Guest: Andrew “Stewie” Stewart and Nicola “Nix” Brooke-Stewart
Host: Dave Homewood
Recorded: 11th of October 2024
Published: 12th of October 2024
Duration: 1 hour, 56 minutes, 29 seconds
In this episode Dave Homewood talks with Andrew “Stewie” Stewart and Nicole “Nix” Brooke-Stewart, husband and wife team who are both NH-90 helicopter pilots with No. 3 Squadron RNZAF.
They both talk about their training on the PAC CT/4E Airtrainers and Beech King Airs, and their progression onto helicopters. Stewie joined the Air Force a few years earlier than Nix, and he was able to fly operationally on the Bell UH-1H Iroquois, or Huey for short. Nix had a few flights on the Huey, but both progressed to the Augusta A109 LUH (NZ). And from there, on to the mighty NH Industries NH90.
They talk about their experiences operating the helicopters in all sorts of missions, from the back of Royal New Zealand Navy ships in the Pacific Islands such as Samoa and Tokelau, and the sub-Antarctic Ocean and Papua New Guinea, to mountain rescue efforts, search and rescues in the sea and rivers and floodwaters, to Australian bush fires. They have some amazing stories, and a wide variety of operational experiences.
Above: Nicole ‘Nix’ Brooke-Stewart and Andrew ‘Stewie’ Stewart with an NH90 in the Solomon Islands in 2023,Above: Stewie’s first flight, in the DC-3, aged 10, in 1997.Above: Nix’s first flight in a Huey, 2006.Above: Nix meeting Prince Charles, now King Charles III. The Chief of Air Force, AVM Peter Stockwell second from right, and then-Ohakea Base Commander Group Captain Darren Webb, right. Webb is now CAF. His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall paid a visit visit to The Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Ohakea. During their visit to Ohakea, Their Royal Highnesses met personnel and their families in the Helicopter Transition Unit hangar as well as viewing the various aircraft based at Ohakea and meeting some of the crew and personnel who work with the different aircraft. RNZAF Official photo.The election support in Papua New Guinea that Stewie was part of in 2012. Here a No. 3 Squadron Iroquois visits a PNG Village. NZDF was supporting Papua New Guinea’s National Election process, in late June 2012, following a direct request for assistance from PNG authorities. The support mission was based on Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) 630, comprising elements of the ADF and New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). The CJTF provided specialist support capabilities, particularly helicopters and logistic assets that are not readily available in PNG. NZDF support was an element of a wider assistance programme to PNG, focused on supporting the PNG authorities to conduct a safe, free and fair national election through June and July. The NZ Government offered to support Papua New Guinea’s general election, by providing RNZAF helicopters and crews to transport election officials and ballot papers to remote areas. RNZAF Official photo.Above: Villagers pose in front of a No. 3 Squadron RNZAF Iroquois during the election support in Papua New Guinea that Stewie was part of in 2012. Above: Refueling an Iroquois during the election support in Papua New Guinea in 2012. Above: Stewie waiting to start his Huey at Popendetta Airfield, PNG. RNZAF Official photo.Above: Stewie taking Nix winching from a Huey, in 2012. Above: Nix’s first time flying the Huey, in 2013. Stewie in the foreground.Above: Evacuating families after the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake.Above: Evacuees waiting to board an NH90 after the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake.Above: The 2016 Kaikoura Earthquake Fault Line.Above: Stewie flying from HMNZS Canterbury in Vanuatu in 2018.Above: Nix and Stewie on the flight deck of HMNZS Canterbury in Vanuatu, 2018.
Above: Nix, centre, in the Sub-Antarctic Islands with her crew.
Above: Nix with Flint onboard ship in the Sub-Antarctic Islands, 2019.Above: Flying in formation together during the 2020 Australian bush fires.Above: The low visibility due to smoke at Naval Air Station Nowra, during the 2020 Australian bush fires.Above: 2020 Australian bush fires smoke.Above: Nix flying in Tokelau, 2020.Above: Over Tokelau, 2020.Above: The Christchurch flooding response crew, 2021.Above: Nix and Stewie flying formation near Dip Flat in 2022.Above: Evacuating dogs following the 2023 Cyclone Gabrielle.Above: Nix evacuating dogs following the 2023 Cyclone Gabrielle.Above: Pakowhai under water during the 2023 Cyclone Gabrielle.Above: The Pakowhai gas station under water during the 2023 Cyclone Gabrielle.Above: No. 3 Squadron RNZAF aircrew in the Solomon Islands, 2023.Above: Bloody Ridge, Henderson Field and Honiara on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands in 2023. No. 3 Squadron first operated from Henderson Field and were encamped on Bloody Ridge in 1942-1943.Above: The uncropped photo of Nix and Stewie together in the Solomon Islands in 2023.
Amazing pictures of a diverse and very rewarding role. Congratulations to Nix and Stewie.
I need to interview you on your own aviation career Steve. Would you be keen?