More than 20 aircraft soar over Hawke’s Bay for the 90th anniversary of Stan White’s flight

Jan and Jerry Chisum's Tiger Moth flying alongside Jan's father's Gipsy Moth over Tukituki Valley. Photo / Jack Riddell

• More than 20 aircraft flew over Hawke’s Bay to celebrate the anniversary of Stan White’s journey from London to Sydney in his 1929 Gipsy Moth.
• Jan Chisum, White’s daughter, flew the restored Gipsy Moth alongside her husband Jerry in a Tiger Moth.
• Chisum’s flight offered stunning views of Hawke’s Bay, marking 90 years since the historic journey.

More than 20 aircraft flew over Hawke’s Bay on Wednesday to mark the anniversary of local pilot Stan White’s Gipsy Moth flight from London to Sydney 90 years ago.

White’s daughter and Bridge Pa aviatrix Jan Chisum flew her father’s restored aircraft in the commemorative flyover - and she was kind enough to take me along for the ride.

Intrepid Hawke's Bay Today reporter Jack Riddell strapped in and ready to fly in the passenger seat of Stan White's 1929 Gipsy Mothy in a commemorative evening flyover above Hastings on Wednesday. Photo / Jack Riddell

Chisum acquired the two-seater de Havilland DH.60 Gipsy Moth about 13 years ago, having first flown the aircraft for a 75th anniversary flyover in 2009.

When I asked how long she had been flying, Chisum replied, “longer than is worth mentioning”.

She helped my 2m frame into the front seat, which was built for someone half that size.

Chisum manually swung the propeller until the engine popped into life, then jumped into the cockpit behind me.

The plane lurched forward to join a queue of aircraft waiting to take off.

Our plan was to head to the coast over Haumoana then Te Mata Peak.

Despite having a comms system onboard, the antique motor drowned out any conversation that could be had.

The wind picked up as the plane arrived at the start of the runway where Chisum’s husband Jerry pulled alongside in the couple’s other plane – a De Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth from the 1930s.

As the propeller picked up speed the plane felt like a puppet on a string as it swayed from side to side in the wind.

As we rose to the cruising altitude of 1000 feet (300m), the landscape of Hawke’s Bay showed itself from an enlightening angle.

Through the clouds, Cape Kidnapper’s gannet colony and Te Mata Peak showed off their hidden beauty.

It was a truly awe–inspiring sight that anyone who gets the chance must experience.

Eventually, the aerodrome runway came into sight and Chisum feathered back the throttle as the plane came into land.

Alongside the runway, all the aircraft that participated in the flyover lined up to create a parade of honour as the Gipsy Moth touched down on the 90th anniversary of its great trek halfway around the globe.

“Sorry about the bumpy landing,” apologised Chisum as she helped me unfold my limbs to get out of the tight seat.

“Can you imagine flying 17,000km in that thing?”

A Biggles–style flight from Old Blighty to Aotearoa in a ropey piece of aviation history sounds like a right old adventure to me.

But what about her, would she repeat her father’s impressive feat?

“No thanks,” she laughed.

Jan Chisum stands next to her father Stan White's 1929 Gipsy Moth after flying it in a commemorative flyover above Hawke's Bay. Photo / Jack Riddell

Jack Riddell is a multimedia journalist with Hawke’s Bay Today and spent the last 15 years working in radio and media in Auckland, London, Berlin, and Napier. He reports on all stories relevant to residents of the region, along with pieces on art, music, and culture.