BAZflyer: Hāwera Brunch Fly-in

Equinox westerly weather systems interspersed with short sharp cold fronts typically dominate New Zealand’s weather in the spring. Fortunately for aviators benign conditions sometimes loiter awhile in the aftermath of a brisk southerly bluster and one such Sunday morning dawned for the Hawera Aero Club brunch fly-in.

The township of Hawera sits at the feet of majestic Mount Egmont/Taranaki. It is the hub of a thriving rural community and the world’s largest dairy processing plant. On the town’s northern outskirt lies a manicured aerodrome owned by the Aero Club. And so it was on a morning made for flying the Bazflyers launched their trusty Comanche ZK-BAZ on a first ever flight to Hawera.

Just 40 minutes later it was time to choose one the aerodrome’s three grass landing strips, lower the undercarriage and slot into a busy traffic pattern for landing. Judging by the number of aircraft already on the ground and more converging, Hawera’s brunch fly-in was an obviously popular event, and the rural proportioned breakfasts provided to all comers without charge did not disappoint.

As well as an eclectic array of aircraft, fly-in events also tend to congregate a diverse group of aviators. From recreational pilots to professional pilots and enthusiast onlookers, general aviation is as much about people as it is equipment and this was epitomised at Hawera. People like retired agricultural pilot Neville Worsley quietly making sure coffees flowed freely throughout the breakfast routine. A modest aviator if ever there was one, Neville’s lifetime of agricultural flying (crop dusting) includes many many hours flying the venerable DC3 airplane modified for fertiliser application. Only in New Zealand, this war relic was flown at low altitudes up valleys, over ridges and between trees spreading essential nutrients on the land. An amazing bygone era indeed.

Unfortunately events inevitably conclude but as our Comanche waited its turn to takeoff on Hāwera grass vector 32 there was a satisfied feeling in the cockpit...this was another memorable Bazflyer day. As if the whole day had been an orchestrated performance, a gorgeous sunset viewed from our Taupo base that evening was an appropriate final curtain. It was also no surprise that the next wild westerly weather pattern lay only 48 hours away.

As the crow flys, Hāwera is just a 40 minute flight southwest from the Baz Base at Taupo Airport.

The conical volcanic profile of Mount Egmont/Taranaki dominates a lush farming landscape.