🌬️ Gusts, Grit, and Groundwork: Springing into Action at Waipuk Airfield (Sept 2025)

From solo milestones and strong winds to strip-flying adventures and a historic new president — here’s what’s been happening in September skies

A good old fashioned windy September.

As I start to write this on Tuesday 24th, the anemometer in the club house shows a max gust for today of 51 Kts and steady at mid 30s plus.

The weekend just gone, Richard Bradley and I attended an AOPA fly in at Darfield in the Sth Island. We dodged a bit of wind on the trip down and back but the Saturday was quite pleasant with relatively light winds although we didn’t venture into the higher country strips because it was a bit stronger up there. These fly ins are very well organized and really hone your strip flying skills. Our newer pilots would learn so much from them. I realize that things are not easy out there financially but occasionally there are some closer events and FGJ split 3 ways or even 2, is quite doable. AOPA does a really good job of lobbying and working for the benefit of us all. Regional councils trying to restrict aircraft movements on private airstrips, small, Council owned airfields being closed and sold off to generate income, CAA levies and charges, are just a few of the topics that AOPA representatives are working away on, on our behalf. You don’t need to be an aircraft owner to be a member and I urge you to consider joining. Our own Reuben Hansen is on the executive and Richard Bradley is a life member which honours his valuable input into the organisation over many years. 

This year it is our turn to host the Saturday events for the annual Tail Dragger weekend. This will be held over the weekend of  Nov 2nd and 3rd. The Saturday events are the STOL and bombing competitions with the Piper Cub landing competition held at Hastings on the Sunday. This year, the Bearhawk group will join us en masse and will arrive a day or 2 earlier and have a local fly around before the weekend. For our part we will need some helpers for the comps on Saturday and also in the kitchen as we will be supplying lunch and morning/afternoon tea. We will also likely put on a BBQ for the bearhawk guys and our own members on the Friday evening.

This coming Sunday, Hawera Aero Club are hosting a brunch fly in. There is a huge high due over the country next week and it will depend on its progress as to whether the wind which precedes it will make the trip viable. Watch this space. Give me a heads up if you would like to go.

The airfield has dried out with the recent wind and we will pull some moles over the tile drains shortly to try to aid the drainage for next winter.

The sheep have gone and so the airfield is now closed up for hay/baleage. We will mow runways and taxiways if we get a growthy spring. Now that the sheep have gone, we can give the airplanes a good wash. It was a waste of time while the sheep shit was fresh but it’s all dried up now. Ross (Big) Hatfull, has given CHB a really good clean and we thank you for that Ross. The 2 Cessnas and the Cub now need a good going over. Those of you who fly these aircraft and who would like to help, let me know. We might have a combined effort on a Sunday perhaps.

Congratulations to Jacque Vanrooyen on his recent first solo. Many of you won’t have met Jacque as he flys with me early on Sunday mornings. We’ve been waiting a while to get the weather ducks lined up for him.

At the AGM several weeks ago, Club history was made as members elected their first female president. Wendy Milne has been an executive committee member for many years and Club Captain several years ago. Wendy will, I’m sure, lead the club forward as we head into our 90th year since formation.

A message from her follows:

View from above.

Hopefully I will be able to report to you all good positive news, on a monthly basis, regarding the management and direction of your asset the Waipuk Aerodrome.

While flying hours are down a bit due to weather and the financial pressures many are having to contend with, the set costs we have to deal with keep on increasing and require diligent monitoring from committee.

We have tried to give the members options and have lowered the flying rate on the Rans to help members budgets and the Rans utilization. This has met with marked success and the initiative will continue, while the demand is there.

 Quite a bit of delayed maintenance has been tackled this last year which is timely given the restrictions we may face going forward.

The large square hanger we acquired the year before, from the HB Gliding club has had a new roof put on this last month and a bit of money spent on the doors.

We welcome Simon Holdsworth as the new owner of the Gabria Syndicate hanger. Be good to see a bit more of you around Simon.

RAANZ have approached us with Waipukurau being asked to host the next Autumn fly in. March with a yet to be decided date, so please put it on your calendars, great weekend with a lot of interesting people from all over converging on our field. We are a much requested venue apparently, with a great reputation for good flying and memorable hospitality. Club Captain Callum will be looking for a team closer to the date.

In closing I would like to remind you even if weather doesn’t allow flying Sunday 5pm is a great time to catch up with others and happenings around the club socially at the bar. Jason Wyn Harris is doing a great job as bar manager and welcomes all support.

Wendy 

 Recently some members attended a very well attended evening at Hastings Aero Club, run by CAA, titled “Circuit Certainty” This was a worthwhile and informative evening which reinforced safe circuit procedures. The key points being, situational and traffic awareness, good lookout, concise and clear radio calls, and correct procedures. There was nothing different to the way we do things so keep doing what you’ve been taught here.

Next month, I’m heading off to an instructor seminar in Wellington. These are held biennially and are very good value. I’ll report back with anything relevant.

The Club website, which has been defunct for a couple of years now, is almost back on line. Thanks to Ross(New) Hill-Rennie, we will soon have a modern new look website.

A timely reminder about starting aircraft engines.

Those who fly with me know that few things annoy me more than bad technique when starting an aircraft engine. If the recipe is correct, no more than 2 revolutions of the prop should be required before it starts. Any more than that and you need to try something different. Cranking the starter for ages achieves nothing except risking damage to the high speed starters fitted to the Cessnas and the Cub.

Prime if cold. Give the primer time to fill when pulling it out. If the engine is warm, minimal priming and if it hot, no priming.

DON’T pump the throttle!

Throttle setting is important.

 If cold and cold priming was used, more throttle is required. Immediately reduce throttle as it starts to prevent the cold engine revving over 1000RPM.

If warm or hot, less throttle is needed for less prime and if no prime is used, the throttle should be fully closed.

The incident that prompted this topic? The pilot was trying to start the aircraft with the fuel turned off. GMS

That’s all from me this month.

“Take The Spoon Out Of The Sink”

Ross Macdonald