A passion for aviation has been with Andy Love all through his life, so it was no surprise that he was working towards gaining his private pilot's license not long after finishing high school. Andy followed this up by obtaining his commercial license in Queenstown and purchasing a share in a Yak-52 syndicate. This aircraft allowed Andy to develop his skills flying aerobatic aircraft, something he has transferred to several exciting aircraft types.
Andy flew Pt135 Adventure Flights in Queenstown, and continues to instruct in the Pitts, Tiger, and Yak 52, and as a B Cat, provides certified Aerobatic training around Canterbury. Always mindful of aviation history, Andy's flying has extended back in time to embrace a range of heritage aircraft from the Tiger Moth to the Harvard and more recently, also including a range of World War One aircraft including the Fokker Triplane and Rotary powered types.
Image: Andy flying his previous Pitts Special - Photo by Brian Greenwood
At this year's Classic Fighters Airshow, Andy will be flying the historic Pitts S-1S ZK-PUG, he brought the aircraft fresh out of a 15-year restoration. Pam Collings, Andy's mentor, will provide commentary on the display and her history with the aircraft. Pam competed at the world aerobatic championships at Kiev, Russia in 1976 flying her Pitts, then registered ZK-PAC.
About Yealands Classic Fighters Omaka: The airshow is the main fundraising event for the Omaka Aviation Heritage Museum, located in Blenheim, Marlborough NZ. 2023 will be Classic Fighters Omaka’s 20th anniversary. Tickets are available at www.classicfighters.co.nz or at the gate.
