Expected at the 'field to-morrow for a "conference" with the flying schools, is the chairman of C.A.S.A. Mr. Dick Smith

There is "unrest" at the schools on having to pay the tower costs which is now amounting to many thousand of dollars and Dick's visit is to try to resolve the problem

. . . . . . . click HERE for details on Dicks last visit to the 'field in December 1997

. . . . . . . it's only the flying schools that want the tower, but the cost of operation may be more than what "they", the flying training industry, can afford

The MiG-15 of Barry Hempel returned to the 'Field yesterday after spending some time at Coolangatta airport

Barry was unable to land the MiG at Archerfield, after returning from the Hervey Bay Air Show some weeks back, due to the "short" runway length and opted to go to a "bigger" airport

Also noticed during the past week, was a H4 registered BN Islander undergoing test flying after refurbishing on the 'field

. . . . . . . "lengthening the runway" for landing aircraft can also be achieved by waiting for the appropriate headwind

. . . . . . Barry needs about 10 kts. on the nose to land at Archerfield and waited for the right conditions before returning the MiG 15 to home base

On Sunday next there will be a commemorative flight, commencing at Archerfield, in recognition of the 100th. birthdate of one of Australia's early aviation pioneers, Charles Ulm

Historians will recall Ulm as the business manager for our Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith's operation and also the co-pilot on the record breaking Pacific flight with "Smithy" in the "Southern Cross" in 1928

The commemorative flight will be in a Beechcraft Baron owned and operated by Keith Carmody and will depart at 1015 hrs. for Brisbane airport and the "Smithy/Southern Cross" memorial

It will have as V.I.P. passengers, Mr. Bruce Cowan, who served as an apprentice and aircraft mechanic with the Smith/Ulm operation, and Mrs. Gwenyth Clark, whose parents were very close friends of Smith/Ulm, and who can recall, as a young girl, fond memories of both aviators

. . . . . . the "Southern Cross", a Fokker Trimotor, flew across the Pacific Ocean from Oakland, California, U.S.A., to Brisbane and is recorded as one of Australia's most historic flights, a feat which earned "Smithy" a knighthood

. . . . the Fokker is now in it's own museum at Brisbane airport

. . . . . . . Ulm was lost in 1934 flying an Airspeed Envoy from the U.S.A. to Hawaii

. . . . . . "Smithy" lost his life a year later while flying from England to Australia in a Lockheed Altair, the "Lady Southern Cross"

. . . . . as a matter of interest, a main undercarrage wheel, the only evidence of the Altair accident, was found off the coast of Burma in about 1937 and is now on display in the entrance to the Powerhouse Museum, Darling Harbour, Sydney

Movements at the 'field during the past weekinclude the DC4 departing for a freight "job" in PNG, and the arrival of a new homebuilt aircraft, a two seat Glastar

The fibreglass, metal tube and aluminium constructed Glastar is powered by a Lycoming engine of 160 hp. and gives the machine "stol" (short take-off & landing) characteristics combined with economical "cross country" cruise performance of around 130 kts

. . . . . . at long last the '4 appears to have found a well paid job and can now relinquish its "unemployed" and "on the dole" tags

. . . . . after more than 50 years working "in the air", it comes as no surprise that this is longer than the "life" of the persons who "created" the '4 working "on the ground"

Latest news on the 'Field include a landing "mishap" yesterday by a local C172RG flying "south of the border" down N.S.W. way

Apparently, a strong gust of wind hit the Cessna on landing, and it "fell over"; there were no reported serious injuries

And to-morrow, the Hempel MiG-15 is due to depart for the Nowra Air Show, again, "south of the border" way

. . . . . . also "south of the border" down Casino to Sydney way, debate is raging on the "safety" of the newly designated radar advisory class G airspace that became effective this time last week