Australian Air League Air Activities Centre - Camden Airport

17/03/2026

11/03/2026

Camden Airport, located south west of Sydney was established in 1935 on the Macarthur-Onslow family property. Requisitioned by the RAAF in 1940 for WWII training, it became a major military base before returning to civilian use in 1946 and is today managed by Aeria Management Group .

On Saturday, March 7th, AMG hosted a special event to celebrate airport founder Edward Macarthur-Onslow. The gathering was attended by many members of the Macarthur-Onslow family, as well as representatives from local operators, including Curtis Aviation and the Air League.

Working closely with Rachael Atkinson - one of several descendants of Macarthur-Onslow who still live at the airport - AMG installed a new commemorative plaque on one of the two original hangars. The plaque honours Macarthur-Onslow’s founding of the airport and celebrates the family's enduring contribution to the aviation industry and the broader community.

(photo provided by AMG)

04/03/2026

In 1986, a plane flew around the entire world without refuelling. It spent 9 days in the air.

The story:

On December 14th, 1986, a handmade Rutan Model 76 Voyager took off from Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Nine days later, on December 23rd, it landed back at the same runway. It had completed the first non-stop, non-refueled circumnavigation of the Earth in aviation history.

What made it possible was a breakthrough in lightweight composite design.

The Voyager was built with an incredibly lightweight frame, two rear-facing engines, and wings far longer than its body weight should have allowed.

It had a single goal: to carry enough fuel to circle the Earth without ever landing.

The Voyager's hand-laid airframe, dual pusher engines, and extreme wingspan-to-weight ratio overcame physics constraints that had stumped larger teams and factories. It was built for one purpose: unprecedented fuel efficiency over an unprecedented distance.

At departure, the aircraft was so heavy with fuel that its wingtips dragged along the runway before lifting off.

The flight covered 40,212 kilometres. It was completed with less than 50 litres of fuel remaining.

Both pilots, Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, had to manage all basic human needs during those 9 days inside the aircraft.

• They took turns sleeping. One flew while the other rested in a small, extremely cramped cabin roughly the size of a sleeping bag.

• They brought pre-packaged food and water onboard for the duration of the flight.

• They used basic in-cabin facilities — essentially a rudimentary toilet arrangement given the extremely limited space.

The physical and psychological toll on both pilots was significant. By the time they landed, both were reportedly exhausted and physically drained.

It's a fascinating human endurance story layered on top of the engineering achievement: nine days in an aircraft roughly the size of a large canoe, through turbulence and weather systems.

04/03/2026

Throwback Thursday

Here's another photo from our past, sadly we don't have a lot of details behind the story. It would appear to be a staged promotional photo from the 1940s, the aircraft might be a surplus DH-82 Tiger Moth the Air League purchased in 1946.

Keen eyed followers might note the inverted Corporal chevrons on the NCO closest to the camera - a requirement in the war years to prevent confusion with serving defence personnel.

Do you know anyone in the photos?

25/02/2026

Throwback Thursday

VH-ECI was a Victa Airtourer 100 operated by the Australian Air League Air Activities Centre in the early 1990s. If the name sounds familiar - yes it is the same Victa that make lawn mowers!

Did you ever fly the Victa? This particular aircraft is now operated by Lilydale Flying School.

14/02/2026

Well done to all of our cadets!

25/01/2026

Happy Australia Day to all our members

22/01/2026

Congratulations go to L/Cdt Michael Yousseph who on Thursday passed his RPL flight test in Piper Warrior VH-LRA with examiner Steve.

Well done Michael!

Would you like to learn more about the Australian Air League? Click on the link in our bio!

16/01/2026

L/Cdt Grace Thatcher and instructor Charles Droudis out in the training area flying our Cessna 172 VH-PAT

Have you always wanted to learn to fly? Click the link in our bio to contact us today!

16/01/2026

VH-LGO back home at Shellharbour after sterling service at the 2026 Air Activities flying camp - instructor Errol taking her home and getting some Meta Ray-Ban pics



Want to learn more about the Australian Air League? Click the link in our bio!

07/10/2025

Our congratulations to L/Cdt Grace Thatcher of Marrickville Squadron who yesterday undertook her first solo flight at the October 2025 flying camp.

After flying some pre-solo circuits under the watchful eye of instructor Kozue Takada, Grace flew a great circuit in our Cessna 172 VH-PAT before touching down on Camden's runway 24.

Great work Grace!

07/10/2025

Thank you MP Sally Quinnell for your assistance with a community grant to help with the Air Activities centre!