Community & Business
29 June, 2023
Fly in a huge success
The skies over Clifton airfield were abuzz on Sunday 11th June when 75 aircraft flew in and landed to join the annual Clifton Fly-in hosted by the Lone Eagle Flying School.
Pilots, their families and friends flew in from diverse and distant places including Lightning Ridge, Coffs Harbour, the Gold Coast, Redcliffe, Caboolture and Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Roma, Tara, Gatton and the Condamine.
The 300 attendees were provided with a free breakfast of bacon and egg rolls and tea and coffee courtesy of the efforts of volunteers from the Lone Eagle Flying School.
Promotion of the day was enhanced by the new innovative digital marketing strategies employed by the Club thanks to a Toowoomba Region Digital Marketing Grant received during the year.
Visitors on the day did not just include planes and pilots.
A local vintage car club took advantage of the brilliant weather to display their vehicles and it was good to see many local residents from the Clifton area enjoy the aircraft and the Lone Eagle Flying School hospitality.
Although a bit of early fog on the day gave organisers a few anxious moments, it had burnt off shortly after 7am and the first aircraft appeared out of the remnant mist.
Then the planes just kept coming because the flying weather on the day was absolutely magical with light winds and brilliant sunshine.
The Flying School’s Chief Flying Instructor Trevor Bange OAM, said it was a fabulous opportunity to showcase the beauties of Clifton and the Darling Downs to so many visitors to the region.
While the airspace over Clifton is seldom so crowded, Mr Bange commended the visiting pilots on their excellent airmanship and disciplined flying which made the day safe and enjoyable for everyone.
After such a wonderful event, organisers are confident next year’s will be bigger and better and another wonderful opportunity to attract a large number of visitors to the region.
