Latrobe Valley Aero Club

The Latrobe Valley Aero Club (LVAC) is situated at the Latrobe Valley Airport, 160km east of Melbourne.

About

The Club's activities, although primarily flying training and private hire, also include charter flights and aerial work, such as fire spotting and aerial photography. Over the years the Club has trained many hundreds of pilots, from all walks of life - students, nurses, teachers, farmers, businessmen, construction workers, doctors, etc, ranging in age from sixteen to seventy plus. Most have learnt to fly for sport or recreation; some for business and travel, and others have made flying their career.

The LVAC is an incorporated non-profit company and is a Civil Aviation Safety Authority approved Flying School.

The primary activities are flying training, aircraft rental to club members and aircraft charter. The club employs experienced, professional flight instructors and support staff, owns its own fleet of training and rental aircraft and has a comfortable club house incorporating well equipped flying school facilities at the Latrobe Regional Airport.

The Latrobe Valley Aero Club offers training for all standards whether learning for pleasure (Private Pilot) or for a career (Commercial Pilot).

The Club is proud of its safety record and the high standards achieved by Graduate Pilots.

LVAC trained pilots fly with domestic, international and regional airlines, charter, air agricultural companies’ flight training schools and the armed services.

History

The Latrobe Valley Aero Club was formed in 1949 by a small group of enthusiasts, many of whom were ex-servicemen who had learnt to fly with RAAF and wished to maintain their skills in peace time.

At first, members had to rely on a borrowed aircraft for their flying, operating from a paddock on the Brinsmead Family's property, south-west of Morwell. Then, following a successful Air Pageant in 1951, the Club raised sufficient funds to purchase its first aircraft, a Tiger Moth.

With its own aircraft, the Club started flying training with a part-time instructor. More Tiger Moths were bought and added to the fleet. Country centres at Bairnsdale and Sale were established and later at Yarram, Orbost and Meeniyan.

In 1953, the Club appointed its first full-time Chief Flying Instructor.

By the mid-fifties surplus RAF Chipmunk trainers became available and the Club was quick to upgrade its aging fleet, operating four of these aircraft.

In order to facilitate aircraft maintenance the Club established its own aircraft maintenance workshop. This facility trained many an apprentice aircraft mechanic for the industry.

The trend toward travel flying in the late fifties led to the purchase of two Piper Tri-Pacers to offer pilots a four-seater cabin, touring aircraft. They were joined in 1961 by a Piper Comanche, an advanced aircraft with retractable undercarriage. This faster aircraft proved popular for the growing number of charters and 'safari-type' flights through Outback Australia.

In the late 1950s, the Club established itself on the present site at Latrobe Valley Airport, developing over the years, the many facilities enjoyed today - hangars, clubhouse and refuelling installation, etc. Much of this development work being done by voluntary labour and voluntary use of equipment.

The early sixties saw the development and production of an all-Australia training aircraft - the 'AIRTOURER'. This promised a modern, cheap and economical aircraft for club use. Latrobe Valley Aero Club bought the first production 'AIRTOURER' and by 1966 was operating four of these aircraft, almost exclusively for training.

In the 1960s, there was great growth in general aviation. The Club extended its country centres to include Orbost and Meeniyan. During these boom years in flying training the Club employed a staff of 12 including a Manager, Engineers, office staff and five instructors and flew over five thousand hours in one year.

Just as rapidly as it started, the flying boom ended and, by the late sixties, the Club was facing one of its most challenging periods. Aircraft were sold, the workshop closed, country centres discontinued, and just a handful of staff was left to carry on.

These economies proved effective and in 1973 the Club purchased a new CESSNA 172. This began a gradual fleet re-equipment program. Since then the Club has enjoyed a more or less steady growth pattern. Today it operates 3 CESSNA 172s plus several cross-hired aircraft.

Notable Events

From the 1970s to the late 1990s' the LVAC held annual fly-ins and airshows.

Notable Pilots

* John Willis, OAM
* John Brown
* Peter Furlong (see also Gippsland Aeronautics)
* Earl Jones
* Bernie Hansford
* David Weatland (see also Gippsland Aeronautics)
* Alec Hood

Notable Aircraft

The LVAC and its pilots have been involved since the 1960s in aircraft design, development, flight testing - prototypes or 2nd airframes - over a variety of Aircraft including the:
* Airtourer (VH-FMM and VH-FIM)
* Airvan (see also Gippsland Aeronautics)
* Fatman (see also Gippsland Aeronautics)
* Corby Starlet (VH-ULV - 2nd airframe)
* Pitts Special
* P51D Mustang
* Volmer Sportsman (VH-TUB)

External links

* [http://www.latrobevalleyaeroclub.com.au LVAC Official Website]