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Welcome to NOK Flying Club's NEWS - 2012
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How to find us by air
How to find us by road
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NOK Aviation are pioneers supporting and promoting general aviation and sport flying in Thailand.
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- a newly built hangar will shortly be built for his aircraft.
*News Flash: Due to renewed interest from several fellow pilots, 3 new hangars will shortly be under construction at NOK. Watch this space for updates on progress!
The Dugong Shepherds , the last hope for dugong existence in Thailand
by Tom Potisit on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 6:30pm
The Dugong Shepherds
- read the full report here
(Microsoft Excel required for download)
Come and have a trial flight in our magnificent Tiger Moth. Tel +66 857 218715
Tecnam HS-EAL together with Ed, Tom Pete and ground crew are now in Trang about to start their annual 2 week Dugong survey in Southern Thailand..
The Dugong Survey is now in its 5th year - "General Aviation helps save endangered species in Thailand..." details here
We would like to take the opportunity of thanking all our current club members for their support throughout 2011 and wish everyone a very Happy & Prosperous 2012. We look forward to seeing you and your friends at the airfield during the coming year.
Most of you will be aware of the new developments that have been taking place during 2011; with a major investment in a new 850m tarmac runway together with a grass strip alongside. This has permitted all year round operations and has attracted additional privately owned resident aircraft. All our 5 hangars are now at almost full capacity and plans are afoot to build more this coming year. Courtesy of Pierre-Yves, the airfield have just received this week a "new" two seat Slingsby T21b glider that has been shipped from UK. This machine will enable us to continue gliding operations at NOK and will give club members a new experience in open cockpit flying.
We would like to remind you that membership subscriptions are due this month - to avoid late payment surcharge - membership must be paid by 1st February 2012.
Payments can be accepted electronically - please state your name and membership category and email us with details:
Nok Flying Club Bank Account
Bangkok Bank Co, Ltd. Ban Thi Branch
Ban Thi, 51180 Lamphun Thailand
A/C number: 570-0-09207-4
Swift code: BKKBTHBK Routing number: NYABA0869
 
YOU are invited to join us at NOK Airfield to celebrate Loy Krathong on Friday 11th November 2011
BAR-B-QUE from 6pm - bring your own steaks and sausages
Full Bar facilities available in the clubhouse
Bring your own kohm loi and fireworks (โคม ลอย) (ดอกมะตาด)
Kohm loi launch at 7pm
Movie time 7.30pm - "The Great Waldo Pepper"
"The Great Waldo Pepper" - A biplane pilot who had missed flying in WWI takes up barnstorming and later a movie career in his quest for the glory he had missed... See the movie at NOK - Friday 11th November - screening at 7.30pm
* Please let us know by return email if you are coming to NOK on 11th November
This is their 3rd flood relief supply flight this week
- first 2 were to Nakon Sawan - a big thank you to all those who made donations.
HS-TOM has finally made it back to Thailand, landed at Chiang mai International airport at 2:10 pm. Tom: "I would like to thank everyone who came to welcome us back home, it feels awesome to be back and have all familiar faces waiting for us at the aircraft apron. Thank you."
"After the long journey over 130 days, finally we have made it back to Thailand in one piece with many postcards from Thais and foreigners in 36 cities over 22 countries around the world to bring back as a present for His Majesty the King. On behalf of the Global X2 team, we would like to thank the Director General and officers of Chiang Mai International Airport and all the media who came to welcome us on the apron today. We are very happy to be back home safely, thank you very much for your support."
Sunday run - 30th October 2011 Meet at 10am at Nim City Daily.
Sunday run to Nok Airfield at Lamphun (www.nokaviation.com) organised by fellow enthusiast David H (Alfa Romeo).
Lunch will be available for purchase and there’ll even be the opportunity to take a ride in a vintage Tiger Moth biplane.
Watch a video of the Tiger Moth flying on YouTube by following this LINK
Details Classic Car Club Lanna here
The Global Invasion 2011 - Only 13 days left before we slowly start making our way back to our home in Thailand from the United Kingdom, we will take off on 27th sep passing through Germany, Croatia, Turkey, Jordan , the Middle East ,India and Bangladesh, the journey will take 14 days before we end our long global expedition to Chiang mai , Thailand on the 10th October, we are looking forward to be returning home.
The luggage's are loaded , the encouragements are pack. We are ready for the trips back home, which will take 14 days passing through 9 cities in 7 countries. We hope the journey will go smoothly without any obstacle and we are very excited to be coming back home to Thailand
A welcome to Nori san - after a tumultous 20011 living in Sendai, Japan during the tsunami - Nori is now part owner of C172 at NOK.
An updated air guide to airstrips and frequencies in Thailand. PRINT AIRGUIDE (airport frequencies & information available free on-line - thanks to Paul.)
Be advised as from July 2011 Eastern Airport runway shortened – Eastern Airport has lost the North end of its runway. The actual runway length is now about 350 meters. The farmer has decided to plant Cassava and plowed up the runway. Eastern Airport
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Tom & I will hopefully be departing Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand on June 1st, for the long journey back to the UK, flying HS-TOM across the Himalayas, Middle East, Europe and finally Bournemouth, UK, where we plan to spend the summer enjoying and flying around Europe, before returning to Thailand, mid October. During the trip Tom & I will be trying to meet as many people with a connection to Thailand, to celebrate the Thai King, King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 84th Birthday by completing postcards of good wishes, as part of our Global Expedition for the World’s Greatest King x 2.
Tom will be uploading updates of our journey on a dedicated Facebook site http://www.facebook.com/theglobalx2
You do not need a Facebook account to access explore the site, so we hope you will be able to follow our progress there.
A short Youtube clip celebrating our impending departure is at http://www.youtube.com/user/theglobalx2?email=share_video_user
We look forward to meeting as many of you as possible on our journey. Chokdee! E |
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  Every year we volunteer to do a flight survey by a small plane to study the dugong population in the South of Thailand which we last counted of 250 animals. Dugongs or Manatees are known as Pla-pa-yoon in Thailand.The word "dugong" derives from the Tagalog term dugong which was in turn adopted from the Malay duyung, both meaning "lady of the sea "sea cow,"or "sea pig".  Dugongs bear one calf at a time after an approximately 13-month gestation. The calf nurses for two years and reaches sexual maturity between the ages of 8-18, longer than in most other mammals. Despite the longevity of the Dugong, which may live for fifty years or more, females give birth only a few times during their life and invest considerable parental care in their young. |
Story and Photos by Tom Potisit & Pete Sakcharoen. |
   * It's the second day on Dugong Aerial Survey Projet. My mission is to fly with Dr. Kanchana in the afternoon. It's so windy on our departure time. The sun is just above right…*Dugong Survey Day4 16/01/09 It's a big day for me today. I saw a lot of dugongs in Kan-Trang area. The biggest group consisted of 27 dugongs including calves...*we have covered Trang, Krabi, Phuket and will be going down to cover Satun.. Jan15th report at 0950pm to read the full account of this extraordinary flying survey log in to Facebook - Pete Sakcharoen 
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- Flying Ed and Tom's account here
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NOK's engineers Khun Prasert and Khun Boonying
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- Stainless Steel Tiger Moth Fuel Tanks and Fuel Shut off Valves made to order in our workshops here in Thailand - for details contact us
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- The Tiger has been a rare sight during the current monsoon season!
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- Latest arrival at NOK is this lovely example of an SF260 privately owned by one of our members.
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- Welcome to C150 flown here from Australia - due to fly back there next week.
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- Our DH82A always a popular sight.
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- Our 4th hangar currently under construction at NOK
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- Another C172M and Piper Twin Commanche have been purchased in USA. These aircraft are expected at NOK in the next 6 weeks.
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- Two privately owned Piper PA28's are now fully assembled at NOK and awaiting DCA certification.
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- NOK Aviation are constructing a new hangar No. 4. This new building will accommodate several new aircraft currently being shipped to Thailand.
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- Welcome to Chiangmai Flying Club (CMFC) who are now fully resident at NOK airfield. Our third hangar has been kitted out to accommodate them. NOK Flying Club and Chiangmai Flying Club have agreed to link together their operations to further promote General Aviation (GA) in Thailand. Full details of this link up will be announced shortly.
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- New airspace classification at Chiangmai and NOK Airfield - for details see AIP Thailand - ENR 2.1-6 - dated 10 Dec 08. Further to a meeting with DCA, Aerothai and NOK last year, it was agreed that a block of airspace (outside Class C) would be implemented. This airspace gives us unrestricted access up to 3,000' amsl within the designated block (see details here).
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- NOK's Forest Fire Protection Project, together, in association with the Forest Fire Control Division and the Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand, pilots and members are invited to participate in reporting outbreaks of forest fires in Chiangmai and Lamphun Provinces. This information should be passed to the Forest Fire Control Division (DNP) in Chiangmai – Hotline 1362 - who will take appropriate action. Reporting forest fires please call Chiangmai DNP office 053-276100 Ext. 11 during office time or our hotline 1362 round the clock. Story here. Our famous member, "Flying Ed", together with Channel 3 television recently produced a video presentation highlighting the problems of forest fires. See video Flying to Fight the Forest Fires
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- 14th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta scheduled on February 12-15, 2009 at Clark Field in Pampanga, Philippines and the Bohol Island Fly-In on Feb. 16-18. Contact event director Joy Roa. Details here
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WingsOverAsia is happy to announce that their Annual Getaway has been confirmed!
"The location of our getaway is Hua Hin, Thailand's oldest beach resort. Situated on the west coast of the Gulf of Thailand and only 200 kilometres from the capital, Bangkok, Hua Hin is the ultimate getaway destination. Besides being the official resort for the Thai royal family, it also has many attractions for both Thai and foreign tourists.
We will be expecting aviators from clubs and associations across Asia to join us in this event. If you wish to be a part of this unique general aviators' networking social event, sign up now!"
WingsOverAsia.com
- All members are invited to attend our annual AGM on Saturday 3rd January 2009 at NOK Airfield, starting at 6pm. The AGM will be followed by drinks and bar-b-que. The revised principals and responsibilities of the Club's operation will be explained and if agreed, ratified. The Club will be seeking additional committee members to share some of the responsibilites for publicity, operational, clubhouse and social activities etc.
- Our Tiger Moth DH82A HS-VIP and Eurofox have now completed their C of A test flights successfully and are awaiting DCA approval. YouTube video.
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Oshtak was held in Ubon this 12-14 Dec 2008, and it was a great success. NOK Flying Club took 3, Chiangmai Flying Club took 2 and TFC took 2 aircraft to the event. There were approximately 45 aircraft that flew in. The highlight was a F5 formation airshow. HRH The Crown Prince also piloted an A319 to Ubon. Khun Piya put on an aerobatic show in Khun Charn's Extra. Khun Supap ferried people back and forth from Bangkok in his new Mustang jet. This was the first Oshtak show for the people of Ubon - VTUU - and they were thrilled to see so many aircraft. Congratulations to the DCA and all the sponsors for a great event. More information on www.sportflyingthailand.com.
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- Our 3rd PA18 S. Cub and Eurofox have now arrived - awaiting DCA certification.
- SFAT have produced a useful mini AIP guide for Thailand. Details here
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- Our Tiger Moth and "new" Blanik have now arrived at NOK.The Moth seen here been assembled by our chief engineer Khun Prasert.
 
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- Congratulations to Phuket Flying Club on the opening of their new airfield.
 
More information here
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- New arrivals at NOK of a Eurofox, two more S. Cubs and a Grob Astir CS (these 4 aircraft have already been shipped and are expected in Thailand later this month)
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- Tantawan "Sunflower" airfield welcomes visitors. Details here
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- The DCA now requires applicants for foreign licence validation to take a Thai Air Law and Human Performance written exam before rendering foreign licenses valid for flight in Thailand. If you already have a Thai Validation, then you must take this exam before 11 May 2008 or your validation will be void. The DCA are holding exams every Monday, Wednesday and Friday until the 25th June 2008 - new deadline. To make a booking call them on +66 2287 0320 or fax +66 2286 3373
From now, all pilot applying for Thai Validation must pass the Paper test at DCA: "Thai Air Law and Human Performance."
1. New PPL pilot : must have the test before submit application
2. Pilot holding PPL validation : Attend the test before 25th June 2008 to keep current
3. Pilot on Validation process : attend the test as soon as possible to continue the process
NOK Flying Club are holding refresher training for those who wish to take Air Law and Human Performance. Contact us for details.
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- General Aviation helps save endangered species in Thailand. Read the full story of our Club member, Ed's, survey flying activities to help preserve Thailand's endangered marine species. Story and pictures here.
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- 1995 Piper Malibu Jetprop for sale in Thailand - contact:
Minor Corporation PLC
16th,18th F/L Berli Jucker Building
99 Soi Rubia Sukhumvit 42 Road
Klongtoey Bangkok 10110
TEL: 66 2365-7500 ext. 7781
FAX: 66 2381-5776-7
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- Online Classroom - To enhance technical training for registered students, on all our training courses, the club have initiated a free on-line classroom. Student pilots and club members, embarking on a pilot training course with us are invited to join this scheme. The online classroom will give you direct contact with our instructors, who will give advice and answers to queries on-line via e-mail. Students and pilots at all stages of training and experience will find this useful but in particular candidates who are studying for PPL examinations can greatly benefit by using this facility.
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- The annual Children's Day was held at Chiangmai International Airport on 12th January. Wing 41 invited NOK Flying Club to participate, 6 aircraft arrived from NOK, including, for the first time ever, at Chiangmai Airport a flying display by our Blanik L13 glider. A very well coordinated flying display, including the Thai army, navy and airforce, took place for most of the day, to the great excitement of all the menay visitors present. Congratulations to Wing 41 and Chiangmai ATC for organising such a well run event.
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- NOK's Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held, in the clubhouse, on 30th December 2007. 17 members were present and members appointed and approved a new committee. Minutes if this AGM are posted on the club notice board.
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- Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta scheduled on February 7-10, 2008 To all Aircraft Owners, Pilots, and Aviation Enthusiasts,
"Please see attached a complete invitation and schedule of activities for the 12th Philippine Fiesta. Please join, meet old and new flying friends and have a fun flying weekend with us. There will be more activities and aviation attractions for this years fiesta. Thanks and looking forward to flying with you in Philippine Skies". Joy Roa. Press report here.
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- Just to remind everyone that we are now approaching the dry/forest fire season. NOK's Forest Fire Protection Project, together in association with the Forest Fire Control Division and the Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand, pilots and members are invited to participate in reporting outbreaks of forest fires in Chiangmai and Lamphun Provinces. This information should be passed to the Forest Fire Control Division (DNP) in Chiangmai – Hotline 1362 - who will take appropriate action. Reporting forest fires please call Chiangmai DNP office 053-276100 Ext. 11 during office time or our hotline 1362 round the clock. Story here
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- Chiang Mai: Where Influential Locals Meet to Set Forest Fires
21st February 2008
Every evening, for over four weeks, we have witnessed smoke rising from the forest. As darkness falls the raging flames, masked by the fire resistant trees, are revealed. It is now clear that the burning has been approached systematically moving from one hill to another, until all the undergrowth has been destroyed.
Last week we filmed this practice on the hillside nearest our house with infrared video. There we saw a group of 5 people, made visible by their torch lights, lined up down wind from the fires. There was also a lot of barking. So the evidence suggests that this is an organized activity, practiced by possibly a single group working to systematically burn the entire local forest area. Indifference by the local authorities and the fear shown by villagers suggests that there are powerful people involved. It looks like hunting with dogs is one element of the ritual, although most insist mushrooms are the real prize. Richard Rhodes continues his commentary on the burning fires he is witnessing from the jungle in Thailand. A unique insight into perhaps the single biggest factor behind global warming: forest fires.
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- With support from NOK Flying Club, the Royal Thai Forestry Department and the Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand (WARF) are setting up a joint venture in Northern Thailand to undertake an assisted aerial natural forest regeneration project. Aerial re-seeding will take place during the rainy season (July-August). WAR’s research teams will follow re-generation progress at regular intervals.
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- As a result of our Vice President's recent European visit the club will shortly have the use of two more PA18 S. Cubs, a Eurofox and a Grob Astir CS (single seat glider). These aircraft are currently being readied for shipping. Watch this space for updates.
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 After a long delay we are pleased to confirm that our Tiger Moth and second Blanik will be shipped out from UK on 16th January - we expect them to arrive in Thailand 3 weeks later. Watch this space for updates.
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- Another UK visitor, with us for 3 months (and hopefully longer), is QGI Dave Hallsworth, who has been kept busy running our gliding operations. Dave is a highly experienced professional gliding instructor and tug pilot. Several club members are currently taking advantage of his knowledge and undergoing glider pilot training courses.
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- A warm to QFI Mark McCelland from UK who is with us running our flight training programme. Mark is another professional, higly experienced, qualified flying instructor who also owns a Renegade bi-plane ultralight based at NOK. Both students and experienced pilots are enjoying his invaluable instructional style and wisdom. We hope that Mark will be with us for a long stay.
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 Our S. Cub has been undergoing major reburbishment and is now back in action - having completed over 50 aerotows in the past 2 weeks.
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Give this gift of a real 45 minute flight lesson with one of our instructors. The person this gift is for will be doing MOST of the flying in the pilot's seat and actually undergoing a real flight lesson. Gift certificates cost 5,500baht including club membership. Contact us with your request for gift certificate.
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- Loy Krathong Festival 2007 - Annual Fly-in at NOK - weekend 23/24th November.
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"Great party - great music - great food - great entertainment - we look forward to next year's event - Best wishes from all of us at Tango."
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*Picture gallery Loy Krathong 2006 here
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International balloonists will take to the air in December More than 30 air balloons from Asia, Europe and the United States will take to the skies above Pattaya over the period December 8 to 12 as part of the celebrations surrounding the birthday of His Majesty the King.
On October 16, representatives from the Royal Thai Army Sports Center along with the Sports Flying Association (Thailand) visited Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn at Pattaya City Hall to discuss the organizing of the Pattaya International Balloon Fiesta 2007.
The launch ground for the balloons will be at City Learning Park, which is part of the College of Innovational Education at Thammasart University, Pattaya Center.
Niwat Wongchinsri, secretary of the Sports Flying Association (Thailand) said that this would be the biggest event of its kind to be held in Asia, and would gather over 30 international balloons from Asia, Europe, and the United States.
Niwat said there would also be an air show, and competitions in para-motoring, para-gliding, and parachuting. Ariyawat Nuamsawat
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- Oshtak at Mae Sot 28-30 Dec 2007 - many clubs and organisations will be supporting Oshtak at Mae Sot this year in commemeration of His H.M. the King's birthday. Don't miss it.
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- SFAT MALAYSIAN ADVENTURE TRIP -- Inche Ismail of MSAF was the organizer of
 the very successful KUKL 2007 - KARNIVAL UDARA KUALA LUMPUR - the major ANNUAL GA event in Malaysia (supported by the Malaysian Government). Picture showing HS-NOK over KL. More info here
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- Chiangmai University Flying Club are now well established and closely affiliated with NOK, having already had three summer camps at the airfield, with over 160 of their members taking to the air. We look forward to further regular visits from them. Congratulations to (Arjarn) Sampan Chaithep, Head of Engineering faculty and our club member Pete for actively setting up this project.
Read more about CMU FC projects here and here and here
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- Major new developments on the airfield - the areas adjacent to the runway are being grassed and new irrigation system is being installed. A new access road and workshop is currently under construction - see map below
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- NOK Flying Club's new BLOG - post your blog here
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- Initial/renewal pilot medical information here
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Songkran Fly-in April 2007 
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NOK Flying Club's 2nd Birthday Anniversary - our fly-in and Songkran celebration, organised by the Sport Flying Association of Thailand (SFAT), was a great success and enjoyed by everyone. 5 visiting aircraft arrived on 14th April - our glider was busy all day operating introduction flights for our members and friends. Trucks were provided for those who wished to join the Songkran water war festival in Chiangmai streets.
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An excellent evening party, organised by Khun Nok, was attended by over 100 of our members and friends. Great live music by Chiangmai's premier "C" Band completed the evening's enetrtainment. The following day 6 aircraft flew to Pai for a night stop prior to flying homewards on the Monday. A great weekend enjoyed by all. Story and pictures here.
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MINOR AVIATION to launch VIP charter services - More information.
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- Also this month we are planning on a weekend summer camp, on the airfield, for all members of Chiangmai University Flying Club (CMUFC). Date to be announced.
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- Shortly to arrive from UK our "new" (see pic below) 1942 built DH82 Tiger Moth G-ARLI (re-registered in Thailand as HS-VIP) - coming together with another L13 Blanik sailplane (registered HS-CMU). Once certified these two additions to our fleet will no doubt be very popular.
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 Work is well under way in the construction of a new (number 3) hangar.
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- Extensive earth filling/levelling and renovation work has now been completed on each side of the main runway. This area has now been reseeded giving a runway width of 35m
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- New aircarft arrival in January 2007 - Renegade bi-plane ultralight - now in the hangar awaiting certification.
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- Pete, our member from Chiangmai University (CMU) brought a dozen people from
 the University, to NOK, over the New Year Holiday and gave them each an intoductory ground school lesson followed by a short flight in the C172.
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- CMU Flying Club is now fully registered under the auspices of the CMU Faculty of Engineering. The 150 members who have already signed up to join are looking forward to their participation in our aviation activities.
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More info (Thai) here. For those with high speed internet video link here.
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If you are a member of CMU and would like further details on CMU Flying Club email us here.
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- Congratulations to our v.president who has been invited to be an adviser to the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, Bangkok. ( Photogrametry.)
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On the 23rd December 2005 our Blanik was launched from Lamphun Airfield (home of Chiangmai Flying Club) with our Super Cub and flew to its new site at NOK Airfield. NOK's Glider photo album 
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Our members can now undertake a glider training course - or just experience the thrill of silent flight. To suitably qualified pilots the glider is availalble for self-hire.
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To arrange a trial glider flight call us
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Ever wanted to learn the aspects of flying a taildragger - then come and try it for yourself.
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Want to take a scenic tour of Thailand's mountains and forests - call us
C172's, C182R and 160hp Super Cub are available
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This NEWS page is updated regularly so do keep coming back to check our progress.
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Don't forget to hit your browser refresh button to see our latest updates
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We look forward to seeing you at VTCY
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Glider flying photo album
More Blanik pictures here
Gliding for beginners
Gliding in Thailand
Glider Pilot's Course
What does it cost?
How thermals work
How wave lift works
How ridge lift works
How to find us by air
How to find us by road
Homestay
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