Festival of Flight 2008

Events
General information Concours de elegance Evening dinner Commercial sites General notes Airfield details Contacts

Accommodation

General information

The Queensland Vintage Aeroplane Group is once again staging it’s annual “Festival of Flight” event and the 2008 event is scheduled for 30th and 31st August inclusive. This will be the seventeenth year of the event and as on previous occasions, Watts Bridge Memorial Airfield in the picturesque Brisbane Valley will be the venue.

As on previous occasions, the QVAG Committee is hoping to attract a large number of Vintage, Classic and Warbird aircraft as well as those from many other facets of aviation in general. To achieve this, we need your support and thus we cordially invite all owners/operators of aircraft to come and join with us to celebrate the miracle of aviation.

Whilst the title of the organising body (Queensland Vintage Aeroplane Group) might suggest that the event is meant for vintage aircraft only, we strongly encourage owners of all types of aircraft (regardless of the age of your machine) to bring them to the event. Typically, the “Festival of Flight” attracts in excess of one hundred vintage, Classic and Warbird aircraft and over fifty more modern types. This provides a broad spectrum of aircraft types that, in the main, are representative of most facets of aviation - particularly pertinent to the theme of the event. In essence, the event provides one and all with the opportunity to appreciate a veritable smorgasbord of aeronautical machinery.

Additional to the aircraft, QVAG is anticipating the attendance of a large selection of vintage and ex military vehicles and militaria displays which will compliment the aircraft. This not only enhances the event, but also allows us all to foster the common interest that we have - preserving old machinery for future generations to appreciate! Besides the owner/operators of aircraft, if you are a “die-hard” enthusiast with regard aircraft and/or aviation activities, then you too are invited to partake of the festivities. Thus your attendance will be welcomed.

Except for the formal arrangements that the Committee is required to put in place to comply with various laws, insurance requirements and those that are needed to cater to our guests needs, in the main the event will be a very informal affair - specifically formulated to promote the pleasures of recreational aviation in a relaxed atmosphere. A variety of facilities exist on the Airfield and these include toilets, hot showers, fuel (Avgas) and a dedicated camping area is set aside for visitors.

Due to the conditions as stipulated by our Insurance underwriters, camping “under the wing” of your aircraft is not permissible, unless in a dedicated area and by prior arrangement with QVAG and this is only at the discretion of QVAG. Motel and hotel accommodation is available in the nearby townships of Toogoolawah, Esk and Fernvale. Food and beverages will be available throughout the entire event and this will include breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, and BBQ on Sunday evening.

Concours de elegance

top

A Concours de Elegance event will be progressed with all attending vintage, classic, warbird and homebuilt aircraft qualifying for the judging process. Judging will proceed throughout the Saturday. All attending aircraft can compete for the judges consideration and the announcement of winners and presentation of trophies will be conducted in the main hangar after dinner on the Saturday night.

Evening dinner - Saturday 30th August

top
The Saturday evening dinner is scheduled to commence at 19:00 hrs in Hangar 1, and is traditionally a lively affair with aviators and enthusiasts from far and wide taking the opportunity to partake of a superb culinary triumph and relate “true lies” of past experiences. Trophy and club presentations will commence immediately after dinner. The dinner venue is licenced premises - NO BYO permitted.

As the caterers require QVAG to pre-pay for meals that are served on the Saturday evening, unless you pre-book and pre-pay for your tickets, we will be unable to provide you with a meal. A pre-purchase order form is available (click here for order form).

The cut-off date for bookings is Sunday 24th  August. No bookings will be processed after this date.

Commercial Sites
top
If you would like to obtain a stall site to promote and/or sell your products, please contact Frank Ragonese for bookings and costs. Telephone 0411035991 or email fragonese4@yahoo.com.au.

General Notes

top
On both days of the event and in particular, the Saturday, we will be encouraging people to commit aviation and thus we are proposing to stimulate this by organising various activities. Details will be announced prior to the event so please check back here regularly for updates.

Sunday is the traditional wind-down day, visitors are very much left to their own devices. Typically, there is quite a lot of flying activity as owner/operators of aircraft indulge in their passion for committing aviation. The area around the headwaters of Wivenhoe Dam and Somerset Dam to the East provide for some very scenic flying experiences.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
THE QUEENSLAND VINTAGE AEROPLANE GROUP (QVAG) DOES NOT ORGANISE, PROMOTE NOR CONDUCT AIR DISPLAYS AS PART OF THIS EVENT. ALSO, QVAG DOES NOT PROMOTE NOR SANCTION “JOY” FLIGHTS AND/OR AIRCRAFT BEING DEMONSTRATED BELOW THE REGULATION HEIGHT AS STIPULATED IN CASA REGULATIONS COVERING AIR DISPLAYS (CIVIL AVIATION ORDER 29.4).

Airfield Details

top
ELEVATION: 300 FEET
LOCATION:  27.06 SOUTH / 152.28 EAST.
RUNWAY 12 / 30  3800 FEET IN LENGTH / GRASS OVER GRAVEL.
RUNWAY 03 / 21  2000 FEET IN LENGTH / GRASS OVER GRAVEL.
RADIO: CTAF = 127.3 PRIMARILY, THIS IS ACKNOWLEDGED AS A NO RADIO EVENT. HOWEVER, WE DO ASK THAT IF YOUR AIRCRAFT IS FITTED WITH RADIO, THEN PLEASE MONITOR THE CTAF FREQUENCY AND BROADCAST YOUR INTENTIONS.
NOTE: WATTS BRIDGE AIRFIELD IS AN UNCONTROLLED AIRFIELD AND AS SUCH IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO EXERCISE DUE CAUTION IN THE CIRCUIT AREA AND BE ALERT TO AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS IN THE AIR AND ON THE GROUND.

Contacts

top
CRAIG JUSTO: Telephone/Facsimile: (07) 3349 6003 / Mobile 0407 740734 / Email craig@aeroaspects.com.au
SHANE WINTER: Telephone/Facsimile: (07) 5467 1665 / Mobile 0407 122 219 / Email blackmoth@bigpond.com

Accommodation Guide (other than camping at the Airfield)

top
ESK
GLEN ROCKS MOTEL Telephone: (07) 5424 1304 Facsimile: (07) 5424 1489 Email:marlene_fisher@bigpond.com
GRAND HOTEL Telephone: (07) 5424 1141 Facsimile: (07) 5424 2620
CLUB HOTEL Telephone: (07) 5424 1182 Facsimile: (07) 5424 1961
ESK MOTEL Telephone/Facsimile: (07) 5424 1289
ESK WIVENHOE MOTEL Telephone: (07) 5424 1677 Facsimile: (07) 5424 2599 Internet: www.eskwivenhoemotorinn.com.au Email: info@eskwivenhoemotorinn.com.au
ESK CARAVAN PARK Telephone: (07) 5424 1466 Facsimile: (07) 5424 2815 Email:eskcaravanpark@hpermax.net.au

TOOGOOLAWAH
TOOGOOLAWAH MOTEL Telephone: (07) 5423 1144
CLUB HOTEL Telephone: (07) 5423 1330
COMMERCIAL HOTEL Telephone: (07) 5423 1314
EXCHANGE HOTEL Telephone: (07) 5423 1151

FERNVALE
FERNVALE HOTEL / MOTEL Telephone: (07) 5426 7230

SOMERSET
THE LAKEHOUSE Telephone: (07) 5426 0130 Facsimile: (07) 5426 0120 Email: thelakehouse@gil.com.au