Chris Rudge
Chris has been flying gliders and powered aircraft since 1984. As a tow pilot flying "tail dragger aircraft", he has completed over 5000 launches. His total time in aircraft exceeds 4500 hours. He also holds New Zealand and Canadian commercial licences for aeroplanes and balloons, and has flown helicopters. He was the first New Zealander (and one of only a few people in the world) to log 1000 hours each on aeroplanes, gliders and balloons. In addition to holding four New Zealand national aviation records, he has been flying in the area around Aoraki Mt Cook for 24 years and was the Chief Flying Instructor for the Southern Soaring gliding company from February 2006 until April 2010.
Other achievements include being the author of two non-fiction aviation books, one novel and visiting Antarctica eight times.
