Post by flyjoe180 on Mar 13, 2008 22:08:39 GMT 12
Russell Brodie has a tiger by the tail and no intention of letting go.
His life-long dream of owning a De Havilland Tiger Moth came true recently when he purchased NZ1443 from the Gordon family in Tauranga.
Russell is still coming to terms with his new baby.
"'I still find it hard to believe that I actually have it here at home," he said with a grin as wide as the hangar doors.
Built in 1942 for the RNZAF by the De Havilland Aircraft company, the yellow Tiger Moth spent most of its wartime career at Harewood, being used for training wartime pilots.
It was decommissioned from the airforce in 1956 and has since logged over 3000 hours and enthralled 11 owners.
In 2004, the Tiger was refurbished to her former glory and repainted in the original airforce colours and is now considered one of the most original, low-houred Tiger Moths in the country.
Russell and his new acquisition draw attention wherever they go.
"There's something romantic about the old biplanes, everyone knows of a Tiger Moth. I can no longer fly anywhere unnoticed."
Since the sale of the late Sir Peter Elworthy's plane, Russell's is now the only flying Tiger Moth in South Canterbury
"It's wonderful to be able to share this aircraft with others, and after all, I'm really only looking after it for the next generation of aviators."
There are plenty of ways to get cold, according to Russell, but none as much fun as flying in an open cockpit.
Living history doesn't come cheap and at a little over $100,000 it may not be just a coincidence that it's also ASB yellow, laughed Russell.
The Brodie family have a long history in aviation.
Russell's grandfather was South Canterbury's first trained pilot and his parents were both keen aviators.
Building on that history Russell now has more than 30 aircraft that are housed at his Rangitata Island aerodrome.
The new Tiger Moth will be part of the De Havilland Over New Zealand collection that is also on display at the Rangitata Island Museum.
www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/timaruherald/4436850a6010.html
His life-long dream of owning a De Havilland Tiger Moth came true recently when he purchased NZ1443 from the Gordon family in Tauranga.
Russell is still coming to terms with his new baby.
"'I still find it hard to believe that I actually have it here at home," he said with a grin as wide as the hangar doors.
Built in 1942 for the RNZAF by the De Havilland Aircraft company, the yellow Tiger Moth spent most of its wartime career at Harewood, being used for training wartime pilots.
It was decommissioned from the airforce in 1956 and has since logged over 3000 hours and enthralled 11 owners.
In 2004, the Tiger was refurbished to her former glory and repainted in the original airforce colours and is now considered one of the most original, low-houred Tiger Moths in the country.
Russell and his new acquisition draw attention wherever they go.
"There's something romantic about the old biplanes, everyone knows of a Tiger Moth. I can no longer fly anywhere unnoticed."
Since the sale of the late Sir Peter Elworthy's plane, Russell's is now the only flying Tiger Moth in South Canterbury
"It's wonderful to be able to share this aircraft with others, and after all, I'm really only looking after it for the next generation of aviators."
There are plenty of ways to get cold, according to Russell, but none as much fun as flying in an open cockpit.
Living history doesn't come cheap and at a little over $100,000 it may not be just a coincidence that it's also ASB yellow, laughed Russell.
The Brodie family have a long history in aviation.
Russell's grandfather was South Canterbury's first trained pilot and his parents were both keen aviators.
Building on that history Russell now has more than 30 aircraft that are housed at his Rangitata Island aerodrome.
The new Tiger Moth will be part of the De Havilland Over New Zealand collection that is also on display at the Rangitata Island Museum.
www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/timaruherald/4436850a6010.html
