Our 2021 Autumn Scale rally marked the 14th year we have held this event. Actually, we have only conducted 13 events having to cancel the 2020 event due to Covid restrictions.
This year we had 26 entries with 60 aircraft display. Entrants came from Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Wangaratta and Ballarat plus our own TCMAC members. We had lots of local visitors come out for a look, no doubt brought out by the beautiful weather over the weekend, and we hope to turn some of these into members in the near future. It is great to see a renewed interest in the hobby.
Many visiting pilots took the opportunity to camp on the field and test out the club’s new shower facilities and enjoy a soothing beverage or two around the new fire pit of an evening, after the days flying activities had finished of course. On Saturday night we were all entertained by new TCMAC member Tim belting out a few tunes on the guitar, the backup singers however need a little work on their skills for next year.
We certainly enjoyed great weather, warm Autumn sunshine and no wind over Saturday & Sunday, in complete contrast to the Monday after the event when thunderstorms and heavy rain prevailed. The weather gods were smiling on us and all those that attended had a great experience and left promising to return.
The Albury field was in its best condition for years following a rather wet summer, plus the efforts put in by many members preparing the airfield. Major improvements carried out during the preceding year included concreting the pit area, the area in front of the club house, and the construction of about 20 assembly tables in the pits. The Canteen crew were also well up to the job with two days of breakfast and lunches provided along with cold drinks all weekend, thanks go to Ray and his team.
This is a non-competition rally, but awards are presented to the best Civil and Military aircraft displayed and flown, these being judged by an independent committee made up of both local members and visiting pilots.
Winners this year were:
Best Military Aircraft:
Peter Graeber (from T.C.M.A.C.) with his SE5a.
Best Civil Aircraft:
Tim DeHaan (from the Northern Flying Group) with the Ercoupe.
Peter’s SE5a is a recent build and is of Museum quality and this is Tim’s second award in a row after winning the 2019 event with his Stompe.
We had a WW1 display on Saturday which involved 4 Fokker aircraft of varying types up against 1 lonely Allied SE5a. One by one the Fokker’s succumbed to the SE5a’s onslaught till only one D7, piloted by Rob Sargent, remained however Pete Graeber, with his award winning SE5a, could not down the last combatant and Germany prevailed.
Highlights on Sunday were Ross Bathie with his half scale Piper Pawnee towing a huge glider, great viewing for the entrants and visitors, and Rob Sargent and Dave Tulk putting on a WW2 display with Rob’s P47 and Dave’s P40 showing the crowd how to have a good time, again a display enjoyed by all.
Keep early May next year vacant so you can visit Albury for the 2022 Autumn Scale Rally.
For more pictures of the event click on the link below