KiwiFlyer TM Magazine of the New Zealand Aviation Community Issue 55 2017 #6 Flying the MXS $ 6.90 inc GST ISSN 1170-8018 Akro Fest 2017 Air to Air Photography Products, Services, News, Events, Warbirds, Recreation, Training and more. KiwiFlyer Issue 55 2017 #6 From the Editor Features There’s some great photography in this issue of 8 Flying MXS KiwiFlyer. By coincidence, or more likely by his At the pinnacle of aerobatic work ethic and enthusiasm, it seemed that every capability and performance, is second article to arrive came with images taken the MX Aircraft MXS. Grant Benns by Gavin Conroy. Then, when I happened to shares his experience at the controls. mention to Gavin that Grant Benns was flying Doug 45 Brooker’s MXS for a feature story, Gavin said “I’ll 24 The GA Advocacy Group Survey check for flights and come and take the photos if Brian Mackie presents a new survey you like.” There’s no doubt that Gavin’s camera of relevance to all NZ aviators. skills are greater than mine, so that trip was duly arranged and the results speak for themselves. 26 Air to Air Photography Grant rather enjoyed himself too. Alongside a gallery of stunning images from a trip to RIAT this Prior to that plan, we had already scheduled a year, Gavin Conroy explains his feature article on Gavin’s air to air photography approach and offers numerous from RIAT, the Royal International Air Tattoo, in the aviation photography tips. UK this year. For that weekend, Gavin had secured 42 himself a place in a Skyvan, alongside which 45 South Island Akro Fest numerous military aircraft formed up on their way Andrew Love reports on this annual to the airshow. Some of them remained in place South Island aerobatics weekend. for ten minutes or more and those results speak for themselves too. Gavin needs to write another 48 Southern Katipo 2017 book as I could have filled the entire magazine Military from a dozen countries with these images. By way of commentary, he has converged on the upper South described the weekend in some detail and included Island for this biennial exercise numerous aviation photography tips and tricks for during October and November, readers to experiment with. resulting in some rare visitors to local airspace. Some of our regular content is also deserving 50 of an editorial mention. Jill McCaw writes of the occasional very expensive glider land-out, not because of any resulting damage, but rather the necessity of a helicopter to lift the glider back out Regular again. Don’t miss the paragraph about the can of beer. 4 News Briefs 22 Places to Go We visit Autoflight at Hamilton, makers of Fly yourself to Okarito. Dominator autogyros, aviation componentry, engines, and geared reduction drives. Who knew 25 Avsure Insurance Advice that an Autoflight drive connects the motors to the Maintenance Shop Insurance. 49 transmission in the world’s first battery powered (and record setting) R44 helicopter? Who knew 40 New Zealand Soaring there even was such a thing? Expensive Land-outs. 42 Autogyros Also in this issue, Ruth Allanson finds yet another great Place to Go. She could surely write a book Gyros and more from Autoflight. about all of her adventures too. This time it’s 50 ZK Register Review remote Okarito, a world heritage area of South Westland, and keeping with the photography 52 Event Guide theme, also home to renowned New Zealand 53 Classified Advertisements landscape photographer Andris Apse. 48 We’re off to print ahead of Christmas with this issue, but the vagaries of delivery mean the magazine is unlikely to arrive before then. Happy Cover New Year therefore, and our very best wishes to all readers for a relaxing and enjoyable holiday Grant Benns at the controls of Doug season, and plenty of safe aviating in the year Brooker’s MXS. John Kelly flew the ahead. camera plane for Gavin Conroy to take the image. Michael Norton Editor | Publisher KiwiFlyer Magazine 8 Industry and Community News Ridgztop Inserts Foldaway electric bikes Maintenance KiwiFlyer Farmer and recreational aircraft Solve the issue of getting from builder, Tony Rawlinson of Inglewood has airfield to town by taking your transport and Avionics designed a product called RIDGZTOP® with you. Central Otago based About Us that prevents birds, vermin and dust from SheBikesHeBikes is offering a $100 KiwiFlyer is for and about the getting into his hangar through the gaps discount to KiwiFlyer readers on the Garmin Flight Decks NEW New Zealand Aviation Community. between the hangars cladding and frame. compact and lightweight folding Tern PRODUCT RIDGZTOP® is a multi-functional Vektron E-bike. See advert on page 13. 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Please contact us for details. support programmes, an ambitious Year significant publicity for New Zealand, ESG Transponder List Price $17200 non-WAAS - List $2495: Our Price $2307* Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those 12 student from Auckland’s Green Bay our helicopter industry and Christchurch Our Price $15840* of Kiwi Flyer Limited or the Editor. All rights reserved. KiwiFlyer inbuilt WAAS - List $2995: Our Price $2770* contents are copyright and may not be reproduced in any form High School has won a scholarship to help Helicopters,” says John, adding that “The without written permission from the Editor. towards his goal of becoming an airline award is not just about Christchurch GTN-650 AVIONICS pilot. 17-year-old Luke Williams gained a Helicopters. 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