Feel the need, the need for speed? Channel your Top Gun fantasies on this international-level adventure.

words Cameron Scott

If we want a world-class flying adventure, Bay locals are lucky – we need only go as far as Tauranga Airport. Owned by international airline pilot Craig Mossman and his wife Annie, Fighter Jets NZ is one of just a handful of ventures globally that offer clients exhilarating rides in a rapid and nimble two-seater jet fighter, and as the only business of its kind in this part of the world, it is attracting thrill-seekers from here, there and everywhere.

Of course, the experience of a lifetime doesn’t come cheap, but it’s not something you’re ever likely to forget, and neither is it over in a flash. The actual flight, which lasts around 30 minutes or so, can be customised to suit you. It’s the high point of a two-hour adventure that begins at Fighter Jets NZ’s base at 15 Dakota Way, a lane next to the Classic Flyers Museum, just down the road from the airport terminal. Here, you’re given a detailed briefing about your flight, including all-important safety procedures, before being kitted out with a flying suit, helmet and life jacket. You’re also shown how your helmet works and how to strap yourself into your seat, so no time is wasted before take-off (the ejection seat has been disabled, in case you were wondering).

If you want to bring friends or family along to watch, you’re welcome, says Craig. The record so far belongs to a customer who arrived with 35 people in tow.

Fighter Jets NZ operates three high-performance Albatros military trainer jets designed in Czechoslovakia. Craig purchased the 901km/h aircraft in the US, where they’d been “Westernised” for civil ownership after being sourced in the Ukraine and Russia. He bought the first 12 years ago and used it recreationally before launching Fighter Jets NZ in 2017. He later added to the fleet and put together a full support team when it became clear there was a demand for commercial flights.

Fighter Jets NZ also has an unusual side hustle – participating in war games exercises with the Royal New Zealand Navy. Our air force hasn’t had suitable aircraft for the task since the government disbanded the RNZAF Air Combat Force’s three squadrons of fighter jets back in 2001.

When you’re on board, you’re in the best hands; five international airline pilots share flying duties and two are former RNZAF Skyhawk fighter pilots. The ground crew includes a maintenance controller, a marketing manager and even a Japanese interpreter. As well as handling customer liaison, Annie also manages special events. As for safety, Fighter Jets NZ runs under the close scrutiny of the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand and is fully certified.

Passengers can choose from three adventures, among them a 30-minute Top Gun experience that’s aimed at adrenaline junkies and tailored to individual requirements. Craig describes it as “pretty intense”, as it involves a serious aerobatic routine, pulling hefty G-forces. Then there’s the similarly priced and timed Thermal Recon, involving a sightseeing visit to the Rotorua Lakes district (just five minutes’ jet-speed flying time away), with a celebratory roll or two thrown in on the way back.

If you like your flying action slightly dialled back, there’s the 20-minute Buzz & Break, which by all accounts is no less amazing and includes spectacular low-level flying over the lakes. And you needn’t worry about bad weather clouding any of these experiences, as flights are scheduled only for fine days.

Since the business took off, so to speak, there’s been steady demand from around New Zealand and further afield – and not one person has said they didn’t enjoy their flight, says Craig. Some go to extraordinary lengths to get their jet-fighter fix. Annie recalls two Japanese passengers, close friends, who flew to New Zealand with the sole purpose of flying in a fighter jet, making the return trip over a single weekend.

Jet flights make an out-of-the-ordinary birthday or special occasion gift – and if several people chip in, as often happens, the cost becomes quite affordable.

Gift vouchers also make a memorable reward for corporate staff or their clients. Craig says one company liked the idea so much, it bought four flights, and Fighter Jets NZ has flown up to 10 corporate customers in a single day. They’re flexible too. If you’re given a voucher for the Top Gun experience, for example, but aerobatics aren’t your thing, you can swap it for another option.

Videos are available, so you can vicariously share the fun with others, but almost anyone who’s reasonably fit and no more than 145kg can enjoy the experience. So far, the youngest passenger to fly with Craig and Annie’s team was 16, and the oldest a game 94.

As far as thrills go, a flight in a fighter jet might be the ultimate, but for those who prefer to get theirs on solid ground, the Tauranga jets take part in major airshows too. Flown by highly skilled US pilots, they were a highlight of last Easter’s spectacular Warbirds Over Wanaka event, which attracted a crowd of around 65,000 people over two days.

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