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A plane piloted by an Auckland baker has shattered the record flight speed between Auckland and Christchurch that was unbroken for 11 years.
Rob Burns' Kiwi Thunder - a replica of a P51-D fighter he owns with restaurateur Simon Gault and IT consultant Chris Bromley - yesterday flew the 744km in one hour and 36 minutes. Burns piloted and Bromley was co-pilot for the flight, which had an average speed of 465km/h - smashing the previous record for a single-engine piston aeroplane of 397km/h set by Chris Thoms in a Lancair IV in 1996.
"It's the fastest piston engine aeroplane in the country but we had to prove it," said Gault, executive chef at several top spots, including Euro, Pasha and Jervois Steakhouse.
Burns said the flight went without a hitch. On arrival in Christchurch he flew at speed over the finish line "like Tom Cruise in the movie Top Gun".
He said he pushed the plane, powered by a V12 engine, close to full throttle for much of the flight. "It was fantastic. She's very, very powerful and she sucks gas like a fire hose."
He had a coffee at the airport before making the return flight.
At Ardmore in Auckland he was doused with water as aviation tradition demands. On landing he cried out: "I feel the need for speed."
Gault, the son of a commercial pilot, flies the aircraft in aerobatic displays, while Burns, who wore a flying suit from an Onehunga second-hand shop yesterday, is the speed pilot.
The plane, understood to be the only model of its type outside the United States, uses around 100 litres of fuel an hour.
Gault said Kiwi Thunder, would be seen next at the Classic Fighters Airshow at Omaka at Easter when the team would try to break other speed records with the goal of becoming the first Kiwis to qualify for the Reno Championship Air Races.
