Fighter joyride perfect fit for McCaw

All Black captain Richie McCaw rates his 50-minute flight over the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow in a F/A-18 Hornet fighter as "right up there" among experiences of a lifetime.

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His Saturday afternoon joyride was provided by the Royal Australian Air Force, which flew him from Christchurch, over Wanaka airfield, and back to Christchurch in an aircraft that can reach air speeds of 2200kmh.

McCaw yesterday said pilot Adam Long subjected him to crushing G-forces right from the start - by powering the plane straight up on its tail, causing more than a little excitement.

"I think he was under instruction from [Australian rugby coach Robbie] Deans," McCaw joked.

McCaw said he did not need to use the sick bags.

He had worried he might be too big to fit in the cockpit, but it seemed to be fine, he said.

"I put my measurements in a while ago and they said it was good as gold."

As a youngster, he dreamed about being a jet pilot and had had a lot of people ringing him on Saturday evening saying, "You lucky bugger".

McCaw came back to Warbirds Over Wanaka yesterday on a DC-3 flight from Christchurch and, although it was his day off, spent time signing autographs and posing for photographs.

He also visited the New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum, which includes a display tribute to his grandfather, Flight Lieutenant Jim McCaw, who flew with Squadron (NZ) 486 in the Royal New Zealand Air Force during World War 2.

There, McCaw bumped into family friends Jack and Edith Stafford, of Rotorua.

Mr Stafford (87) also flew in Squadron 486 and regularly attends the airshow.

Mr Stafford and Jim McCaw earned a Distinguished Flying Cross for World War 2 efforts.

Jim McCaw is credited with saving countless Londoners in 1944 by shooting down German V1 rockets and, when he ran out of ammunition, he risked his life using a wing tip of his Hawker Tempest MK5 to roll the rocket bombs off course.

He made 19 "kills" and was awarded his Distinguished Flying Cross for his attacks on ground targets, including railways, and attacks at sea in which 73 ships were destroyed.

McCaw and Mr Stafford discussed family topics and inspected Jim McCaw's uniform jacket, which McCaw said family members would wear around the family farm near Hakataramea.

As a 9-year-old, McCaw flew in gliders around Otago with his grandfather, who died in 1996.

McCaw, who has his private pilot's licence and is a keen glider pilot, was made an honorary squadron leader of the RNZAF in October last year.

Tens of thousands of people attended Warbirds Over Wanaka during the three-day event.