13 AIRCRAFT PARTICIPATED - CLUB ATTENDEES WERE:

LINDSAY & MAREE SINCLAIR

DAVE THOMAS

DOUG & JACKIE MONTAGUE

GREG & ANN GOULDING

VIC LAYBUTT

DAVE RITTIE

BRUCE & WENDY NASH

PETER & SHARYL SCOTT

NASH PILLING

LLOYD & DIANNE SHEPHERD

BOB & FABER

PETER HODGENS

KEVIN HAYDON

ROBERT GRIEG

MEL

SAM RANDAZZO

CLIFF VAN PRAGG

CLINT ASHTON MARTIN

What a turn out - great to see so many faces. We just squeezed everyone in on the bus.

The day was certainly fine and sunny - but a tad bit windy. Had a quiz on the way to Crookwell where the pilots and observers needed to spot a few things. So between the quiz and the windy conditions it kept the pilots on their toes.

Arrival at Crookwell airfield saw some great flying ability come into play. Dave Thomas did an exceptional job in landing with the very strong cross wind. Everyone landed safely and quickly started comparing notes on their landing performance. It was all hands to tie some of the lighter aircraft down before they were blown away.

We had a local bus come pick us up for a bit of a sight see around the place. First it was up to the windfarm to have a look. It is one of three in Australia. There is a viewing platform with display boards explaining how they work. There are 8 turbines in all, each atop a 45 metre steel tower weighing 36 tonnes. Made of fibreglass, each has a hub and 3 blades and is some 44 metres in diameter. The whole assembly rotates 360 degrees around the pole so that the blades are always pointing into the wind. Each has its own computerised control system which regulates the speed of the blades and will shut down when the winds gets over 72 kms per hour. These 8 turbines produce a total of 5 megawatts of power sufficient to power 3,500 homes and saves 8,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year over coal based power.

So after that we cruised into town - the street lined trees were all turning to their lovely orange, reds and burnt brown autumn colours.

Then it was a stop at the sock factory. The owner very kindly came in and opened up for us on Sunday morning to give us a demonstration of how socks are made. I must admit, when I go to the shop to buy a pair of socks I truly have not given it a thought on how they are made. It is very interesting. Years ago the owner brought to Australia some 6-8 machines. Very simply, each machine knits a continuous tube and in between each sock length a sort of band is knitted in. Once finished it’s taken off the machine and at each band section it is then stitched up. It’s far too complicated to explain the workings of it - you really have to see it to understand it. Some of our ex Qantas engineers, Dave and Vic may be able to technically explain the workings of it better. Anyway, it makes great socks - all sizes and colours. Our group lightened their wallets and spent a few $ there.

From there it was time for lunch and we all had a lovely feed at Catherines Cafe. Great tucker and coffee. After lunch there was time for a bit of a wander around town. There were several antique shops open, the Alpaca Shop and crafty bits & pieces in the Visitors Centre kept a few people occupied and again lighter in wallet.

Once all were rounded up, it was a quick visit to Santa’s Hideaway - a real treasure trove for Christmas trinkets and decorations and then a short drive to Laggan to look at some old stone buildings.

There was plenty more to see around the area like the Lavender Farm and another village of Binda which also has some beautiful stone buildings (we’ll save them for next time) but time was getting away on us, so it was back to the airfield and make ready for our return trip home.

And guess what - the wind was still there and blowing a beauty.

Again our intrepid pilots were tested with the cross wind take offs but we did get a tail wind going home so that was good and everyone got back safely which was even better.

For the ones who completed the quiz - thank you for participating. Results were Dave Thomas came in tops with 70 points, then Bob Faber & Dave Rittie both with 65 points, followed by Doug Montague and Peter Hodgens both with 60, Greg Goulding and Peter Scott both with 55 points. Everyone else who attended were awarded 20 points. It all adds up to the end of year comp. points. You got to be in it to win it.

P.S. Population of Crookwell as at Jan.05 was 4,439. No one got it correct.

P.S.S - Hire cost for bus was $6 per head. We will be contacting all to organise reimbursement - so don’t leave town.

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