"The cost to enter the scholarship was 5 and I remember my parents being very reluctant to come up with the money as my maths mark in fourth form was extremely average to say the least."
He started work with Adastra Aviation in Mount Manganui in 1967 on the hanger floor and completed his commercial licence in five years, during which time he married his wife Betty. Mr Taylor moved into agricultural flying in 1972, which he called his "big break".
"All my work in New Zealand was ag flying, which I consider the best grounding you can get as it's not an easy world to make a living from."
Mr and Mrs Taylor moved to Goroka in Papua New Guinea in 1980 and Mr Taylor was involved in agriculture flying on tea and coffee plantations plus "all sorts of helicopter work", seismic work, high altitude work, rig site construction, police and political and medivac work.
"It was a real eye-opener for me with some of the challenges up here weather wise and high altitude ops. But PNG has had some big booms in exploration work over the years and helicopters are always at the forefront of this work."
In 1984, the couple moved back to Tauranga and started a small aviation charter business that did not work out, and they returned to Papua New Guinea in 1988.
After seven years, Mr Taylor moved to South West Air Helicopters in Mendi, where he is chief pilot of the company's helicopter operations.
He flies a Bell 407 helicopter, "my helicopter of choice in PNG, just a delight to fly".
Mr Taylor said his career would not have been possible without the support of his wife and children Angela and Deane.
Although still working in Papua New Guinea, Mr Taylor spends a lot of time travelling within New Zealand and spending time with his two granddaughters Taylor May and Jessie, the "apples of my eyes".
"PNG has been a place I have enjoyed over the years flying wise ... given my time over again, I would do it all again in a heartbeat."
