Fly’n For Fun 2024

‘Fly’n For Fun, where the thrill of flying meets the joy of community.’

Immerse yourself into the world of aviation this April when Fly’n For Fun returns to the Parkes Airport from Friday, April 12 to Sunday, April 14. The event is set to be bigger and better than ever with 144 pilots and aircraft already registered to fly in from all around Australia.

Fly’n For Fun is a fly-in event, created in 2022 with the main objective of bringing the aviation community back together after COVID. “COVID affected our aviation community massively, we just wanted to give everyone an opportunity to get back together and connect again, so that was what 2022 was,” Letesha Stretton from Recreational Aviation Australia said.

“2024 we have the same objective but we wanted to do it on a bigger scale, so we want to invite the public in an attempt to generate interest by immersing more people into the world of aviation.”

There are educational sessions offered over the weekend for anyone who is interested in a career in aviation or simply looking for a hobby to learn how to become a pilot, the public can talk to pilots at the event and learn about the different types of aircraft they fly.

There will be a range of exhibitors and static displays on show including displays from some of Australia’s leading aircraft suppliers and Australian manufacturers. Be mesmerised by the technology which goes into building aircraft as well as the engineering involved. What makes aircraft fly and what keeps them in the sky?

There will be food vendors all weekend with the chance to sit around the campfire to have a chat and catch up. There is an opportunity for trial instructional flights where people can go up with a qualified flight instructor and learn what it’s like to actually take the controls and figure out if flying is for you.

As well as a range of aircraft to look at on the ground Paul Bennet Airshows will take to the skies on Sunday, April 14 providing an aerobatic display. Paul Bennet is an internationally renowned aerobatic pilot so the Parkes community is strongly encouraged to take the opportunity to see him live and for free.

This year under wing camping is offered to pilots thanks to the HARS Aviation Museum who generously has given Recreational Aviation Australia land off airside to use for their Fly’n For Fun event. Under wing camping allows pilots to fully immerse themselves in the event as they are able to stay onsite the whole weekend.

“It’s a bit of a time-honoured tradition for recreational pilots to fly to events and fly to locations on adventures and to camp under wing, stay overnight and share yarns of their adventures around the campfire,” Jennifer Douglas from Recreational Aviation Australia said.

“That’s all part of the fun of being a recreational pilot because we fly our aircraft, we go to wonderful places we can fly anywhere in the country and we all come together to share these beautiful experiences together and that’s what Parkes is all about,” Ms Douglas said.

The AMDA Foundation is the principal sponsor of the Fly’n For Fun event. Without their generous sponsorship and support, Recreational Aviation Australia would not be able to hold Fly’n for Fun for the aviation and Parkes community.

With less than a month till Fly’n For Fun be prepared and get your tickets online now at www.flynforfun.aero, tickets are also available at the gate so don’t miss out on this family fun weekend!

Credit: Madeline Blackstock, Parkes Champion Post.