Microlight flies south to new owner
Graham Gimblett of Dannevirke delivered his Pioneer 300 Microlight aircraft to its new owner in Christchurch last weekend.
He’s flown the aircraft for nearly 12 years.
He says he is sad to see it leave Dannevirke because he believes microlight aircraft are the future of air transport and the Dannevirke air field is ideal for them.
His flight to Christchurch was just under three hours in comfort and at relatively low cost — the plane consumes 17 litres of aviation fuel per hour.
Microlights have a fivehour range in the air and Graham’s plane had previously hopped its way across the Tasman via Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands to Coffs Harbour.
He believes microlights are relatively unknown and are easily mistaken for more common single propeller planes.
They are just lighter, having to be under 650kg fully laden with fuel and two passengers.
The planes have lighter materials in their fuselage and wings with some fabric involved, which means they need to be stored under cover, and Graham’s was in a hangar at the field. Whenever he wants to fly Graham just hauls it out by the propeller.
Being lighter means there are fewer CAA regulations and training to fly the planes, which come under the Recreational Aircraft Association of New Zealand.
They are also cheaper to buy — a new microlight sells for $200,000 but second-hand ones are readily available for under $100,000.
Graham is an experienced flier of regular aircraft after training in 1959 and travelling throughout the world in light aircraft — across the Tasman, to the Pacific, Asia, Canada and to Scotland. He helped set up the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians — Rotary members who fly planes — in New Zealand, which has 40 members.
Now it is time for the plane to be put to more regular use.
The new owner will be using it to commute between his two farms in Blenheim and Southland.
He hopes to see more microlights use the Dannevirke Field which is highly thought of by other pilots.
There is one remaining microlight flying out of Dannevirke.