From the clothing worn and the huddled looks, the BBQ breakfast warmed up the cold start.
It is always a gamble with weather at this time of the year and the weather in the week leading up to the Sunday fly-in was some of the worst of the winter, with lots of flooding, slips and road closures around the lower North Island, but Gary Mitchelmore, the Dannevirke Flying Club president, assured me that it was all on for the Sunday morning.
I left Masterton very early to arrive by dawn and was rather concerned by the severe flooding and storm damage en route, especially approaching Woodville with the Manawatu River in full flood.
Gary was right; no rain and little wind, with all systems go for the fly-in. First in at 7.36am, was local farmer Guy Laver and his Cessna 185C ZK-RJH, followed by first non-local arrival at 7.45am Ross McDonald in Cessna A152 ZK-ETJ from the Central Hawkes Bay Aero Club.
For the next hour, a steady stream of aircraft arrived with a grand total of 17 visiting planes of many types, with pilots and crew able to enjoy the wonderful BBQ put on by the aero club.
After a short presentation with bottles of wine for the first arrival and best spot landing, it was time to start round 2 of the annual Frogley Cup landing competition between Bridge Pa, Waipukerau and Dannevirke flying clubs with Waipukerau leading after round 1.
Sadly, a very quick deterioration in the weather caused this competition to be cancelled for the day as pilots became concerned about travelling home safely.
A great morning was had by all with an extra item of interest this year being the new improvements to the flying club’s premises which was having its first major upgrade since the 60s. Congratulations Gary and your great band of helpers for a lovely morning.
- Report and photographs by Clive Wilkinson.