News Article
Farmers charter Skylink to the Warbirds Over Wanaka
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
By ROB MAETZIG - Taranaki Daily News
Two years ago Finnerty Rd farmers Craig and Lisa Swan chartered a 50-seater Convair 580 plane to fly themselves and fellow airshow fans directly from New Plymouth to Wanaka.
Everything went well – until it was time to leave for the return trip to Taranaki.
The big plane was parked in a holding area on the grass at Wanaka aerodrome, and when everyone had climbed aboard the Convair had sunk so far down on its suspension that the pilots became worried that the propellers might touch the ground when they taxied over a small depression used to drain water away from the tarmac nearby.
But when the group found they would have to wait half an hour for a tractor to arrive to tow the 50-tonne plane through the depression, they all got out and pushed the Convair instead.
"It was kind of embarrassing but also funny watching everyone group up to push the large wheels on the bottom of the aircraft as these were the only areas we could push on," recalls Craig.
"Half the passengers were pushing – and the other half were taking photos of us. But it certainly gave us all something to talk about on the way home."
Now Craig and Lisa have chartered the plane again. They didn't intend repeating the exercise, but after receiving numerous calls from many of the 2008 passengers they have re-booked the plane from Auckland company Skylink, which sub-charters the Convairs from Air Chathams.
The 50-seater plane is already half full, with mainly people from the last trip and their friends wanting to go this time. Anyone wanting one of the remaining seats can contact Craig and Lisa on 06 764 8045. Cost of the return flight, plus tickets to the big airshow, on Saturday, April 3, is $830.
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