Soaring the skies in a Tiger Moth
Mandeville’s small airfield will be busy this weekend as it hosts its annual fly-in event. Southland Times reporter Alex Fensome went for a ride in the airfield’s vintage Tiger Moth biplane yesterday.
Today is the start of Mandeville airfield’s annual fly-in. Vintage and modern planes from across the country will be arriving at the airfield, near Gore, along with steam engines and plenty of other attractions to see.
Home to the Croydon Aviation Heritage Trust museum and Croydon Air Services, the airfield is a picturesque place to fly out of.
Fly-in co-ordinator Maeva Smith organised a trip in the Croydon Air Services’ vintage Tiger Moth biplane for me, flown by Croydon’s chief pilot, Ryan Southam.
I read a lot of Biggles as a kid, so I tend to associate biplanes with World War I, Sopwith Camels and Fokkers duelling over the trenches. Tiger Moths are a bit more modern.
Mandeville’s plane was built as a two-seater trainer during World War II, Mr Southam said.
The trainee pilot would sit in the back seat and fly the plane, while the instructor watched them from the front seat via a mirror.
Both cockpits had controls so the instructor could take over if needed.
These days there are no controls in the front seat. If the plane was ever flown solo, Mr Southam said, the pilot sat at the back.
It takes around five minutes for the Tiger Moth’s engine to warm up. It sat on the grass growling away with me inside as Mr Southam went through the pre-
It was a perfect day up there. The Mataura River spread out across the Waimea Plains, and the Hokonuis rose off to the right dotted with tiny sheep.
flight checks. Once complete, it was chocks away. The vintage plane was surprisingly quick to get into the air.
It was a perfect day up there. The Mataura River spread out across the Waimea Plains, and the Hokonuis rose off to the right dot- ted with tiny sheep. There were shelter belts and green sections as far as the eye could see to one side and the brown steepness of the hills, dotted with the odd tree, to the other.
It was a different experience from flying in a modern plane, more visceral and real for the pilot and passenger. It was also quite relaxing for a while.
Gore was off in the distance, but mostly hidden behind the bulk of the Hokonuis.
Having enjoyed the scenery for a few minutes, Mr Southam asked if I was ready to do a loop-the-loop.
Never having done aerobatics before, I wasn’t sure what to expect. To be honest I’d never wanted to do aerobatics.
I wish I could say I saw amazing sights during the loop, but as Mr Southam pulled up to start the climb the force of gravity hit at three times its usual power. I slumped my head against the front of the cockpit and looked down at my knees.
I’m sure the view was great but I didn’t see any of it.
When we levelled out again, tipped the intercom button.
‘‘Don’t think I could handle the g-force,’’ I said.
‘‘It can be tough the first time,’’ he replied.
Finally, we cork-screwed back down to Mandeville. It was a great experience.
Back on the ground Mrs Smith had told me about her plans to
I mark the anniversary of the first cross-country flight in New Zealand.
Around February 20, 1914, a man flew from Invercargill to Gore in a wooden aeroplane.
The airfield was planning to build a replica and use it at the 100th anniversary fly-in.
All proceeds from this weekend’s fly-in day would go towards Mandeville’s Croydon Aviation Heritage Trust museum,
Mrs Smith said.
To take a look at the flight over Mandeville and the Tiger Moth, go to www.southlandtimes.co.nz