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 4000 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. Other achievements include being the author of two aviation books and visiting Antarctica eight times.

Darren Smith
Pilot, Quality Assurance Manager, Director

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.

Rod Dew
Crew Chief

Rod Dew joined the Team in 2006 and has been a great asset in helping prepare aircraft each day. Rod, who has been flying since 1992, is well known for his work as Sports Editor for the Christchurch Press and in writing Master of the Wave, the biography of Terry Delore, one of New Zealand's most successful glider pilots. His help on the airfield ensures a smooth operation and his ability to talk to visitors about all aspects of flying is greatly appreciated.

Les and Irene Lamb
Directors

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 the 2006/2007 season, he did a trial flight with Southern Soaring (our sister company) and then completed a Learn-to-Fly Course. He liked the experience so much, he decided to buy the business!

"I love Omarama, and had a great time with the guys at Southern Soaring during the course. There was a great camaraderie among the staff, who were clearly very talented and knowledgeable."

Irene, who is a Postmistress with a background in banking,  manages the Southern Soaring and Aviation Adventures office over the four-month peak period of the season and, together with Les, helps promote the two company's products.