Camp and fly on the cheap

Here’s a novel approach to attract RV travellers to your neck of the woods: offer them low-cost overnight camping with the option of a free joy flight.

That’s what the Lone Eagle Flying School in Clifton, a small town near Toowoomba about 150km west of Brisbane, is proposing to members of the 60,000-plus strong Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia.

Announced on the school’s Facebook page, the new initiative allows CMCA members to camp overnight or for a few days on the private property, with the possibility of getting a free flight over the picturesque Darling Downs region on one of the ultralight or small planes that use the airfield.

Adventurous motorhomers could even have a go at flying a plane, with the school’s ‘trial introductory flight’ allowing budding Dick Smiths to take the controls up in the air.

There’s no mention of facilities at the airfield such as dump-points but caravanners as well as motorhomers are welcome to stay.

“We just ask for a donation for each night stay to help maintain the grounds and also funds our junior flying scholarship,” the school says.

The small town of Clifton, which has a population of around 1500, has plans to join the 286 Australian towns already declared ‘RV Friendly’ by the CMCA.

Bange’s Airfield, which is also home to the Darling Downs Sport Aircraft Association, holds various public events including an annual Fly-In, which takes place this year on March 13 and is expected to attract more than 100 aircraft.