Biplane Flights What's New

1 September 2010

Spring has now arrived and the days are getting warmer. At the end of August, the area around the Omarama hangar was prepared for pouring the concrete apron, soaks pits were added and low points were filled with soil prior to seed sowing. The weather on Wednesday was perfect for a trip to Mount Hutt and Chris flew two Spanish visitors over the skifield (which they had been skiing on the day before). It was a great adventure!

Flying over Mount Hutt Skifield.

Looking south-west to Mount Somers.

Huskun Martinez and Jesus Posada from Spain after their adventure in the Red Cat.

The apron boxed and ready for concrete.

The Ag-Cat at Ashburton with a north-west sky.

6 August 2010

The flashings have now been added to the hangar at Omarama and the door installation is complete. On Wednesday the company went front page of the Timaru Herald regarding a story about advertising on State Highway One. The best bit was a photograph of the DC3 cockpit with the 0800 phone number on the side which was circulated region wide!

Now that has to be a hangar view that's hard to beat!

This view shows how the hangar door folds upwards.

Russell Davies (middle) and Graham Gilbert (right) after a recent flight over Ashburton in the Ag-Cat.

Front page of the Timaru Herald - great advertising!

15 July 2010

This week saw some fantastic coverage of the Red Cat in the Pacific Wings magazine and also on Ashburton TV. To see the Ashburton TV story on You Tube, please click the link here!

The article in the July edition of Pacific Wings

12 July 2010

Things have continued to remain busy with flights every day the museum is open. The new hangar at Omarama is now enclosed with the door fitted. Some flashings still require fitting and the concrete apron is awaiting warmer weather before pouring. When that is done the site can be cleaned up and grass sown.

Tara and Stephanie over Ashburton on Wednesday.

The new hangar is located to the east the existing hangars. Although higher, it was built to match the current designs by having a five degree pitch to the roof and corrugated iron attached horizontally to the east and west walls.

Interior of hangar. The door hinges horizontally in two sections and folds upwards which does away with the need for external tracks and posts.

4 July 2010

A new record! The weekend of the 3rd and 4th July was the busiest yet for the company with 18 passengers flown in perfect conditions - clear skies, no wind and mild temperatures. On Saturday the Cat ran continuously from noon until 5.00 pm.

Perfect winter flying weather at Ashburton!

27 June 2010

This week saw the new hangar at Omarama being erected. With plenty of snow about, conditions were not exactly ideal but the builders battled the conditions to get the building ready for spring.

How the hangar looked on Wednesday 23 June. Photo: Paul Hunter

A view looking south. This is the front, which faces north. Photo: Paul Hunter

20 June 2010

Conditions have been ideal for flying lately and yesterday was no exception with a couple of flights being done over Ashburton and Lake Hood in smooth air. For those wanting to fly over Mt Hutt skifield, we now have that option available for $395.00 per person. Local flights are still just $135.00 each.

Evening flight over Ashburton looking towards Mount Hutt

Margaret and Neil McConachie prior to a Town and Around flight

The Cat sharing space with DC3 ZK-AMY in the Ashburton Aviation Museum display hangar after a day's flying.

31 May 2010

Aviation Adventures went front page of the South Island's biggest newspaper today. The Press ran a photo of the Ag-Cat over Benmore Dam on the front page of the paper, as well as on the front page of the lift-out Escape travel supplement!

24 May 2010

The weather has remained a bit damp for flying but on Saturday the sun was shinning and 87 year old Jim MacDonald, who use to fly Spitfires and Hurricanes during WWII, enjoyed a flight in the Cat. On Sunday, Chris flew two farm workers over the farm they had been living on east of Hinds - a shout from the owners prior to them working on another farm near Mayfield. For further details on Jim's wartime career, please click here.

Jim Macdonald and Robin Corbett prior to the flight

19 May 2010

Recent rain and low cloud has put a bit of a damper on flying but the good news this week was Robin Corbett finished the sign writing on the DC3 cockpit so that it can now go out on State Highway One to advertise biplane flights and the Ashburton Aviation Museum.

Robin Corbett proudly stands in front of the DC3 cockpit after sign writing was completed.

The DC3 cockpit with the Ag-Cat in the Ashburton Aviation Museum's Display Hangar.

8 May 2010

Business is picking up with flights on most days and some advanced bookings. Jim Chivers (with help from Danny) finished painting the DC3 cockpit over the weekend in preparation for sign writing. The Ag-Cat is also looking great after the top wing surface got a cut and polish (a six hour job, which isn't easy with the wing 3.3 metres off the ground!).

Jim Chivers removing masking from the windows after painting of the DC3 cockpit was completed.

Another Jim Chivers masterpiece! What a smart job!

Richard Sorbian and wife Fiona sent us this lovely picture after flying with us and touring New Zealand on their motorbikes prior to returning to Tasmania. See you again in the spring!

28 April 2010

Progress has been steady in setting up the winter operation from the Ashburton Aviation Museum. The Museum committee has voted in favour of supporting the Red Cat operation and the Ag-Cat will be hangared in the Museum's Display Hangar. The Ashburton Guardian ran a story on Aviation Adventure's biplane flights on Monday morning after Chris flew reporter Lance Isbister and photographer Kirsty Graham last week. On Tuesday Aviation Adventures passed its six-monthly CAA audit with flying colours. This means our Air Operator's Certificate will now be approved for two years, prior to another audit and a further extension of five years.

Chris's DC3 is now ready for painting red by Jim Chivers. Once that is completed, signs will be applied and the cockpit will go out on Highway One to advertise biplane flights and the museum.

18 April 2010

Autumn operations have now started from Ashburton Aerodrome and the Ag-Cat has received a lot of interest from locals. The guys from the Ashburton Aviation Museum have been hugely supportive. On Sunday, Richie McCaw arrived at the aerodrome with a bunch a kids who flew down from Christchurch on the Southern DC3 Trust's ZK-AMY. As well as people flying on the Ag-Cat, Les Vincent took a number of the kids for a flight in Devon ZK-XNZ.

The Ag-Cat outside the Ashburton Aviation Museum.

Birds of a feather . .

The Southern DC3 Trust's ZK-AMY "Lady Jane".

To see what was new from April 2009 to April 2010, please click here.

	To catch up on the latest developments with Aviation Adventures Limited and our Red Cat Biplane Flights operation, this is the place to come! Check out the video of the two-minute TV3 news story! Just click here! For the Ashburton TV You Tube video, please click here! 1 September 2010 Spring has now arrived and the days are getting warmer. At the end of August, the area around the Omarama hangar was prepared for pouring the concrete apron, soaks pits were added and low points were filled with soil prior to seed sowing. The weather on Wednesday was perfect for a trip to Mount Hutt and Chris flew two Spanish visitors over the skifield (which they had been skiing on the day before). It was a great adventure! Flying over Mount Hutt Skifield. Looking south-west to Mount Somers. Huskun Martinez and Jesus Posada from Spain after their adventure in the Red Cat. The apron boxed and ready for concrete. The Ag-Cat at Ashburton with a north-west sky. 6 August 2010 The flashings have now been added to the hangar at Omarama and the door installation is complete. On Wednesday the company went front page of the Timaru Herald regarding a story about advertising on State Highway One. The best bit was a photograph of the DC3 cockpit with the 0800 phone number on the side which was circulated region wide! Now that has to be a hangar view that's hard to beat! This view shows how the hangar door folds upwards. Russell Davies (middle) and Graham Gilbert (right) after a recent flight over Ashburton in the Ag-Cat. Front page of the Timaru Herald - great advertising! 15 July 2010 This week saw some fantastic coverage of the Red Cat in the Pacific Wings magazine and also on Ashburton TV. To see the Ashburton TV story on You Tube, please click the link here! The article in the July edition of Pacific Wings 12 July 2010 Things have continued to remain busy with flights every day the museum is open. The new hangar at Omarama is now enclosed with the door fitted. Some flashings still require fitting and the concrete apron is awaiting warmer weather before pouring. When that is done the site can be cleaned up and grass sown. Tara and Stephanie over Ashburton on Wednesday. The new hangar is located to the east the existing hangars. Although higher, it was built to match the current designs by having a five degree pitch to the roof and corrugated iron attached horizontally to the east and west walls. Interior of hangar. The door hinges horizontally in two sections and folds upwards which does away with the need for external tracks and posts. 4 July 2010 A new record! The weekend of the 3rd and 4th July was the busiest yet for the company with 18 passengers flown in perfect conditions - clear skies, no wind and mild temperatures. On Saturday the Cat ran continuously from noon until 5.00 pm. Perfect winter flying weather at Ashburton! 27 June 2010 This week saw the new hangar at Omarama being erected. With plenty of snow about, conditions were not exactly ideal but the builders battled the conditions to get the building ready for spring. How the hangar looked on Wednesday 23 June. Photo: Paul Hunter A view looking south. This is the front, which faces north. Photo: Paul Hunter 20 June 2010 Conditions have been ideal for flying lately and yesterday was no exception with a couple of flights being done over Ashburton and Lake Hood in smooth air. For those wanting to fly over Mt Hutt skifield, we now have that option available for $395.00 per person. Local flights are still just $135.00 each. Evening flight over Ashburton looking towards Mount Hutt Margaret and Neil McConachie prior to a Town and Around flight The Cat sharing space with DC3 ZK-AMY in the Ashburton Aviation Museum display hangar after a day's flying. 31 May 2010 Aviation Adventures went front page of the South Island's biggest newspaper today. The Press ran a photo of the Ag-Cat over Benmore Dam on the front page of the paper, as well as on the front page of the lift-out Escape travel supplement! 24 May 2010 The weather has remained a bit damp for flying but on Saturday the sun was shinning and 87 year old Jim MacDonald, who use to fly Spitfires and Hurricanes during WWII, enjoyed a flight in the Cat. On Sunday, Chris flew two farm workers over the farm they had been living on east of Hinds - a shout from the owners prior to them working on another farm near Mayfield. For further details on Jim's wartime career, please click here. Jim Macdonald and Robin Corbett prior to the flight 19 May 2010 Recent rain and low cloud has put a bit of a damper on flying but the good news this week was Robin Corbett finished the sign writing on the DC3 cockpit so that it can now go out on State Highway One to advertise biplane flights and the Ashburton Aviation Museum. Robin Corbett proudly stands in front of the DC3 cockpit after sign writing was completed. The DC3 cockpit with the Ag-Cat in the Ashburton Aviation Museum's Display Hangar. 8 May 2010 Business is picking up with flights on most days and some advanced bookings. Jim Chivers (with help from Danny) finished painting the DC3 cockpit over the weekend in preparation for sign writing. The Ag-Cat is also looking great after the top wing surface got a cut and polish (a six hour job, which isn't easy with the wing 3.3 metres off the ground!). Jim Chivers removing masking from the windows after painting of the DC3 cockpit was completed. Another Jim Chivers masterpiece! What a smart job! Richard Sorbian and wife Fiona sent us this lovely picture after flying with us and touring New Zealand on their motorbikes prior to returning to Tasmania. See you again in the spring! 28 April 2010 Progress has been steady in setting up the winter operation from the Ashburton Aviation Museum. The Museum committee has voted in favour of supporting the Red Cat operation and the Ag-Cat will be hangared in the Museum's Display Hangar. The Ashburton Guardian ran a story on Aviation Adventure's biplane flights on Monday morning after Chris flew reporter Lance Isbister and photographer Kirsty Graham last week. On Tuesday Aviation Adventures passed its six-monthly CAA audit with flying colours. This means our Air Operator's Certificate will now be approved for two years, prior to another audit and a further extension of five years. Chris's DC3 is now ready for painting red by Jim Chivers. Once that is completed, signs will be applied and the cockpit will go out on Highway One to advertise biplane flights and the museum. 18 April 2010 Autumn operations have now started from Ashburton Aerodrome and the Ag-Cat has received a lot of interest from locals. The guys from the Ashburton Aviation Museum have been hugely supportive. On Sunday, Richie McCaw arrived at the aerodrome with a bunch a kids who flew down from Christchurch on the Southern DC3 Trust's ZK-AMY. As well as people flying on the Ag-Cat, Les Vincent took a number of the kids for a flight in Devon ZK-XNZ. The Ag-Cat outside the Ashburton Aviation Museum. Birds of a feather . . The Southern DC3 Trust's ZK-AMY "Lady Jane". To see what was new from April 2009 to April 2010, please click here.