Tributes to a friend who found his wings

A Harvard aeroplane took to the skies of Tauranga yesterday in honour of a young man who died while living his dream to fly.

The Harvard flew over the Holy Trinity Church, where hundreds of mourners had gathered to farewell Brandon James Gedge, 20.

Mr Gedge was one of two advanced student pilots from Massey University's School of Aviation killed when their planes collided near Palmerston North a week ago.

Dae Jin Hwang, 27, of West Auckland, was the other pilot.

Family and friends spoke of his passion for flying in moving tributes during the two-hour service.

Family friend Craig Capamagian said it had been a "dream come true" for Mr Gedge when he was accepted into the aviation school.

"He had finally found his wings," she said.

Mr Gedge's father, Neil, said his son's love of sports such as wakeboarding and waterskiing was a reflection of his passion for flying.

"He was always looking for air. He just wanted to be up there."

His mother, Lyn, said her son - who suffered a serious bowel illness that meant repeated hospital stays as a teenager - had fought hard to achieve his dream of becoming a pilot.

She had been impressed with his concern for safety and his passengers' comfort after he earned his private pilot's licence and took the family on a flight over Tauranga.

"I saw Brandon pull down the cloak of professional airline pilot," she said.

Mr Gedge's flying abilities were praised by classmates and the aviation school staff, who made a posthumous award of his graduation "wings".

School head Captain Ashok Poduval said the wings were normally only given to pilots who had completed their training.

"We've no doubt Brandon would've passed with flying colours," he said.

Mr Gedge's flatmate and classmate, Paddy, called him "a great pilot".

"We know he'll be flying with us forever."

The Civil Aviation Authority is investigating the crash, which was the country's first fatal mid-air collision since 1993. Spokesman Bill Sommer said a final report into the crash would take at least nine months to complete.