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Annual fly-in hosts formation team

AeroSpace camp will be best one yet with new and updated equipment
Annual fly-in hosts formation team

Organizers of this year’s Texada Island Annual Fly-in were pleasantly surprised to hear from the Fraser Blues that the formation flying demonstration team will perform at this year’s event, Sunday, July 15.

The internationally acclaimed team, based in Langley, BC, officially retired two years ago, but murmurings around Langley airport were that the team had been seen practicing formations this spring. “We sent them an invitation for them to come and give the youth their [Texada AeroSpace Camp] graduation diplomas,” said Doby Dobrostanski, a Texada resident and one of the main organizers of the fly-in. He is assisted by other aviation aficionados and members of Texada Arts, Culture and Tourism Society. The diplomas are Texada AeroSpace Camp wings, small embroidered cloth wings that students can pin on their clothing. “Shortly after that I got a phone call from George Miller the leader, and he offered, out of the blue, to be here.”

The Fraser Blues are no strangers to Texada. They attended the Fly-in in 2010 and used to practice on the island. Dobrostanski said they particularly liked the fact the runway has very little traffic, and over the years have developed quite a lot of local friendships.

The Fly-in regularly draws hundreds of pilots and aviation buffs from all around the province. Months of planning and preparation involve dozens of volunteers who work in planning, liaison with Transport Canada, administration, logistics, food arrangements, airport air and ground safety and the dining and kitchen setups at the airport as well as all the hosting of celebrities and special guests.

Attendees will experience live entertainment, view many different airplanes and enter contests such as choosing their favourite aircraft. “It is a great opportunity for people to see old airplanes and meet some interesting people,” said Dobrostanski. The day of the Fly-in begins at 9 am with pancakes at Gillies Bay airport and ends early afternoon.

The pancake breakfast is not the first event of the weekend, however. On Saturday evening, July 14, Fling Wing-Ding aviators’ dance party takes place at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 232 in Van Anda. As many participants in the Fly-in camp under the wing at the airport, transportation is provided to the dance by Fly-in volunteers.

Leading up to the Fly-in weekend is Texada AeroSpace Camp 2012 “altitude with attitude.” This three-day camp for youth aged 10 through 18, from July 12 to 14, provides a ramped-up, hands-on perspective of both aviation and aerospace aspects. Basic aerodynamics, a flight simulator, a wind tunnel, experiments and exercises in astronomy, aviation, flying model airplanes and rockets as well as hands-on aviation metalworking will be the major undertakings of students.

“This year will be quite fabulous because we have some better and updated equipment,” said Dobrostanski. “We have a Microsoft flight simulator and wind tunnel, and a very controlled rocket shoot with some people that are very qualified in range procedures. They launch model rockets which are small and don’t go very high, but give the kids an idea of the type of procedures involved including safety and procedure of count down and clear.”

A maximum of 25 students can take part and as registration is already open, candidates are urged to get their registrations in. Registration is available online or by phoning Anne Carney, registrar, at 604.486.7117, or Dobrostanski, 604.486.0334. The fee is $85 for registration up to midnight on Friday, July 6 and $100 thereafter. Lunches and snacks will be provided for all students.

Interested readers can learn more about the Fraser Blues Formation Demonstration team by visiting its website.