Biplane Flights The Team

Chris Rudge
Chief Pilot and Managing Director

Chris has been flying gliders and powered aircraft since 1984. As a tow pilot flying "tail dragger aircraft", he has completed over 5000 launches. His total time in aircraft exceeds 4200 hours. He also holds New Zealand and Canadian commercial licences for aeroplanes and balloons, and has flown helicopters. He was the first New Zealander (and one of only a few people in the world) to log 1000 hours each on aeroplanes, gliders and balloons. In addition to holding four New Zealand national aviation records, he has been flying at Omarama for 21 years and was the Chief Flying Instructor for the Southern Soaring gliding company from February 2006 until April 2010. Other achievements include being the author of two aviation books and visiting Antarctica eight times.

Darren Smith
Pilot, Quality Assurance Manager

Darren Smith is an experienced pilot with over 2000 hours fixed-wing time (1100 of this being in tail-dragger aircraft) and over 1000 hours as a glider pilot. During the off-season he flies gliders and tow planes in Canada and works in New Zealand flying a Cresco aircraft on sky diving operations out of Queenstown and Wanaka.

Mike Jarman
Pilot

Mike Jarman joined the team in early 2010 as a pilot. Based in Christchurch, he commutes to Omarama over summer to help out with glider towing and flying the Ag-Cat. He also flies a Piper Cub tow plane for the South Canterbury Gliding Club at Timaru.

The owners of a major art gallery in Gairloch, Scotland, Les and Irene Lamb have been visiting Omarama for over eleven years. A keen dry fly fisherman, Les was initially attracted to Omarama due to its reputation as an excellent place to catch trout.

In recent years, Les and Irene were the major shareholders and Directors of Southern Soaring, which was sold in April 2010.

	The Aviation Adventures Team includes some of the most skilled pilots in the business. We are dedicated to giving you an enjoyable experience and providing quality service. We like meeting people as much as we like flying. Sharing the joys of a biplane flight is what we do best! Chris Rudge Chief Pilot and Managing Director Chris has been flying gliders and powered aircraft since 1984. As a tow pilot flying "tail dragger aircraft", he has completed over 5000 launches. His total time in aircraft exceeds 4200 hours. He also holds New Zealand and Canadian commercial licences for aeroplanes and balloons, and has flown helicopters. He was the first New Zealander (and one of only a few people in the world) to log 1000 hours each on aeroplanes, gliders and balloons. In addition to holding four New Zealand national aviation records, he has been flying at Omarama for 21 years and was the Chief Flying Instructor for the Southern Soaring gliding company from February 2006 until April 2010. Other achievements include being the author of two aviation books and visiting Antarctica eight times. Darren Smith Pilot, Quality Assurance Manager Darren Smith is an experienced pilot with over 2000 hours fixed-wing time (1100 of this being in tail-dragger aircraft) and over 1000 hours as a glider pilot. During the off-season he flies gliders and tow planes in Canada and works in New Zealand flying a Cresco aircraft on sky diving operations out of Queenstown and Wanaka. Mike Jarman Pilot Mike Jarman joined the team in early 2010 as a pilot. Based in Christchurch, he commutes to Omarama over summer to help out with glider towing and flying the Ag-Cat. He also flies a Piper Cub tow plane for the South Canterbury Gliding Club at Timaru. Les and Irene Lamb The owners of a major art gallery in Gairloch, Scotland, Les and Irene Lamb have been visiting Omarama for over eleven years. A keen dry fly fisherman, Les was initially attracted to Omarama due to its reputation as an excellent place to catch trout. In recent years, Les and Irene were the major shareholders and Directors of Southern Soaring, which was sold in April 2010.