Flying visit for school mates

Robin Manson, of Enfield, and Keith Mitchell, now of Christchurch, were pupils at Waitaki Boys High School in the mid-1950s and met up again yesterday when Mr Mitchell piloted a DC-3 aircraft into Oamaru Airport as part of a South Island tour.

The Legend of the Skies Heartland tour by Southern DC-3 started at the end of January from Rangiora and has covered southern cities and towns.

The DC-3, built in 1940, carried about 100 people on scenic flights over Oamaru and North Otago.

It is the second time the plane has visited the town.

Originally, two flights were planned, but four were needed to cope with demand.

The plane goes to Timaru today and Ashburton tomorrow.