CTC Training Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand


My ride, yes I know it doesn't look like much but it's actually a very nice piece of kit. For those of you who care it's a Robin 2160, a fully aerobatic two seat training aircraft that cruises at about 135 mph.

After I have completed my sinlge engine training on the Robin I move onto the DA42 Twinstar (above) for the multi- engine phase of my training. Now this really is a serious piece of kit, the most advanced twin of its kind money can buy. It's scary to think that if all goes well for me the next aircraft I will fly after the Twinstar will be a 50 million pound Boeing or Airbus with 170 plus passengers in the back.

Early morning de-icing on the ramp at Hamilton, one of the joys of an 0830 flight in the winter in NZ. If you ask me (and most people don't) us pilots shouldn't have do this kind of crap and I have forwarded the idea of employing some illegal immigrants to do it for us. Still waiting for CTC to get back to me about that one.

Wow, I should be a photographer. Sunrise over the CTC ramp at Hamilton.

First day at School. Me and the rest of the guys I flew out with during our 'Cadet Induction Day', well it was more like 4 days and is more commonly known as 'death by Powerpoint'. From left to right we have Damien, Guy, Al and Tony (CP34), Steve, Me, Penger, Stefano, Jordan, Rich and Coldwell (CP36).