Hangar gets renamed after big grant

Classic Flyers is renaming its main hangar in recognition of a local trust that donated $10,000 to help purchase a former defence force jet.

The Tauranga-based Legacy Trust helped pay for the Aermacchi fighter jet, which arrived in Tauranga on Saturday.

The main hangar will soon be called the Legacy Jet Centre.

Classic Flyers chief executive officer Andrew Gormlie was delighted with the grant from Legacy Trust.

"We have been through the fundraising process with the recent acquisition of the Skyhawk, and we felt reticent to tap on the goodwill of this same group of supporters and stalwarts again,'' he said.

"To have Legacy Trust come to our aid with such a significant donation is truly heart-warming and as acknowledgement of their gift, we have decided to rename our main hangar in their honour.''

Plans are now in place for a renaming celebration, which is scheduled for late October to coincide with the final reassembly of the Aermacchi.

At that time, signage of the new name will be unveiled and the facility will be known by the Legacy Jet Centre from then on.

Trust representative and funeral director, Mike Savage, said Legacy Trust was delighted to support a charitable organisation that "does so much good for this community''.

"Not only does Classic Flyers provide an environment for young and old to celebrate our aviation history, but it also acts as a drawcard for tourists and conference organisers, thus delivering real economic value to the region,'' he said.

Legacy Trust distributes all profits from Legacy Funerals to the local community.