BURDEKIN AERO CLUB INC

This following story is published with permission by Jim Taylor a former member of the Burdekin Valley Aero Club about sharing a little history of our local aero club around the mid sixties in Ayr 35 nm south of Townsville, Qld, Australia.
The aircraft in this sign is a Victa 115, the training aircraft of the Townsville Aero Club until August 1964, when it was replaced by a Cessna 150.
The Burdekin Valley therefore must have been in existence by 1964. I do not have any information of when, by whom, it was formed. As the Townsville Aero Club was bringing training aircraft to Ayr on a regular basis by this time, there could be some connection to be found there. When the group of us purchased the Beechcraft in 1967, we adopted the name.
I started training in the Victa on the 5th July 1964, and completed 12 hours in it.
Built by the Victa motor mower company, it was very strongly built to aerobatic standards. It came in two versions – a 100 HP motor and a 115 HP motor. I was told that the 100 HP motor was under powered, so we were fortunate to have the 115 HP version.
I have vivid memories of one of the instructors, by the name of Sandy ??, an ex RAAF pilot, rumoured to have been fired from the service after doing a "beat-up" or the C. O. ’s house in a Vampire jet. I cannot confirm that story, but he was certainly a brash young man. He took me for a joy flight to demonstrate the aerobatic qualities of the aircraft. All went well until he decided to do three loops, starting about four thousand feet. Attempts one and two went swimmingly. Just as we got nearly to the top of the third, the inevitable stall occurred, and that provided the “vivid” memory – upside down, dust swirling around the cockpit, tail down, watching the ground approaching, and Sandyshouting "Yabba-dabba-do" in my ear. Sandy, smiling from ear to ear, merely flipped The Victa right way up, obtained flying speed, and dropped us neatly onto the runway. (He probably had a few hundred feet of safety, but it NOT appear to me to be so at the time!) He then took Margaret, my Boss, up and treated her more gently, to her disappointment.
Delivery of Beechcraft A-23 TPV-SUN September 1967:
Frank Casalegno had been in the RAAF during WWII, and DCA were happy for him to do the 25 hour services, so the hundred hour services and fuel were our only costs.
We were able, therefore to fly this aircraft for $10 per hour.
The Beech was stressed for aerobatics, but needed modifications to be registered for this, and, of course, that did not happen. I don’t know what the others did – stall turns and wing-overs were as far as I was game to go.
Born Ayr and Work from 1963 – 1971 inclusive. Brisbane since then.
I left the Burdekin at the end of 1971. For various reasons I had not flown SUN for some time. I became curious about the fate of the old girl recently, and the fabulous Dr Google found this accident report, but nothing further. I hope she was repaired and went back into service.
My very best wishes to all Burdekin pilots and their escapades.

Jim Taylor.

Eric Sandner, a Burdekin aero club member since July 2002:
There is obviously a big chunk of history missing but Ill see if I can find out more.
The aero club had a Piper Arrow, a 200 horsepower version and than around 20 years ago was replaced with the Grumman Tiger 5AAB, a fixed pitch none retractable four sitter cruising comfortable at 120 knots. A very good performance aircraft. The Piper arrow with its retractable undercarriage and Constant speed unit (propeller) was too expensive to maintain.
I hope there are more stories about our little club still to come. If any member has some old photos and can tell a tale or two please let me know. Please email me erisan@tpg. com. au
There is still a bit more to come from our former member. So stay tuned!

Eric