Never mind your suburban pub crawl – how about an aerial one, darting from place to place in your Cessna, Piper Malibu or micro-light airplane.
Photo Tetsuro Mitomo
Thirty members of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) dropped in on Ashburton as part of their 10-day Top of the South Island Safari that's had them over the skies of Blenheim, the West Coast and Canterbury before nipping over to Hanmer for a couple of days.
Mind you, the tipple is at the end of the day's flying in a hobby that is strict on safety and compliance – understandably so. That's why the planned trip yesterday to Mesopotamia was diverted to Rangitata Island for lunch instead due to high nor'west winds.
AOPA member Dave Horsburgh, who operates a DC3 aircraft from Ashburton, said the Aviation Museum and Aeroclub welcomed the visitors on Tuesday night with a "wonderful" function.
Mr Horsburgh's son Geoff, 18, is one of the youngest members of AOPA and says his decision to become a pilot was an easy one.
"It's hard not to when your father's a pilot. It's freedom and independence – you can go places you can't drive."
When Geoff Horsburgh flies the coop for Otago University next year, he won't be fleeing his family's passion.
"I'm doing a BCOM along-side getting my commercial pilot's licence, so I'll see how it goes."
Numerous husband and wife teams are members of AOPA and enjoy their passion together.
"If you can't beat 'em join 'em", said Claire Paterson from Otago who got her pilot's licence in the 80s. Her husband Murray has been flying since 1974.
They've got a son who's a commercial pilot and it's been a family affair for them.
"I always said I raised my kids in aviation, not Buddhism", Claire said.
While a lot of members pass their interest onto their sons and daughters, it's never too late to fly. Mr Paterson said the oldest member of the group, 83-year-old Neville Harding started in his 60s.
Rex Bain, who had, and still has, a fascination with making model airplanes from his youth, always wanted to fly but left it until his mid 50s.
"You always say some day, and then you come to the point when you realise, well that day better be now."
And once you're up there there's no looking back, according to the president of Ashburton's Aeroclub Ian Begbie.
"It's out of this world. At 500 feet flying along the coastline – absolutely magic," he said.
Pictured: AOPA member Paul Hood heads off for Methven from Ashburton Airport. Club members visit from three to six small airstrips in a days flying – enjoying all the local sights.
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