WONZ 177 – Classic Flyers WONZ Forum Meet Part Two

Guest Speakers:
•  Mike Feisst
•  Bryan Cox
•  Matt McLaughlin
•  Group Captain John Mathewson (retired)

Host: Dave Homewood

Recorded: 4th of March 2018

Released: 13th of March 2018

Duration: 1 hour 32 minutes 28 seconds

The Wings Over New Zealand Aviation Forum held another successful and entertaining Forum Meet on the 4th of March 2018. The venue was the excellent Classic Flyers NZ Museum, at Tauranga Airport. In this episode, Part Two of the recordings from the event, we have a very quick word from Mike Feisst,and then the legendary pilot Bryan Cox, talking about regaining his licence at age 93 and his aerobatic flying over a long career. The video below was part of his presentation.


Bryan Cox during his talk, holding up the papers he used in his test. (Photo Phil Treweek)

Next up was Matt McLaughlin who is a former PNG bush pilot and current airline pilot. He read two thrilling extracts from his award winning book ‘Flying The Knife Edge’, the first covering his first ever landing on a bush strip in Papua New Guinea; and the second was his fist landing at the former Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong.


Matt McLaughlin reading extracts from his book ‘Flying The Knife Edge’ (Photo Phil Treweek)

Lastly for this episode we hear from former RNZAF Skyhawk pilot and No. 2 Squadron Commander, Group Captain John “J.C.” Mathewson, talking about flying the RNZAF Skyhawks, their various systems and the tactics employed in using it as a weapon, both before and after the Project Kahu upgrade. Plus a lot more detail from the life of a Skyhawk pilot. Note, the very last few minutes of this John stepped away from the microphone so it is more difficult to hear him, but persevere, as what he’s talking about is great.


Gp Capt John Mathewson (rtd.) talking about flying the RNZAF Skyhawk

The film that John played:

Quick Links:
•  Classic Flyers NZ Museum Website
•  Classic Flyers NZ Museum Facebook Page
 Flying The Knife Edge at The Book Depository
•  Bryan Cox’s website 

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