Piper PA-28-235 Cherokee (photo: Carlos Ay).
Cessna 150 Commuter CC-KUH, the only CUA aircraft not flying institutional colours (photo: Carlos Ay).
CUA’s access portal, decorated with event banner, framing Cessna 182 CC-KUA on take-off (photo: Carlos Ay).
Carabineers Personnel Air Club badge on Cessna 182 CC-KKD (photo: Carlos Ay).
Cessnas CC-KKD, CC-KUJ and CC-KUA at the passenger boarding area (photo: Carlos Ay).
Following a well established Chilean civil aviation tradition, University Aviation Club (CUA, for Club Universitario de Aviación) held a two-day fund-raising event at their home base in “Victory of Chacabuco” airfield (SCVH), 50 Km. North of Santiago and 15 Km. North of Colina (Metropolitan Region). Held on the 5-6 October 2013 weekend, the event essentially consisted of a carousel of aircraft providing 12-15 minute flights, locally referred to as “people’s flight rides” (“vuelos populares”), for a fee of US $ 20 (3-passenger group rides) to US $ 40 (individual rides on Cessna 150 trainers). The hosts had their entire fleet operational for the flight rides, comprising Cessna 150s CC-KUG and CC-KUH for personalised flights, plus Cessna 172 CC-KUJ and Cessna 182 CC-KUA for group rides. Private residents and aircraft visiting from other airfields included Cessna 172s CC-CIG, CC-KDF (Adolfo Menadier Air Club), CC-KSK (Santiago Air Club) and CC-LRA (Investigations Police Air Club), Cessna 182 CC-KKD (Carabineers Personnel Air Club), Flight Design CT SW CC-PCL (c/n 06-09-21 checked) and PA-28 Cherokees CC-KIF (Army Personnel Flying Club) and CC-PPQ.
Funny flyer sticker and classic type logo on Cessna 172 CC-CIG (photo: Carlos Ay).
CUA Cessna 172 CC-KUJ taking off with club hangar and LSA representative on the background (photo: Carlos Ay).
CUA Cessna 150 CC-KUG nose close-up. Notice club logo near the pilot door (photo: Carlos Ay).
Flight Design CT SW CC-PCL taking off (photo: Carlos Ay).
Carabineers Personnel Air Club Cessna 182 CC-KKD (photo: Carlos Ay).
Safety was a prime concern at the event: Clearly marked-up transit areas, hi-viz vests for all ground crews and a firefighter truck were a distinguishing feature throughout the weekend (photo: Carlos Ay).
CUA flightline depicting Cessna 172 CC-KUJ and Cessna 150 CC-KUG (photo: Carlos Ay).
CUA Cessna 182 CC-KUA waiting to taxi (photo: Carlos Ay).
CUA Cessna 172 CC-KUJ starting-up for the first morning ride with Cessna 182 CC-KUA getting into the air (photo: Carlos Ay).
CUA flagship, Cessna 182 CC-KUA, rotating on an early morning flight (photo: Carlos Ay).
CUA Cessna 172 CC-KUJ acomodating passengers (photo: Carlos Ay).
Cessna 172 CC-CIG rotating (photo: Carlos Ay).
CUA Cessnas CC-KUA and CC-KUJ on the passenger boarding area with Flight Design CT SW CC-PCL and Cessna 150 CC-KUG taxiing towards runway 21 (photo: Carlos Ay).
According to club chairman, Patricio Cook Mena, “close to 500 people flew” througout the weekend. It is well worth noting that, while most Chilean civil aviation flight rides events are destined to raise extra funding to sustain flight operations and infrastructure at the hosting institution, this show was aimed at raising money for a number of projects in the club’s social responsibility strategy. CUA is well known for organising “Air Eaglets” (“Aguiluchos del Aire”) events flying underprivileged children, the 2013 editions flying close to 1,000 kids from Colina’s humblest areas between June and September. And in what chairman Cook defines as “a Chilean aviation first”, late-October will witness 200 senior Colina citizens participating in the first “Air Eagles” (“Águilas del Aire”) flight rides event, co-sponsored by the City of Colina government and the Chilean Air Federation. The event will eventually celebrate the club’s 71st anniversary, is ostensibly expected to take place from “Victory of Chacabuco” airfield’s 900 x 20 meter consolidated runway and will be run entirely by CUA’s enthusiastic team of club members, student pilots and volunteers.
CUA Cessna 150 CC-KUG (photo: Carlos Ay).
Flight Design CT SW CC-PCL instrument panel (photo: Carlos Ay).
Cessnas CC-KKD, CC-KUA and CC-KUJ at the passenger boarding area (photo: Carlos Ay).
CUA Cessna 150 CC-KUG on a low level pass with club hangar on the background (photo: Carlos Ay).
Carabineers Personnel Air Club Cessna 182 CC-KKD (photo: Carlos Ay).
CUA Cessna 182 CC-KUA on take-off (photo: Carlos Ay).
CUA Cessna 172 CC-KUJ on take-off with public area on the background (photo: Carlos Ay).
Flight Design CT SW CC-PCL preparing for start-up with Cessna 182 CC-KKD taking off on the background (photo: Carlos Ay).
Public resting area, carob tree and wind sock with an impressive Andes cordillera background (photo: Carlos Ay).
A roadside view of “Victory of Chacabuco” airfield (photo: Carlos Ay).
Cessna 172 CC-CIG taxiing to active runway (photo: Carlos Ay).
Santiago Air Club Cessna 172 Skyhawk II CC-KSK (photo: Carlos Ay).
CUA Cessna 150 CC-KUH (photo: Carlos Ay).
Internet sources: Club Universitario de Aviación (official), DGAC Chile (official) and ModoCharlie.
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