Picture perfect ultralight fly-in

From left, Marty Power and Paul McKeown from Gympie chat with other pilots at the ultralight fly-in hosted by the Lions Club of Inglewood at the Inglewood Airfield. Paul and Marty are both pilots with Virgin Airlines. They also conduct a recreational flying school at Gympie and flew their ultralight Drifter to Inglewood for the occasion. They were among the many pilots who paid tribute to well-known pilot and friend Wayne Fisher, who lost his life while test flying an aircraft in Lismore NSW in March this year.
From left, Marty Power and Paul McKeown from Gympie chat with other pilots at the ultralight fly-in hosted by the Lions Club of Inglewood at the Inglewood Airfield. Paul and Marty are both pilots with Virgin Airlines. They also conduct a recreational flying school at Gympie and flew their ultralight Drifter to Inglewood for the occasion. They were among the many pilots who paid tribute to well-known pilot and friend Wayne Fisher, who lost his life while test flying an aircraft in Lismore NSW in March this year.

PERFECT Autumn weather set the scene for more than 50 aircraft and pilots to attend the 24th annual Ultralight Fly-in at Inglewood on 27-28 April.
Pilots from as far away as Gympie, Caloundra, Boonah, Lightning Ridge and Moree flew in for the event, which was hosted by the Lions Club of Inglewood.
Traditionally the fly-in was held during the May Labor Day weekend but, with the change of the Labor Day holiday to October, it was decided to hold this year’s fly-in on the Anzac Day weekend.
Inglewood Lions Club President Stuart Parker described the weekend as a success.
“The airstrip was in excellent condition and facilities had been upgraded,” he said.
“Lions club members had provided hearty breakfasts and lunches for the visitors, while the usual three-course evening meal on the Saturday night had catered for 80 guests.”
Lion Parker said the function was organised by Roy and June Petzke in conjunction with volunteers from the Bracker Creek Rural Fire Brigade, SES and Lions Club members. Lion Parker congratulated and thanked the volunteers for their assistance.
He said the meal included a wide variety of delicious, mainly home-made sweets and had been thoroughly enjoyed by the visitors.
“The 2014 Fly-in would also be held on the Anzac Day weekend and if the comments from those present were any indication, it would be even bigger and better than 2013,” he said.
During the evening, tribute was paid to the late Wayne Fisher who, in recent years, had attended many of the Inglewood Ultralight Fly-ins.
He was a well-known and respected pilot and a friend to many of those present.
He lost his life in March this year in his home town of Lismore, NSW, when test flying a friend’s new plane.
Over a number of years Wayne had not only been involved in the development of ultralights, but had built 230 of the aircraft.
It was noted that he had been a leader in this field and would be sorely missed.