A personal journey reconnecting with instructors, flight schools, and aviation stories along Australia’s east coast.
By Anthony Coleiro, Assistant Head of Flight Operations
It started as a request from my wife: “Darling, I would like to go to the Sunshine Coast to surprise my friend for her 70th birthday.”
I said, “Sure, I’ll put in for some leave and come with you.”
We discussed options for getting there from our home, 30 km northeast of Goulburn in NSW, and decided to make it a road trip. As soon as that decision was made, a light bulb went on—I thought what a fantastic opportunity to visit some of our Flight Training Schools (FTS) and meet up with RAAus CFIs I’d only spoken to on the phone or interacted with via email.
Having only been in the role of Assistant Head of Flight Operations (AHFO) for 10 months, I thought it would be great to get out there, put faces to names, and show support for those at the coalface of flight training.
I raised the idea with my superiors at RAAus, and they agreed it was a good one. So I started planning. To maximise the number of schools I could visit, I mapped out a coastal route heading north, and an inland route for the return. I checked the RAAus website for school locations and compared them against our intended route, compiling a list of schools along the way. I would have loved to drop in on all of them—but, much to my wife’s relief, compromises had to be made. We were time-limited due to available leave, and visiting every school would have meant zigzagging across the countryside.
I listed the schools in the order we’d pass them: 25 going north, and 9 on the return. We planned to reach the Sunshine Coast four days after departure and take three days to get back.
When I mentioned I planned to visit 34 FTS, there was a fair bit of scepticism both at home and at work. After all, the purpose of the trip was also to have a holiday, attend a birthday party, and spend time with the birthday girl. Having previously worked for a major Australian airline, I took a page from their playbook: overbook, with the assumption not all “passengers” would show. I sent correspondence to all the FTS I planned to visit, providing dates and approximate arrival times. The response was overwhelming—more than I expected. Well, I made my bed, and now I had to lie in it.
Day One – Familiar Beginnings
Departure day arrived. Our first stop was The Oaks (YOAS) airfield, where we visited Greg Davies and Graham Johnston of Sydney Recreational Flying Club. Next was Dave’s Flight Training, where David and Rhonda Rolfe welcomed us with scones, jam, and cream. These visits were especially nostalgic—it was in the building now occupied by Dave’s school that I earned my RPC through the then AUF, and it was at Sydney Recreational Flying Club, under the late Carl Holden, that I converted my CASA Flight Instructor Rating to an RAAus one.
Our next stop was Warnervale (YWVA) on the NSW Central Coast. Like YOAS, there are two flight schools here. One CFI, from Skywise Microlights, wasn’t planning to be at the airfield on the day of our visit, but he invited me to his home, which was on our way. He operates a Group B school and gave me a first-hand briefing on the challenges these schools face due to reduced support from aircraft manufacturers.
Our final stop for the day was Aerofloat at YWVA, where I met James Stewart. He specialises in floating hull endorsements using the very attractive Super Petrel aircraft. Demand for these endorsements is niche—these aircraft can’t be hired privately. I can relate, having earned my float endorsement at Kenmore Air Harbour in Seattle in the 1990s, though I hadn’t used it much since.
We wrapped up day one at Lake Macquarie, staying with a friend and fellow pilot who owns a beautiful Piper Archer we once ferried from Moorabbin.
Day Two – Heading Inland
We headed inland to Cessnock (YCNK) to visit Simon De Lorenzo at Aerohunter. I had recently interviewed him via Teams for a DCFI position, so it was good to meet in person. Then it was back toward the coast to catch up with my boss, Marty Peters, at Heatherbrae for lunch.
We had planned to meet Ross Costanzo of Mid Coast Flying at Old Station (YPLS) near Kempsey, but the timing didn’t work, so we continued to South Grafton (YSGN) and met Peter Clement at Clement’s Flight School.
We arrived at dusk and I appreciated Peter’s patience. He runs a busy school with a great facility and is building a Jabiru simulator.
That evening we stayed with my cousin near Iluka—the first time I’d seen him and his partner since they moved there three years ago.
Day Three – Gold Coast Target
We had a long drive ahead, with our goal being the Gold Coast by late afternoon to stay with a friend and former airline colleague. There was only one stop planned: Eagle Air at Murwillumbah (YMUR), where we met CFI Mark Hamilton. He gave us a tour of his excellent facility before taking us to a retro café for lunch.
Day Four – Sunshine Coast Surprise
Thursday, 5 June. We needed to reach the Sunshine Coast to surprise our friend. With the shortest distance to cover, I had time for a few visits.
At Redcliffe (YRED), I stopped first at Fly Now Redcliffe. Mahl Oakes wasn’t there, but I spoke with instructor David Karan. The school was busy, and we discussed the new training syllabus. Then I visited Paul Reddish at Advanced Aviation Training, where I also met Bob Tait and Francis Piens, whom we had recently interviewed for a DCFI role.
Paul tipped us off to a great coffee spot—and he wasn’t wrong. We mentioned his name when ordering and were treated like regulars. The café owner even showed us wedding photos—she and her husband were married mid-flight in a Metroliner!
We arrived on the Sunshine Coast in the early afternoon and knocked on the birthday girl’s door. Saying she was floored is an understatement—she practically had to pick her jaw off the floor. Her house is an aerohead’s dream, backing onto the Sunshine Coast (YBSU) airport.
While she and my wife caught up, I visited Michael Xeni and Teresa Pesic at the Sunshine Coast Aero Club. It’s a busy school with a strong social aspect and plans to expand into GA training.
That evening we stayed with friends in Coolum.
Day Five – Caboolture Cluster
First stop was GoFly at Caloundra (YCAL). Dan Maloney wasn’t available, but I spoke with instructor Tomas Murray. The school was busy and full of energy.
Next was Caboolture (YCAB), which had the most schools in one place. I visited Karen Strike of Strike Aviation, who shared the history of their banner-towing origins. Then I stopped by Caboolture Recreational Aviation—Bill Haynes wasn’t there, but I spoke with his wife and daughter.
I also caught up with Mark Gentry of Caboolture Flight School—we discussed Group G developments. Lastly, I met Stuart Erskine at Aerolinq, where we talked about two-stroke engine issues.
We returned to Coolum to prepare for the 70th birthday dinner that night—a great evening and the highlight of our trip.
Day Six – Inland Return Begins
On Sunday, we headed home via an inland route. We had hoped to visit Paul Christian at Watts Bridge (YWSG), but timing didn’t align, as we needed to reach Moree (YMOR) by night.
Instead, we visited Clifton (YCFN), where Trevor Bange runs Lone Eagle. It’s a great location and facility, and he, like others, had questions for me to bring back to the office.
We reached Moree at dusk, checked in, then met Fred Nolan of FN Aviation at the airport. He instructs in a Jabiru J170, but what caught my eye was a pristine Cessna 185 in the hangar—tailwheel heaven.
Day Seven – Wings Out West
Monday was a public holiday in NSW. Nothing was open, so we had a petrol station breakfast and headed to Dubbo. After a mix-up, I met Dan Compton of Wings Out West at his airfield. He had three immaculate Cubs and another under restoration.
Next, we visited Grace Walker of Flying with Grace in Narromine. She teaches in a Cub and a Tecnam P96—the same model I used to teach in at Bankstown. That aircraft was a favourite of mine: great performance, easy to fly, and students progressed quickly. So many memories.
We stayed overnight in Narromine.
Day Eight – A Return to Roots
With eight days behind us, we were on the home stretch. Our aim was to be home by dinner, but we had a few stops left.
At Parkes (YPKS), I met Brett Presig from Parkes Aviation Centre. The school is based in the same building I worked in during my first full-time instructing job. Sitting in that office again brought it all back—it was where my aviation career began.
I also dropped into the nearby HARS hangar, our partner for the Biennial Fly’n For Fun. I found my friend Mike, and we shared a cuppa before continuing.
Day Nine – The Final Leg
Our last stop was Cowra (YCWR). Graham MacDonald of Hawksbury Power Parachute Centre wasn’t available, nor was Rob Glenn of Cowra and District Aero Club, but Rob and his wife Frances met us for coffee in Canowindra.
Rob had been my CFI at Parkes and gave me my first big break in aviation—a fitting end to our journey.
Final Reflections
After nine days and nearly 2,500 km, we were home. It was a privilege to meet so many passionate members of the RAAus community. I want to thank everyone who took the time to meet with us and made us feel so welcome.
When I suggested combining our holiday with FTS visits, I thought my wife might kill me—but she ended up enjoying it as much as I did. Everyone was so generous and kind.
I hope to catch up with many more of you in the future.
Fair wings and clear skies,
Anthony Coleiro, AHFO.
