The First Ever VK Mini Rally

Held at Drury, Auckland, Easter 2005
 

Story and photos by Robert Smits

Conceived after a wet day at the VK Taupo Rally at the beginning of the year, the first “VK Mini” Rally was born at Drury at this Easter, the parents being Robert Smits and Greg Douglas, with the help of Anna Doerr, without whom this biological first sentence would not have made sense.

Came Saturday, there was suddenly an enormous interest from the people present: "Is the Vintage Weekend still on, who is coming, who is flying, can we fly the Ka-8?" I was pleasantly surprised, and we rigged the Dart-17 and the Ka-8 with enthusiastic help. The Sagitta was rolled out, Mark lined up the T-53, and we called up Peter Ramsbeck, he simply had to come and take the Rhonlerche up, which he did.

Absolutely NO private gliders flew that day, and from the club's side only a few students took to the air. But VK had a ball. We clocked 3 hours in the Ka-8 (Rae Kerr, Nigel McPhee and I), Anna flew PW-6, Rainer flew Sagitta and Rhonlerche, Greg flew 3 hours in the Dart, etc etc. And we had lots of interest from everyone. A great day!

On Sunday we really got going, and talked Mike Smith in flying the Dart-15. We looked in the logbook, it had had 4 annual inspections but 0 hours since 2001.... Neil (our CFI) and I had to unpack the glider, get it ready to fly, provide a battery, provide a parachute, but finally Mike couldn't back out and had to fly... and he was stoked! Came back on Monday and flew again, and said he definitely was going to fly more now. I think we saved a soul there - and it wouldn't have been if not for the VK rally. We more or less got the Dart out because we wanted to take pictures.... The Cobra was flying Sunday as well, and by surprise the FOKA-4 from Taupo paid a visit, although it was unintentionally, Colin just wanted to park the trailer at the airfield!

Next years “Drury Mini Rally” is already being planned with more publicity, and plenty of hangarage is available so that is one excuse out of the way already.

One other “baby” was conceived at Taupo, and born at Drury with celebratory BBQ’s, was the formation of a Vintage Kiwi syndicate around Ka8 GLE. This has now taken place and new “parents” are being signed up, the intention being to continue collecting members so that further “Vintage Kiwi” syndicates can be formed.