Cold call for 'dawn raiders'

The crackle and snap of tyres touching down on a frosty landing strip heralded the arrival of the first pilot into Dannevirke for breakfast on the annual dawn raid on Sunday.

Andrew Cuttance from Pahiatua, flying his top-dressing plane, a Fatman, was the first man in, leading the way for 48 more aircraft from Hastings, Masterton, Hawera and Feilding.

Dannevirke Flying Club was hosting the dawn raid and the Frogley Cup, a hotly contested competition based on precision flying and landing which is competed for between Waipukurau, Dannevirke and Hastings.

"It was a big day, we reckon we fed between 150 and 180 people, but it was also a heck of a lot of fun," Dannevirke club member Gary Mitchelmore said.

Along with the 49 planes which touched down, Mr Mitchelmore said another dozen or so pilots drove in to the event, making it a record turnout.

"We were rapt. It was a perfect turnout and the weather couldn't have been better."

One of the most intrepid pilots was Jan Chisum of Hastings who had flown a Tiger Moth the 60 nautical miles (111km) from Bridge Pa - a chilly flight in an open cockpit.

Jan said the Tiger, owned by Des Strong, flew perfectly.

And for Jan, not even, the cold, icicles and dribbles had dampened her spirits.

"It was beautiful. A calm, crisp early morning and the Tiger's engine loves it when it's like this," she said.

Mrs Chisum has been flying for 35 years and said it was a privilege to be flying in an open cockpit.

"Very rarely are two flights the same. You have freedom and are at one with nature. It may be an odd thing to say, but I consider it a privilege to be up there."

A mutual love of aircraft fuelled romance too for the aviator.

"I had taken a Tiger down to the bottom of the South Island and was introduced to Jerry, who was flying airliners. He'd taken a plane down for maintenance and a friend introduced us and so it went from there..." she said.

And although husband Jerry said the heavy frost caused extra drag as the planes tried to undertake precision landings, all the pilots were full of praise for the outstanding condition of Dannevirke Aerodrome.

"We're very fortunate our council has retained a local aerodrome and the lessee, Phil Hartridge, does a great job. We never want to lose this facility," Mr Mitchelmore said. At the moment Dannevirke pilots don't have a hand on the Frogley Cup but Mr Mitchelmore said there was still hope, with the next competition at Bridge Pa in Hastings on July 29.