About HULC

Holbrook Ultralight Club was one of first ultralight clubs to be established in Australia and has continued to be at the forefront of ultralight aviation since that time.

Where it all began

The idea of forming an ultralight club at Holbrook was initially conceived in early 1985 by Bryan Gabriel and David Knight, as a means of supporting the newly formed Holbrook Airpark, with the original intention of forming a network of similar clubs in the region. However, the Holbrook Club was to prove so popular that the grand plan of the club network never eventuated.

The concept of an ultralight club on the Airpark at Holbrook was floated past a number of local identities, which included recently retired, ex-RAAF Wing Commander, Mick Parer, who had, among other things, been the Chief Flying Instructor at the RAAF's No. 1 Flying Training School. Needless to say the idea was met with considerable enthusiasm

Holbrook Ultralight Club (HULC) was formed later that year, beginning with just one aircraft, a Chinook, to which a Cessna 150 was added in early 1986. Bryan purchased a Thruster Gemini in September 1986 and Mick Parer became HULC's CFI in early 1987. Over the subsequent two years Mick, together with Flying Instructors Mike George, Malcolm Ross, Dick Greaves and Harry Walton conducted flight training in the Gemini at Holbrook, which proved to be very popular.

Foundation members of the Holbrook Ultralight Club

It was through flight training that HULC gained momentum and from an initial start of just a dozen local members the Club's popularity increased rapidly. By 1988 the number of ultralight aircraft within the Club had increased from one to twenty plus, which included the Club's own single seaters, a Jeep and a Javelin, and by 1990 the Club's membership had increased to over 100.

HULC's membership was boosted by an enthusiastic group of ultralight aviators who travelled from Melbourne to Holbrook most weekends to fly either the Clubs aircraft or their own, which were by then hangared at Holbrook, due to the excellent flying conditions Holbrook provided, especially when compared to the typical Melbourne and coastal weather.

By 1990 HULC had attracted members from every Australian State, with the exception of the Northern Territory, which resulted in a wide range of ultralight aircraft being based at Holbrook and a diverse range of skills and experience within the Club's membership. Among the aircraft brands represented were Thruster, Airborne Trikes, Chinook, Jeep, Javelin, Quicksilver, Skydart, Flightstar, Pteradactyl, J-3 Kitten, Wheeler Scout, Sapphire, Eagle, Vampire, SV Thermite and Farm-mate, Hummel Bird and a lone Beech Musketeer.

Another factor that influenced the popularity of Holbrook as an ultralight mecca was the fact that the Airpark was one of the first to be setup as a bit of an ultralighting one-stop-shop with hangarage, flight training, on-site accommodation, aircraft maintenance, aircraft manufacture and aircraft sales all being available on the Airpark itself. Holbrook was also one of the first, if not the first, to offer freehold title to land on the Airpark, allowing both hangar and residential development.

HULC was the first to purchase land on the Council subdivision on the Airpark, in late 1989, and its 30metre x 15metre hangar was almost completed in time for the inaugural Australian Ultralight Federation (AUF) National Fly-In, which was held at the Holbrook Airpark in April 1990, which was another first for HULC.

In August 1999, HULC sold its hangar and purchased what was the original Airpark hangar and in doing so completed the full circle by returning to the very place that the concept of the Club was conceived.

Holbrook Ultralight Club Today

HULC has moved with the times and these days you will find, in addition to the "pioneer" ultralight aircraft mentioned above, fine examples of the modern generation of ultralights such as the Tecnam P92 Echo, J-6 Karatoo, Kitfox, Skydart 2S, Skyranger, Storm 300S, Jabiru, Alpi Poineer, second generation Sapphire, almost the full range of Rans aircraft (including S4 & S6 Coyote, S7 Courier, S14 Airaile and S16 Shekari) and to provide a sense of balance and tradition a fine example of both the Cessna 172 and Cessna 150.

Holbrook Ultralight Club is affiliated with Recreational Aviation Australia and membership of HULC provides access to vibrant, active group of dedicated enthusiasts who have a wealth of ultralight experience behind them and continue to enjoy building, maintaining and flying ultralights from the comfort of their own hangar and facilities.

Facilities

HULC has freehold title to its own land, within the Airpark, and its facilities, which includes a large hangar area complete with training facilities and workshop area, a generous club room area with fully equipped kitchen and covered outdoor balcony area and three self contained motel style units for use by members, their guests and the Club's students. The Club's hangar is the focal point of the Airpark and is serviced by a sealed apron area and sealed taxi ways.

For the land based visitor, HULC's hangar and clubroom facilities will be the first building you will notice when entering the Airpark. Visitors are most welcome at all times.

HULC also maintains a 12 seat Toyota Minibus as a means for visiting flyers and clubs to travel to and from Holbrook. The Minibus is also widely used for members nights out, which usually involves the President treating all and sundry to a spirited demonstration of low flying on route to one of the many local eateries or country pubs for a pleasant social evening.

Club Meetings

HULC holds its meetings on the first Saturday of each month (rain, hail or shine), commencing at 11.00am in the clubrooms at the Airpark (see News page for meeting dates), and hosts a BBQ lunch at midday following each meeting. Visitors are most welcome to attend the meetings and the after-meeting lunch and activities ..... or just come along and talk ultralights.

If you are thinking of trying any aspect of ultralighting, coming along to one of HULC's monthly meetings is a good place to start. HULC's members have a collective wealth of experience and knowledge in all aspects of ultralight aviation, including building, buying, owning, maintenance and flying, and are only too willing to provide assistance and guidance to the newcomer.

In addition to its monthly meetings, HULC provides a news and information service to its members through the "HULC Flyer" newsletter, which is produced on a monthly basis. Check out the News page on this website for some of the more recent editions of the "Flyer".

Thinking of joining HULC and want to know how? Initially either give the President, Bryan Gabriel, a call (02 6036 2601) or simply come along to one of the monthly meetings. Additional contact details are listed on the Contact HULC page of this website.  Membership fees are kept at a low and affordable level, as the Clubs main aim is to promote and maintain interest in the sport of ultralight aviation. The current fees are detailed below.

Club Activities

HULC hosts a range of social activities aimed at maximising your enjoyment of ultralight aviation. The Club generally conducts a fly-away to coincide with each monthly meeting and actively encourages trips away by members and friends between meetings where ever possible.

Activities range from a short hop to one of several locations within a short distance from the airfield to longer day flights and weekend trips to other airfields or Clubs. Participation varies from as few as five or six aircraft, on a day trip, to fifteen plus aircraft and double the number of members over a weekend.

A permanent entry on the HULC social calendar is the annual pilgrimage to Recreational Aviation Australia's national ultralight fly-in "Natfly" held at Narromine Aerodrome, in central New South Wales, during the Easter period each year. For anyone with an interest in ultralight aviation, Natfly is one of these not to be missed experiences and HULC has a regular contingent who make the trip each year.

HULC also encourages regular fly-ins from other clubs and individual ultralight aviators to fly in to Holbrook and enjoy the Clubs hospitality and the excellent flying conditions. For clubs wishing to visit Holbrook, meals and accommodation can be arranged with prior notice. For more information contact HULC on (02) 6036 3042.

© Holbrook Ultralight Club 2003