Flying

Piper Arrow ZK-EIF at Omaka (2001)©

Flying in New Zealand

I have held a Private Pilots Licence (PPL) and logged over 265 hours mainly flying Piper and Cessna aircraft (usually an Arrow, Archer or 172) with the Wellington Aero Club and Northland Districts Aero Club.

A number of other Royal New Zealand Aero Club (Flying NZ) member clubs now have web sites:

Piper Arrow ZK-EIF instrument panel (2000)©

In New Zealand:

• the Airways Corporation of New Zealand provides air traffic control services, the Internet Flight Information Service and the Aeronautical Information Publication  
• Plain English Met NEW translates coded weather forecasts but note the disclaimer
• the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand sets the rules. Its site includes the details of all the aircraft on the New Zealand register
• Aviation Services Limited carries out delegated personnel licensing functions

Piper Archer ZK-FHQ at Masterton (2000)©

Over the years I spent many additional hours in small aeroplanes flying with my father who held a PPL until he died aged 75. My father was a pilot in the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) during the Second World War flying Tiger Moth, Oxford, Hudson, Walrus and Catalina aircraft in New Zealand and around the South Pacific (my grandfather was an observer in the Royal Flying Corps so flying must be in the blood!). The Catalina Group of New Zealand still keeps a PBY-5A flying. The RNZAF Museums (Air Force Museum) at Wigram near Christchurch and Ohakea near Bulls now have a site.

My father (second from left) in front of a RNZAF Oxford.

Pacific Wings Magazine UPDATED and New Zealand Aviation News provide good coverage of the local aviation scene and their web sites provide some free information.

In 1998 I visited the Old Mandeville Airfield, where Tiger Moths are restored, near Gore and the New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum at Wanaka.

I have founded a Yahoo! Group covering New Zealand Aviation and encourage all those with an interest to join.

Flying Overseas

The following magazine sites are of interest:

Good overseas sources for aviation-related news and other information include:

• Landings
• The AirNet Web Site from the UK - links
• Aero-News Network  
• Sport Flyer's Internet Resources
• The Aviation Home Page
• the Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc. (EAA) based at Oshkosh
• AVweb free registration required - subscribe to their free weekly emailed newsletter
• Aeroseek
• the Aussie Aviator, site of the Australian AOPA
• Cyb'AIR - from France with a wonderful photo collection
• See How It Flies - an interesting on-line book with practical theory and advice for pilots by John Denker
• StudentPilot.com
• Whittsflying
• BruceAir  

Also have a look at the Professional Pilots Rumour Network.

Have a listen to air traffic control radio transmissions from around the world at LiveATC.Net. To do so you may need to have first downloaded RealAudio software.

One of my favourite historic aircraft is the DH-88 Comet which won the 1934 London-Melbourne air race. For news about more recent light aircraft trips around the world have a look at Earthrounders. I followed Steve Fossett's attempted solo around-the-world attempt in the balloon Spirit of Freedom

Aerobatics

• Red Bull Air Race World Series - an amazing new combination of aerobatics and air racing 
• International Aerobatic Club - US with links to other national associations and clubs
• New Zealand Aerobatic Club
• Extra Aircraft - German aerobatic aircraft manufacturer 
• Sukhoi - Russian aerobatic aircraft manufacturer 
• Apex - French manufacturer of CAP aerobatic aircraft
• Zivko Aeronautics - US manufacturer of Edge aerobatic aircraft
• World Airshow News - links to North American air show performers
• Patty Wagstaff Airshows - this lady has character! I have read her autobiography "Fire and Air : A Life on the Edge"and she has written a great FAQ WBM about being an airshow performer that was published by the FAA

Top US pilot Patty Wagstaff in front of her Extra 300S aircraft

Last modified 23 August 2009

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