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The Great Eastern Fly-In was held again at Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome in Evans Head NSW, over the weekend of the 10th and 11th of January.
The small dedicated committee have been putting together an annual airshow for over two decades now. After all that time it’s still one of those intimate airshows where the public can get up close and personal with the solid collection of GA and warbirds that make this show one not to be missed.
Radial powered Yak 3 taking another happy customer on the ride of their life
With a great selection of warbirds and historic aircraft and a good dose of GA represented at the airstrip. Held over two days and combined with market stalls and classic car club displays it has plenty of variety for a small show.
One of the key highlights is the opportunity to go for a ride in many of the display aircraft. This adds a wonderful busyness to the ground movements with aircraft coming and going for displays as well as adventure rides with smiling punters in the back seat (or front seat in the case of the Waco).
It’s not old but the Waco has beautiful classic lines.
The weather on both days was just awesome and the crowd was treated to some great displays. From the high speed and tight manoeuvres of aircraft like the World Record holding radial powered Yak-3, the CA-18 (P-51) Mustang ‘Snifter’ to the much more sedate and very stylish Mallard, Waco and the rotary wing power of the Air T&G Bell ‘Huey’.
Cam Rolf-Smith and Nigel Arnot in their opposing Yak-52 display have left me with a whole new appreciation for the Russian trainer aircraft. Beginning their display with a take off from opposing ends of the runway and crossing past each other with the runway only a few feet below them before taking to the air for an impressive 2 ship aerobatics display.
Opposing Yak take off to begin the display.
In bound Yak-52 heading straight at the ground.
Nigel slides back down through his own smoke trail.
Cam Rolf-Smith coming in low and fast in the Yak-52
Take a look at this stills compilation from one of the Yak’s vertical stalls.
The big thumping radial engine of the T-28 Trojan ‘Huff N puff’
This is not where you want to be with an angry Mustang inbound.
A young man takes a back seat ride that he may never forget.
They come in all shapes and sizes at Evans Head.
An unusual formation of trainers. some ex-RAAF birds and a Yak-52
A Vans RV-7 taking off between display aircraft.
Touchdown. The SNJ returns.
The show was closely monitored by our very good friends from CASA (Hi guys … love your work) and by all reports they were very happy with the well managed show. Not even the Red Baron is above scrutiny of CASA.
A lovely example of the de Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth
Stinson L-5B Sentinel doing a couple of circuits. Nice work Warwick.
CA-18 Mustang heading out for its display on the Saturday.
A tour of the Ramp.
One of the great things about small shows like GEFI is the close proximity you can get to the aircraft without all the of the bustling crowds you find at some of the larger shows.
Wanna go for a ride? The mighty T-28 Trojan up close.
A delightfully presented DH-82A Tiger Moth II built in 1962.
A little dose of Pratt & Whitney radial to brighten your day. The Grumman G-73 Mallard.
A WWII design built in the mid 2000’s, its V12 engine replaced with one big mother of a radial and she holds three world records … Yak 3 ‘Steadfast’.
Stars and Skippy’s
Great Eastern Fly-In Dates Announced for 2017!
Just as we got this story published the GEFI committee have announced the dates for next years Great Eastern Fly-In. The committee is hard at it already planning for next years show on the 7th and 8th of January 2017 at the Evans Head.
Put it in your diary NOW and don’t forget you can always come back here to ASO if you forget the date. We have a growing list of airshows on our Future Air Shows page HERE
For more information on the GEFI you can check out their website at http://www.greateasternflyin.com/
The delightful Mallard lifting gracefully up from the runway.
Steadfast … an exemplary example of speed.
Paspaley Pearls (Darwin and Kuri Bay WA) owned 3 Mallards which I commuted in (Pax, often up front) to and from Broome /Kuri Bay early ’90s. What a fantastic aircraft and experience. Paspaleys replaced the radials with turbo props and presumably still owns all 3, never flew in converted one though. V glad I discovered your site, great reading and pics – thanks.
That sounds like some great memories Graham. Were they water landings?
We’re glad you found our site too and hope you enjoy what we do.~ Leigh
I am glad you got the photo of the opposing Yaks as I missed it on the Saturday due to a bogged aircraft being in my line of sight. I left early on the Sunday for the road trip back to Newcastle.
Despite missing the cross you got some great shots still Stephen.
I missed it on Saturday as well, shame you missed it as you would have been closer than I was.
Cheers Leigh.