Looking back to January - the Walsh Memorial Scout Flying School

Since 1967 Matamata aerodrome has hosted the Walsh Memorial Scout Flying School teaching young people to fly.  Every January, 74 students from around the country camp for two weeks at Matamata aerodrome, participating in camp life, all while learning to fly.

Here are my photos, which I have finally got around to sorting and naming, from the 2023 camp at Matamata on 18 January 2023

The Airline Flying Club's Cessna 152 ZK-BUD

Cessna 172 ZK-DXM

Piper PA38 Tomahawk ZK-EVD

Erco 415-D Ercoupe ZK-EXC

Cessna 152 Aerobat ZK-FLF

A WASSI Piper PA38 Tomahawk ZK-FML... WASSI stands for the Walsh Aviation Support Society Inc. The aircraft currently used at the Walsh are usually 1960’s and 70’s vintage, and while all are required to meet the NZ CAA minimum standards, their condition varies widely.  Some are in reasonable condition, and some are problematic, requiring significant effort to keep them at a safe standard.  It is also becoming increasingly difficult to source an adequate number of suitable aircraft.  This is becoming an issue for the future of the school and is affecting the ability of the school to operate and therefore benefit youth in the wider community. The Society intends to build up a fleet of modern light aircraft for use by the Walsh Memorial Scout Flying School.  This will comprise a fleet of fourteen two-seat and one four-seat aircraft, a mix of high and low wing aircraft. While the first few aircraft purchased by the WASSI will be older aircraft, of the same type currently used at the Walsh, the long term objective is to build up a fleet of modern light sport aircraft (LSA). The fund to purchase this fleet will take some time to build, so the fleet will be built up progressively over a multi-year period.  During 2018, the WASSI purchased and refurbished our first aircraft, PA38 FML. Read more here https://www.wassi.org.nz/

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Another WASSI Piper PA38 Tomahawk, ZK-JHF

Add to the mix, local Tecnam P2002 Sierra ZK-JNG

A third WASSI Piper PA38 Tomahawk, ZK-MAJ

Cessna 152 ZK-MDS

The most recent WASSI Piper PA38 Tomahawk, ZK-NJT. Fly high Nixon!!!... Notice the joy

Motueka Aero Club's Piper PA38 Tomahawk ZK-PAF

Just Aircraft SuperSTOL ZK-RIM

Super Air's Air Tractor AT-402B ZK-RMW

Piper PA38 Tomahawk ZK-TDL

Piper PA38 Tomahawk ZK-TWR

The Wellington Aero Club's Piper PA38 Tomahawk, ZK-PAF

Piper PA38 Tomahawk ZK-WAG

Cessna 152 ZK-ZGR