A Report from the Callide Dawson Flying Group (CDFG) Fly Away to Smoky Creek on Sunday - 'Smoko and Smoky'

An update on last Saturday 27 February from Dave See......

My weekend flyaway to Smoky Creek went something like this...... I pre-flighted my trusty LightWing and was in the air by 7.10am. Climbed to 2 and a half and it was the smoothest flight I've had all year. 15 minutes later I was in circuit for 16 at Moura Airport. Reef and his mum were there waiting for me as planned. Back in the air 5 minutes later with Reef in the co-pilot's seat and climbed to 3 and a half on track for Smoky Creek which took us over the half-way mark between the Jambin Pub and Rhett Joyce's place. Again it was a very smooth flight except for joining circuit for 03 at Smoky where we got a bit of rapid movement over the ridges at the start of the downwind leg. I was somewhat surprised to see no other aircraft on the ground. Landed, taxied in to where JR (Rasso) had an area set aside for parking, because I could take my pick, I put the LightWing smack in the middle, leaving plenty of room for other aircraft to park either side.

JR and Lenny had been there from early on, hosed the dust off the hangar floor, cleaned and checked the toilets, set up a couple of tables with the cups, tea, coffee, sugar, milk etc and a couple of jars of biscuits to top off for smoko. We spent the morning in the hangar, drank tea and coffee, ate some bikkies and talked really good blokey stuff about aeroplanes.

Jodie Wilson (who along with her husband Rob now owns Smoky Creek) came in with an armful of cakes that she and her boys had made for our smoko and stayed and chatted for a while.

Ray Wenck had driven in before I arrived and Alan Collett drove in about an hour after I got there. In all there was Rasso, Lenny, Ray, Al, Reef Bazaitis and myself enjoying 'SMOKO @ SMOKY'. After hearing numerous times over the last few years "I wonder if we'll ever get to fly in to Smoky Creek again" I was surprised and a bit disappointed that the numbers were lower than I'd anticipated. Al Wilson phoned during the morning to ask how many flew in. He was disappointed that he had to work and therefore just couldn't make it.

Sometimes, unfortunately, no matter how much organizing is done...... on the day, the dots just don't fall into place for everyone at the same time.

Anyway, about midday, as much as I was enjoying the company and place I was at, I decided I'd better think of making a move as the weather was expected to change in the early afternoon. Said my farewells and appreciation to all and lifted off somewhere between 12.30 and 1 o'clock and headed for Tony DeGit's strip at Dakenba. Reef and I bounced and wobbled our way over to there, landed for a 10 minute chat then took off for Moura.

Experienced quite a bit of sink on climbout which had my full attention for a bit. It was hot and rough all the way back to Moura. Then, had a challenge getting down. Even with a big side slip, we didn't touch down until almost half way between the piano keys and the exit to the terminal. Reef's mum was waiting there to pick him up, a two minute chat with Trish and took off for home. Climbed out quite well and straight up to 3 and a half, flew over the mine for a look and turned south towards home......then the rough stuff started!

Flew at 1,000ft (500 AGL) where it wasn't quite as rough but bloody hot! Even the water temp was up 10 degrees above normal. In circuit above Bauhinia Park (home) and saw that the windsock was limp and not even moving! Should have flown home at treetop height. A smooth landing that ended the day off nicely, tucked the LightWing into bed and closed the hangar door at 2.30pm.

We do hope to be able to have another opportunity to fly into Smoky Creek. Hopefully it will fit in with more people on the day.

I want to finish my report with a special thank you to John Rassmussen for organizing the day and to Rasso and Len Neale for the great effort they both put in to prepare Smoky as the venue for our club flyaway weekend for February 2021 and to extend our appreciation to Jodie and Rob Wilson for making it possible.

Regards to you all........ Dave See

PS Flyaway weekends are planned for the 4th weekend of each month. Sometimes it is just for the one day or sometimes both days depending on the preference of the host/s. At present we have Balantree, Rocky Bar, Rodds Bay and Old Station in the pipeline for sometime in the future.

If you have a usable airstrip and would consider hosting a smoko, lunch or overnight stay, then ring the secretary (my lovely wife) and she and the social flying co-ordinators will help you with details....it's very easy and always great to get together with our like minded friends.