Come fly with Key for charity

Student Lewis Simmons, 15, hopes his celebrity charity flights will take off. Photo / Janna Dixon

John Key will pilot a flight to Washington DC next weekend - and is offering the co-pilot's seat to the highest bidder.

There are two catches: the prime minister can't actually fly a plane and the aircraft is grounded - it's a simulator flight being offered for charity.

Key is one of 12 high-profile Kiwis recruited for next weekend's World Flight charity event by schoolboy organiser Lewis Simmons.

Each will captain a different journey in a Boeing 737 simulator on Auckland's North Shore, with Key 'flying' from Baltimore to Washington DC.

Other celebrities up for auction include MP Rodney Hide, news presenter Mike McRoberts, former Black Cap Mark Richardson and broadcaster Susan Wood. All proceeds will go to the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust.

"The highest bidder will fly as the celebrity's first officer," said Lewis.

"The celeb will perform a take-off and landing, and the winner will do the same."

Lewis, a 15-year-old King's College student, said he had been nervous about meeting Key, but once he was on board it was easy to approach the other celebrities.

Key said World Flight was a "a novel idea and a great cause", though he was not sure how much his aviation skills were worth.

"But New Zealanders are very generous and I hope it will be in the thousands," he said.

Bids can be placed through www.worldflight.co.nz