Oz-Kosh takes off

More than 1500 people are thought to have attended the event, with 397 aircraft flocking to Narromine Airport for the occasion.

A collaboration between the Sport Aircraft Association of Australia (SAAA), Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus), the Hang Gliders Federation of Australia (HGFA) and the Australian Parachute Federation (APF), the event is aimed making aviation more accessible and showcasing the viability of the industry.

“We’ve got people who have flown from Western Australia, far-north Queensland, they’ve flown from all points,” Oz-Kosh organiser David Young said.

“It’s about getting the aviation industry to work collaboratively to show how viable the industry is.”

While only in its first year, the event aims to become one of Australia’s flagship aviation events.

Mr Young said Narromine’s weather and the facilities made it the perfect place to host the event.

And while the economic benefit is not yet known, he said it was a coup for the town.

“You’ve got great weather, it’s a great airstrip to land in, it’s got fantastic support from the [Narromine Shire] council and that’s what we need to get an event like this growing,” Mr Young said.

“Economically I don’t know what it means but I’d say each of these people will spend a couple of hundred dollars in the shire – it’s really worth a lot to Narromine.

“We hope to build a long association with Narromine, the shire and the community.”

The three-day event featured workshops on topics from organisational reform of RAAus and the future of aviation to human factors in aviation and personal stories.

Aircraft from light sport aircraft to gyrocopters were on sale, while exhibitors from manufacturers and avionics to organisations and merchandise showcased their wares across the airport.

One exhibitor in particular, Silent Wings run by Ed and Gwyn Smith from Geraldton, Western Australia, sold four aircraft over the weekend.

“It went well...exceptionally well indeed,” Mr Young said.

”From a participant’s perspective, a great facility and everyone enjoyed themselves.

”A great success and [we’re] looking forward to coming back next year. We’ll certainly build on the whole concept and probably the air show concept we’ll change next year to make it bigger and better.”