Milestones

Milestones

Every thousand hour journey starts with a takeoff. Weather that takeoff is a trail flight in a glider, a helicopter or a fixed wing aircraft it really doesn't matter, once you have left the runway and joined the birds, you are on your way.

Along that path there are certain markers, like milestones on a road. Effective controls, first solo, PPL, CPL, aerobatics, multi engine, IFR, ratings in different aircraft, strip flying, mountain flying, cross countries and slowly the hours clock up.

Milestones are usually a fixed distance apart (dependant on speed). Each Queens’s birthday for NZAWA members it is a time to stop at a pre-appointed town to replenish, review, rejoice and rehydrate. For some it is a mini journey, just getting to and from the rally.

The 2015 NZAWA rally was held at Waipukurau. The aircraft that flew in were DFU, DLL, DNU, EWP, FLF, FTQ, JBZ, KCC, MNY, RVF, TRS, WAJ, and WHO, coming from as far afield as Dargaville to Wanaka. The types of aircraft attending were as diverse as their pilots. Everything from a Gipsy moth, to a Sports Cruiser.

The pilots attending came via several different flight paths. Some being students hadn't travelled far yet in their aviation journey. Others have travelled vast distances as international travellers. There are those that fly way above the mountains in wave and those that fly in amongst the mountains. The achievements of a few that reach major milestones are recognised each year at the rally by the presentation of hours badges. This year Jo Olszewski reached 500 hours, Sue Telford 5,000 hours, and Thrya Blaom 10,000 hours.

At the rally there is the opportunity to learn from others, flying with and in something different. Our celebrated top dressing pilot Lea Giblin took out the precision and flapless landings competitions in a tiger moth. Ironically the first commercial topdressing aircraft used in New Zealand. A quite different animal from the Fletcher she is used to. Four women took up the opportunity to learn some hands on strip flying from Ross MacDonald on some local scraps of land they call airstrips.

Sue Telford and Carlton Campbell shared their considerable knowledge on mountain flying. Sues presentation was accompanied by wonderful photographs taken by Peter Scott on an airwomen’s adventure into Milford Sound, after the Wanaka rally in 2013. A place I would never have flown into without the encouragement and networking of NZAWA members.

Competitions are always a challenge against both oneself and others. The best bit being that it makes you sharpen up your act for public viewing. If all goes to custard there is always the learnings from that experience and an instructor for guidance. Stepping outside the square can be uncomfortable but worthwhile. Even the new experience of landing on a grass airfield was new for some (not unlike a gravel road for some city dwellers).

Hand in hand with the flying there is the social side of the weekend.  Saturday is usual set aside for a themed night. This year the Russian women pilots known as the night witches of the 588 bombing squadron were celebrated. Parlour games and skits being the vehicle to promote the lighter side of the evening and provide a good laugh.

On a more serious note, one journey came to an abrupt, untimely conclusion last year. In recognition of this incredible woman, David Morgan chief pilot for Air NZ, presented the inaugural, Ann Barbarich-Bacher Memorial Award. The award went to Enya McPherson a young lady with huge potential. I look forward to watching her continued trajectory through the aviation sphere. I am picking the milestones on the superhighway of today’s world will be flashing past at lightning speed for our next generation of pilots. Watch this space but don’t blink!

In 2016 Mercer is programmed to be the venue for the Queen’s birthday, NZAWA rally. Anybody is welcome whatever your direction of travel in the aviation world, especially males with a sense of humour. This year we introduced a new competition just for the lads J. BBQing/driving/instructing/judging and grid skills are also useful too.