Every year the Tiger Moth Club holds its AGM and competitions at an airfield where the locals are friendly, where there is a lot of grass (Tigers have tail skids) and is far from controlled airspace. This year it was held in the delightful West Coast township of Karamea.
Prior to the AGM a “Tiger Camp” is organised as a week’s flying tour around interesting spots and it is planned to arrive at the AGM and finish a few days afterwards. This year it started and finished in Omaka near Blenheim and flew around the South Island coastline via all of the lighthouses.
On the 27th of February we all met at Omaka to commence the “Grand South Island Lighthouse Tour” and what a grand trip it was. We even had two Swedish pilots (Stefan and “Hawkeye”) who had travelled out from Sweden especially for the trip. This year the Camp consisted of six Tigers and six GA aircraft of all types, vintage and modern. You don’t need to have a Tiger Moth to have fun but it helps! Participants came from as far north as Kerikeri and south from Gore.
Tiger Camp is entirely social carried out only in very fine weather with some interesting flying included. The first lighthouse was Cape Campbell and on down and around the coast we stopped for overnights at Balclutha, Mossburn, Haast, Greymouth, Karamea and Motueka. All Lighthouses were inspected and photographed and there were lots of them, along with numerous visits to various farm and seaside airstrips on the way, all in excellent weather. Puysegur Point Lighthouse was the only one missed by the Tigers due to strong-ish winds (reputed to be above 10 knots) but bravely photographed by Rob and Martina who reported “some down-draughts.”
Everywhere the Tigers went they caused great excitement with the locals who came out in droves and treated all participants ts to excellent hospitality. Lots of joyrides were given and excited school children got to touch a piece of of history and were entertained by tales of derring-do by their equally historic pilots.
A great few fun weeks away were had by everyone involved so why not join in the fun next year by joining TMC, it’s only $30 and you don’t need to own a Tiger Moth!
Flying a Tiger isn’t for sissies! John and Amanda heading out of Omaka on the first day of the Tiger Camp.
Refueling requires good balance and dexterity.
