Plane-mad youngster flying high

Seven-year-old Elise Chrystal’s first flight in a biplane couldn’t come soon enough for the planemad schoolgirl.

For the past four Christmases, Elise has never missed a chance to wave to Aviation Adventures owner and pilot Chris Rudge as he has flown customers over her family’s holiday house in Twizel. Elise has also been a regular visitor to the nearby Pukaki Airfield each Christmas.

On Friday she went one better and took her first flight in Rudge’s Grumman Ag-Cat, which she has fondly named ‘‘Snoopy’s plane’’ after the Christmas carol.

Speaking after the flight, Elise described the flight as ‘‘fun’’.

Elise’s father, Gregor, who joined her on the flight, said for as long as he could remember Elise had been fascinated by flying.

Her love of planes did not just remain at the airfield, but came back home with her, as her room was filled with biplane-related items, including models and banners. ‘‘She’s been coming up [to the biplane] ever since she could see it.’’

While Elise would have loved to go for a flight earlier, Rudge had told her, and her parents, that she needed to be at least seven-years-old before she could.

‘‘Seven’s the best age; they can just appreciate it a bit more,’’ Rudge said.

Elise never forgot, and when she reached her seventh birthday in October, she held him to his word.

Rudge said Friday was a great day for the flight because the weather was beautiful for the 18-minute flight. The flight took the trio over the canals, Lake Ruataniwha, and over Twizel and the holiday house she can often be seen waving from.

‘‘She absolutely loved it; she was like a little sparrow, looking around,’’ Rudge said.

To add to the experience, he also did a deal on the cost of the flight, so instead of paying the full $490 for both of them, they only paid for her dad, which meant Elise flew for free, he said.

Her parents were waiting to see what she would do in the future, but Rudge was confident her interest would only grow. ‘‘She’s keen on it. You can sort of tell with some kids, she’s just so interested.’’