Newspaper Article – Pilots gain private licences

Pilots gain private licences

THREE Central Hawke’s Bay youths have recently been granted their Private Pilots Licences.

Philip Mitchell, Andrew Walker and Hamish MacDonald went to Bridge Pa to sit the written and practical test.

The practical session involved basic manoeuvres such as stalls; turns and low-flying.

They were required to have done a minimum of 50 hours flying before this stage.

The licence means they can take non-paying passengers with them and every two years they must sit a flight test.

Philip and Hamish joined Rob Orr and Ross MacDonald in the Wigram Cup, Blenheim earlier this year, a competition which the CHB Aero Club has won more than any other club.

Philip was placed third in his individual category, and the CHB team was also third in the teams event after Tauranga and Waitemata.

Andrew and Philip are keen to compete in the area rallies which are held in Masterton in November.

Hamish will also compete if work commitments permit as he is employed as a loader driver for Helicopters Hawke’s Bay Limited and is taking lessons each night from Rick Graham (Shoreline Helicopters).

Hamish hopes to eventually get both his commercial helicopter and aeroplane license, Andrew is interested in flying tourists, Philip hopes to one day do aerobatics, fly the Tiger Moth and would like to go into the army.

The boys fly most weekends in the club’s planes, the Cessna 152 or 172.

Photo caption – Pictured (left to right) are Philip Mitchell, Hamish MacDonald and Andrew Walker, who have been granted their Private Pilots licence