Tiger Moth Safari 2020 - Part 1

Stepping into the flying season planning for February March 2020, when conditions are normally more settled and enjoyable, usually has me thinking of where to next, by middle of winter. This is when the dreaming of airborne adventures takes me away from the short cold days of winter while I sit doing computer work at my desk.

Inwards emails this time were what promoted me to action as I read the Tiger Moth Club's newsletter advising that their summer event would be a Safari from North Cape to the bottom of the South Island to terminate at Ashburton for their AGM. This sounded like an agreeable plan to look forward to. The last one in 2017, with Gavin Lee, had worked out wonderfully. It therefore inspired me to action even though my Club membership had lapsed in the intervening years as my joining fee last time had enabled me to Safari with them, if I was a TMC member.

Normal event team? Yes, my friends around NZ from Whitianga, Auckland and Masterton should be interested in this one since Gavin died last year, on schedule. (I was with Gavin the day before he left us and he remarked that “his year was up so that he was on schedule”. This referred to his timing of an extra 12 months, given to him by his doctor after the last cancer treatment.)

About a 40% positive response to my 'tiki touring' flyer friends got me underway. Realising this could also reduce to zero by the time another 6-7 months had passed did not cause any second thoughts though because my other group of outdoor friends had me signed into a Mountain adventure of cycling, walking, tramping & eating, in the central North Island, in January, to keep my outdoor spirit alive. Time drifted along and our family gathering in NZ, in February 2020, took precedence in planning the intervening months and, since I was not the planner for the outdoor mountain adventure, it was too easy to relax with all plans in place.

Gavin’s thoughts were with me as I came into the final dispatch time frame as he would have loved to do this again after we had so much fun on the last one. A last minute oil change on the Pelican, the day before departure, aero club newsletter to complete writing, bag packing to be achieved had me in a tizz as I also had a slight oil leak to rectify, after the oil change.

When I heard the Tiger Moths begin their arrival into Whitianga enroute from Kerikeri, my focus changed yet again to ensure I was on site at the clubhouse to capture the arrival of the Tiger team for their overnight in Whitianga. Weather had been a little offputting enroute from KeriKeri so Tigers came from over the hills to the west or via Mercury Bay, if they had flown coastal avoiding weather. I did manage to step out of my car just as the first Tiger Moth arrived on short final runway 04, from the west, so captured him as he passed the car park along with another following close behind. Well, that was lucky so I was now underway in the spirit of the Safari and also able to complete the newsletter, all in one swoop!

All the last minute jobs though didn’t allow me time to attend the evening gathering at Frankie’s Hotel to meet the Tiger team that I would be joining next day. The last minute planning (a normal event for me) had me unable to locate my camping gear which I was sure was located somewhere in my hangar. I remembered arriving back to Whitianga in a hurry last year, returning from Greymouth after our West Coast Wilderness Trail riding adventure, to complete the required oil change on the Pelican, before leaving for Berlin, Germany to celebrate the arrival of our first grandchild. Nova unfortunately arrived in Berlin before me but I was close behind.

Newsletter was published perhaps with a little too much haste this month but being a “wing it with Wally “ person, accommodation not booked, tent and sleeping roll not on board, I needed to depart as the Tiger Moths did. I advised Bill that I would be in Tauranga around 11:15 am if he was up for a coffee as I passed through with the Tiger Moths. “Yes I will meet you at Solo Wings” Good, that fits the plan well as I have a follow up oil filter on board for Solo Wings evaluation after my recent Pelican oil change from the previous couple of days.

Bill arrived as I taxied in at Tauranga and over a coffee I explained the loss of my camping gear to fly south with and he promptly offered his for this mission. “Gee thanks Bill that saves me popping in to a camping outdoors shop when I get to Gisborne to buy my next replacement set.” As we cruised back to his place to collect this gear he decided he would join the Safari for the next sector to Opotiki, in his Technam.

Well this was turning out to be quite an extraordinary flying event as I had not yet caught up with the Tiger Moth team on the Tauranga stopover! I was registered for the event from Whitianga onwards so was not too disturbed while Bill and I split into separate parties on arrival back at the airport, me with camping gear under arm heading back to the Pelican while Bill headed off to his hangar to extract his Technam and prepare for flight.

All loaded, warmed up and ready for action, it was taxi to “F” for grass runway 07 - under tower instructions. The first 3 Tiger Moths were just getting airborne for Opotiki as we taxied out and when arriving at our holding point they came back down the runway, in formation along our grass runway, as a farewell to Tauranga and I managed to have my camera out as soon as I realised what their plan was. Only just in time though and I had initial difficulty in capturing the formation in focus but they automatically refocused as they came nearer. All this going on through the windscreen of the Pelican which didn’t give the sharpest video but it did capture the event well. Bill and I lined up and departed on runway 07 as the Tiger Moths flew into the distance for Opotiki.

It wasn’t too much longer before we caught those three Tigers again as we travelled coastal via Maketu to Whakatane and onwards to Opotiki. As I came abeam the Tigers it looked as if I might catch them on video so that was my second shot at my inflight view of them. As it happened the zoom function permitted a reasonable coverage, when checking it after arrival Opotiki. Shortly afterwards I was advised that Bill was pulling along side, on my starboard side, since he was a little quicker than me. He got the camera angle just perfectly so I also managed to capture his inflight on video extremely well with the sun illuminating his aircraft beautifully.

I also then suddenly realised Jack was not aware that we were in his vicinity with the Tigers and he also responded with a plan to arrive next day in Opotiki to see us away from there in fine style. Arrival Opotiki was a sunny afternoon with the public having been given a heads up that we were to arrive so that brought a number of people out for a view of the fleet and that had a relaxed interactive mix with the public while we also set about tying down the aeroplanes for the evening.

Having not planned my accommodation, as per my normal method of bedding down, I managed a deal in the local motor camp which was close to our RSA planned meal for the evening gathering of the flyers. Penny drove our mini bus for team drop offs to accommodations, so I took my empty fuel can with me.

This started me off well the next morning with a short walk to the Caltex fuel station to start my day and await the promised pick up. I managed a few interactions with the locals kids as they passed by to school which I found interesting and provided me with early entertainment before pickup. Arriving at the Aerodrome enabled us to wander off to refuel and spot the arriving fleet coming in from Whakatane. Jack in his Bearcub along with friend Bill were interested taildragger pilots as also was the Pipistrel and Fletcher who arrived on the scene from Whakatane and Gisborne. The Fletcher to join the Tigers and the Pipistrel and Bearcub to observe the departure to Ruatoria and Gisborne.

Bob in his Classic Cub and myself in the Pelican did a couple of circuits and short landings for practice to ensure we could negotiate the couple of extra short airstrips that had been offered for landing enroute to Ruatoria before we followed the departing Tigers into the air for the morning leg. (The Opotiki News, I found later, had done a wonderful Facebook coverage of the Event.)

It was a fine calm morning to be flying the Coastal route that many, like myself, had not flown for 50 odd years or never flown before at all. With Ruatoria having been closed for many years there was little need to choose that route through to Gisborne and I had only flown that way previously because of weather making me avoid the direct route. That was a Cessna 180 flight to the fly in at Gisborne Aero Club in about 1970!

Ruatoria had us all gathered there on time for lunch and a big crowd of locals, including children off school for the day, arrived to see the fleet of around 18 aircraft which included the non Tiger Moths, that were accompanying them south.

There was certainly plenty of interest being shown and I managed to speak with one fellow whose father had learned to fly in a Tiger Moth for airforce service yet he had not been this close to one himself in his lifetime. A school choir gathered to sing the gathering a happy song and other children amused themselves playfully climbing onto the many green wrapped hay bales which were still spread around the airfield after the recent hay cutting and baling activity.

The “Lunch” call was eventually what had us each looking for transport to the downtown venue in Ruatoria after our hostess drove us on a short tiki tour of her township. We were dropped off at the local church hall where there was a spread readied for us in a short space of time. This was a first for me and I imagine many others in the group and I would have loved more time available to walk around the town to get the feel of the place. With limited transport back to the aerodrome I didn’t wish to be forgotten and then have to walk it so I went on the first shuttle back.

Concluding lunch, our next option was being discussed as we made our way back to the field. I thought landing at Tolaga Bay was the most appealing so I was one of the first underway to Gisborne via a coastal path to Tolaga Bay. This was found to be a very pleasant location near the longest wharf in NZ, at an agricultural airstrip in the lee of the coastal hills beside the wharf. Cessna 172 ELY was to follow me in as he had been first off Ruatoria but then went sightseeing more than I did.

Once the lads in Echo Lima Yankee had arrived beside me, I taxied back for takeoff so that I could arrive in good time at Gisborne to arrange a parking spot for Mike Alpha Lima and also for myself since I had not arranged accommodation. I think this put me into Gisborne as number three in our fleet arrival sequence. It did cause a little problem when I was asked to extend downwind to allow a Cresco to land before me on the sealed runway 32, beside my grass runway 32. To do this I slowed up so not to proceed too far down wind but unfortunately caught my friends in the C172 out by the early slow down and saw them as they overshot my position

When asked to turn inbound for final 32 grass I had great difficulty in finding my grassed runway in the dried out conditions I saw before me. This was a confused state that I had not anticipated so a frantic search of the picture in front of me eventually had me proceeding in the required final approach with speeding up required again because of my following C172. Arriving on my grassed runway it was then difficult to see the nominated exit taxiways in the dry grass conditions so I was glad to leave this landing behind and concentrate on where to park the Pelican. Fortunately I had been back into Gisborne in 2018, after not having visited for 45 years, so I at least then had a plan of where to park and headed off to the Aviation Museum which had been my destination in 2018. Fortunately a few people outside the museum had been expecting us so in turn waved us into a nearby clear area to park up for our stay.

This was a problem in a tail dragger because of unfamiliar locations and restricted views over the nose once on the ground anywhere. The fleet continued to arrive as I bedded the Pelican down and rather than sit there chitchatting to the others I found the guys from the Classic Cub and another ready to shoot off to their overnight accomodations. A quick call to the local taxi company had us secure a van in a short space of time and away we went, dropping me first at my night spot while the others hurried off to theirs. The plan was to meet later at the Fishing Club for our evening meal which was located beside the Gisborne Wharf so was a splendid spot for the evening meal, reflecting with others of the day’s activities and views. It captured the spirit of Gisborne very well with my evening walk into the heart of Gisborne both outbound for dinner then via an alternate route home again.

My overnight spot brought back memories from my learning to fly years (1966-71) when my friend Ken, brother John and Brendan had been shareholders in the 707 Takeaway business in the Main Street of Gisborne. I had been one of their Auckland friends who visited both by air and motorcycle to enjoy their friendship, hospitality and general hijincks of a bunch of young twenty somethings out to have fun.

Waikanae Beach Motor Camp had changed in sophisticated appearance but was still in the most ideal spot in Gisborne to take in the feel and ambience of this return visit for me. It was ideally situated for my evening walk to the Fishing Club for dinner as well as ideally located close to the Gisborne I-Site for a possible bike rental, if the coming weather was deemed to be unsuitable for the next day's flying mission.

Indeed the next morning's forecast proved to be less than ideal and the decision was made to stay one more night in Gisborne allowing me, in my tiki touring mode, to do breakfast at a sidewalk bakery before a quick walk around town till the I-Site opened, to rent a bike.

It was a good way to start the day as I had anticipated this outcome and booked a two night stay at the campground, so my single unit near the beach was well positioned for my all round entertainment.

Cycling plans had been reviewed the previous evening and I was wondering about an interesting one listed for out of town but my enquiry for this indicated my budget would not tolerate the expense this early in the Safari and weather was possibly going to impact it anyway.

Choosing a three hour hire worked better for me so away I went initially via the cycle track immediately outside the shop to the western end of Waikanae beach and beyond where I then made the decision to ride eastwards out to Wainui Beach. The prevailing weather had still not shown storm approaching so away I went via the coastal walk - rideway to visit an old beach side venue I had enjoyed years before. This enabled me to sit on the sand dune near the surf break and watch the black suited surfers catching the waves. I then extended my ride to the northern end of the beach where I sat and reflected on my earlier introductions to Gisborne. The call for coffee had me return to the Wainui Store that I had glanced at as I entered Wainui Beach, as it looked like a laid back place to enjoy this location. And that is exactly what it turned out to be as I sat under their outdoor umbrellas and listened to Bali Sunrise Temple Ritual being played through their ceiling speakers.

The remaining sunlight warming my arms and legs as I drank my coffee with this music playing had me wanting to stay here indefinitely. The sun did eventually shrink away to enable me to chose a roundabout route back into Gisborne and the I-Site. This gave me a comprehensive overview of Gisborne town precinct before my bike drop off and lunch at a nearby cafe.

Weather was still holding up ok so off to the beach to do some body surfing (superb feeling being able to catch just about every wave I ventured to capture! ) allowed me to cool off after the cycle ride and photograph the approaching storm front as it gradually overtook Nicks Head and the inland area to the west of the airport. This allowed a close to home dinner before the rain came through and return to the accomodation nearby to plan my next day’s flying.

I was collected along with Phil from the Tiger Moth Club at around 8:30 am next morning and deposited at the Air Museum shortly afterwards to begin my refuel and preparation for flight. This time all the way to Hastings for our lunch stop but I did take the opportunity to call Richard at Okepuha Station on Mahia Peninsular for landing permission on their strip. Richard advised ok but new crop there with sheep grazing may preclude a landing.

After snapping a few photos of the departing Tiger Moths and formations of non transponder aircraft leaving together, to enable controlled airspace transit at Napier, my turn came to return to the overcast sky and head off on my mission. The showery weather was all around so the biggest issue for us all was knowing the location of others as we all flew different aircraft and at different speeds and altitudes. I chose via Young Nicks Head, on the coast, as I was keen to get into Okepuha on Mahia Peninsula. Dodging a few unpleasant looking showers, I managed to cross over the nice lush green paddocks that had been recently replanted but found it was well stocked with sheep and in the showery conditions felt it was better to fly onwards to the north of Onenui Station and to Wairoa.

These showery conditions made the Tiger Moths avoid Napier control zone so they transited the western areas of the Hawke Bay, Eskdale way. This weather was a little reduced visibility in places but allowed me to track via the Port of Napier and onwards to Hastings in reasonable conditions with Pete’s Glastar overtaking me below as we passed the Port.

A good turnout of flyers and visitors greeted us on arrival Hastings and this enabled us to capture the fleet on the ground in a well laid out formation before the call for lunch had us once again onto another meal treat at the Hastings Golf Club.

A walk back to the Aerodrome after lunch had me doing a little more reminiscing as this was where Pat Doherty had given me my Tiger Moth rating many years before (1968!). A delightful aircraft to fly but it really did take my breath away in my first spins! I had not experienced anything like it before in my first trainer, a Victa Airtourer. Pat had also done a few loops in the type rating sequence so it was a wonderful add on during my flight training since Pat had given me my first light aircraft flight experience when we had worked at Dominion Breweries together. I was mad keen to get into the airforce but having difficulty convincing my parents to sign the forms to submit my application.

Along came Pat, who had heard I was keen to fly, and offered to take me flying at Ardmore since he was a tow pilot there at the Auckland Gliding Club. My Sunday afternoon treat was eventually lined up at Ardmore late one autumn day, as the last tow for the day. Strapping into the front seat had me double checking the seat belts, canvas straps with holes in them which a steel plug was passed through, to ensure the latch was properly secured. Leather helmet and jacket had been put on before climbing into the open cockpit so pulling goggles down into flight position the engine was started (hand swung of course) and then we lined up by edging forward under a Gliding Club member’s hand directions until the tow line was taught.

The wave to take off had us finally underway into the late afternoon sky on a fabulous settled weather day, glider in tow. Peering out over the edge enjoying the cool view below suddenly had me gasping for breath as the Tiger was on a wing tip plummeting back to the earth below! Whhwhat happened! The glider had been released from Tiger so we were on our way back to land. Whew! That was some introduction Pat! So that changed my course of flying training to Aero Club and the airforce idea was not taken any further!

Dannevirke was the next stop for the Safari so I was also enjoying this flight leg as I had traversed this many times in the years the Pelican was based in Martinborough. No accommodation had been planned so after arrival and tie down at the Dannevirke Aero Club, leaning on the fence talking to a local farmer initially, I was keen to get into the township so I took the first shuttle and arranged my overnight on my iPhone along the way. Mine was the last drop off as I managed a night's accommodation at the Dannevirke Camping Ground, at the very reasonable price of $22.

In turn, the next shuttle into town collected me again to take me back to the aero club for the evening's dinner which the members were providing for the Safari members. This is a great way to meet the locals along the way and part of my adventure is to do exactly that. A great night.

Wow. Breakfast was not to be my dehydrated ration of porridge next morning as I had discovered the wonderful site of McDonalds was only 10 minutes walk away from my overnight accommodation, in my A frame hut at the camp ground. Easy as! This was completed in nice time to wander out with my gear, including my 20 litre fuel can, to queue up with a few others along the road from me who were waiting their pickups outside their Motel. Dropped off at the Caltex station had me await the shuttles return to town to collect me and my fuel, to get me to the aerodrome again, ready for action.

Unfortunately, Bob and Rob next day were to be on a different mission in their Classic Cub. Overnight, Bob's wife had called to have them return to Auckland, so after bidding us farewell, they took off over the Manawatu Gorge for the Northern route via the Desert Road - homebound.

I was refuelled and ready to get underway so after observing the arrival of the two Chipmunks from Masterton, who were to accompany the fleet back to Masterton, I got airborne. Unfortunately, I received a shock as I climbed into low cloud which I had not noticed had crept in over the field while I was backtracking on runway 02 for the northerly takeoff. This was a little disconcerting as it obscured the path to the Manawatu Gorge so I was wondering how Bob and Rob were getting on.

It didn’t take long to fly through this short patch of low cloud so away I flew again to my next familiar port of Masterton in great weather that allowed me to circuit the Mt Bruce Bird Sanctuary, satisfactorily clear to the East.

Touching down on runway 24 allowed me to taxi straight up to Murray’s hangar where I could see his Cessna 152 was parked outside ready for action. Shutting down on his concrete apron was the beginning of yet another adventure for us which has been going on for the past 3 years since meeting up at Healthy Bastards in Omaka.

My intention was to be one of the first to land at Masterton so that our lunch time meal would be at the beginning of the queue rather that at the last. I met Murray’s wife, Miri, for the first time as we discussed our plan forward from today. This led to Murray and I farewelling her after our plans were in place while we made our way to the Kittyhawk Cafe for our lunch, explaining that we were the first of the arrivals for the Tiger Moth Safari.

Sitting on the deck watching the others arrive and park in their neat lines was quite a wonderful feeling as the Vintage Aviator hangar was beside the cafe where the Tigers and Chipmunks were shutting down. The Vintage Aviator is the Aviation Museum on the Hood Aerodrome so many good examples of early flying machines are on display.

As the Tiger pilots began to descend on the Cafe it was time for me to advise Murray I would head off to Martinborough for a quick visit there before heading over to Omaka for our first overnight together, now that Murray was joining the Safari. He was happy to see me off while he chatted to the others pilots around the aerodrome and awaited my call to advise “Airborne Martinborough”.

I have always tried to incorporate a visit with Alistair and Pauline at Martinborough each time I pass either southbound or northbound as they are the couple I first met in the search for airstrips and hangarage when contemplating the purchase of an aircraft. They are now good friends of 12 years who we have shared many overnights with along the way, to tell a few stories and share some fine wines and meals together. Always a “must land” in the Pelican even though circumstances have changed so much over the years I have been relocated to the Coromandel.

Due to the dramatic events that have overtaken them with neighbour relations and the shortening of the airstrip to half its original length which forced closure of Martinborough as an aerodrome for public use, I have phoned ahead each time to obtain permission to land from Alistair who will cut a wide enough swath through the remaining 400 odd meters to allow me into and back out again. Always exciting to revisit Martinborough and catch up with these two.

Today was no exception as I phoned ahead to advise “taxiing Masterton for Martinborough” and managed to spring a surprise knock on their door to ask to enter “for coffee”. The Pelican is a very quiet aircraft when throttled back on descent so even flying over their house for a right base landing on runway 11 was not enough to alert them to the Pelican's arrival. Forgetting my phone, which had slid under my seat cushion in the Pelican, I was not able to capture them on “film” while chatting over coffee so after a quick inspection of the Land Rover rebuild and a walk across their very dry garden it was back into departure mode by walking cross the paddock to the strip while texting Murray that Mike Alpha Lima was preparing for lift off Martinborough.

A wave goodbye to Alistair as I got airborne beside his old windsock had me deciding, South Coast or Rimutaka Saddle to Omaka? Rimutaka Saddle was my pick as the winds were light and the Saddle was quite visible as I rose off runway 11 at Martinborough and departed on the next leg and catch-up with Delta Papa Sierra along the way.

Well I didn’t see any of the Safari aircraft on this leg but the weather was fine and clear as we all chose our paths across Cook Strait to Omaka but alas DPS called up at White Cliffs just as I was approaching the same position! Murray had beaten me and had flown “South Coast”! Nevertheless we landed one after the other into Omaka so were early enough to find vacant tiedown spots to secure our aircraft to, so that was great planning Murray!

Quick call to our previous Motel Owner ( a Marlborough Aero Club member) had us collected and deposited in our room nearby in a short time thereafter. Wow. That’s great service and ‘‘twas the same last time we were in Omaka!” This gave us time to determine our evening's venue while we sat and relaxed for an hour or two. Fortunately Bamboo Garden was an easy walk from our motel so we set off in good time and discovered a beautiful setting that had us seated and underway with our first glass of Pinot Noir before any of the other Safari team members had discovered the place, so we had first choice in the setting arrangements......end Part 1