Classic Cubs

08/09/2026

Tate is a student pilot from Washington, USA and came for a flight with Olivia today while visiting NZ for work.

Today was a stunning calm day after the rough Spring weather we’ve had the past couple of weeks. We enjoyed the stunning scenery of the West Coast and Raglan ☀️

This was Tate’s first flight in a Supercub. He tells me that the dream is to own a Cub one day where he will be able to fly from his own ranch.

It was a pleasure to show you around Tate, and all the best with the checkride when the time comes 👨‍✈️

30/08/2026

We asked our instructors what their favourite things to teach are.

Here’s what Bill had to say:
“I really enjoy teaching mountain flying and IFR. It's rewarding to help a student build those more advanced skills.

But it also gives me great pleasure to send a student off on their first solo. That’s a pretty special moment for both the student and instructor.”

18/08/2026

Thomas came for an introductory flight in our Supercub, but was beaten by the wind today. A bit puzzling with such clear skies but typical of southerly winds in the Waikato. We’ll try again tomorrow. 🤞At least Thomas got to try the front seat for size 👨‍✈️

09/08/2026

Noah Jones recently completed his CPL and came down to obtain a Cub rating with Bill. They also sampled some strips to the south east of Hamilton. They flew to 3 strips with varying degrees of difficulty and length, ranging from 400 m and 250 m with up and down slope. They also tried slight tailwinds with upslope landings and downslope landings with a head wind. Noah took to the Cub like a pro, only needing some crosswind circuits to complete the rating.

Well done Noah! Next step is to build up some more tailwheel hours for a glider tow rating 🛩️

06/08/2026

20/07/2026

Classic Cubs Merch has landed! 🛬

We are excited to offer Classic Cubs branded gear - from T-shirts and hoodies to caps and mugs - even to fit your smallest aviators! Grab something for yourself or perhaps a gift for the pilot who has everything.

Check it out - link in bio/comments ⤵

Huge thanks to our talented daughter Ashleigh who designed the logo 👌

19/07/2026

It was with mixed feelings that I departed Hamilton on 15th July to deliver our Supercub on an epic journey to Tapanui in West Otago.

We had sold BQV which we had owned for 19 years to a keen aviator named Michael Parks. I flew to HN in the morning, in a queue of 2 ATRs and 2 Airbus A320s all on their second approach due to fog which only cleared about mid-day. However the weather was forecast to be good for the next few days to deliver BQV to her new owner and carry out some Recurrency training in the Cub before returning home by airline.

As time marched on it looked unlikely that I would make my targeted first overnight stop at Omaka so I arranged to stay at Palmerston North with an old Air Force buddy and he also had access to a hangar.

In the morning I woke to a forecast of rain showers and 20 knot winds from the west, with a 1000’ cloudbase. I launched for Omaka which I reached after 2.5 hours, versus an expected 1.5 hour flight, but thwarted by ground speeds down to 49 knots at times. ATC were very patient but with Radar monitoring below 2500’ was not a hold up for other flights.

At Omaka the wind had dropped to 4 knots, but picked up to 12 knots after a lovely lunch at the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre.

Refreshed I launched for a next stop at Rangiora via a quick Whale Watch at Kaikoura. The whale watch aeroplane marked the spot for me (thanks guys) but I took care to be well clear of their altitude.

Rangiora was a fuel stop and stretch before heading to Rangitata Island for the night, courtesy of Russell and Lynda Brodie. As Russell is the President of RAANZ (Recreational Aircraft Association of NZ) and I am a RAANZ instructor it was a good opportunity to catch up and compare notes.

As expected there was a decent frost overnight, justifying the time and effort to supplement the canopy cover with wing covers, nevertheless it was a leisurely start to the day while things warmed up. It’s the first time that I have used a heat gun to take the chill off the engine, resulting in a normal start despite the pilot still being nearly frozen.

The plan was to go through Danseys Pass to Cromwell Racecourse Airfield to pick up an instrument tor BTC, then make the last leg to Tapanui. This was the only leg I didn’t have a headwind so went comparatively fast.

On arrival overhead Tapanui I circled to confirm the wind direction, did a low pass each way then landed. I had a warm Welcome from Michael, then put the covers on and retired for the night.

The next two days were spent refamiliarising Michael with the Cub and completing his BFR.
Today was his first landing on the Tapanui strip and flying the Cub to his hangar at Taieri Airfield near Dunedin.

We hope you enjoy owning BQV as much as we have Michael.

17/07/2026

There’s a great joy in seeing two old friends reunited. Today, Michael climbed back into a Piper Cub for the first time in 60 years.

Michael flew Cubs BSK and BQQ at North Shore in the late 1960s before going on to fly helicopters. These days he calls Queensland, Australia home, but on a visit back to New Zealand to see family, he decided to take another flight in a Cub.

It was a pleasure to share the experience with you Michael. We hope to see those keen young grandsons taking to the skies one day too. 👨‍✈️

16/07/2026

Who else has been watching Bill and BQV make their way South today?

It has been a slow journey battling headwinds and they have now reached Rakitata Island Airfield for the night before making the final hop to Tapanui near Gore.

As they crossed the Cook Strait they had a Texan chasing their tail, albeit a few thousand feet higher 😅

Photos from the flight to come 🏔️