• Club Dinner: Sunday 27th September 2026, from 1700 @ CH - see details at bottom of page
• BNL's 70th Birthday & Club Day: Sunday 11th October 2026, 1000 - 1300 @ RT
• Resurgents: Saturday 24th October 2026, 0900 @ WL
• Mt Cook Flyaway: this is now a short notice event 

Our lady of the sky, Piper Cub ZK-BNL, is having a birthday and we're celebrating it at the next Club Day at Rangiora on Sunday 11th October.

We're planning to do a display of BNL's history, as well as inviting as many Cubs from around the area to fly in and join us in the celebrations. We'll even have some cake to eat!

If you know of a local Cub pilot, please make sure to invite them to this Club Day.

There will be normal Club Day activities as well.

Resurgents is a great way to get back in the air with an instructor. Whether it’s a couple of circuits to blow away the cobwebs or a chance to try a different aircraft type, it’s all about enjoying the freedom of flight again. Best of all, you’ll get to spend time with a fantastic group of people who share your love of flying.

We have Warriors booked for you.

We start at 0900 and conclude round midday.

Your membership does not need to be current.

Please email Chris Bell no later than Thursday 22nd October with your ETA.

Looking forward to your company.

We're planning to do this at short notice so please email bookings@cac.co.nz if you'd like to be part of this.

Mt Cook flyaway - Memories for a lifetime

If there's one event that should be on every Canterbury Aero Club member's calendar, it's the annual Flyaway to Mt Cook. Year after year, it proves to be one of the highlights of our flying programme, combining spectacular scenery, unique flying opportunities, and great company.

While the weather has unfortunately had other ideas over the past three years, forcing us to cancel each time, this year's forecast is looking far more promising. We're hopeful that this will finally be the year we make it back to one of New Zealand's most iconic flying destinations.

The flight itself is reason enough to come along. Crossing the Canterbury Plains before climbing into the Southern Alps offers some of the most breathtaking scenery New Zealand has to offer. Snow-capped peaks, turquoise glacial lakes, braided rivers, and the towering presence of Aoraki/Mt Cook make this a flight you'll remember long after you've shut the engine down.

Landing at Mt Cook Aerodrome is an experience in itself. It's an aerodrome that many pilots never get the chance to visit, making it a fantastic opportunity to expand your flying experience while operating into one of the country's beautiful destinations.

Once on the ground, the adventure continues. Participants can take advantage of discounted scenic ski plane or helicopter flights, giving the rare opportunity to land on the Tasman Glacier. Standing on the glacier, surrounded by the Southern Alps, is something few people ever experience and is an unforgettable addition to an already incredible day.

For those staying on the ground, there's plenty to enjoy as well. A relaxed lunch at The Hermitage Hotel provides the perfect chance to swap stories, admire the views of Aoraki/Mt Cook, and catch up with fellow members before the flight home.

More than anything, the Mt Cook Flyaway is about enjoying aviation with like-minded people. Whether you're a newly qualified pilot or have thousands of hours in your logbook, it's a fantastic opportunity to build experience, explore one of New Zealand's most stunning flying destinations, and enjoy a memorable day out with fellow aviators.

If you've never been before, make this the year you join us. After three weather-related cancellations, we're hoping fourth time's the charm. The Mt Cook Flyaway truly is the Canterbury Aero Club's premier event and one you won't want to miss.

Secure your seat to avoid missing out!

Please email bookings@cac.co.nz or phone 03 359 2121 if you'd like to be part of this.

Join us for drinks and dinner on Sunday 27th September in Sir Henry Wigram lounge, 25 Aviation Drive, Harewood.

Bar opens at 5pm. Our speaker is Barry Payne, who is NZ's first official "Earth Rounder" in a small aircraft, and will be speaking from 6pm with dinner being served at 6.30pm.

In 2019, the Bazflyers (Barry and his wife Sandra) embarked on a historic aviation achievement: flying their single-engine Piper Comanche ZK-BAZ around the world in a series of 50 flights over six months. Their journey took them to numerous countries, crossing oceans and continents while celebrating friendship, goodwill, and the joy of exploration. This expedition marked Barry and Sandra as New Zealand’s first official “Earthrounders” a designation for pilots who complete a qualifying global circumnavigation in a small aircraft.

Their 2019 flight was dedicated to the mentors, families, and friends who helped shape their lives and gave them wings to pursue this bold adventure. It also promoted friendship and respect across cultures, carrying the New Zealand spirit of “aroha” wherever they landed.

World Flight 100

In 2024, Barry Payne and long-time aviation partner Bob Bates OBE took to the skies again, this time for World Flight 100 a commemorative mission retracing the pioneering 1924 round-the-world flight route exactly 100 years later.

Departing from Mount Hagen in the Central Highlands of Papua New Guinea, this westward circumnavigation honours the centennial of the original flight and celebrates a century of aviation innovation, courage, and shared human achievement.

Dinner is a three-course meal from Country Feasts that includes meat lover and vegetarian options. Dinner is $50 for most and $25 for children aged 5 - 12.

Bookings are open below or email us at bookings@cac.co.nz, and we’ll make the booking for you.

Please note – you do not have to have a PayPal account to pay using your credit card through PayPal. You can “Checkout as Guest” once you get to the payment screen