20/10/2023
Recent flight from 369ltd base Tauranga to Amalgamated Helicopters base in Masterton in IIE returning home from maintenance we flew over one of my favorite hunting spots in the Kaimanawas,Northern arm,used to go in there a lot in early 70s with local Taupo pilot Ross Fraser in his 300 then 500 and caught the helicopter bug!,the airstrip on the left of picture is McNutts strip and was formed by Goodwin McNutt,a legendary helicopter operator and pioneer,would have been in the 60s,he flew low and slow in his Auster and threw his pick and shovel out the door at this spot, as thought would be good spot to fly his ground shot deer from then killed the engine ,lined up on the tussocks and bounced his way in and ended up nose down ,hopped out and leveled plane and started digging until ue had a strip he could fly out of,I was lucky enough to maintain his FH100s in Fox Glacier and get all the good stories, a true classic. James McNutt his son is still involved in the Industry .spot the deer on the bush edge last pic,Ngamatea.
