The Australian Air League NSW Group Review was held at Blacktown Showground on the 18th August and saw Squadrons from across NSW coming together to participate in the competition.
The Group Review is an opportunity to showcase the work of cadets in education, drill and music, and all are to be congratulated on their efforts.
Video provided by L/Cdt Oliver Dunk from Epping Sqn.
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Australian Air League Flying Camp 2024
Each year in January, the NSW Group of the Australian Air League holds its annual flying camp at the League’s Air Activities Centre located at Camden Airport, southwest of Sydney. The camp runs for nine days and allows the cadets to kick-start their flying training – the camps have been held annually for over 20 years.
The Air League began flying at Camden Airport in 1980 with the Scouts and, in 1986, established its own Air Activities Centre at Camden. The centre allows cadets to undertake air experience flights and flying training and participate in the annual flying camps held during the January and April school holidays.
Student Pilot Benjamin Hunt on short finals
Student Pilot Dante Mulqueeny with instructor Guru Dhinakaran
Student pilot Ben Hunt celebrates his third solo flight
Instructor Charles Droudis with one of the student pilots
Head of Ops Charles Droudis and Ben Hunt
Group photo with David and Rachel
Dining Night
Cadet Oliver Dunk from Epping Squadron with VH-PAT
Cessna 172 VH-PAT
This year, 14 student pilots attended the nine-day camp, where they ate, studied, and worked as a team while undertaking flying training with the Air League’s volunteer instructors. The cadets came from ten Squadrons across NSW, with one cadet coming all the way from Tamworth, and they quickly bonded as a team.
As with previous years, the cadets came into camp with a wide range of flying experience. For some, this was their first camp where they could experience the taste of flight. For others, it was an opportunity to build on their training from previous camps and to catch up with friends from previous years.
One of the returning students was Leading Cadet Benjamin Hunt from Taree. This was his third camp for Ben, and one of the highlights was achieving his first solo in the League’s Cessna 172 VH-PAT.
For Senior Cadet Dante Mulqueeny from Manly Squadron, this was his first flying camp. Dante’s interest in aviation began with his grandfather, a keen aeromodeller, and he had nothing but praise for the camp, “The camp has been brilliant, the staff are all amazing, and I’ve made some great friends. And the flying has been a dream!”
Whilst a few days were lost to rain and overcast skies, the cadets still made the most of the opportunity and achieved some impressive statistics for the week:
- Flights Completed: 68
- Total Flight Hours: 69.5
- Number of Landing: 139
- Litres of fuel consumed: 1641 litres ($4,467.43 in cost)
The last night of the camp saw the cadets, instructors and staff participate in a formal Dining-In Night held in the hangar with guest of honour Mr David Binskin, General Manager Aviation, Aeria Management Group. The evening saw many awards presented to the cadets and volunteers for their achievements, including a first solo certificate to Leading Cadet Ben Hunt from Taree.
This camp would not have been possible without the assistance of the instructors, engineers, camp staff and supporters, who volunteered their time to train the cadets, maintain the aircraft, and look after them for the week. We thank them for their dedication to the aims of the Air League.
NSW Group Ceremonial Parade 2023
On Sunday, 28th May, cadets and Officers of the NSW Group of the Australian Air League participated in the Group’s annual Ceremonial Parade, marching through the streets of Sydney from Martin Place to Metcalfe Park, Pyrmont. This year’s parade saw just over 300 members representing 18 Squadrons across NSW – the furthest travelled being the City of Canberra Squadron.
NSW Air Activities Flying Camp 2023
In January the NSW Group of the Australian Air League held its annual 9-day flying camp at the Air Activities Centre located at Camden Airport, southwest of Sydney, designed to provide cadets with the opportunity to kick start their flying training. With 32 student pilots from 11 Squadrons across NSW, the recent 2023 camp was the biggest camp held to date!
As with previous years, cadets came into camp with a wide range of flying experience. For some, this was their first camp where they got to experience the taste of flight. In contrast, for others, it was an opportunity to build on their training from previous camps and to catch up with friends from last year.
One of the returning student pilots was Sqn.Sgt. Lara Wilbow from Doyalson Squadron on the Central Coast. When asked what goal she had hoped to achieve at the camp, she told us, “I hoped to achieve my training area solo, which I did today! I flew out to Warragamba Dam and then back via Bringelly, which was really exciting. My next goal will be to complete my Recreational Pilot’s License.”
For cadets who are thinking about attending the camp, it’s a really good way to kick-start your flying training.
Sqn.Sgt. Lara Wilbow, Doyalson Sqn.
“For cadets who are thinking about attending the camp, it’s a really good way to kick-start your flying training. So far, I have flown 7 hours during the camp, there are plenty of instructors to help with questions, and you get to spend time and talk to other people with a similar interest to you.”
For cadet Alora Clark and L/Cdt. Ethan Lobwein-Caron of Sutherland Shire, this was their first flying camp. Ethan’s inspiration for flying was his father, “My dad was a commercial pilot and instructor and has been very supportive of me; for a career, I am looking to become an aeronautical engineer whilst also completing my pilot’s license.”
Alora only joined the Air League last year, “One of my friends was already in the Air League and recommended that I join, soon after I went on a Squadron camp and did a trial instructional flight, which was also my first time in a light aircraft! I decided to come to the flying camp, and I’ve done 5 hours of flying training so far.”
When asked about her most memorable flight so far, she quickly answered, “When I learned about stalling! I was a bit nervous, but the instructor showed me how to recover and keep the aircraft under control.”
“It’s been great, meeting cadets from other Squadrons who have the same interest. The camp staff are amazing and take care of you, and the instructors are really helpful too. I would recommend it for any cadets looking to learn to fly.”
The camp staff are amazing and take care of you, and the instructors are really helpful too. I would recommend it for any cadets looking to learn to fly
Cadet Alora Clark, Sutherland Shire Sqn
With the addition of three cross-hired aircraft to the Centre’s fleet of two Cessnas and a Piper Warrior, the cadets achieved some impressive statistics for the nine days:
- 191 Flights
- 201.1 Flight Hours
- 482 Total Landings (Including touch and goes)
- 1,683 Litres of fuel burnt.
- Most flights in a day – 30
Some of the achievements during the camp include:
First Solo
- Lachlan Haack – Camden Sqn
- Elliot Powell – Manly Squadron
- Toby Ong – Canterbury Sqn
Area Solo
- Lara Wilbow – Doyalson Sqn
Recreational Pilot License
- Adam Glowacki – Sutherland Shire Sqn
All of this would not have been possible without the help of the instructors, engineers, and camp staff who volunteer their time to train cadets, maintain aircraft, and look after cadets for the week.
To ensure that the camp ran smoothly and the cadets could maximise their training, the staff at the camp was expanded this year. It included eight camp staff and a roster of twenty volunteer instructors to provide flying instruction. For several instructors, this was also their first camp, such as Michael Kornaus.
“I started in 2018 doing my Commercial Pilot’s License full-time on the Gold Coast, along with a multi-engine instrument rating and an instructor rating. Unfortunately, COVID happened pretty much straight after I graduated, which threw a spanner in the works, and I wasn’t able to do any flying during the lockdown.”
“Last year, I saw the call out for volunteer instructors for the Air League, so I applied, and after doing a check ride and renewing my instructor rating, I drove down for the camp. It’s been really busy; I’ve done 17 hours on the camp so far and should do about 20 hours all up.”
“I’ve really enjoyed the camp and appreciate what the Air League does for the cadets and the new instructors like myself.”
NSW Group Landing Issue 8
Issue 8 of the NSW Group Landings newsletter is available for download here.
Check it out for all the latest news and events in NSW.
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Australian Air League Inc.