Aldinga Airport

incorrect position

Never going back ! Simple !

When i was last there about 6 years ago there was a Turbulent cruising around( a very cool old kit built french number if memory serves).. a Super cub , a tiger , a WACKO Waco, A Citabria , A Plastic fantastic sr22 hotrod...a few 172s ,warrioirs arrows etc and a couple of 152s not to mention a swarm of Sportstar (90kt little Polish numbers) ... except the Wacko and Turbulent all were available to hire .... If you like flying cool aircraft check it out . If you dont ... go somewhere else

(Reposted as my earlier post didn't include my name.) I read the on this thread while researching flying schools before starting lessons some 3 months ago. I drove to Murray Bridge, and to Parafield, and when I went for a look-see at Aldinga (after the comments below) I expected a frosty welcome, perhaps expensive food, and worse. What I found instead is a warm family-run business, a guided walk over to the school's aircraft parked across the beautiful lawn area so I could see their quality and equipment, and nothing but respect and warmth. Of the four schools I visited and spoke with (and I took the TIF with another school), Adelaide Biplanes was by far the most welcoming. Not only that, their aircraft were the most professionally presented and newer. And also the best priced in the category I'm flying. I am surprised at the slurs on this page from anonymous posters, and in my eyes that says more about them than the good folks at Adelaide Biplanes. To anyone else reading this thread, don't accept the comments below as truth - go visit them yourself and make up your own mind.

I read the on this thread while researching flying schools before starting lessons some 3 months ago. I drove to Murray Bridge, and to Parafield, and when I went for a look-see at Aldinga (after the comments below) I expected a frosty welcome, perhaps expensive food, and worse. What I found instead is a warm family-run business, a guided walk over to the school's aircraft parked across the beautiful lawn area so I could see their quality and equipment, and nothing but respect and warmth. Of the four schools I visited and spoke with (and I took the TIF with another school), Adelaide Biplanes was by far the most welcoming. Not only that, their aircraft were the most professionally presented and newer. And also the best priced in the category I'm flying. I am surprised at the slurs on this page from anonymous posters, and in my eyes that says more about them than the good folks at Adelaide Biplanes. To anyone else reading this thread, don't accept the comments below as truth - go visit them yourself and make up your own mind.

I note that a recent comment suggest that one should identify oneself on this Aldinga comments site. Do so and say it as it is and you will have assertive action leveled against oneself by the operators. They will either cancel a fuel card if one has one which is illegal. Or They will find reason to Dob you in. But rest assured, they will get you one way or the other simply for telling as it is.

By the Bollocks, they have brought about all these negative comments themselves. Look at other airports and airfields and there are very few negative comments. Where there is a lot of smoke, there certainly is a fire.

Grow up and get some balls has it all wrong. Adelaide Biplanes had absolutely no respect for the locals. They came here Pommy Land, Bought the Flying school and within a short period of time where conducting flight activities at all hours and late on Saturday and Sundays with the constant droning of aircraft going round and round and sometimes low level circuits as well. Anyone living in the vicinity stated getting jacked off. But they never ever wanted to close the flying school nor the airfield down. That us absolute rubbish to state that. At the end of the day it was simply and plainly Adelaide Biplanes who have been the root cause of a beautiful country airfield being EPA licensed. That transpired to be the only way to control these inconsiderate operators who have dobbed other aviators in to CASA rather than talk to the person that they, as self appointed industry police, perceived to be doing wrong. And worse than that , they reported people from other airfields and venues which had absolutely nothing to do with them. And to Mr Bollocks. The way you are ranting and raving leaves a lot to be desired in your ignorant outlook of the the facts. As a Adelaide Biplane disciple, you would have blinkers on. It only takes one to read the majority of comments to form an opinion that the operators at Aldinga have also no respect for Australian Aviators many of whom can fly rings around the bloke from Aldinga. Remember that within the first year of him coming to Australia from Pommie Land, he stated that Australians have a bad flying culture and that HE was going to change it. He has alright, which is why the pilots from Adelaide Biplanes are not overly welcome at any of the Flying Venues in South Australia. And that is a fact. And the other thing which many have experienced, go there and do not put your hand in your pocket for fuel, coffee or cake, you will get the cold shoulder.

Reading all of these comments for the first time is interesting, Oh and so brave or the Pilots commenting without signing you name to anything. It reminds me of school girls bitching about something they don't like. Seriously I have been Flying out of YADG for 10 years. It is a great local airfield (That is NOT owned and operated by Adelaide Bi-Planes) and If you cant fit in to a circuit that has multiple runways in operation then get some more training it's pretty basic. Right hand circuits are in place to appease the few locals who have tried to shut down the field due to noise. . . whom purchased well after the field was registered and they failed. . . hence the EPA saga, it was there last resort. The comments about ABP and the EPA are both uneducated and unsubstantiated and I will leave it at that, if you don't know anything about it don't comment on it because you sound like a tit. The Aviation community is small and we should be all trying to support each other not shit on each other. Tim Whitrow. Local very bad Pilot who seems to piss everybody off..

Aldinga has the worlds greatest pilot. Self professed of course. He was flying his Waco in formation with his Super Cub, which observers believe was carrying too much weight and that the weight and balance would have been way out, when pilot of the Super Cub radioed the worlds greatest pilot and informed him that something was flapping around by the fuel tank. After some deliberation he informed the Super Cub Pilot that he had left the fuel filler cap off. It is understood that they were on the way to Kangaroo Island and would have flown over one of the most dangerous stretches of waters in the world . One trembles when considering what the consequences would have been if the Worlds Greatest Pilot had run out of fuel over those waters. He hastily returned to Aldinga. Another chapter in the life of the Worlds Greatest Pilot.

I had the unfortunate experience of meeting the owner and CFI of Adelaide Biplanes today. He verbally abused me for conducting an overshoot(circuit into a go-around) at a nearby ALA en-route to Aldinga. What on earth is wrong with an overshoot I do not know, but he accused me of a 'beat-up', a totally false and unsubstantiated accusation. He threatened "I'll report you to the ATSB before you can make it back to Parafield". I am lost for words. Upon some research I came across this thread, and, oh my, it all makes sense. I do have to agree with the comments; it's all happy days as long as long as you're diving into your wallet, until you have a run-in with this guy. Seems like their EPA donation I've been contributing to for a long time is one big lie also. I also agree that their practice of operating on several runways is dangerous. I've enjoyed going to Aldinga for a long time. I'm a very easy going chap and normally wouldn't let this hold me back, but the consistent comments regarding unfair/false reports to CASA is extremely off-putting.

For a Pom who comes to Australia, buys the flying School at Aldinga, calls it Adelaide Biplanes and tells us that Australians have a bad flying culture and that they are going to change it, they are doing really well. I mean, they must be on first term names with their insurance company as I saw another Sports Star with a mangled prop and damaged on a trailer down south near Goolwa which comes from Aldinga. So how many is that now that they have stuffed up. Taxied a Tiger Moth into a PARKED aircraft, stood the super cub on its nose, stalled a Lighting into the ground and how ever many more. ]Not a bad record for someone who says that we in Australia have a bad flying culture and then acts as the industry police and runs to CASA for everything that they think is wrong. And abuses those who they PERCEIVE doing something wrong as self appointed industry police. And by the way, the only time that you are treated nicely there is if you put your hand in your pocket and they can hear the Ching Ching of the cash register. Otherwise have no time for one. People who live in glass houses should never throw stones. Eh. No wonder there are now many who will not fly in there as who knows what will happen next. Abused, reported to CASA, prang and treated rudely. Plus the safest airfield in Australia. Pigs. Remember that this is all in my opinion only derived from personal experience and observations and what I have witnessed first hand and told and verified by others. Not a nice place and needs to get the like of the previous operators back theter to return it to the safe friendly place it used to be with the camaraderie that they have destroyed.

A mate and I fly in regularly and have rarely had a problem. Sure they have several runways and may be using more than one- just get situational awareness on the way in, stay above the traffic till you decide your approach-and use your radio! We enjoy the coffee, the view and the friendship and find the operators and their instructors friendly and helpful.

In summary it seems YADG is now run by Adelaide Bi planes,its a shame really as now its angry rude and dangerous . Something very wrong here . Used to be safe . Suggest alternate to GOOLWA ..MURRAYBRIDGE. both have avgas and safe circuit activity. Manuelle Dubois

Whow, Have just been browsing the aerodromes in South Australia planning a trip from NSW to WA via S.A. I planned to stop over at either Goolwa or Aldinga for fuel etc. I am stunned at all the negative comments about Aldinga whilst the likes of Goolwa and other surrounding airfields have no bad comments. Seems as if there is smoke there is a fire as if maybe one person posts a bad comment, that would be acceptable as one cannot please everybody. But having now read all the comments about Aldinga, I would suggest that there may be some serious issues which should be addressed there. It is not all about coffees and cakes, its about aviation, aviators and their aircraft and needs. Needless to say, thanks to those who have been upfront enough to inform the rest of us. I thought that I would pause and phone Goolwa at this stage. Bloke there will make a vehicle available (No charge) to us if required, and will organize accommodation at our cost. Fair enough. Solves that. I would rather stop somewhere which does not have the bad feedback and postings like Aldinga. Sad that, as I flew in there years ago. lovely peaceful country airfield with small office and flying school and such a lovely friendly women who's name my wife tells me was Lorraine??? I guess that at times new ownership with big high flying ideas do not always work out and would suggest that maybe this is the case with Aldinga. No longer the quint quite lovely place that we found it to be.

Have not looked at this site for a while but pleased to see that finally some are waking up to what Aldinga and the operators of the flying school are actually like.. Not all nice coffee and cakes, in fact, from an aviators point of view who have flown in there for many past years, its gone to the dogs with shocking circuit procedures and running the risk of been abused. Avgas is about 18 cents more per liter than some other airports who PAY DELIVERY for their avgas. I make a point of never calling in there for fuel or for any other reason any more unless there is something on at the Aero Club or similar. The Good Ole Boys. And yes. The low time inexperienced instructors sit on the veranda with their coffees and criticize the landings and take offs of others. But they will suck in the inexperienced thru their fancy social networking and sadly teach the students their ways. It is also interesting to note that the operators, nor their students etc are made very welcome around various aviation venues in S.A. Seems that the aviation fraternity have woken up to them. And remember, that some have been around for some time and are highly qualified and respected. Funny thing. We Australians will always, well at the best of times, extend our hands in friendship to newcomers. But beware when these newcomers bite our hands.

Wow trained out of Aldinga 15 years ago and had so many fond memories when John white owned the flying school, went back to refuel my Saratoga, Truth lets just say will never return there again thought I was back in Narm place has a horrible feel about it, every move you make you are watched and critersized sorry fellow aviators Yadg not for me happy flying Sam Pope.

I am a resident of Sellicks Hill and have lived here nearly 30 yrs ,l am not one to stir the pot or carry on unnecessarily , so i would like to think my comments are of a relevant nature. Up until approximately 2008 the amount of air traffic was totally ok and somewhat enjoyable , but now the constant drone has become a real annoyance . Some days I have counted a minimum of 4 aircraft doing takeoffs and landings continuously during daylight hours not to mention other aircraft coming and going . Im not one to spoil anyones fun but its really got hard to not say anything . My research tells me that theres been restrictions to help improve things but from a residents point of view I cant see any improvement at all . I have nothing against having a airstrip there and would hate to see it shut but I guess its just a case of " fair go mate " surely Aldinga biplanes could move to somewhere like parafield , this may be a incorrect assumption as I am not a aviator but isnt Parafield there for operations like this ? Tony , Sellicks Hill

Nice tea and scones , a couple of biplanes and a few taildragging aircraft doesnt make up for ridiculous increases in traffic , crowded circuits , 100hr inexperienced RA instructors and rude unsafe radio etiquette . I'm disgusted at whats become of this once fine example of a Australian GA strip .Its been 9 months since I last landed my twin there and until Adelaide Biplanes and their commercial operation leave it will be my last . It saddens me to think that this is somehow what they want , total control of the YADG CTAF . I feel for the original hangar owners who based their aircraft there , lets hope Casa the EPA and the Aldinga Aviation group do the right thing . And yes I am anonymous. .. Ive been warned of the smear campaign tactics of ABP .

The operators who continually breached the agreement of 20,000 movements p.a. ( Over 40,000 movements, in breech of the act) applicable to the airfield, have now been the main reason that the airfield has to have an EPA license. What a disaster and what a tragic result and sad result for a beautiful country airfield. All in the name of the dollar and at every other shareholders expense in terms of rules, regulations, impositions, restrictions, pending fines and whatever else the EPA can come up with. This will now be the only EPA licensed airfield in South Australia. A Government Environment Protection Dept. It makes one wonder what compensates for greed? At the imposition and impact on others airfield users who did not violate the rules and therefore are not responsible for this airfield now to be forced to be EPA licensed.