October 2007

Exercise Blackbird
Each year, the RNZAF holds Exercise Blackbird—a mountain flying training exercise for its helicopter crews. Andy Heap and Rob Neil joined 3 Squadron to observe a day of high altitude training in the Southern Alps.

A380 Downunder — Taking a Ride on Airbus’ Double-decker
When Qantas and Airbus hosted 200 guests aboard the Airbus A380 for its first passenger flight in Australia, Pacific Wings’ Graeme Mollison was among those invited along for the ride.

A Pots and Pans Aeroplane
Famed aircraft designer Sir Sydney Camm never had the same soft spot for his company’s Hawker Harrier as he did for many others of its designs. Hawker’s “pots and pans aeroplane”, as he called the Harrier, was never the plane it was originally intended to be, as Andy Heap explains.

Pacific Blue Horizons — and Regional Jets?
Aviation industry consultant and advisor David Mackenzie discusses the likely direction of New Zealand’s domestic air transport network and ponders the future of regional jets in the evolving market.

All Black — and Blue Yonder
New Zealand’s All Black captain Richie McCaw is an avid pilot with time in a multitude of light aircraft and gliders, as well as a DC3 and even a BAe Hawk jet trainer. Pacific Wings’ Jill McCaw talks about her famous nephew’s passion for flight.