FOR RECREATIONAL PILOTS. Sport Pilot^25
past it was like they had lost touch with the mem-
bers who make up the organisation and some of
the decisions being made didn’t seem to make any
sense to me.”
The annual Clifton fly-in has been held continu-
ously since 1982 and, in that time, only once was
it cancelled.
“That was due to a localised thunderstorm that
left water running over the strip and, while club pi-
lots familiar with the airfield had no problems, I felt
it was just too dangerous for those coming, so the
decision to cancel was made,” Trevor Bange, airfield
owner and CFI of the Lone Eagle Flying School.
Bange’s Field can trace its roots to
March 1932 when Trevor’s father,
John Joseph Bange, built and
flew a primary glider from the
field.
The Aviadell Flying Club
was formed soon afterwards
and continued up until the war
years. The airfield, however,
continues to this day.
The formation of the flying
school was of vital interest to one of
the founding members.
Glen Bruggemann wanted to learn to fly but his
wife, Charmaine said; “you don’t own a plane so why
learn to fly?”
That was in 1999 and, being ever resourceful,
Glen thought to himself: “I can soon fix that.”
Glen travelled to Bundaberg and purchased one
of the first Jabiru kits. He built it in his shed.
Three years or so later it was ready to fly but
there was still no ultralight flight school in the dis-
trict. Glen approached Trevor Bange and between
them the problem was solved.
Trevor flew the first 25 hours in Glen’s Jabiru so
it could be certified and then trained Glen to fly it.
This year’s Clifton fly-in was held in near perfect
conditions with a 15kt cross wind abating on Satur-
day and becoming almost completely calm by Sun-
day morning.
The range and types of aircraft on display had
to be seen to be believed with both GA and RA-Aus
types in attendance.
Along with the usual suspects of Jabirus, RVs,
Savannahs, Cessnas, Pipers and a huge range of
European composite aircraft, there were also a
number of new and unique types on display.
Mal Shipton flew in from Kilcoy with his beauti-
ful Cessna 140 (one of a number of vintage aircraft
Mal owns) which drew many admiring onlookers.
“It’s just a lovely airplane to fly,” Mal said. “And it
doesn’t cost a fortune to operate.”
One aircraft which drew the crowds was the Just
Aircraft’s SuperStol.
With its huge wheels and high ground clearance
this Rotax 912S powered aircraft really fulfils its de-
sign criteria.
The company motto is: ‘No airfield? No problem’
(See story on Just Aircraft Sport Pilot March 2015).
The iconic Clifton fly-in is eagerly anticipated
every year and not one newcomer left disappointed.
It is one of the best organised and inexpensive
events on the Queensland aviation calendar and,
after coming here for many years, I would not dream
of missing one.FLY-INS
“It is one
of the best
organised
events on the
calendar”Glen Bruggemann
with the Jabiru
he built and
learned to fly inA DH82 Tiger Moth looking
resplendent in greenMichael Linke (left),
James Bange (pilot)
and RA-Aus Assistant
Operations Manager
Neil Schaefer