This year’s Great Eastern Fly-In is easily largest aviation event held in the region with up to 200 aircraft ready to descend on Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome.
Coordinator, Gai Taylor says, ‘we always look forward to this weekend. There is so much for everyone attending: pilots and general public.’
‘This year will see all the favourites: many types of aircraft, air displays, joy flights, Saturday Markets, Sunday Car, Bike and Boat Show plus a display of model boats from Ballina.
‘A special treat will be a “squadron” of amphibious aircraft (seaplanes) flying in on Saturday. Community groups are encouraged to attend and this year we’ll have the RFS, Evans Head Living Museum and Men’s Shed, Westpac Helicopter Service, Marine Rescue and of course the Aviation Museum with the famous F-111!,’ Gai says.
This year the Great Eastern celebrates the 75th Anniversary of the establishment of RAAF Station Evans Head 1939 – 1945, where over 5500 personnel were trained for Bomber Command, 1100 of whom never returned. The Aerodrome was named as their memorial.
There will be displays about the Station and lots of WW11 type aircraft flying. There were also many women serving there, WAAAFS, who carried out a wide range of jobs, including transport, including the ‘Dunny’ truck! On Saturday there’ll be a group of WW11 military vehicles arriving for the day.
Gai says, ‘the contribution these people gave to Australia and the world was huge as Bomber Command had the heaviest casualties of all. For many of these young people this was the first time they’d ever been away from home and Evans Head remains a very important part of their lives’.
With free admission (donations welcome) the Great Eastern makes for a fun family day out, with parking, great food, kids activities and lots to see and do.
For more details visit their website: www greateasternflyin.com
