Flight simulator plans take off

JASON OXENHAM 

Eccentric millionaire Manfred Bennett is planning a Penrose-based flight simulation centre. 

Chief reporter Rhiannon Horrell caught up with eccentric millionaire Manfred Bennett for a chat about the one-of-a-kind flight simulation centre he's planning. Mr Bennett is also expanding his collection of luxury items that include planes, cars and property.

Whether it be shipping in a plane from overseas, buying a new luxury car or relaxing at his Gold Coast penthouse, it's all in a day's work for wealthy Onehunga businessman Manfred Bennett.

The 66-year-old is busy planning a flight simulation centre for Penrose, which will be housed in a large industrial building along with his company which produces mechanical seals.

A $59,000 MiG-21 single-seater plane was attached to the building rooftopin September last year.

He says if the simulation centre is a success he'll take the idea to the Gold Coast.

"Penrose is pretty central – hopefully it will all be done in three months.

"It will be the first simulation centre with dogfighting.

"It's endless what we can do – we've got the space," Mr Bennett says.

The new facility will feature a computer gaming suite, eight MiG-29 flight simulators, a car simulation section and a cafe.

Mr Bennett has a number of businesses to his name – NZ Seal Services and Paulmen Seals, NZ Seal Internet Services, Caprica and Flight Centre.

He can often be found working at NZ Seal Services, a company that manufactures and reconditions mechanical seals for pumps and rotating shaft equipment for most industries.

The seals are supplied to the oil and gas industries among others, for sites in New Zealand and overseas.

The Caprica and Flight Centre businesses are tied into the simulation centre venture.

And it's clear Mr Bennett has a love of planes.

He has purchased a Polish jet trainer – an Iskra TS-11 – which will arrive in New Zealand in less than six weeks.

A British jet fighter – known as a Gnat – is also expected to arrive from the United States in three to four months which will form part of the simulation centre.

In addition, the eccentric businessman has splashed out on a red V10 Dodge Viper that is 8000cc to complement his ever-expanding collection of luxury cars.

His car collection includes a Mercedes limousine, a Porsche, a Jaguar and a V12 Ferrari.

Mr Bennett divides his time between Auckland, Melbourne and Brisbane in a typical week.

He enjoys spending time at his $5 million Gold Coast penthouse.

Mr Bennett has a Yugoslavian father who fought for the British during World War II and was caught by the Germans.

 

He says his father was still in Germany when he met his wife, and he was later born there. The family moved to Australia and then Mr Bennett shifted to New Zealand in 1975. 

Mr Bennett has a 27-year-old son in Brisbane who has taken over the Australian arm of the seal business, and a 31-year-old daughter.

Source:  http://www.stuff.co.nz