Sturdy old warbird still going strong

Imagine soaring through the air in a unique warbird with the world racing beneath you.

Tauranga man Peter Meadows has transformed this dream into a reality by bringing a 1941 Harvard to Tauranga for air enthusiasts to have a go at flying in.

The plane, worth about $200,000, was relocated to Tauranga from syndicate owners in the South Island last week, and is the only one of its kind where customers can legally get in the plane, perform aerobatics or soar over the city.

Mr Meadows was awarded his Part 115 operating certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority in December last year and since then, he's added the Harvard to his fleet of planes, which include a Yak 52 which was initially designed for military pilot training.

Mr Meadows said the inclusion of the Harvard aircraft in his Double X Flight business made Tauranga the only place in New Zealand where flights in unique warbirds were legal.

"Queenstown is famous for its jetboats, Taupo is the place for skydiving and I want to make Tauranga the adventure aviation capital of New Zealand.

"This is exciting stuff for Tauranga. This plane is a pilot trainer and has been utilised by many pilots all around the world and in our own Air Force," he said.

Mr Meadows is the only person in New Zealand with the Part 115 operating certificate, which means he is the only person who can legally take people for flights.

His Harvard is 70 years old - its first test flight was on 31 December, 1941 in Dallas, Texas. There are a number of privately owned Harvard warbirds in Tauranga and across the country but they cannot legally offer people rides.

In addition, Mr Meadows is in negotiations with other pilots to bring a L39 Albatros jet plane to Tauranga.

"Of course there's a market for it and you've got to look bigger than Tauranga.

"People will come here from Auckland for a flight in a jet plane," he said.

Mr Meadows will have a stall at the Tauranga City Air Show this weekend or for more information visit www.doublexflight.com.