2017 Qld Air Museum Open Cockpit Weekend

[Rebelrach]

Date: Sat and Sun 1-2 July 2017

Venue: Queensland Air Museum, 9 Pathfinders Drive, Caloundra West, Qld

Time: 1000-1400 each day

Mission: To – yet again - add some Star Wars magic to the Air Museum’s annual Open Cockpit weekend, their biggest fundraising event of the year. This is our 6th invite and the organisers love us attending and interacting with the crowds. This year was bigger than ever, the museum have added a Mirage and moved the collection around, as well as a visit from a navy Sea Hawk, and for the first time, the local Westpac helicopter rescue centre had an open day Saturday to coincide with the Air Museum event.

Trooper Attendance:
SATURDAY
Redback Garrison:
Studio39 – Vader
Bolt:  Commander Cody
Scoot040 – Tie Pilot
Wendall – Tie Pilot
Stormraven – Tie Pilot 181st
Mykill – Reserve Tie Pilot
Drone: Reserve Tie Pilot
Blue – Imperial Crewman
 
RL:
Gavin – Xwing pilot


GA:
Mia – Captain Phasma
Zach – Kylo Ren
Bede - Snowtrooper
Luke - Jedi
 
Support Crew:
Bally - Cadet
Rebelrach – Wrangle/POC
Big Dub – Wrangling 4 kids
 
SUNDAY
Redback Garrison:
Stormraven – Tie Pilot 181st
Slide Effect – Tie Pilot
Drone – Reserve Tie Pilot
 
RL:
Sithprincess – Xwing pilot
Rebelrach – Xwing pilot
 
Support Crew:
Lucky Phil
 
Galactic Academy:
Xaviar – TK
Sébastian – Jango Fett
 

Details:  Another sunny and cool weekend perfect for turning and burning at the Qld Air Museum in Caloundra was upon us for our 6th visit to the Open Cockpit weekend, which keeps getting bigger and better.
On Saturday, with Vader in attendance, not to mention three Tie Pilots (#notVader), two reserves and a crewman, black was definitely the ‘in’ colour for the day.

Troopers wandered through the museum stopping for endless photos with the public.  A tradition of stopping by the front of the Caribou transport for the troop group photo always attracts a big crowd, and this year was no exception on both days. With Big Dub’s four offspring in costume, the group drew some great reactions.
This year the coast Westpac rescue helicopter centre was open next door to the public for the first time and troopers were invited to drop in and review the 2 rescue choppers and surf skis on display. Troopers were mobbed by the crowds and staff - and Vader did well to return to base with ‘just one more’ photo echoing in his helmet.

Troopers also visited the flight line at the airport nearby, with the huge Navy Sea Hawk on display, and several TAVIS (historical) aircraft on ground. A break for lunch and back on duty until 2pm patrolling past the F-111 and new Mirage, the vintage cars and Day 1 was done. Some troopers departed with long drives home, the rest stopped for an adult beverage at the local pub.

Day 2 was another perfect sunny trooping day, with a fresh group of troopers and GA’s and a few returning for more from Day 1.  Crowds swelled by lunch time, the museum was packed again with fans and folks keen for photos. With 2 Tie pilots vs 2 xwing pilots the battle for supremacy was on.  Slide Effect’s two GA’s were a huge hit, working the crowd and proving very popular. Pack ups and departures after lunch, with a personal thanks (and much hand shaking) from the organisers as we left, topped off the day.


Charity Funds Raised: Nil

Injuries / Malfunctions: Nil.

Public Incidents: NIL. Though we lost count of how many small kiddies cried at all the Tie Pilots. Big Dub we’re talking about you!

Mission Status: SUCCESS – as always!!! We received positive feedback and thanks from the organisers, volunteers, vendors and the public.  

We have an automatic invitation to attend next year and beyond, which is great as the troopers enjoy this event as much as the staff do having us there. Thank you to everyone local and those who drove a long way, troopers, wranglers, cadets, support crews and GA kids who attended over the weekend! See you all next year!



Photos
Day 1
 

 

 

 


Day 2