Onslow flying club ready for take off

Onslow’s new flying club is ready for take off after acquiring a plane to get people interested in flying.

Flying Club Onslow president Tahi Morton and Carol Morton picked the Aeroprakt A22LS Foxbat up from Melbourne last month and flew it back to its new home at the Onslow Airport.

Mr Morton said having another recreational activity in town would help attract and retain residents.

“We just got talking together with a few friends, and when the opportunity to lease a lot out here came up, that was our opening,” he said.

“Everywhere we go when we hold stalls people say they would love to learn how to fly, or pilots say ‘if you get a plane, we’d love to fly it’.

“We are still looking for funds to develop our lot and build a hangar.

“That is the next big challenge ahead of us.”

Mr Morton said the ultimate goal was to have students learning to fly out of Onslow.

Ben Walkington is one resident set to benefit from the club.

Mr Walkington has had a keen interest in flying since childhood and will now have the chance to get his recreational pilot licence.

“In primary school I used to go to the library and pick up books on aeronautics,” he said.

“When I found there was a flying club here, that re-sparked my interest.”

Mr Walkington said anyone interested in flying should just “give it a crack”.

“It is actually pretty straightforward, just like driving a car,” he said.

Mr Morton said the club had had plenty of interest in flying from towns across the region.