The sunny skies above Millicent were filled last week with gliders dating back to the 1930s.
It was the first time the Millicent Gliding Club had hosted the annual rally of Vintage Gliders Australia and it attracted participants from near and far.
Coordinating the event at the Millicent airport was John Marshall who fills the dual roles of Millicent Gliding Club chief flying instructor and Vintage Gliders Australia president.
Mr Marshall took a week’s leave from his job as a motor mechanic at Millicent Toyota to attend to tasks on the ground and in the air.
In all, there were 11 gliders at the rally in Millicent and all were of the traditional wooden construction.
In order to qualify, Mr Marshall explained they could not be made of fibreglass which came into use in the 1960s.
“Just like motor vehicles, these older gliders have a lot of character,” Mr Marshall said.
“They still have to be fitted out with an air speed instrument, alto meter, compass and variometer.
“We have been able to fly every day and one participant achieved his desire of flying out over the sea.
“There was a high-pressure weather system and this created stable air which is sub-optimal for gliding.
“We reached heights of 8500 feet (3000 metres) over the week.
“One of our 20 visitors made an unpowered flight from Horsham to Millicent which is a distance of 180km.
“Most of the Vintage Glider Australia rally participants camped alongside the clubrooms of the Millicent Gliding Club.
“There was also an emphasis on socialising while many also visited places of interest in Millicent like the National Trust museum and swimming lake.
“The rally has been held every year since 1977.
“It has been so successful that we will be back here at Millicent again at this time in 2024.”
Ballarat couple David and Rosie Howse are certain to be among them given their enjoyment from this year’s event.
“We have had a passion for gliding and powered flight for the past 40 years,” Mr Howse said.
“I met Rosie when she was learning to fly and witnessed her first flight.
“There is a great sense of camaraderie among the pilots of vintage gliders and we have a lot of fun.
“There is not that level of competitiveness you get with modern gliders where the pilots are always looking to go that little bit faster.
“Our glider we have brought to Millicent has an open cockpit and that adds to the flying experience.
“We have two vintage gliders and a third which is a restoration project.”
Mr Howse is full of praise for Wattle Range Council which owns and manages the airfield.
“Millicent is lucky to have such an airport as it is well-maintained and close to town,” he said.
“The runways are correctly angled and the approaches are clear.”
The Vintage Gliders Australia rally was not disrupted by some local stopovers by the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
