Canterbury Aero Club to Farewell Wigram

The announcement of the imminent closing of Wigram Airfield has added another dimension to the Canterbury Aero Club’s plans to celebrate its 80th anniversary.

“We are going to fly the whole fleet to Wigram early on the morning of September 20th so that members past and present can come out and do a circuit or two for the last time at what was our original home,” said CFI Jay Peters.

The Club had planned a “Flyathon” from its current bases of Christchurch and West Melton as part of its celebrations, but the Wigram announcement sparked a feeling of nostalgia, not just from older members but young students as well.

With the co-operation of Wigram’s Ngai Tahu owners, 33 aircraft will fly to Wigram to arrive by 9 a.m. on Saturday September 20th.  From there, many old, young, former and current pilots will take to the local airspace with a choice of a circuit or two, or a flight over Christchurch city. The Club’s Young Eagles will also participate in a rare opportunity to share in 80 years of NZ aviation history.

That night, a celebration dinner will be held in the Air Force Museum, highlighted with a talk by CAC member Ray Webster, recently retired co-founder and CEO of easyJet.