Miles McIntyre is enjoying his flying again

Social connection means the social ties that we have with other people. It is a broad term that includes things like getting together with others, having others we can rely on for support, or feeling that we belong and are valued. We can experience these different types of social connection with family and friends, in our workplaces and neighbourhoods, or as members of a group or club.

As we age our circle of social connection diminishes. Friends pass on, family become busy and our ability to get out and about is restricted through health and mobility issues. Age Concern Canterbury helps alleviate loneliness through our Social Outings. All the outings are popular but the monthly Men’s Group outings to a local RSA or Club are particularly well attended.

Our volunteers are often amazed by the interesting lives that many of the men lead and will suggest we tell their story in Keeping On Miles McIntyre (82) looks forward to his monthly outing to the Hornby Club, and it was while on one of these outings that we found out that Miles likes to fly. Not your normal “hop on an Air New Zealand flight to Auckland kind of flying” but behind the controls of a Piper Cherokee as part of the Canterbury Aero Club’s Resurgence programme.

driver Paul Jamieson was invited by Miles to go along on a flight with him. Although that didn’t eventuate as planned, he still got to witness Miles’ flying skills, and was very impressed. Miles fell in love with flying in 1963 and flew for a few months before giving it up. He started again in 1972, obtained his pilots’ licence in 1975 but stopped flying again after having his licence for two years. It was nearly 40 years later that Miles got the “bug” again, after he took up the opportunity to go on a flight with his son’s neighbour. He found out about the Aero Club Resurgence programme and literally took off

Volunteers Wanted For Social Outings

Hosts, drivers and drivers’ assistants needed for our well-loved Social Outings Service.

Drivers transport clients in our minivans to a morning or afternoon tea in and around Christchurch, supporting them to make new friends.

No special licence required. Casual basis. Hosts provide a morning or afternoon tea on a monthly or casual basis to a group of 5-9 clients.

Drivers’ assistants support the drivers and help clients.

Please contact Katie Faithful on 331 7801 or Debbie on 331 7814 for more information. Email k.faithful@ageconcerncan.org.nz or dgarraway@ageconcerncan.org.nz

The monthly flights take place out of West Melton Airfield. The programme is designed for those who have had to give up their pilot’s licence for medical issues or who are no longer qualified. The Piper PA-28 has dual controls and Miles is accompanied on the flight by an instructor. He is also sometimes joined by one of his grandchildren and he loves sharing this adventure with them.

Miles’ love of flying even stretches to aerobatics and he has been the passenger in aerobatic flights on a P-51 Mustang and a Russian Yak, which was flown by his nephew (an Air New Zealand pilot). For his 80th birthday his wife Alison bought him a helicopter adventure trip out of Wanaka. The three-and-a-half-hour flight included landing on Mount Aspiring and a West Coast beach, and a scenic flight over Milford Sound. “It is something I will never forget” Miles says.

Volunteers Of The Month