Dick Deaker is a legendary name in New Zealand aviation circles, especially in the Fiordland deer recovery scene.

He began his working career straight out of school as a deer culler for the NZ Forest Service, purchased his first aircraft (Tiger Moth ZK-AIW) at the age of 21, and in the years since has amassed six decades of helicopter flying in NZ and in various countries overseas.

In this interview we discuss Dick's early flying years, some of his amazing helicopters stories, and he also passes on various simple, common sense gems regarding safety and managing risk.

This interview refers to stories from the book "Aerial Hunter: The Dick Deaker Story", by Graeme Marshall.

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0:00 Introduction

2:20 Early Years

9:31 First Deer

11:22 School Exams

15:58 Pilot Exams

20:30 Deer Culler NZFS

46:37 Learning to Fly

49:22 Tiger Moth ZK-AIW

1:15:23 Piper Cub ZK-BPM

1:19:32 Sax and Gordon Anderson (Spunky)

1:27:45 Grebe Strip

1:34:25 Kea Damage up the Forgotten River

1:36:12 Managing Risk1:43:19 Helicopter Flying

1:52:53 Live Capture

2:00:04 Engine Failures

2:05:20 Family Life

2:11:28 Sports Illustrated Article

2:23:19 Gary Hollows

2:26:43 Morgan Saxton

2:30:17 Helicopter Safety

2:33:34 British Columbia

2:36:30 Mexico Accident

2:48:41 Takahe

2:50:30 Kakapo

2:59:08 Final Questions

Allan Graham has had an action packed life, including over 60 years of flying, boat building, running business, building motels, plus much much more.He flew for SAFE AIR for 21 years, and has many thousands of hours on the Bristol Freighter and Argosy aircraft, so has many stories to tell.PLEASE "LIKE" AND "SUBSCRIBE" IF YOU ENJOYED THIS VIDEO. IT HELPS A LOT. THANKYOU!0:00 Introduction8:54 Early Life17:07 Learning to Fly22:52 Getting Commercial Pilot Licence28:31 Near Tragedy in Piper Seneca30:40 Tri-Pacer ZK-BLC Accident36:55 Working for Canterbury Aero Club41:24 Bryan Antill Accident44:57 Marlborough Aero Club CFI Role53:25 Venison Recovery in Cub ZK-BPG1:01:21 More MAC Stories1:13:57 New Job with SAFE AIR1:16:24 Flying the Bristol Freighter1:23:39 Flying to the Chatham Islands1:36:00 Bristol Freighter ZK-CPT Walkaround at Omaka2:20:12 SAFE Argosy UFO Incident2:22:22 Flying the Argosy2:24:11 Boat Building/Sailing2:29:35 Tragedy in the Tasman2:35:44 Basil Brush Incident2:46:38 Mussel Farming2:54:22 Fruit Orchard2:58:22 Beginnings of Straits Air3:01:24 Closing of SAFE AIR3:06:14 Final Bristol Formation3:11:25 Final Argosy Flight3:17:58 The Future of Bristol ZK-CPT and Argosy ZK-SAE3:23:38 New Air Nelson Saab Operation3:30:21 Straits Air3:36:29 New Origin Pacific Jetstream Operation3:41:15 Jetstream Ferry Flights from England3:51:16 Ferrying ZK-JSX to Pennsylvania3:58:45 Vincent Aviation4:05:40 Flight Examining4:08:14 Final Questions4:15:36 Simon Green4:17:34 Noel Boyd4:21:26 Alan Duncan4:24:14 Bill Black4:29:26 Paul Davidson's Argosy/SAFE Museum

Frank Wright is known for his high quality aircraft rebuilds, however he has had a lifetime of adventures (both in and out of aviation) including barefoot waterskiing, pacific ferry flying, jet boating, venison recovery with Supercub and helicopter, movie star, and many others.PLEASE "LIKE" AND "SUBSCRIBE" IF YOU ENJOYED THIS VIDEO. IT HELPS A LOT. THANKYOU!0:00 Introduction10:34 Early Aviation Memories14:32 Sheet Metal Apprenticeship17:29 Australia24:49 Manapouri Hydro Scheme23:49 Papua New Guinea27:30 Tunisia30:38 California Road Trip32:41 Hawaii38:16 C206 Rebuild40:30 C206 Ferry Flight to NZ54:56 Back in NZ1:01:02 Jet Boating1:05:22 Meeting Kay1:09:33 Coffee Shop/Ice Cream Parlour1:12:16 Supercub ZK-BRO1:21:08 Introduction to Helicopters1:25:27 Dave Saxton1:35:03 Hughes 300 B Model Purchase1:38:49 Venison Recovery from Helicopter1:42:57 Live Capture1:45:58 Ron Connell1:48:06 Wapiti Capture1:51:24 Goats/H300 Accident1:58:34 Race for the Yankee Zephyr2:03:33 Cray Fishing2:12:45 Kaimai Downs2:17:39 Aircraft Restorations2:23:06 Vietnam2:25:26 India2:30:01 Concorde2:33:44 Misc Ventures and Stories2:36:26 Final Questions2:47:10 More Stories

The Nolan family has 150 years of history in South Westland, and still farm the same land they did in the late 1800's.

Patrick has a lifetime of experience in NZ deer shooting, helicopter flying, and live capture, and has flown in 9 countries.

0:00 Nolan Family History

6:35 Paddy Nolan

8:55 Dinny Nolan

13:04 Poem - Deserted Arawhata by Dinny Nolan

16:03 Robbie Nolan

19:31 Des Nolan

24:04 Early Years

24:35 Tony Hawker

32:17 Helicopter Gutting/Shooting

43:09 Incident with Bill Winefield

55:38 Helicopter Flying

1:05:06 Live Capture

1:18:58 Marty Nolan

1:22:44 Flying Overseas

1:30:01 Mountain Lion Scare

1:33:06 Accident

1:40:12 Howard Smith Accidents

1:42:51 Coming Back to NZ

1:43:40 Cancer Diagnosis & Life After Flying

1:45:43 Final Questions

Charlie Janes is very well known in hunting and bush flying circles due to his five hilarious and entertaining books written in the 80's and 90's, and could be referred to as a modern day Barry Crump.

He has spent years in the bush, mostly by himself in all weather, at all hours of the day and night. He has owned and flown various aircraft into tiny bush strips built by himself with months of back breaking work. He despises bureaucrats, and has run foul of authority on various occasions. And ... he's also a genuine, down to earth, honest, good kiwi bloke!

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Also available on Spotify and other major podcast apps.

0:00 Introduction

4:20 Early Hunting Years

9:18 Books

11:25 Searching for a Better Way

17:52 Learning to Fly & First Aircraft ZK-BAQ

23:08 Manuka International Strip

32:30 Jodel D11 ZK-EFK

34:28 Te Rangi Strip

35:57 Ngaruroro Strip

54:18 Rover V8 Auster ZK-ATO

1:12:56 Protech ZK-PTU

1:15:43 Te Rangi Crash

1:28:55 Dealing with Weather

1:31:13 Hunting

1:40:30 Te Hoe Strip

1:55:34 Leg Up Trust & Ros Rowe

2:04:01 Horse Trekking

2:04:51 Final Questions

2:10:21 Riding the Wave

Ray Patchett has had a long and interesting career as an Ag Pilot in Marlborough, and "by necessity" has also developed various innovations and inventions along the way.He has owned 32 aircraft in his life, is a great story teller, and a deep thinker.This interview is a great insight into the fixed wing ag industry over the past five decades, with plenty of Ray's unique entertainment thrown in. Pure aviation gold for all the "plane nerds" out there!0:00 Introduction13:17 Molesworth / Early Years19:20 Desire to be an Ag Pilot / Witnessing C180 Accident26:49 Loader Driving32.24 Getting CPL35:47 Rowley Aviation42:06 ZK-BVJ Accident48:26 Speedlink with Pete Vincent55:21 Patchett Ag-Air57:31 Peter Furlong1:03:37 GA2001:08:30 Dromader ZK-RMC1:13:06 Accidents1:39:03 Training Ag Pilots1:44:45 Soil Science Expertise1:51:53 Suspension Spray System2:04:50 Self Loader2:13:32 Selling Patchett Ag-Air2:17:48 Ag Accident Stats2:27:35 GA Flight Training2:32:42 Aircraft Owned2:39:01 Final QuestionsMusic from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/giulio-fazio/hot-clubLicense code: JYCV4NLTG4HHFFU9

Keith Neylon has had a career ranging from coal mining, to shearing, to ag flying, to venison recovery, to entrepreneurship in several primary industries.In this interview he tells many hilarious stories from his flying and venison recovery days, and shares the challenges of starting and running his various new "sunrise" enterprises from scratch.PLEASE "LIKE" AND "SUBSCRIBE" IF YOU ENJOYED THIS VIDEO. IT HELPS A LOT. THANKYOU!0:00 Introduction10:44 Nightcaps Upbringing16:00 Coal Mining20:53 Shearing28:06 Wedding37:12 Ag Flying - Hewitt Aviation50:25 Getting CPL56:08 Ag Flying - Phoenix Aviation1:01:03 Alpine Helicopters1:08:14 Venison Industry Stats1:17:22 Fiordland National Park Scrap1:21:39 Learning to Fly Venison1:26:09 Johnny MacIntyre 1:36:21 Alpine Contract1:47:14 Mountain Helicopters1:47:51 Fiordland National Park Scrap1:54:38 Funny Stories2:09:20 Power Settling2:18:35 Arrival of the Hughes 5002:22:58 Pilot Training2:26:48 Live Capture2:40:28 Deaths & Injuries2:41:34 Tony Hawker Search2:46:03 Drinking Culture2:48:38 Mussel Farming3:04:01 New Processing Factory3:08:01 NZ Salmon3:11:01 Asparagus Drama in the UK3:15:02 Food Importing3:18:19 Blue River Dairy3:25:30 Meeting the Market & Selling to the Chinese3:30:34 Blue River Brand3:34:45 Dealing with the Chinese3:36:59 Thoughts about NZ Primary Sector Industries3:40:42 Other Achievements3:46:09 Final QuestionsMusic from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/giulio-fazio/hot-clubLicense code: WG3V0DEMJGEXCJJS

Jim Lynch is the founder and visionary behind the Wellington ecosanctuary Zealandia.He tells of the story and struggles behind the creation of Zealandia, and talks about conservation in the modern world - what works, and what doesn't. He is also a very strong advicate of the concept of "Large Conservation Zones" - a different (but surprisingly common sense) way to save New Zealands endangered species and ecosystems.This is an inspiring story that I hope you enjoy.0:00 Introduction10:30 Visionaries14:12 Cartooning Career25:10 Wellington Conservation History - Before Humans and After38:27 Comparison to Today42:41 Natural Wellington Project53:26 Extinction1:02:30 Zealandia Beginnings1:15:11 The Fence1:20:08 Playing God1:21:55 Eradication of Pests1:27:08 Re-Introduction of Species1:40:47 Large Conservation Zones2:00:19 10802:08:13 Final Questions

Willie Sage has had a hugely varied career, ranging from shearing, to bush flying, to helicopters, to jets, to a highly respected Flight Examiner.

In this interview (his second on Kiwi Tales), he tells a few stories of his aviation career, and offers some common sense thoughts and insights about relevant aviation topics.

0:00 Introduction

7:36 Flying Jets

13:46 International Ferry Flights

17:35 Bush Flying

26:56 Airline Flight Training

42:21 Flight Checking & Training

59:12 Tips for New Pilots

1:02:22 ATC Rules

1:08:31 Brain Plasticity for Older Pilots

1:13:26 Final Questions

Bernie Lewis is a 96 year old RAF and test pilot veteran. He has had an incredible aviation career that most of us can only dream of, having flown a huge range of fixed and multi-wing aircraft including the Vulcan bomber flying test bed. Not bad for a farm boy from Takaka who was no good at maths!!