Saturday 24th October

Another beautiful morning in Central Otago, with ideal flying conditions. Dave King was busy getting the Control tower operational again before the Rally, and taking to the air himself. Today I was flying a route that I have flown since 1975.

As a young Commercial pilot, I was always told to look after your passengers. They pay your wages.

I found that knowing the history of the land you were flying over, and being able to throw in a few local stories, was my way of making their flight enjoyable.

Heading out of Alexandra, the gold dredging, Frasers Dam and the Clyde Dam always provides a good subject for a commentary. However, there are a few stories to be told about our destination, the Cromwell Aerodrome.



We have all seen the 45 Parallel sign on highway 6. If you head north off runway 36 for 2700nm, you will be at the Equator, head south for the same 2700nm and you are standing on the South Pole.

But did you know that if you head West for 70nm, you will be standing on the beach on the West Coast, and head East for the same 70nm, and you are on the beach on the East Coast. And where is the further most point in New Zealand from the ocean? Yes, you guest it, the Cromwell Aerodrome. Well, almost. It is a point less than 1nm to the East.





The Royal Throne


In the early 1960’s the Queen visited New Zealand. After a reception in Dunedin, she was flown by the Airforce to spend time in Queenstown. The old landing strip at Queenstown was too short to land the DC3, so the plane landed at the Cromwell Aerodrome and she was transported by car to Queenstown.

A rabbiter on a paddock near the aerodrome, watched as the plane landed and taxi-ed to the waiting Rolls. Before getting into the car, the woman from the plane disappeared into the hut near by. After a short time, she re-appeared and was escorted into the waiting car.

While nobody will confirm it, but it is believed that the long-drop toilet in the building is the only time such a toilet has been used by Royalty, at least in New Zealand.




Happy Flying

Stephen Morton