16 | A passion for planes Henry Worthington’s memory lives on in Alexandra’s Tinshed Aviation. T T from page 14 Tinshed Aviation - Greg Chapman Building REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Currently, the Tinshed’s core customer sector is aircraft enthusiasts who have General Aviation (GA) aircraft in need of some love and care to bring them back to standard. Some pretty special aircraft have been worked on to date, including a 1938 Beech Staggerwing that had sat in Australia for 12 years, and never flew over that time. “She was shipped back to New Zealand in June 2022 and was based at Wanaka where the process began to get her back to flying condition until it came to us in December 2023. With the owner’s valuable input we aim to have her back on the New Zealand Register and flying mid-2024,” says Arron. “It’s a fairly major project, but we’re very close to getting a Certificate of Air Worthiness inspection from CAA. We also have a 1938 Lockheed Electra in the hangar that’s currently airworthy, but is on the Australian register, and is being prepared for the New Zealand register. That’s a very rare aircraft, with only about 10 in the world.” The Tinshed’s range of aircraft is quite diverse and includes helicopters. A Squirrel requiring fairly major structural repairs was recently completed. “Our intention is to grow, and the scale of the facility has been designed with that in mind. While clients have all been private owners to date, we would love to pick up a commercial operator, based in Wanaka or Queenstown. From 10 seats up you need to be CAA certified at a different level, and we’re certainly future-proofing the business and the hangar facility to go to that next level.” Arron says being part of the local community is important for the Tinshed and wherever possible local businesses are used. “Our business growth will require a larger team and we want to employ local if we can. “We’re currently looking for another licensed engineer to join the team. “The pool of qualified engineers is quite small and we may have to go outside of the region, but that may bring families here, too. “Once we’re more established and looking for apprentices the first port of call will be local high schools. “We’re looking forward to opening our facility to the community and showing them some of the very rare aircraft we have here. “Once we start getting aircraft from overseas to restore, then the benefits to the community are pretty good with many flow-on opportunities.” WE OFFER: Stopping Painting Wallpapering Roof Painting 0274 493 003 • simon@mattysdec.co.nz PROUD TO SUPPORT GREG CHAPMAN BUILDING ON THE ALEXANDRA AIRPORT PROJECT 30 years IN BUSINESS New Aluminium Joinery Inserts | Retro double Glazing Glaziers | Maintenance +64 3 448 9073 Call Us www.dunstanglass.co.nz Visit Our Website 43 Boundary Road, Alexandra 9320 Our Location Proud to support Alexandra Airport & Greg Chapman Build Plumbers, Gas fitters & Drainlayers Phone: 021 382 586 Email: admin@notjustplumbing.co.nz L I M I T E D Proud to be working with Alexandra Airport & Greg Chapman Quality Builders
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