabsley, Joe Lee, Frederick Higgins,
George Hartley, Mervyn McCudden, John Kirby, Dal O’Grady,
Col Bailey, Peter Taylor |
| 1960
– 1983 |
CFI – Barrie Abbott |
|
| 1968 -1969 |
In 1968 the Club sponsored a pageant of national
significance in conjunction with the Port Macquarie sesqui-centenary
celebrations, Ray Potts being the driving force behind it |
| 1972 |
A second
east-west runway was first used,
Club Captain – Bob Armstrong |
| 1977 |
Pilot of the Year – Col Harvey |
| 1978 |
Pilot of the Year – Barry Cunning, Club Captain – Barry
Cunning |
| 1979 |
Pilot of the year – Win
Partridge |
| 1980 |
Club Captain – Barry Cunning,
Pilot of the Year – Col Harvey |
| 1982 |
Club Captain – Graeme Light, |
| 1983 |
Club Captain – Peter Kerville |
| 1984 |
Club Captain – Harry Bellott, the Ultra
Light Flying Club was formed and affiliated with the HDFC |
|
| 1985 |
Club Captain – Harry Bellott, club extensions |
| 1986 |
First Port Macquarie Airshow |
| 1988 |
Club Captain – Neil Files,
Club Instructor – Bob Needham, Pilot of the Year – Rod
Davison |
| 1989 |
Bob Needham takes Neil Files for a check
flight and lands with no rear wheels
|
 |
| 2000 |
Club Captain - Ray Lind |
| 2001 |
Club Captain - Ray Lind |
| 2002 |
Club Captain - Ray Lind |
| 2003 |
Club Captain - Ray Lind, Pilot of the Year
- Rod Farley |
| 2004 |
Club Captain - Ray Lind |
| 2005 |
Club Captain - Ray Lind |
| 2006 |
Club Captain - Ray Lind, Recreational Aviation CFI - Bob Needham |
| 2007 |
Club Captain - Ray Lind, Pilots of the Year - Bill Coote & Jimi Ludriks, Recreational Aviation CFI - Bob Needham |
| 2008 |
Club Captain - Ray Lind
Recreational Aviation CFI - Adam Booker
Club Champion - Bruce Dunlop
RAAus Champion -
Jimi Ludriks
Harry Bellott Trophy for Pilot of the Year - David Massey
Club Person of the Year - Tanya McKenzie
|
Steve O'Connor Navigation Trial Trophy - Jack Terp
Vern Polley Forced Landing Trophy - Rod Davison
Student Pilot of the Year -
Doug Ross
RAAus Wings - Bonny Stutsel, Dog Jones, Liz Drinkwater, Glenn Cleary, Doug Ross, Lucy Johnston |
| 2009 |
Club Captain - Ray Lind
RAAus CFI - George Northey
Club Champion - Ray Lind,
RAAus Champion - Jimi Ludriks
Harry Bellott Trophy for Pilot of the Year - Adam Booker
Club Person of the Year - Richard Bentley
|
Vern Polley Forced Landing Trophy – Ray Lind
Steve Connors Navigation Trial Trophy - Rod Davison |
| 2010 |
Club Captain - Ray Lind
RAAus CFI - George Northey
Club Champion - Bruce Dunlop
Harry Bellott Trophy for
Pilot of the Year - Bob Barnett
Club Person of the Year - Damien Buchtmann |
Steve O’Connor Shield Navigation Trial - Rod Davison, Vern Polley Forced Landing Trophy - Rod Davison, Ray Lind & Bruce Dunlop
Student Pilot of the Year - Peter Forde
RAAus Wings - Peter Forde, Mathew Baker |
| 2011 |
Club Captain - Ray Lind
RAAus CFI - George Northey
GA Club Champion - Bruce Dunlop
RAAus Champion - Rod Davison
Harry Bellott Trophy for Pilot of The Year - Bruce Dunlop
Club Persons of the Year - Marite Jansons & David Mitchell |
Steve O’Connor Shield Navigation Trial - Bruce Dunlop
Vern Polley Forced Landing Trophy - Rod Davison
RAAus Student Pilot of the Year - Adam Hancey
RAAus Wings - |
| 2012 |
Club Captain - Ray Lind
RAAus CFI - George Northey
GA Club Champion - Bruce Dunlop
RAAus Champion - Rod Davison
Harry Bellott Trophy for
Pilot of the Year - Peter Ford
Club Person of the Year - Lyndal Coote |
Steve O’Connor Shield Navigation Trial -
Vern Polley Forced Landing Trophy - Rod Davison
RAAus Student Pilot of the Year - Jordan Seward
RAAus Wings - Ed Godschalk, Leeton Mason, Ben Hansen, Toby Stutsel, Steve Smith
PPL - Peter Ford
CPL - Michael Toohey, Trent Merchant |
