Hi All,

I was sure that I had already sent something out about this already, but it turns out I hadn’t. (must be the old age setting in). This coming weekend we are having a combined PAC and NMC BBQ at Parakai. The BBQ will be from 11:45am onwards and everyone is welcome.

We also are having a PAC / NMC meeting at 10:30 to continue the planning for the big event of the year, the February fly in. If you want to be involved with this event please be on the field by 10:30am for this meeting. 2011 is shaping up to be even bigger than last year!

Hi All, The Parakai Aviation Club (PAC) Will be holding a fly-in / BBQ on November 7th 2010. This will coincide with the Helensville Community & Heritage Festival which be held in Helensville. Landing fees at the field will be reduced to $5 for the day. Come check out the new concrete taxi ways, hangers and sealed runway if you haven’t been to Parakai for a while and enjoy a sausage.

The 2010 Parakai Aviation Day was a great success this year.        

The day was fine once a few dark clouds bearing showers departed. Photos from the event can be seen on the photos page here.         

Alternately the complete flickr set can be seen http://www.flickr.com/photos/chris021/sets/72157623466467037/         

Harvey Lockie writes about the event ”Current and retired Air NZ pilots George    

A small selection of images from the event:

A few weekends ago Danielle and I took CDL away for an overnight trip. After studying the charts we decided to head for Tokoroa as it appeared to have accommodation within walking distance of the airfield. A quick check of the NOTAMS showed an overnight drag race but nothing much else to worry about. We flew down via the city and Thames.

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Today is the annual Parakai Aviation Club fly-in / Drive-in event. The weather for the event looks fantastic!

See www.parakaiairfield.co.nz for more information.

Check back here after the event for photos from the day.

Yak52

Everything is set for the vintage fly-in / open day today! Hope to see you on the field today. Aircraft should start arriving around 11am. 

Click here to download it: 

PAC Flyer

For more information on other activities on happing this year visit the Heritage Day website: www.helensvilleheritageday.co.nz

CDL by the pumps (NZPI)

Today was my first flight with a passenger, quite the mile stone. Yesterday I sat my final flight test and passenger rating with Harvey. Not the most enjoyable flight as it is rather hard on the nerves!!! I got there in the end with the all important pass! Upon solid advice from both Harvey and Simon Lockie I remembered to keep my turns shallow and everything gentle and pleasant. Read the rest of this entry »

Today prior to the meeting in the club rooms, I went for a fly. I had previously planned a cross country, but Harvey felt the weather wasn’t suitable. Although the wind was 15 knots gusting 20ish it was coming straight down runway 25. I keep my taxi slow and controlled as I did not want CDL to wind cock in the strong wind.

As soon as I was off the runway I could tell that things were not normal. At about 50 feet the turbulence was pretty severe. I climbed straight out and veered slightly to the south to avoid the cloud system to the north. Once overhead Muriwai at about 2000ft I continued north, climbing as airspace would allow to 4000ft, crossed over the harbour mouth and continued to where the airspace would let me climb.

I continued my climb up to just shy of 8000ft where I was pretty surprised to that the towering cloud I was observing still made me feel like I was at sea level! I now really appreciate just how hard it is to gauge the height of cloud formations.

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