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A blue Searey Amphibian caused a lot of interest when members of the RSA visited the aero club in 2018.
Covid-19 restrictions permitting, North Shore Aero Club will be opening its hangar doors to the public for a community open day at its Dairy Flat airfield on Saturday, March 27.
Highlights will include a number of visiting aircraft on display, including a Navy Seasprite helicopter, the Coastguard Air Patrol plane and the Westpac Rescue helicopter. There will also be all sorts of other aircraft on show, including some that were built at the airfield, and others that children will be able to climb into and have a look around.
As well as all the static displays, the club will be offering trial and scenic flights at the cost price of $99 to places such as Gibbs Farm, Tiritiri Matangi and the Auckland Sky Tower.
There will also be food trucks, market stalls, children’s activities and the North Shore Model Aero Club will put on a flying display between 12noon and 1pm.
Committee member Rodger Coleclough says this will be the first open day at the club for 10 years and is aimed at local families.
“We’ve been here nearly 60 years. It was just a paddock in the middle of nowhere then,” he says.
“We’re trying to show people we’re not a big international airport, we’re a community club where everyone is welcome.”
He was referring to the club’s current application for Airport Authority, which has raised hackles among some Dairy Flat residents, who fear it could lead to massive expansion at the airfield. However, Mr Coleclough says it is more about protecting the club from development pressures.
“I know there’s been a lot of vocal people with the Airport Authority thing, but it is our means of trying
to assure our position here,” he says. “We just need to make sure we can stay here.”
North Shore Aero Club currently has up to 600 members and runs extensive training courses for both private and commercial pilots, and hosts regular visits by students and community groups.
The open day will run from 10am to 4pm and entry will be by voluntary gold coin donation, proceeds of which will go to the club’s Young Eagles youth flying programme. If the weather is bad, the event will be postponed to April 10.
Info: North Shore Aero Club on Facebook.
