August 24  2006
The News Desk has been advised that the Gatton College airstrip west of Archerfield is to close in the not-to-distant future after more than 30 years of sport flying operations
 
The hangars constructed on the leased college ground by flying club members over this time period will be "adequately compensated" by the administrators for loss of use of their property

News Desk Comment

The Lockyer Valley Flying Club started around 35 years ago to cater for the home-built and recreational pilot needing a place to fly his/her aircraft without the involvement of commercial pressures encountered at other major airports nearby
 
Archerfield is less than 30 minutes away by air

August 25  2006
Melbourne's Moorabbin airport was the centre of attention to-day for the action starved media when a Beech King Air C90 encountered undercarriage problems and landed with the pilots knowing the nose-wheel would collapse on touchdown
 

The General Flying Services operated 8-seat twin-turboprop aircraft was apparently returning from a 'navigational exercise' when the pilot undergoing training noticed a problem with the nose wheel "green light" indication - like there wasn't any!

August 26  2006
The news media again got caught up in the flying action with most TV channels reporting on the crash of an ultralight aircraft that ended up in a cane paddock near Beenleigh
 
The pilot reported that the engine had stopped on his way back to the Heck airfield where his aircraft was based and he was compelled to land in a cane paddock - he then walked to a nearby road and flagged down a motorist who took him to a medical centre for a check-up

News Desk Comment

The Heck Airfield - operated by the Gold Coast Sports Flying Club - has been gradually improved over time including a new extended runway along with additional club buildings and an assortment of hangars
 
Interest in this airfield started in the late 80's when Archerfield was "sold" to the FAC - ultralights were not welcome and that condition remains

August 27  2006
Police established a crime scene after a motorised glider impacted the ground and caught fire killing a 40+yo father and his young son
 
The two-seat privately owned glider was en-route from Camden to the machine's base at Bankstown airport when the accident happened

Witness reports indicate something fell from the glider shortly before it crashed near the Camden Valley Way south west of Sydney
 

News Desk Comment

Similar accidents to this one in the past had the canopy dislodge and strike the tailplane - the machine cannot be controlled without an elevator or rudder