The inaugural Warrumbungle Wings and Things event at Coonabarabran Aerodrome on Saturday, 17 April has been hailed a mammoth success.

It was met with such enthusiasm from the public that organisers are looking at making it an annual event.

It is estimated that 1500 people attended the event, including out-of- town visitors from Dubbo, Mudgee, Tamworth, Gunnedah, Gilgandra, Narrabri and Sydney, with ticket sales donated to Coonabarabran Volunteer Rescue Association.

Jason Newton, from Coonabarabran Aero Club, was blown away by the crowd on the day.

“I was stoked. It was unreal. I couldn’t have asked for a better turn out,” he said.

Mr Newton said three times as many people as originally expected rolled through the gates to get a look at the aerial acrobatics of Red Bull racer, Matt Hall.

“With community support I think we could make it even bigger next year,” Mr Newton said.

“I’ve already had the conversation with Matt about what we can do in the future.

“Everyone I spoke to that went had a great time - I haven’t heard one bad thing about it.”

Warrumbungle Shire Council mayor, Cr Ambrose Doolan said he was well and truly on the bandwagon to see the event return next year and praised everyone’s efforts to get it off the ground.

“I hope it becomes an annual event, it brought so much to town, but also Matt Hall’s story is very inspiring and he is a great example,” Cr Doolan said.

“While it was great to see what the event brought to Coonabarabran, for me, it was amazing to see the can-do attitude of everyone involved.

“It all came together very quickly. Jason Newton is a force of nature. Whatever he does, he does well and Wings and Things was a perfect example.

“And credit to all the other community groups that came together to help - that’s what pleases me, the community spirit. It shows what we can do as a community when we put our mind to it.”

Event headliner, Matt Hall, was equally amazed by the turnout for Wings and Things, especially considering the inclement weather.

“When almost every single person then lined up to get a photo with me after my display, I felt very humbled that so many people from Coonabarabran were so interested in what I had just done,” Mr Hall said.

“I love my job, not because I get to fly, but because I have an impact on people.

“I could see the impact in the faces and the eyes of those who came and talked to me - that makes it all worthwhile for me, and the Council and the Aero Club should be complimented on their vision to make this all possible.

“Based on the enthusiasm we saw on the weekend, we have no doubt we will be back!”