The Parkes Aero Club is a thriving sports club located at the Parkes Regional Airport, just 5 km east of Parkes. The clubhouse and hangar are leased from the Parkes Shire Council, and the airfield is also home to Parkes Aviation Pty Ltd, a busy maintenance organisation, and the HARS Parkes Aviation Museum. With 3-5 daily flights between Parkes and Sydney operated by Rex (Regional Express Airlines), the Parkes Aero Club is conveniently accessible to aviation enthusiasts.
The club prides itself on its dedication to promoting aviation and encouraging people of all ages to take up flying. Established in 1948, the Parkes Aero Club has a rich history and has become a reputable institution within the aviation community.
For those interested in learning to fly, the club offers Trial Instructional Flights (TIF), which are not only a unique and thrilling experience but also count towards the issuance of a Pilot Certificate or Licence. Flying is often assumed to be complicated, but the Parkes Aero Club aims to prove that it is much easier than commonly believed. The club provides two well-maintained training aircraft: a 2-seat RAA-registered Flight Design CTMC and a 4-seat Cessna 172 (VH-DDV). These aircraft, along with friendly and highly qualified flight instructors, make Parkes an ideal learning environment for both novice pilots and those seeking advanced qualifications.
The club operates using the RA-Aus (Recreational Aviation) training model. Under this model, students can achieve their first solo flight after just a few hours in the classroom and roughly 10 to 15 hours in the air. After a minimum of 20 hours of flight training, students can obtain their RA-Aus Pilot Certificate, allowing them to fly unsupervised within a 25 NM radius of an airfield. The next step is navigation training, which grants pilots the ability to fly almost anywhere in Australia (excluding controlled airspace).
The entire training process, including flight hours and costs, can be as low as approximately $5000 and completed within 6–9 months, depending on availability and weather conditions.
While GA flight training may take longer and incur proportionally higher costs, it allows pilots to fly larger aircraft into controlled airspace. Those with a GA Pilot Licence can even explore aerobatics or pursue a career as a commercial pilot. Alternatively, many pilots choose to “cross over” from the RA-Aus Pilot Certificate to a GA Pilot Licence, a path that is gaining popularity.
To support the diverse needs of its members, the Parkes Aero Club offers two flying schools. For RA-Aus instruction, Dale Redfern serves as the recreational aviation flying school instructor and can be reached at 0412 458 394. For general aviation (GA) instruction, Doug Watson is available as the GA flying school instructor, reachable at 0429 965 377.
For general inquiries, clubhouse hire, and other matters related to the Parkes Aero Club, individuals can contact the club president, Wade McConnell, at 0427 882 303 or the secretary, Brett Preisig, at 0427 001 397. Hangarage inquiries should be directed to Greg Rout at 0427 634 181. The club can be found at Parkes Regional Airport, Muzyczuk Dr, Parkes, with postal address PO Box 327, Parkes NSW 2870.
In summary, the Parkes Aero Club offers a welcoming and supportive environment for aviation enthusiasts, providing training opportunities, access to well-maintained aircraft, expert instructors, and a strong sense of community. Whether individuals are interested in learning to fly or simply seeking a vibrant club to join, the Parkes Aero Club is an excellent choice.