Full Noise CREW

GRAEME FREW
Director and Chief Pilot of Fighter Flights Ltd

Graeme Frew, the Director and Chief Pilot of Fighter Flights Ltd (FFL), has dedicated his life to aviation. He began his career as an engineer with the RNZAF and earned his pilot qualification in 1987. Graeme then spent 9 years flying Andover and Hercules transport aircraft. A few highlights of his Air Force career include working with the United Nations in Iran for 6 months and completing three seasons of flights to Antarctica.

In 1995, Graeme transitioned to an airline career, where he currently flies as a Boeing 787 Captain. His passion for Warbird aircraft led him to own a Nanchang CJ-6 for several years before acquiring the Yak-3 as a project in 2004. 

 In 2017 and 2018 Graeme took Full Noise and a Kiwi team to compete in the world's fastest motorsport, the National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nevada 

Flying and displaying the Yak-3 is a hard-earned dream come true for Graeme, and he loves demonstrating its power, performance, and grace to his passengers on their once-in-a-lifetime WW2 flight experiences.

RYAN SOUTHAM
Pilot

Ryan has been immersed in aviation from a very early age and was actively flying at the age of 17. From this early beginning the passion for vintage aviation and warbirds has driven Ryan to develop his career path around this exciting aviation niche, he is a commercial pilot, instructor, aircraft restoration engineer and business owner.

Ryan has always had a hankering to fly the higher performance fighters such as the Mustang and Spitfire and jumped at the offer to fly the Fighter Flights Yak 3. Currently experienced in flying over 60 different types of aircraft, a large portion of which are vintage or warbird, Ryan brings a wealth of experience ranging from WWI single engine aircraft through to WWII twin engine bombers. He is rated in the Spitfire and the Corsair but regards the Yak as the Hotrod of them all. Ryan will introduce you to the power and agility of this amazing aircraft so widely praised by 'friend' and feared by 'foe'

TRACY DIXON
Safety and Logistics

Tracy has been around aviation for most of her adult life. Tracy is a qualified private pilot, works in a local aviation engineering business and is active in a youth leadership role as Commander of the local Air Training Corps Squadron. She is rated to fly many aircraft and is active with Masterton based The Vintage Aviator. Tracy has also been responsible as the airside manager in one of NZs major Airshows.

Tracy is our specially trained and certified ground staff and has the added responsibility of flight following. She will help you strap in for your ride with a ready smile and be there to check the size of your grin when you return. She also manages our paperwork and base reports, and most importantly meets and greets our customers.

PAULA THEODORE

Marketing and Events

Meet Paula Theodore, the driving force behind branding, marketing, and media relations at Fighter Flights. Paula's diverse background includes a successful corporate career in Europe, commercial grape growing, and owning a thriving event management company. A true petrolhead, she christened the Yak 'Full Noise' for the Reno Air Race campaigns and kept the fans updated with all the action. She ensures your flight is expertly recorded, and with your permission, shares your thrilling experience with our social media community.