I want to thank Murray Hagen, of the Fiordland Aero Club, for his generous help over the past few months as we have been preparing the Skyleader GP One for the NZ market.

Murray has spent many hours with the GP One, initially doing its mandatory NZ test flights, then rating the local instructors, taking pilots on demo flights, getting my flying skills up to speed, etc. Due to his involvement with microlighting from its beginnings in NZ, Murray has a legendary reputation for valuable advice, practical know-how and aviation contacts which I have benefited from. 

If you're thinking of learning to fly, or looking for a friendly club to fly from, please check out the Fiordland Aero Club at Manapouri. They have great new facilities, helpful instructors and a couple of Alpi Pioneer 200 aircraft to hire, Murray is the President, so contact him to find out more.

Kylie Krippner of U-Fly in Wanaka took delivery of our Skyleader GP One demo aircraft today. Murray Hagen, the tireless President of the Fiordland Aero Club, was on hand to fully brief the new operators. Kylie's husband, Ivan, flew the GP One up from Manapouri to Wanaka. 

After the delivery flight, Kylie commented that "Ivan is very impressed with the GP One . . . ZK-WLB is an absolute pleasure to fly, no unpleasant vices . . . We are very excited - it flies like a dream . . . Thank you to SkyFreedom and Bruce Conway . . . " 

Kylie Krippner, the new owner of Wanaka's U-Fly, is leasing our Skyleader GP One demonstrator. Kylie and her husband Ivan plan to fly the GP One back to Wanaka Airport on Monday. 

Kylie had been looking for an aircraft to replace the Tecnam Echo. A month ago, Murray Hagen took Kylie for a flight in the GP One. She loved it and wanted it for their U-Fly scenic flights and microlight pilot training. 

Kylie is already raving about the GP One on Facebook  ". . . the newest beauty in the U-FLY fleet! She is a stunning GP One light sport aircraft. ZK-WLB has stable flying characteristics and is easy to get in and out of, roomy cockpit . . . . Come and get rated (in the GP One) . . . "

I'm excited with this development and intend to head up to Wanaka as often as I can to continue flying the GP One. A bonus of our GP One demonstrator being based in Central Otago is that many more people will see and fly it. Also, potential buyers from Canterbury and further north will find it more convenient to visit Wanaka Airport than to get to Manapouri.

The Skyleader factory has just launched their new international website. 

Why not have a look at the upgraded Skyleader website. As expected you'll find photos and info for all their aircraft models, but you can also read about their interesting research and development projects. 

PS: You'll recognise the New Zealand scenes showing our GP One demonstrator aircraft at Te Anau airport in rural Southland.