Adelaide Airsports commenced operating as a business in 1985 under the name South Coast Hang Gliding Centre. Initially we serviced the local hang gliding community here in South Australia as a specialty hang gliding school. The following year we expanded our services to include microlight aircraft and continued to operate under the banner of South Coast Hang Gliding Centre. In 1988 we moved our base from Christies Beach to Sellicks Beach, setting up our home, office and workshop there. Hang gliding and microlight lessons were conducted from a variety of sites in and around the Fleurieu Peninsula and coordinated from home base at Sellicks.

In 1991 we established a permanent facility for our microlight school at the Strathalbyn Airfield and in June of 1992 became one of only a few microlight schools to ever gain full approval from the then Civil Aviation Authority. 1996 saw us introduce Skyfloating to the Australian market with the import of a range of lightweight, easy to fly floater style hang gliders from America. A move that helped rejuvenate the sport of hang gliding Australia wide and led to the eventual release of similar such floaters from the Australian hang glider manufactures.

With a growing interest in sport aviation and an ever-expanding market place that saw us gaining students and customers from throughout Australia and overseas, we decided in January of 1997 to change our name to Adelaide Airsports. A name that better pin points our location and diversity of products and services on offer.

In 1998 we included powered hang gliding with lessons and sales of a range of lightweight, foot launched powered hang gliding harnesses. This was then followed up with the release of a lightweight powered trike unit suitable for use with most hang gliders and skyfloaters.

Early 2003 was a time for considerable soul searching with both reflections on the past and a desire to plan our future direction. The hang gliding school had been where it all started but the microlight school now well established and well respected worldwide was demanding more time and more energy; a decision had to be made. June 2003 saw us celebrate the end of 18 years of successful hang gliding instruction here in South Australia with a decision to concentrate all our teaching skills on the microlight school.

July 2003 and with our microlight flight training facility now well established at the Strathalbyn Airfield, Adelaide Airsports stands out as Australia’s foremost Microlight Aircraft Specialist. An on site flight office and briefing room offering lessons from beginner to instructor level and beyond. A sales and service centre for a full range of new and used microlight aircraft and all associated equipment.

January 2004 and with all theory and practical lessons now occurring from the Strathalbyn Airfield our previous office, classroom and workshop at Sellicks Beach is taken over by Air Hog, a manufacturer of microlight aircraft accessories. Whilst for me personally it is a move to Mount Compass setting up home with a small office and workshop attached.

Now into our third decade Adelaide Airsports has been responsible for giving several thousand people a taste of flight, with many hundreds going on to learn to fly, gaining their Pilot Certificate, purchasing equipment and enjoying regular flying activity.

Adelaide Airsports is one of the few microlight flying schools in Australia approved to teach instructors and help them set up their own flight training facilities. We have trained more instructors than any other school in Australia and acted as supervising Chief Flying Instructor and/or Examiners, therefore helping in the establishment of such schools as South West Microlights, Bunbury (Western Australia), Gawler Microlights, Gawler (South Australia), Mallee Microlights, Lameroo (South Australia), DTK Microlights, Latrobe Valley (Victoria) and Birds Eye View, Exmouth (Western Australia). 

For a simple once-off taste of flight or to gain your Pilot Certificate and become a microlight pilot. To follow through to instructor level, maybe even eventually run you’re own flying school. All this and more is possible with Adelaide Airsports.

Here at Adelaide Airsports we feel very positive about our future and the continued desire for people to want to have fun in their flying activities. It is our intentions to continue to monitor new trends, techniques and sport aviation products from here and around the world, and whenever appropriate to introduce these to our friends and customers.

Larry Jones
Proprietor