Thirty small planes flew in for the day, creating a spectacular display as they lined the tarmac and generating much conversation between pilots and visitors alike. Ambulance NSW almost stole the show as it flew in to undertake some patient transfers, creating plane envy with its $3.5 million machine.

Planes actually there for the fly-in, however, included a so-called stick-and-string affair as well as home-built models and old and new machines. Local flight instructor James Gresham was kept busy conducting introductory flights for would-be pilots, providing lucky locals with a bird’s eye view of their home town and beyond.

Mr Gresham was more than pleased with how well the day turned out.

“We just seemed to reach that critical number of planes that wanted to be involved, and then the numbers grew quickly from there,” he said.

Airport operator Australia Asia Flight Training, which helped sponsor the event, was represented by director Neil Hansford who congratulated the club on getting 30 aircraft to fly in from around the region.

“It was a lot of work for the small committee,” Mr Hansford said.

“Many of the town folk will have seen how much has already been done to get the airport ready for the college constructions.”

Aero Club member John Crosby demonstrated the breadth of his transportation interests, bringing along not only his plane but his 1930 Model A Ford car. He also convinced car buff Chris Davis to bring along his even-older Model A, a 1928 version.

Mr Crosby was impressed with the turnout of planes, which flew in from Goondiwindi, the Hunter Valley, South Grafton, Inverell and Moree, to name but a few. They joined a small contingent of local planes including the home-built job of Jay Weir, who started on his project at the age of 19 and took it with him as he moved from Dundee to Glen Innes to Longreach and eventually home again.

Mr Weir said he has now been flying the plane for 14 years and has amassed 2000 hours in it, often in the company more recently of four-year-old daughter Taylor and seven-year-old son Connor. He has an airstrip on his property and usually manages to take off every second weekend or so, with it not unusual for him to hop in the plane to fly out for some bacon and eggs somewhere on a Sunday morning.

The affordability of so-called ultra-light planes which start from less than $20,000 while offering extreme efficiency and flexibility and requiring only a recreational aviation license (same health standards as a driver’s license) is putting flying into the realm of local hobbyists, according to Mr Crosby and Mr Weir. These small planes are especially convenient if the pilot has sufficient land for an airstrip, and they don’t need much of a runway.

The men are hoping that the fly-in will encourage more enthusiasts to take up the hobby, by which time the club may be able to justify owning its own plane to make recreational flying even more accessible.

Mr Gresham believes the fly-in was so successful because it gave seasoned pilots an excuse to ‘stretch their wings’ during the winter period which is traditionally a quiet time for flying.

“I don’t know why,” he said.

“With the clear skies the flying conditions at this time of the year are ideal.”

Glen Innes Can Assist committee member Carlene Knight was one of those who took advantage of the introductory flights, and disembarked after the experience thrilled at the opportunity to fly over her home, the Australian Standing Stones, the town water supply and around the district.

“It was beautiful,” she said.

“We hit a few air pockets, but nothing major.”

However she hadn’t felt the need to try her hand at taking over the controls from Mr Gresham at any stage.

“It was happy to let him handle it,” she said.