Nanchang 01 Syndicate : Our Pilots

Nanchang 01 Syndicate
Our Pilots

Graeme Frew Graeme is currently a B 767 First Officer with Air New Zealand. He started out in aviation in 1978 at the tender age of 16, as a trainee Aircraft Mechanic with the RNZAF and progressed through to Corporal until rebranching to Pilot in 1986. He flew the Hawker Siddely Andover and C-130 Hercules in the transport role until joining Air NZ in 1995. He lives on the beautiful North Shore of Auckland and has the had aircraft based at North Shore Airfield since he bought it in 2000. Graeme is currently the leader of the Nanchang Formation Team 'The Chinese Checkers' where he goes under the pseudonym of "Frunt Wan". Graeme is the syndicate chief pilot.

Wayne Carpenter Wayne trained with the Auckland Aero Club with Lew Day and obtained his CPL, Multi instrument rating and instructor rating. He worked as a flying instructor at Gisborne and then at Palmerston North. After returning to Auckland, Wayne instructed part time for both Kel Stark (Stark Naked Aviation) and the Waitemata Aero Club. In 1980 he emigrated to the UK and retrained with CSE Oxford Air Training School on Senecas to obtain the UK licences. He then flew with Express Air as a DC3 1st Officer based in Bornemouth and flying to the Channel Islands and France. After returning to New Zealand, Wayne flew briefly with Airwork on the night mail run. He is currently a member of NZ Warbirds and belongs to the CT4 syndicate. Wayne joined the Nanchang 01 syndicate in 2006 and was type rated by Dick Veale.
Mark Menzies Mark's passion for aviation wasn't realised until later in life. He qualified as a PPL 4 years ago at North Shore Aero Club and flies as often as he can for sport and recreation. Since gaining his wings, Mark has specialised in competition flying culminating in becoming national champion for Basic Panel Instrument Flying (Wigram Cup) at the RNZAC National Competitions at Motueka in 2005. He has also competed in two other National Competitions, achieving a second place in Gisborne for navigation and most recently, a third place in Whitianga, also for Basic Panel Instrument Flying. He has gained further GA experience having completed a mountain flying course at Wakatipu Aero Club in Queenstown. In May 2007 Mark passed his aerobatic rating in the Nanchang and is now licensed to thrill. Mark joined the Nanchang 01 syndicate in mid 2006 and is enjoying the Warbird experience. . John Humphries John is based in the UK but spends up to six months of the year in New Zealand. Trained initially by the RAF John has logged about 500 hours on various aircraft and is currently doing an aerobatic rating on the Nanchang. A very enthusiastic syndicate member John joined the syndicate at the beginning of 2007. .Kerry Brew Kerry is the latest member of our syndicate. Currently resident in the UK, Kerry is working towards his Private Pilots Licence. He will be flying the Nanchang in command under supervision once he gains his licence untill he has logged at least 100 hours total flying time.