Fighter jet proves a hit in Alexandra

A TREASURED L29 Delfin fighter jet is finding a home in Alexandra, much to the intrigue of the community.

Aviation enthusiast Peter Meadows has taken the twoseater jet to the Otago skies frequently over the past few years having relocated south from Tauranga in 2013.

But after a stint in the Lakes district, the 65yearold relocated to Central Otago in 2017 and his prized Delfin fighter resides at Alexandra’s aerodrome.

Mr Meadows said the local community is easily captivated.

‘‘If I start the jet up and take off, I see people leaving their homes and getting into their cars.

‘‘By the time I land there’s up to 20 cars waiting to kick the tyres and chat about [the jet].

‘‘They think it’s really neat.’’ One of the Eastern Bloc’s most successful aircraft designs, the Delfin was widely used in the Soviet Union as the Warsaw Pact’s primary advanced trainer for more than a decade, from the early 1960s to the early 1970s.

Mr Meadows has been a pilot for more than 30 years.

The longtime navigator bought his Delfin jet from the United States in 2012 and has previously owned a T6 Texan, or Harvard, and a Yak52 Soviet trainer as part of his aviation business Double X Aviation.

Mr Meadows now resides at the Alexandra Aerodrome alongside half adozen other permanent residents.

He had a 500sq m hangar for his jet built with an adjoining threebedroom property.

‘‘We’ve got a little community growing up there [at the aerodrome] now.

‘‘All the sections are gone and people are starting to build their own hangars with accommodation.’’

Having launched into the skies for the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow in previous years, Mr Meadows’ jet has been a recent highlight for onlookers at Blossom Festival and Armistice Day events.

Travelling at 500kmh can be an intense experience for the seasoned pilot.

‘‘It’s pretty quick.

‘‘It’s not a relaxing thing to fly. By the time you’ve looked at your gauges and altitudes and worked out what you’re doing, you’ve covered 8km.’’

After running adventure tourism and aviation businesses over the years, Mr Meadows has recently taken on a more ‘‘hands on’’ challenge for a daytoday job.

For nearly a year, he has been the regional manager for Go Bus Transport.

‘‘It is the first time I’ve come back to the workforce in 30 years.’’

PHOTO: ADAM BURNS Taking off . . . Aviation enthusiast Peter Meadows, of Alexandra, is making himself right at home in his prized L29 Delfin fighter jet.