Jim’s castle in the sky

He lives in a hangar at the airport, with the best ever man cave and ‘‘toys’’ to match, writes

What can you do when you are really passionate about a hobby? You can make it your home, literally.

That’s what former TV weatherman Jim Hickey and wife Sue did 10 years ago. Passionate about flying, Hickey decided they should live in an aircraft hangar at New Plymouth airport – he had already set up the Airspresso cafe´ there with business partner Craig Macfarlane.

So the couple built a threebedroom apartment within a dark blue hangar. Then Hickey bought his Yak 52 military warbird trainer. As he puts it: ‘‘I said to my dear wife, ‘I can’t have a hangar that doesn’t hangar an aeroplane’. It worked.’’

But that’s not all they put inside. Hickey has created an amazing man cave, where his magpie collection of antiques and artefacts has found a perfect home. Not to mention his classic motors, including an American pick-up truck and a late-model Camaro.

‘‘New Plymouth airport was going through regeneration back then, and I could see an opportunity,’’ says Hickey, who has business interests throughout the country. ‘‘This place is the perfect anchor – it’s where I want to be in New Zealand.

Hickey says the apartment in the hangar was a ‘‘Taranaki first’’. ‘‘It’s an upstairs apartment with sea views and a short stroll to fresh coffee. When I was working for TVNZ I could walk across the tarmac and fly to Auckland for four days. There was no need to rush. I could just wait until my flight arrived, then wander over and check in.’’

The Yak has now gone – some of the ‘‘toys’’ had to go when Hickey and MacFarlane expanded the Airspresso cafe´ business, and he says the plane maintenance wasn’t cheap. But friends often store their planes in the hangar, and the man cave is in daily use.

‘‘I get a lot of guys telling me I’m living every man’s dream when they see the man cave,’’ he says.

The ‘‘cave’’ is full of plane and automotive memorabilia, including vintage model aeroplanes and ‘‘a bit of old furniture’’.

Hickey once worked in the antique business and still has several large pieces of antique furniture, including a big mottled, mirror-backed kauri sideboard in his apartment, which he describes as ‘‘quite an imperial piece’’. There are also Scotch chests and a kauri refectory table.

‘‘The early colonial kauri furniture is fairly incongruous with the dark blue steel hangar with the cream windows,’’ he says.

And, yes, of course he still keeps an eye on the weather. ‘‘I have to,’’ he says. ‘‘People still like to ask me what the weather is doing, which is such a cliche´ and a bit bizarre. But it’s fun, and I always reply, ‘It’ll come right’.’’

For now, Hickey has his eye on his business interests. The Airspresso cafes at New Plymouth, Queenstown and Dunedin airports are filling a need for travellers. ‘‘We have plug-ins for laptops, and people can sit by the gas fire and watch the planes come and go.’’

Hickey and Macfarlane also coown the original Joe’s Garage in Queenstown, with a second one about to open at the Five Mile retail development near the airport. They also own the Joe’s Garage cafe´ in New Plymouth, and Macfarlane’s Ozone coffee is supplied all the Joe’s Garage cafes throughout the country (12 in total).

Best thing about living here

We’re the only inhabitants here after 8.30 each evening – other than a couple of fairly quiet magpies and a loopy looking, peripatetic loping hare – so we have our own private airport for a few hours each day.

Secondly, when you own a great cafe´, you can drink free coffee. Quality control I call it!

Thirdly, we have great vistas out across the main runways to the open sea, and the mighty Mt EgmontTaranaki.

Favourite antique

Probably a huge Edwardian mirrorbacked, carved and mottled kauri sideboard. At 2.5m high it’s not unusual to see the odd small cumulus cloud shrouding the top!

Most recent purchase

A new leather upholstery job for two wing-back, cabriole-legged chairs that belonged to Ma and Pa – my folks.

Favourite room

The living room with the table – that’s where the food is. Close second is the downstairs ‘‘man cave’’ hangar hang out.

Best time of day in the mancave

Early mornings.That’s the ‘‘What-doI-drive-fly today?’’ time. One of two Chevys, or a plane (when one’s available).

What’s next?

I’m in my late 60s; family all grown up and flown the nest, and I’m trying to

disgorge a lifetime of hunting and gathering – memorabilia, clothes, collectibles, the odd pickup truck, hunting gear, old tools.

I’ve seen the nightmare that can come with deceased parents, and the siblings trying to rehouse stuff from another era.

Hospice shop, the Sallies and Trade Me come to mind.

SIMON O’CONNOR/STUFF Former TVNZ weatherman Jim Hickey is right at home in his dark blue hangar at New Plymouth Airport. He and wife Sue have built an apartment above the ‘‘man cave’’ at ground level.

Hickey was once an antique dealer, and this is reflected in many of the pieces within his home. The mottled kauri, mirrorbacked sideboard, above, is an heirloom piece.

Left, Hickey’s man cave is a curious collection of modern and antique furniture and new and classic vehicles, and all his mates are envious; above, model planes and framed photos are just some of the collectables Hickey has acquired over decades.