We have quite a few members joined up now, so I think it is the right time to open an “Introduce yourself” thread. What you need to do is post a reply, telling everyone a little bit about yourself else, your simming history and preferences, etc.

I’ll get the ball rolling then:

My name's Andrew and I grew up in England, moving here to Auckland in 2003. Thanks to the good exchange rate from pounds to dollars, I managed to pick myself up a fairly nifty computer that could run games my old PC couldn’t handle- and that’s how I discovered flightsim! (I didn’t actually pay for my first copy, but in fact traded it for a “Grand Theft Auto” game with a mate. Since then I have got a new copy and modded my computer a bit to run it smoothly.)

Originally I went straight for the heavy-metal and flew for KLM Virtual around Europe, but soon tired from the same old take-off’s and landings, seeing no scenery but clouds on my journeys and packed my virtual career in, turning to the lighter side of things. This was about 1 year and ½ ago, and ever since then I have been flying GA light aircraft, exploring scenic areas in my own time- and more recently downloading historical warbird planes and practise airshow manoeuvres and routines. I’ve spent a bomb on payware addons (Mostly photoreal scenery) but recently discovered the amazing freeware VOZ (Vista Austrails) and joined the BETA testing team. I've also completed many long distance sim tours (see the Flights sub forum), and had reviews published in various aviation/simulation magazines and websites.

I've recently stepped into real world aviation, having taken the controls of quite a few small propeller planes- which put a whole new perspective on simulation for me- there's nothing like soaring above the busy world below, compleatly in control of an aircraft! This has lead to me starting my PPL training and given me ambition to become a pilot for a career.

Yep, so that’s my story- lets hear yours now!

Is everyone else shy or something?

Name's Mark. Live, work and play in Wellington. I'm in the public sector in an IT shop, and also work as a 737 sim instructor with flight experience wellington. Possibly a dream job for a lot of us! (sure is for me!)

I mostly use FS to practice IFR flight in the advanced Boeing add-ons out there, though have just picked up the Flight1 Super 80 and am currently wading through the complexities of that wee beast, very challenging!

Nice to see a new NZ FS community spring up, all the best!

Mark

What can I say

Born in Melbourne spent 3 years in London then settled down to a career in New Zealand and married my wife Little one on the way I love flight simming (obvious) Kyaking and general a good time. Father was a pilot with Ansett retired a year before they went bust and enjoy flying in my own backyard

Howzat

As some of you may already know, I'm Jarred and live in Hamilton. On FS I generally fly a mix of GA to medium sized commercial craft. My day to day job involves being a 5th former at Hamilton Boys High, and working part time in the produce department at a local New World supermarket.

Mark, are you qualified as a real life pilot? I've been thinking about having a go at the nearest simulator, which will be Tauranga for me.

Hi my names James im 12 and live in christchurch.
I became adicted to flight simulator just over a year ago, useing fs9 on my parants 600mhz computer!.I got fs98 so i could fly with some better frame rates. By last last december i had saved up 400 buks from my paper round and brought my on 1ghz pc and am now running 2004 alright. I enjoy flying ifr flights in fs best, with instrument aproches, usualy in medium jets. I hope to be a real pilot one day!.

Hi, I am Heath from Christchurch...

Been a flight sim addict since the days of 8 bit computing in the mid 1980's right to this day...

I've worked on / put out a few of my own scenery projects to date but am not currently working on anything much...

Regards,

Heath

Welcome everyone!

Thanks for opening up!

Hey everyone,

My name is Leo, and I'm a year 13 highschool student in Auckland. I've been interested in aviation pretty much my whole life (I've travelled a lot, I think that's what got me into it), but I only really got into flightsimming about 5 years ago, with FS2002. I'm intending to pursue a career in aviation. (hopefully as a pilot!)

I'm an active member in the forums on Flightsim.com (about 8,500 posts or some sad sad number ) , particularly the screenshot forum, and I'm also a regular member of Kiwisim, and a few other assorted aviation sites.

My other related interest is photography, and specifically aviation photography. I have about 300 photos on Jetphotos.net, and about 50 or so on Airliners.net. (and both those figures are steadily growing)

With regard to flightsim, I mainly fly either commercial passenger aircraft, or GA aircraft. I don't really fly military aircraft in Flightsim, although I do play IL-2 and it's various upgrades as well as, occasionally, LOMAC. As with, I'm sure, all of you here, I'm also very much interested in the New Zealand aviation scene, both through simming and my photography.

That's it from me, good to meet you all.

Welcome Leo!

Seems like you and me have a lot in commen, I like flying GA, aviation photography and fs2004 screenshots too!

It's nice to have you onboard!

Ah, heck. I guess I may as well join in. What is it? "In for a penny?"

My name is Rob, and some of you may know me from my scenery designs for the state of Florida (and now Hamilton and Taupo in NZ). Although I am an American (looks around and prepares to duck), I lived in Auckland for 2 years and am really a Kiwi at heart (as Blackmagic can attest). I try to return at least once a year. It is my hope and desire to return to NZ on a more permanent basis within the next few to several years.

Going back to NZ this August for a self-guided Tri-Nations and NPC rugby tour. Cities include Auckland (for the ABs v Oz match), Christchurch, Invercargill, Wellington, and Whangarei. Quite a haul, going from Southland on Friday night, through Welly on Saturday, and finally Whangarei on Sunday.

Aside from FS, I am Commissioner of a gridiron league here in Florida, and work for a real estate training organization.

(Just noticed: I am Member # 39 on this board, and that was my gridiron number when I was a wee lad.)

Hi Guys I'm Subs, I'm mainly into Jet Combat sims such as Falcon 4 Allied Forces, Lockon Flaming Cliffs. I also have Pacific Fighters and plan on getting FSX for movie making later on. BTW this is a cool site.
cheers
Subs

hi ya, i'm Zöltuger. my first flight sim was FS5 back on my 486, but i lost interest after flight sim 98. i was also a fan of x-plane, but the scenery and such is a bit limited.
now i'm back and wanting to get my sticky hands on FSX as soon its out. online sounds like a lot of fun, and the graphics look top notch as always.

Use to fly out of NZPP when living in NZ but now live in England. Too expensive to fly here BUT on the otherhand airshows are just about every other weekend

Quite like the look of these boards so you will be seeing me around more.

Regards

Mailman

Welcome Zöltuger and mailman!

Thanks for signing up

Been flying FS since version 5.1 Flying IRL out of NZNV, hope to complete CPL and MEIR in a few months

Well where to start .. mike is the name also know as natas2003 from hamilton flight simming for ages into helicopters scenery design fs repaints and movies promoting helos and New Zealand payware freeware whatever is out there this is a full time thing for me as not at real work as such so are surfing sites info and making scenerys yet to be put out there 24/7
im from auckland and now live in hamilton like i said before with 2 boys that also you guess it fly aswell not bad for a 8 -5 year olds this is the first time ive seen this forum
whoo!!! cool there is someone out there hope to catch up with all of you most flying at home and not online because mostly testing scenery but are willing to try the online stuff again now i see more of you out there welll anyways see you in the forums and i hope to contribute as much as i can to yous some of my videos are at hovercontrol.com

hovercontrol


check them out you mite like???

Hi , Names Bob ... The men call me Bobalou ... I live in the Florida Panhandle USA. Found out about this place from VOZ.

Retired from the Navy, spent time on 4 different Carriers. Hence my preference for Naval aircraft. Never been to New Zealand. However, sailed between the two islands in '64 on the Enterprise.

Hope to learn something about your country while frequenting this forum.

Glad to be here.

HC

PS . been flight simming since before FS 98, can't remember which one I started with, just that it had more angles in the scenery than curves.

Welcome Bob!

bigdogshark62 also resides in Florida, so you are not alone

Hi Bob

USS Enterprise (CVAN-65)

Just for the Kiwi's with interest in these Amazing Ships

your era .. 1961 Shakedown Cruise- Atlantic -Norfolk
1962 January I arrived !
1962 June East Coast , Mediterranean
1962 October Blockade of Cuba .... the world's scariest momment
1963 Med :from there Task force 1 with Long Beach(CGN-9) and
Bainbridge , round the WORLD TOUR criuse ' Operation Sea Orbit ' covering 30,500 miles .

1964 October First refuelling
1965-1978 Pacific .. and so on
1986 Movie - TOP GUN all Kiwi plane nutters no that Movie

I do no that in 1966 CVA-66 ( USS AMERICA ) did enter Wellington Harbour dredge in front with only 4 feet to spare from keel to bottom at 1 stage . lost the amazing aerial shot, if any one can shed some light be interested , u may have extra info pictures from period .

Cheers Ian

Hi , forgot , this is a Welcome MAT ! bugger

All the above previous comments .. and YIP and add a little , FS -aircraft /navy.

Navy ?

Ian

Christchurch maybe ?

Hi Ian, Yep I was there till Nov '64, then went to the Essex.

HC

Hi HC
Essex Class , 1st in Class Essex CV-9 , amazing Carriers , WW2 super history with them , Think Franklin was the HELL boat of all the Class and history read , to see and believe the damage ..., I started a scratchbuilt CV-41 since being the most modified Carrier ever Now as u will no a Museum , must visit San Diego , North Island or were shes been parked .., be most interesting visit .

Ian

Hi Natas2003
Hamilton , started scenery there , thanks to Paul Baker and photos , its 1 off these stop/start projects , that really need the heat turned up .

Been spending to much time a the Wiggy Museum for aircraft paints ... C 130 ,
Outta my norm , nice to try all and new areas ..

Ian

Morning all...well, it is here. Retired last Summer from a career in Healthcare. So I suppose you could say, I now spend more time than is really healthy, flying virtual skies.

Other than a love of Airshows, I have no real knowledge of any aircraft whatsoever. Quality scenery is my thing...just love to see other places and use a amphibious aircraft to do it. Which is how I have ended up here; after dropping onto Robin Corn's R.N.Z. series.

Who knows, maybe one day I shall make it for real. In the meantime, perhaps I ought to take the wifes advice, and get out more.

C YA, Arnie.

Welcome dogtrack!

I love airshows too Check out the Real Aviation forum for lots of photos I and a few others have posted!

By the way, I notice it is your birthday today! I hope you had a great celebration

Hello everybody far South-East,
I am Max, born in Groningen (Northern Netherlands) many years ago.
I am working in the Universital Medical Centre Groningen as a senior medical analist. We have since 1989 a little farm in Drouwenerveen, 45 km south of Groningen, and live there together with wife, 2 dobermanns, 6 horses and 18 sheeps. Hobbys are driving four-in-hand, eventing and flightsimming!
Most flying from EHGG (20km from here) in NL2000 and NW Germany (made by
www. m-r-software.de freeware!) with Milton Shupes awesome AC680 Pegasus
or Derek Palmers the Havilland Dove
Since a few years discovering the beautiful places of the world:
Alaska-Munchbros, Pacific/Australia-VOZ, and now NZ!

Greetings from a real sunny Holland,

Max

Hi Guys

Dan Mitchell here I am from Wellington, NZ and do a bit of modelling for FS, good to see an NZ focussed forum around the place. I am currently working on a number of AC projects in my group BSMP one of which is the Swearingen Metro 23/III which I intend to release in Origin Pacific colours to give it that homegrown feel

Hi and welcome Bardos and Ronindanbo. hope you like it here (I know I do! )

Smooth landings,
James

Hello everybody.My name is Stephen-username Codge.Isn't it great to have non resident NZers on this forum,a big welcome to NZ,make sure you get Red Barons 20m mesh & topo! no I am in no way connected to this developer,just a very impressed customer.You get what you pay for as a rule and it is well worth every cent! I am a 36yr old man living in Dunedin on the Otago peninsula with my 2 children,7yr old girl Piper and 4yr old boy Cessna! only kidding his name is Daniel.We have a wee cottage right on the water and a .creek on our front lawn that goes under the road bridge and out into the harbour.We launch our kayaks and paddle out to our 21 foot Hartley trailer sailer moored in the bay which we can watch from our lounge window! The view is a "million Dollar" view yet the house cost 60,000 3 years ago.I am feeling truly blessed to have such a lifestyle in this grat country of ours. I have done real flying years ago when I was about 16 and had ideas about being a commercial pilot but discovered girls and V8 Holdens and got sidetracked and ran out of money! About a year ago a friend told me about MSFS and even set it up on his old Pentium 2 for me once we over clocked it from 300mhz up to the 450mhz required to run FS9. Within a week or so I was addicted and went out and ticked up a "real" computer.2.4gig AMD,and haven't stopped adding to it ever since.!.5gigs of DDR2 RAM,a ATI 9600PRO card,CH Products Yoke,pedals and throttle quadrant.Butkicker seat shaker,headset and mike and Broadband for multiplayer. Just over a year ago I knew absolutley ning about computers and now am about to go into biz with my already mentioned friend fixing and servicing PC's. He knows what he's doing,I'll be the apprentice! and take care of the advertising and PR. I have been on a benefit since Piper was born but need something for the future.I would love to make a living out of FS if I could one day if possible.In between meeting my childrens needs I spend pretty much every waking hour on FS.I'm hoping this will come down to a more sane level of time in the future although there is no sign of that happening any time soon! I am Hooked! Is there a FS annonymous anywhere? Maybe I should get another girlfriend! that would help-maybe.My wife died of a brain tumour 18 months ago so I have nobody to nag me to get off the bloody computer! We have a pet duck that just turned up last Xmas and never left! it pecks on the door and quacks to be let in and fed (dog roll) craps on the kitchen floor and hassles the cat ,then it's back outside for a swim in the creek! I'm quite envious.It can fly,swim on and under the water and wander around on land as well. Well i think that'll do for my intro and I hope see you all here and on teamspeak in the years to come.Kind regards to all-Stephen.

great posting codge lov the lifestyle mine to is the same in many ways
having fun while trying to make a buck $ and of course looking after the kids

Hi guys,

I'm Alex McLean, from Rotorua, I know a couple of people on this forum (namely Matt :lol: ) and have heard a bit about it around the place so came in to check it out. I am a regular flyer and controller on IVAO and hopefully will get set up on VATSIM soon so I can make the most of both networks. Look forward to reading and finding out some interesting things and meeting new people at NZFF.

Alex

I've just realised I haven't added anything here Hi Alex, nice to see you made it!

I am 36 years old, live in Tauranga, married with 3 kids, (15, 12 and 10 y/o), like long walks on the beach and candle-lit dinners. Oh, wrong forum

I work in the insurance industry, assessing and investigating fire & general claims, and get to travel a fair bit around the country whenever there are storms etc. Next week I'm off to Timaru and CHCH for 5 days to see snow and water damaged property - it was either that or the Manawau/Wellington area with slips, mud and sewerage...

In my spare time I surf, and about 6 years ago got my eldest into surfing so have a buddy for our surfing safaris. I play guitar (as does my son), along with a few guitars we have a piano and drums (wife decided she wanted to have 'a go' lol) also at our place so it gets quite noisy at times. My wife teaches English and History and is very accomodating of the time I spend in front of the PC, even if she does take the piss out of me "talking to my little friends" in the background, which makes it hard having a serious conversation with ATC at times as she is often muttering "goose egg egg kite" whenever I talk in phonetics.

I have had an interest in aviation for a number of years, but only since I bought FS2004, whilst most here have been following this sort of thing for decades. I enjoy FS immensely but my real passion is the WW2 era, and I am heavily into BF1942, Forgotten Hope, BF2 and IL-2. IL-2 is providing me with the most satisfaction at this time, you really have to 'fly' the planes rather than just pulling back on the stick and applying full power.

I am a member of various gaming/flight sim communities (Virtual Air NZ, Virtual Pilots Assoc, Demonz, 42United, KiwiSim), and enjoy most the companionship that online gaming provides, whether it be WW2 war gaming on TS or FS on voice comms. I spent too much time messing about with gaming footage and have several ideas to make an epic FS video but just haven't found the time yet.

My next goal is to commence PPL training, maybe 2006 will be the year I actually do something about that!

If you made it this far well done, it turned out a fair bit longer
than anticipated!

My turn to join in.......

I'm Bazza (Barry of course) a decidely Senior type member due to extensive maturity and was living happily in retirement until my son offered my a job recently, thus reducing the siiming hours. I reside in Tauranga.

Have followed all the sims for many years now, and can be seen on occasions at Simviation.

Enjoy the prop driven stuff, and have little interest in the Jets, Air-liners etc, now prefering to fly about New Zealand. Having said that I do have a Constellation, but normally settle for no more than two engines. Currently enjoying the Aero Commander AC520.

Have taken advantage of nearly everything put out scenery wise for NZ, and recognise a few names in the "intro's" who deserve to be in the New Years Honours List. There certainly has been some good stuff put out.

Can't understand how I weasn't aware of this site but saw a mention in AVSIM when trolling for "parts."

Look forward to checking out the forums.

I'm thrilled that NZFF has turned out so well, The spinoffs, such as the interest in NZ AI, are an added bonus.
I should do a quick intro, normally I don't get too personal on the web, but I'll make an exception here:)
I'd be considered rather elderly here, as I think the average age here is a lot lower than my customer base. I have 3 teenage children, none of which use the sim, thankfully, they tend to prefer the Xbox 360.
I remember when I first discovered local addons -- it was amazing to find NZ-related scenery, but after the initial download frenzy (on a 14.4Kb modem...) it dawned on me that releases were few and far between. My first reaction was the Godzone magazine -- trying to encourage others to get into design -- but one day I figured that someone would have to really get stuck in to make a difference. It never crossed my mind that it might have to be me.
Thanks to the Wayback Machine, these early days are archived on the web. (most of the images haven't survived, and many of the links no-longer work.) The FS2000 addons is particularly interesting to me -- it pin-points my first discovery of local addons. The ones which made the biggest impression at the time were Christian Stock's 150 metre mesh, and Ian Warren's Christchurch airport.
Somehow over the last few years I've gone from a flightsim newbie to my own full-time scenery design business, I dunno how that happened.
I guess that some of you may consider me 'the enemy', charging for scenery, but if I need to put all my time into NZ scenery then I need to support myself doing it. I do have a lot of respect for freeware authors, though.
Working full-time is a bit of an experiment, I still don't know whether NZ has the numbers to support a full -time scenery designer, but if I don't try it, I'll never know. Of course you can show your support by buying my scenery -- it doesn't cost much to give it a go, just $15 for an airport download to check to see whether payware is worth it:)
Remember that any forum thrives on contributions -- NZFF is already showing its value as a local resource, so keep up the support by posting often -- anything sim-related is up for discussion.
-Robin Corn

Welcome!
Welcome!
Welcome!
Welcome!
Welcome!
Welcome!
Welcome!

Its great to read each one of your own interesting stories!

Hi all

May as well keep/help Building the Snowball and keep it ROLLING!

Forums .. heck now getting the hangoff , maybe :rolleyes:

Aeroplanes , Christchurch Airport , and memories ... were it all starts - hang on ! NO - Myself and Brother in the local pub and about to open the box for Flightsim1983/4 maybe not sure the version But 'Microsoft' sounds COOL ! . Al's then wife had a started a printin Bizz with an apple and '25thou Dole!ar' laser printerRrr so I was told 20 so years back !... Whoo that impressed me .. I can draw planes , but that box with FS had a pull , that was thenBut hell when they went holiday! who was left with BZZ pc and FS B) grey screen FS with the wish to see what it is today. :o

Life is great at 44 , with a Librairy on Aviation for the serious to just planes for us cool plane nutters :) , I live with a Battleship/Frigate/Aircraft Carrier - 9 ft Space Shuttle and a Cat called LF .. 'Little Friend' .

Anyways , I'm Sure all the above sounds interesting and great and as scenery is concerned takes lotta time building , FS is changing agian , but now getting the photo real scapes and the time city and airport with other 3rd party addin extra plus airway AI is making the old hobbie SuperREAL , To pay for is worth the cost to prove again the anything downloaded is perfect , and to get free is just as good but in time .

Just pleased to be 1 off the Gang and love to put energy and effort .

Ian

Hey Steve 'Codge' , got back in sarvo , found lotta AGNs have adjusted to suit that Dunedin scenery, obviously looked at some stage looked at Robins as got some off his orginal area AGNs .... will have to remove maybe i'll have to get permission from Rob to use his , but little offset , think will edit what i have and see get them to u , have total off maybe 400/500 agn files , think was on outskirt s off the city , but think need to also find orgin off photo layout person .

Wrong place to post , see u all in scenery forum tomorrow night ,ME 'Pioneer Stadium Arms Weapon Meet ' first , have lotta interest from those guys as well .. to this site or at least trying to promote my fav HOBBIE to these Most extra interestin at time people ..

Met '2' today '1' a German tank driver survived D/DAY .. not going into story But mentioned to others bout my more recent Hobbie .. FS and FSNZ or could mean NZFF got them most interested ,
anyways back there tomorrow .. I want to drive a TANK! .. maybe into city , boyracer watch out !

hi everyone!
My name is Alister Curnow and I'm a 29 y.o FS2004 simmer from Christchurch. I know a few members of this forum, and count a number of you as good friends already. (thanks Alex for showing me here!)
I'm a busy (obsessed) virtual pilot and when not flying, Operations Manager for the Virtual Pilots Association. But, I was pleased to hear a general, non va specific forum had been opened in NZ for the NZ simmers to chat about NZ things. Good work Tolly! Pilots from around the rest of the world don't really care about my New Zealand simming! I do however tend to split my virtual flying time between NZ and North America, and lately more so in the US. I prefer IFR airliner flying, so after plying the NZ main trunk lines in a VANZ B733 for a couple of years, I have been flying mostly overseas. I've flown for a number of other different VA's in the past, and am currently also an F22 squadron commander for the US virtual airforce on IVAO. But despite my offshore involvement it will be good to be in touch with local fliers a little more.
Favourite aircraft for me is pretty much anything from the Boeing fleet. And the 737 NG in particular. So much so I've recently been accepted to become a part time instructor for Flight Experience in Christchurch. I have just got to sort a start date with them for my training, and I'll be in NG heaven!
Other than flying, I enjoy photography, travelling, cycling, cricket and hanging out with friends!

Nice to be here!

Howdy,

My introduction to flight simming began during the summer of 1999-2000 with "Crimson Skies", still the hoopiest (arcade) computer flying game ever. This, inevitably, led to "Combat Flight Simulator 2", especially the 3rd party add-on WWI theatre, and finally "Flight Sim 2002". Have no interest (whatsoever) in flying big tin, much prefering seabirds (especially the G21 Grumman Goose and G44 Widgeon).

Have dabbled in the following areas of flight simming: scenery design, repainting, panel building and flight dynamics design. Have been a member of several VA, but now run a small, one-man outfit/company.

At 55, am semi-retired, well-travelled, recently completed post-graduate work at UoC (University of Canterbury) and currently live with my partner and three mischevious (if somewhat lazy) cats in Plimmerton, Wellington (overlooking the Pauatahanui Inlet).

Non-simming interests include: archery, fencing (Japanese and C16th Elizabethan), historical research (pre-C17th Japanese, Elizabethan and Colonial/Victorian), cinema, and dressing up in medieval clothing and attending feasts and events put on by like-minded people.

Nice to see you on board Alister .

Alex

Ian I just read your post,sorry it took me so long to get it.like you said-wrong forum to talk about scenery so I didn't think to look here.Anyway what you said is very encouraging.Scenery design is something I know nothing about but want to learn. I'm slowly making my way through different scenery design forums to familiarize myself with what it's all about.Iv'e learnt that I have alot of admiration and respect for you guys who release it to the rest of us,free or pay I'm happy either way.

hi Steve sent u a email regards getting U started with Dunedin, see u in the Scenery forum next time.

Hi all! I've been browsing the site for some time now, and after being a lurker I've decided to take the plunge and join in the merriment!


I'm Zac from Wanganui, my fave "genre" is vintage/warbirds so you'll often find me cruising above Blenheim in my replica of the Spitfire protoype.

Looking forward to getting to know you guys!

Welcome K5054! WW2 and vintage craft eh? A man after my own heart

Hi all my name is Scott Im 17 living and working in Hamilton I do part-time voluntary work with the Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance as some of you may know we have a Bell 222 the only chopper of its kind in NZ and a unique one at that and some of you will also hear it fairly often if you live with its operation area.

I have been in NZHN for about 5 years now after spending 6 months in QLD Oz prior to that I lived in a small north waikato town called Te Kauwhata highly exciting that is where my aircraft obsession started and where I got to know the machine I now work with because of all the accidents outside our driveway.

Any way I was a student at Hamilton Boys High but left when I was about 16 and went into a bit of study before landing the part time work at the hangar sure it isnt paid and it isnt full time but every now and then I get flights for all the work I do do around the place it is a great experience and a wicked way to learn I get to work with top notch pilots and nurses (hot nurses of course) but it also gives me that step in the door I may need later in life I also enjoy scanning the airwaves photography is also a major part of my day to day activitys I mainly take pics of EMS vehicles and alot of aircraft you can browse through this site http://www.111emergency.co.nz/RescueHelicopters.htm if you look in the different pic folders you will find some shots I have taken well I think I have bored you all enough lol look forward to chatting with you all.

Scott
Squirrel350
VERT350BA

glad you made it scott and i look forward to your updates with the westpac helo waikato

Gidday Scott
Big welcome here - you've answered several questions already with your pics, thanks for sharing them.
I know many of us look forward to sharing your experiences in the Real World Aviation forums, I already have some questions waiting for you

Hi all
guess I'll keep the ball rolling as well

I'm Craig 43 from Auckland - and as the handle says , I'm a tower controller here at Auckland International.

My first flightsim experience was on a proceedural trainer that did the rounds at ardmore back in the 70's , there and at Auckland is where I did my PPL with Airline Flying club. Next flightsim was an instrument proceedural trainer at wigram in the early 80's when I did most of a wings course with the RNZAF.

Then the next flying was in Australia where I did a ppl conversion at Renmark, South Australia before moving up to Queensland and doing a CPL and Instructors rating with Fyfes flight center out of Archerfield and Caloundra. This involved a bit of instructing and some reg runs into Brisbane and tourist flights around the sunshine coast.

Back home in NZ again to work off debts etc and met my wife then off for the big OE around europe. Never did get back to oz and flying!

Once home again it was into ATC and after 2 years training it was off to Gisborne for 3 1/2 years then Tauranga for 3 1/2 years and revalidated my NZ ppl then up to Auckland where I have been for about 9 1/2 yrs now and not flown once!

It was in Tauranga that I got my first MSFS think it was 4 ! which ran on a speed demon 286! since then it has been up through the numbers to FS9 or fs2004. Also adorning the shelves in the study are a large collection of the military sims both aviation and otherwise in the intervening years.

I am currently VOZing in the dreamfleet baron and am partway through a home cockpit build - maybe some pictures when more developed?

Along the way I also managed to collect 3 kids a dog 2cats a guineapig about 8 fish and a whacking great mortgage!

between all that and shift work the flights are few and far between - but much enjoyed when able.

well I better sign off now as I'm due back off my break now
cheers all.

Hi Craig,
I think I heard about you when I was at the tower yesterday, your wife does something at the tower as well? You are a VATSIM guy?
Welcome anyways.

Alex