Otago Aero Club Centenary, 66 Stedman Road, Mosgiel (2026)

01/06/2026

# # ⏱️ Tracking the Fleet: How We Train Today vs. How We Taught the Legends! ✈️🇳🇿

From canvas and cables to modern glass cockpits, the way we take to the skies over the Taieri Plains has evolved beautifully across our 100-year history. As the **Otago Aero Club counts down to our Centenary in February 2027**, we’re looking back at the incredible machines that have worn our club wings!

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# # # 🪵 The Vintage Era: The Ultimate Flight Classrooms

In the early decades, learning to fly at Taieri was a beautifully raw, open-cockpit experience.

* **The Taildragger Legends:** Generations of pioneering pilots cut their teeth in fabric-winged legends like the **De Havilland Tiger Moth** and **Gipsy Moth** (including the famous 1930s 'Chocolate Plane'!).
* **Pure Airmanship:** No digital screens, no nose wheels, and no heaters! Pilots trained using pure stick-and-rudder feel, learning to read the Otago winds directly on their faces while relying on basic analog dials.

# # # ⚡ The Modern Era: Advanced, High-Efficiency Training

Fast forward to today, and our flight training lineup delivers the cutting-edge of light sports aviation. Our current training fleet has transitioned to modern, sleek Italian thoroughbreds that offer incredible efficiency and advanced technology for today's students.

* **The Tecnam Fleet:** We now proudly train the next generation of Kiwi pilots using the highly responsive **Tecnam P92 Echo** and the sophisticated, composite-framed **Tecnam P2008**.
* **Next-Gen Stepping Stones:** Featuring state-of-the-art digital avionics, superior fuel efficiency, and superb visibility, these modern aircraft ensure our students are learning on the absolute best platforms for modern flight training.

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# # # 🚀 Help Us Fund the Next 100 Years of Flight!

To celebrate a full century of local aviation, we are on a mission to keep our training heritage alive well into the future.

We are actively seeking unique **aviation memorabilia, historic treasures, or local experiences** to be auctioned off at our landmark **Centennial Gala Dinner**. **100% of the auction proceeds** will go directly into our **Youth Aviation Scholarship Fund**, turning the history of our past into the wings of a future student pilot!

👇 **What did you learn to fly in? Are you a classic Tiger Moth pilot or a Tecnam fan? Share your flight training memories and old photos in the comments below!**

01/06/2026

It is with great sadness that we share the news that our friend and Life Member, Corran Gordon Munro, passed away on Wednesday, 27 May, after a short but fierce battle with cancer.

Corran was a valued member of the Otago Aero Club for many years and a good friend to many in our aviation community. His friendship and contributions to the club will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.

Corran’s family have advised that a memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at Balmacewen Golf Club on Friday, 5 June at 3:00 pm. All who knew Corran are welcome to attend.

On behalf of the Otago Aero Club, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Corran’s wife, family, and friends during this difficult time.

Blue skies and tailwinds, Corran.

30/05/2026

💸 **WANTED: A Piece of Aviation History for a Flying Future!** ✈️🇳🇿

As we count down to the monumental **Otago Aero Club Centenary in February 2027**, we are planning an unforgettable Centennial Gala Dinner. A major highlight of the evening will be a **Charity Auction**, with 100% of the proceeds going directly toward funding scholarships for our future aviation students!

To make this auction truly historic, we are looking for unique aviation memorabilia, hidden treasures, or special experiences that generous donors would be willing to contribute.

Do you have something special tucked away in your attic, garage, or office? We are looking for items like:

* **Vintage Aviation Treasures:** Historic instruments, classic uniform pieces, old logbooks, or signed memorabilia from a bygone era.
* **Art & Photography:** Stunning framed prints, rare historical photographs, or aviation-themed artwork.
* **Scale Models & Collectibles:** High-quality die-cast models, rare squadron plaques, or unique aviation gear.
* **Unique Experiences:** Are you a business owner who could donate a scenic flight, a weekend getaway, or premium local goods/services?

**Why Donate?**
Every single dollar raised from the auction hammer will go straight into our **Youth Aviation Scholarship Fund**. By donating an item, you are directly helping a passionate young Kiwi earn their wings, keep our local skies alive, and carry the proud legacy of New Zealand's first established aero club into the next century. 🚀

If you have an item or an experience you'd love to donate—or if you know someone who might—please send us an to email our centenary committee [email protected] . Let’s work together to turn the history of our past into the wings of our future! 💯🛩️

30/05/2026

# # ⏳ Past Meets Present at Taieri: The Countdown is officially ON! ✈️🇳🇿

Take a look at these two images side-by-side. On one hand, you have the quiet power of history: two legendary North American P-51D Mustangs of **No. 4 (Otago) Squadron** tucked inside a steel-trussed Taieri hangar during the 1950s. On the other hand, you have the clubrooms today, standing proud under the Otago sun with a brand-new sign on the lawn.

The message on that sign says it all: **The Otago Aero Club Centennial Celebrations are locked in for Waitangi Day Weekend (February 5–7, 2027)!** 💯

Looking at the vintage hangar shot, it's incredible to realize that the very same airfield hosting our flight training today once vibrated with the thunder of 1,490-horsepower Packard-Merlin engines. Generations of local pilots, ground crews, and aviation enthusiasts have walked these grounds, making Taieri a cornerstone of New Zealand's flight legacy.

As **New Zealand's very first established aero club (1927–2027)**, we are pulling out all the stops for our 100th birthday. Whether you are a commercial pilot who cut your teeth in our Cessnas, a vintage warbird enthusiast, or a local family who loves community history, this is a weekend you won’t want to miss.

# # # 📅 Save the Date: Feb 5–7, 2027

We have an incredible three-day lineup in the works, including airfield displays, historical look-backs, a fly-in of classic aircraft, and our milestone Centennial Gala Dinner.

Tickets, registrations, and full event details are officially live on our dedicated centenary hub!

👉 Head over to **www.firstaeroclub.nz** to secure your spot, register a visiting aircraft, or find out how you can get involved.

Let’s honor the roaring history of our past as we clear the runway for the next 100 years! 🛩️🥂

29/05/2026

Take a look back at this sweet piece of Southern aviation history! This vintage photograph captures the Otago Aero Club’s iconic De Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth, affectionately known as the "Chocolate Plane" (ZK-AJE), parked up in the Otago Region alongside a group of unidentified gentlemen.
If you are wondering how this biplane earned its delicious nickname, it wasn't just a clever paint job—it has a fantastic local story behind it:
The Backstory: In the early days of local aviation, the Otago Aero Club entered a unique sponsorship partnership with Dunedin's very own confectionery giant, Cadbury Fry Hudson.
The Sweet Delivery: Painted in a distinctive deep chocolate brown with striking gold lettering, ZK-AJE became a famous flying billboard. It regularly soared over the Taieri Plains and the wider Otago Region, thrilling crowds and dropping chocolates at local events, pageants, and fly-ins!
This legendary biplane represents the exact kind of pioneering community spirit, commercial innovation, and pure Kiwi ingenuity that defines our club's legacy.
As the countdown ticks closer to a massive historic milestone, we are incredibly proud to remind everyone that the Otago Aero Club Centenary is coming up in February 2027! 💯
Founded in early 1927, we hold the proud title of being New Zealand’s very first established aero club. From the sweet, fabric-winged days of the Chocolate Plane to the roaring WWII pilot training schools and mid-century fighter squadrons, Taieri Aerodrome has spent a full century serving as the front door to Otago's skies.
🗺️ Help Us Hunt Down the History!
We want to bring these stories back to life for our 100-year celebrations, and we need your help:
Identify the Crew: Do you recognize the faces standing alongside ZK-AJE in this photo? Could it be a relative of yours?
Find the Aircraft: If you know the current whereabouts of this historic airframe—or any other former Otago Aero Club aircraft—we want to get in touch with the owners to invite them to fly-in for the centenary!
👇 Drop your guesses, family aviation stories, or vintage photos in the comments below! Let’s get the conversation flying.

24/05/2026

**A century of flight history on the Taieri Plains! ✈️🇳🇿**

Check out this fantastic historical flashback capturing North American P-51D Mustang **NZ2410** sitting out on a rain-soaked tarmac at **Taieri Airfield** during the 1950s.

This powerful image is a great way to countdown to our monumental milestone: **The Otago Aero Club is celebrating its CENTENARY in February 2027!** 💯

Founded in early 1927, the **Otago Aero Club** is proud to be **New Zealand's very first established aero club**, and Taieri has truly been at the heart of Otago’s aviation story for a full century. This airfield hosted everything from pioneering Gipsy Moths to WWII elementary flying schools and these roaring Territorial Air Force Mustangs of No. 4 (Otago) Squadron.

**Cool Details from the Taieri Archives:**

* **The Plane:** NZ2410, pictured here with its distinctive black-and-white tail stripes, was a workhorse of the local squadron. In fact, a tribute Mustang painted in these exact No. 4 Squadron Taieri markings is now beautifully preserved at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand!
* **The Hangar:** Look at the large building directly behind the aircraft! That is the iconic **National Airways Corporation (NAC) hangar**, which served as a critical hub for the forerunner to today's Air New Zealand. At a time when concrete and steel were precious, this hangar’s advanced structural design made it a significant piece of New Zealand’s modern aviation infrastructure. We are incredibly proud that this historic hangar is still standing on the airfield today and is protected as a category 2 heritage landmark, preserving the physical link to Taieri’s past.

From the first fabric wings to the roar of a Mustang, Taieri has seen it all. We are counting down to February 2027! 🥂🛩️

👇 **Does your family have stories of the Mustangs or early commercial flights at Taieri? Share your memories in the comments below!**

18/05/2026

An absolute powerhouse line-up at Taieri! ✈️🇳🇿

Take a look at this magnificent row of North American P-51D Mustangs standing proud on the tarmac at RNZAF Station Taieri during the 1950s.

This impressive line-up belongs to No. 4 (Otago) Squadron, Territorial Air Force, giving us a clear view of the aircraft that soundtracked life on the Taieri Plains. For the aviation buffs out there, we can identify these specific "Cadillacs of the Sky" from front to back:

NZ2426 (leading the charge)

NZ2405

NZ2410 (the legendary high-hour workhorse of the squadron)

NZ2421

Seeing multiple Packard-Merlin powered fighters lined up like this must have been a sight—and sound—to behold. It perfectly captures a golden era where dedicated citizen airmen and local ground crews maintained a world-class interceptor force right here in Dunedin.

This incredible display of frontline strength forms a massive chapter in our local history as the Otago Aero Club counts down to our Centenary in February 2027. For nearly 100 years, Taieri Aerodrome has been at the very heart of New Zealand's aviation story!

👇 Did you or a family member ever see these exact birds lined up at Taieri? Let us know your memories or drop a comment below!

RNZAF Official photograph

17/05/2026

**The Jet Age arrives on the Taieri Plains! ✈️🔥**

Check out this fantastic historical shot capturing a 3/4front view of the De Havilland FB.5 Vampire (**NZ5727**) sitting out on the tarmac at **RNZAF Station Taieri**.

While the roaring Merlin engines of the P-51 Mustangs defined the early 1950s for **No. 4 (Otago) Squadron**, the mid-to-late 50s brought the unmistakable whine of the Goblin turbojet engine to Dunedin. These twin-boom jet fighters represented a massive leap in technology and speed for the Territorial Air Force pilots training right here in Otago.

**Some cool history behind this specific bird:**

* **The Background:** NZ5727 originally served with the RAF before being transferred to the RNZAF in the mid-1950s.
* **The Hangar:** If you look past the nose of the sleek jet, you can catch a glimpse of the historic Taieri hangars that served as a vital base for New Zealand's aerial defense training.
* **The Legacy:** This very aircraft survived its service days and is beautifully preserved today, spending time on display at the Ashburton Aviation Museum!

This incredible era of jet aviation forms another unforgettable chapter of local flight history as the **Otago Aero Club** continues its countdown to a massive milestone: **Our Centenary in February 2027!** For nearly 100 years, Taieri has been at the very heart of New Zealand's aviation story.

Who remembers the unique sight and sound of the twin-boom Vampires screaming over Mosgiel? 👇 Drop your memories, family stories, or vintage photos in the comments below!

RNZAF official photograph

17/05/2026

A century of wings over Otago! ✈️🇳🇿

Take a look at this beautifully crisp view of Union Airways’ Lockheed Electra 10A, ZK-AFD "Kuaka", resting on the Taieri tarmac on October 26th, 1937. In the sky above, its sister ship ZK-AFA soars past the gorgeous art-deco Union Airways hangar.

This incredible moment captures just one chapter of a massive milestone on the horizon: The Otago Aero Club is celebrating its Centenary in February 2027! 💯

Founded in early 1927, the Otago Aero Club is proud to be New Zealand’s very first established aero club. For 100 years, Taieri Aerodrome has been the historic front door to Otago’s skies—hosting everything from early pioneering Gipsy Moths and commercial liners like the "Kuaka" to WWII elementary flying schools and the roaring Territorial Air Force Mustangs of No. 4 Squadron.

When the "Kuaka" (named after the bar-tailed godwit) arrived in 1937, it represented the absolute pinnacle of modern, twin-engine travel, connecting Dunedin to the rest of New Zealand like never before.

As we look forward to celebrating 100 years of flight training, community spirit, and aviation excellence in February 2027, we want to look back too!

👇 Did your parents or grandparents witness the arrival of the Electras, or learn to fly at Taieri? Share your family stories and vintage photos in the comments below!

16/05/2026

100 Years of Aviation History at Taieri ✈️✨

A moody, rain-soaked flashback to the 1950s featuring North American P-51D Mustang NZ2410 parked outside the historic hangar at Taieri Airfield.

Did you know that the Otago Aero Club is celebrating its Centenary? Founded right here in January 1927, it holds the title of New Zealand's first established aero club! 🇳🇿💯

For a century, this airfield has soundtracked life on the Taieri Plains—from the gentle hum of early flight training to the absolute roar of these Packard-Merlin V1650 Mustang engines when the dedicated pilots of No. 4 (Otago) Squadron, Territorial Air Force, called Taieri home. 🎶

Fast Facts:

Record Breaker: NZ2410 held the record for the highest flight hours of any active RNZAF Mustang (581 hours).

The Backdrop: The National Airways Corporation hangar seen behind the plane is now a protected heritage building still standing at the airfield today.

Living History: Want to see this livery in person? A beautifully restored tribute Mustang wears these exact No. 4 Squadron "Taieri" markings at the !

👇 Did you or your family learn to fly at Taieri? Share your favorite memories or photos in the comments below!

RNZAF official photograph

Otago Aero Club Centenary

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