While Ford Mustangs rolled into town on Friday afternoon as the cars of Americarna drove through Stratford, a different kind of Mustang landed at the Stratford Aerodrome.
Members of the Stratford Aero Club Sport Flyers gathered at the aerodrome on Friday to welcome the new addition to the club's fleet, a T-51 Mustang.
Apart from the size the Mustang is an exact replica of the famous World War 2 aircraft.
Club president Nick Furmage says the club couldn't be happier with its new addition, as it makes them the only club in New Zealand with a Mustang parked outside the club house.
Stratford aero club aims to be the most progressive aero club in the country and adding the Mustang to our collection certainly helps.
The T-51 Mustang, which is three-quarters of the size of the original war plane, was flown to its new home at the Stratford Aerodrome by chief flight instructor Wayne Richmond on Friday afternoon, arriving in formation with a couple of other Stratford-based aircraft.
Wayne says the new plane is a welcome addition to the club's fleet, "it should be a great incentive to draw some new members into the club".
The plane is privately owned by a club member and the use of it has been donated to the club for training purposes.
"This is a very exciting opportunity, to train in the only Mustang available to an aero club in New Zealand," says Nick.
He adds the club will need between two and four weeks of training and testing flights to establish operating procedures ensuring the safe operation of the aircraft, "we aim to make flights in the Mustang as accessible and affordable as possible".
The T-51 Mustang was privately constructed from a kit and is effectively brand new. It has only had "mandatory test hours" on it.
There are three instructors at the Stratford Aero Club qualified to fly the advanced microlite recreational two-seater but Nick says that training will be ongoing.
The Sport Flyers of Stratford Aero Club enjoy sharing their love of aviation with as many people as possible at every opportunity. "With the addition of the Mustang, the club would like to see Stratford Aerodrome become a destination for aviators and the wider community to enjoy all that the Stratford fleet has to offer."
For more information on how to join Stratford Aero Club phone Nick Furmage, 020 404 28854.
