Last chance to keep 'Astro' in our sky

LAST CHANCE: A public meeting has been called for Sunday this weekend at 3pm at the Gisborne Aviation Preservation Society hangar to try to keep Astro the Tiger Moth in Gisborne. File picture.

AVIATION fans in the district get a last chance this weekend to “save Astro” and keep the rare and historic Tiger Moth aircraft in Gisborne. Astro — DH82A ZK-ANL — is the last crop-spraying Tiger Moth in the world.

The aircraft has been housed at the Gisborne Aviation Preservation Society (GAPS) hangar at the airport since Gisborne man Wayne Greaves became a co-owner late last year.

Mr Greaves has been faced with having to sell the aircraft at auction unless some financial help is forthcoming to meet maintenance costs of around $27,000. A sale would almost certainly mean the aircraft is lost to Gisborne. Until recently, his pleas for assistance have not attracted much support.

“The word is out on social media now to to save Astro and keep him in Gisborne,” Mr Greaves said. “It seems the people do want to continue seeing him flying around the city and doing his spraying thing.”

Mr Greaves said he has had several suggestions to raise the funds needed.

“Things like dinner nights at the RSA, a gala day, a fun run with an entry fee and prizes donated by businesses, even a ball for senior citizens and VIPs. The other idea is for people to make a donation of say $200 and for that they get to fly in him over Gisborne. I have had two $200 donations come in so far, one from a Gisborne person and the other from someone in Palmerston North.”

Mr Greaves has called a public meeting at the GAPS hangar at 3pm on Sunday.

“I hope people will turn up with their fundraising ideas and help me get this project rolling.

“It is all about keeping Astro safe here at GAPS and belonging to the people of Gisborne.”

Mr Greaves can be contacted on (06) 868 5556.