Flying aircraft is in Olivia Pratt s blood
5 May, 2021 08:00 PM
3 minutes to read
Te Puke High School student Olivia Pratt and flying instructor Isaac O Kell. Photo / Supplied
Stuart Whitaker is editor of the Te Puke Timesstuart.whitaker@nzme.co.nz
Te Puke s Olivia Pratt knew flying was in her blood long before she managed to take the controls of a plane.
It was during a family trip to the United States that she discovered her ambition to be a pilot. I flew to America with Mum and Dad and 10 planes in a week was enough to make me fall in love with flying, says the 14-year-old.
Tauranga s Classic Flyers - 15 years young and no end in sight
22 Jan, 2021 06:42 PM
4 minutes to read
Fifteen years on, Classic Flyers has taken off and there is no end in sight. Somewhat of a Tauranga institution, Classic Flyers celebrates 15 years in the game today with an open day.
Covid-19 disrupted birthday plans on May 28 last year so the aviation museum decided to wait and host a summer extravaganza instead.
Looking at it now, it s hard to believe Classic Flyers was just a twinkle in the eye of some Tauranga businessmen pre 2005.
Classic Flyers chief executive Andrew Gormlie. Photo / File
In 2000, several local businessmen including chief executive Andrew Gormlie initiated a project to explore the preservation of the large 1940s hangar on the Tauranga Airfield.