Aircraft club opens doors

ncn_banner.png

Photo: Facebook
Photo: Facebook
The Canterbury Recreational Aircraft Club will hold an open day at Rangiora Airfield on Saturday, November 2.

The club was established in July 1982 and now has more than 270 members, who own about 120 aircraft.

''We are the largest and most active recreational aircraft club in New Zealand with the most modern fleet of aircraft,'' club president Glenn Martin says.

''We are having an open day as an opportunity for the local community to come and see what the club is all about, why we are here, and how the club is part of the larger aviation community.

''In many ways we are no different from any other recreational club, whether it is hockey or netball. We are people who love aviation and spend our recreational time being involved in its many aspects.''

Many of the club members are either Air New Zealand pilots or air traffic controllers.

''If you fly commercially in New Zealand there is a high chance that your pilot and/or air traffic controller has done some training flights into and around Rangiora.''

The club also supports the community with active involvement in the New Zealand Air Training Corps based at Rangiora and also helps out in other ways when required.

''For instance, club members were active after the Kaikoura earthquake, flying into farms and delivering goods and picking up people,'' Glenn said.

More than 600 aviation enthusiasts use the Rangiora Airfield facilities, including three other clubs, with most members living in Waimakariri. The open day will begin at 10am and finish at 3pm.

''The weather will need to be terrible for us to postpone,'' Glenn said.

However, in the event of poor weather, the open day will be held the following day.

The club has a big range of activities planned for the day, including some free flights, discounted flights, open hangars, aircraft displays, food and coffee trucks, plus face painting and bouncy castles for children.