The Aviator Experience

22/02/2025

Here is an even more impressive view of the final flight of NZ7001 to its final home at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.

Well done to that crew, would love to know your fuel state :)

NZ7001 lands at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand at Wigram on its final retirement flight after 33,000 hours and 60 years of service.

21/02/2025

This is Stephen (I may have that wrong) and his 2nd visit to The Aviator in the last 6 weeks.
Born in NZ with Dutch heritage so was able to fly for the RNLAF (Royal Netherlands Air Force then for KLM (737 and 747).
Flew the NF-5 (freedom fighter) and NF-16 (falcon) and amassed a huge 16,000 hrs+ total time.

Thanks for visiting Thames and the Coromandel Sir.

Be like Stephen, live the life you want to live.)

20/02/2025

If you have ever wanted a 5min test flight on our simulators, the price is a gold coin donation to the Coromandel Rescue Helicopter Trust - that’s all it is.

The rescue helicopters around NZ are always under funded, a service that you hope you never need but when you do, they are there.

It’s expensive running helicopters, so why not drop in for a coffee, drop a gold coin (or more) in their collection box and we will gift you a free 5 mins on our flight sim.

That’s a win win surely!

The Aviator Experience Thames, supports the CRHT, why don’t you 🙂

19/02/2025

If you want to see how quickly a herc can pull up, here is NZ7001 being flown into Wigram for its final resting spot at Air Force Museum of New Zealand

13/02/2025

Happy Valentines Everyone x

10/02/2025

Why not gift your loved one something special this Valentines (Friday 14th), a military flight simulator session. You can join them, fly with them, fight them or just watch with a glass of wine, coffee or tea.

Then when you are finished, you can enjoy awesome food in our attached fully licensed ala carte cafe.

Thames has a lot to offer, saturday markets, art and ops shops, gold mine experiences, fish and chips on the wharf, pub food etc. and of course The Aviator Experience.

And because couples that fight together, stay together :) we have 15% off this weekend using coupon code "VALENTINES".

Book Now as bookings are essential on weekends.

09/02/2025

Welcome to the Club Hannah Commons #42
It's not all bad, now you can claim to be the answer to the universe :)
Fifth woman to the club as well - congratulations

06/02/2025

CHEF WANTED
If you love producing great food and have a passion and flare for cooking and want to work in an A La Carte cafe and event centre, then we would love to hear from you!

Why join our team:

* We are a company that is looking to the future and expansion
* Competitive pay rates
* Guaranteed hours per week 34+ (Wednesday through Sunday)
* Free food and drink for all staff (not discounted, free)
* Vibrant brand
* Full-time position

For the role you will have

* The ability to work as part of a team
* Excellent communication skills
* Solid organisational skills and good speed of work
* Common sense
* Previous commercial kitchen experience a must
* A passion for good food
* A professional (but fun) attitude
* A duty managers certificate is advantageous but not necessary
* Be available weekends and some occasional evenings (for events)
* Valid Visa to work in NZ

About Us

The Aviator Experience loves its customers and old fashioned customer service. We have steadily been growing and making a dent in the local market but also we have plans for expansion. We are partnered with the amazing Good George Craft Beer company and operate award winning military flight simulators as a massive point of difference.
Our headquarters is in the heart of Thames, and is an aviation themed A LA Carte cafe (no cabinets, no cakes, no scones, no pies, no sausage rolls etc) just awesome family friendly affordable food. We want passionate, confident and motivated individuals. If you love people, love providing excellent customer service and have sound food and drinks knowledge then we want YOU!

We look forward to hearing from you and meeting you!

06/02/2025

Anyone seen The Valley Profile this week yet? A little article about our Echo. Since only being interviewed about a week ago, Echo is now flying all over the place but still hangs around home and returns every night for dinner and bed.

05/02/2025

Dogfighting is not just for the boys you know, girls have fun too 🙂 (no screamers this time but still much fun between friends)

05/02/2025

Sorry - CLOSED TODAY for Food -

Here are some nice pictures of planes as compensation:)

Call though if you wish to fly on our simulators as the chief flying instructor (cfi) is in and there is some availability.

04/02/2025

Just thought I would post up some pictures of our humble beginnings, through the harsh times of the covid years, then a cafe in Karangahake Gorge and then through to today in Thames.

We have all certainly gone through some hell and weird times in the last 5 years, and there was plenty of times where we should have thrown in the towel (the accountant keeps reminding me).

If you think our Thames operations is good now, it is nowhere near where we want it to be, we are just getting back into it. A resurrection from the ashes, a lot of blood sweat and tears to get to where we are.

Take a look and ask questions or comment if you like :)

Forward is still forward.

03/02/2025

Is this one of the best photos of an RNZAF aircraft in flight?

The C-130H's (Herc's) last flight in our skies is today around the south island. She has served our country well, as has all the men and women who have serviced, maintained and flown her over the last 1/2 century.

She can retire knowing that her new sisters will take over the burden (C-130J-30 Super Hercules) for hopefully another 50+ years.

Well done, enjoy your retirement ladies.

NB: Photo courtesy of the Royal New Zealand Air Force

03/02/2025

Have you visited The Aviator in the last year?
Tell us where from and win.....

03/02/2025

Thank you so much for your novel Francie, you can come back anytime :)

02/02/2025

Some exciting news to share after the rather sad week just passed. Our little magpie Echo has finally earned her wings and has gone solo 🙂
We are very nervous and proud parents and hope no one in the area shoots her Tony Howse (hint hint).

Here she is, saying good bye to her best friend Gilbert.

01/02/2025

Always great catching up with awesome pilots from around the world. This is Christian Larouche LCol (r) call sign “NOMAD” who dropped into The Aviator today. Chris is a retired Canadian CF-18 pilot with 3000hrs on type.
Great chatting with you sir.

31/01/2025

Amazing Armand and Gerri singing to the Grahamstown Markets today

31/01/2025

This Saturday morning during the markets we will have Armand & Gerri singing outside The Aviator with some great songs from the 1940's and 50's including some by Vera Lynn as it is almost 50 years since Sir Keith Park passed away.

Sir Keith Park, Air Chief Marshal. Royal Air Force.
Born in Thames, 15th June 1892 and died 6th Feb 1975

All donations on the day will be given to the Sir Keith Park Memorial Airfield Trust.

30/01/2025

The RNZAF is retiring their old C-130 Hercules with a final flypast over the country next week after 60 years service (older than me).

I've flown on a C-130 numerous times and it's one of those magical aircraft, that leaks, creaks but gets the job done.

As the birthplace of Sir Keith Park (Thames), we hope the Royal New Zealand Air Force will see one low level over Waihi, Paeroa and Thames (hint hint RNZAF). Will keep you posted.

For 60 years the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130H Hercules fleet has served New Zealand at home and around the world and now the mighty workhorses are about to take their final bow.

30/01/2025

Unfortunately we have a little bit of sad news at The Aviator with the passing of my dear old Mum this week. Both my parents were big supporters of ours and helped us through the difficult times of the last 5 years. Anita and I would like to thank Twentymans Funeral Services for the care and dignity they showed mum and us in this difficult time.

She has rejoined her loving husband once again.

And thank you to all our lovely customers for your support, it is never taken for granted as life shouldnt.

29/01/2025

OPEN Wednesdays
from 5th Feb :)

28/01/2025

Woohoo - Our biggest sale yet!
Buy One Voucher get 60% off the next one.
Two mates or more flying together is way better than one.

Grab your vouchers today, all vouchers have no expiry (unlike other companies). Sale ends Monday 3rd.

Yes we are open on Monday for simulator session bookings.

18/01/2025

And just like that we have #41
Welcome to the club Steve Carroll from Eureka Hamilton.

18/01/2025

I really miss flying the YAK52. This is my old mate Captain Lawrence and his VLOG of yours truly taking him up for his very first warbird flight. He has always been a funny guy.

Flight was from Tauranga, NZ up the Matakana Island coastline to Waihi, around the area and back again.

YAK52
9 Cylinders of awesome sound producing 360HP.
Consumes anywhere from 60-100 litres of AVGAS an hour depending on what you are doing. It also gets through about a litre of oil too.

You do know that when a YAK has stopped leaking oil, it's out of oil, it just never stops leaking lol.

My 10th Vlog... Onwards and Upwards! Today I went to the airfield and flew in a YAK 52 with my friend Craig. It was an awesome flight and the weather was bea...

18/01/2025

Look at those two awesome aircraft. Here we have Marty from the GMC Flightcrew (Gordonton Microlight Club) who has flown in to Thames to visit the Aviator for the 2nd time in the last 6 months (is it really that good Marty)?

Amazing how aircraft have developed and changed over the last 85 years.

Thanks for visiting Marty, great deadstick in the F18 too

And thanks to Anita for the Uber services :)

18/01/2025

A lovely little girl will be missing her monkey 🐵 but he’s having a great time learning to fly and checking out the spectacular scenery in Georgia while he waits for his mum to collect him!

If he’s yours give us a call and we might be able to arrange a flight home 😉

16/01/2025

There’s always sides in warfare, whose side are you on? Cat (Gilbert) or Bird (Echo)?
Two of our three black and white Aviator mascots 🙂. Piper (Dog) is most likely sleeping somewhere (or eating )

Throughout time it has always been this way: annoying female attacks serene docile handsome kind male :)

16/01/2025

This is Phil and his son who flew into Thames today to come visit The Aviator. The boss (Anita) picked them up and dropped them off after their sim session and lunch.

It’s a hard life for some but hard work does pay off -

15/01/2025

Who would love an Aviator Halo coffee sitting outside in the early morning or afternoon sun on homemade macrocarpa bench seats?

Open from 1000 hrs normally and 0900 hrs on Saturdays.

Also, we will be giving away some free cans of Coke, L&P and Fanta with every toasted sandwich being eaten on the deck this weekend 🙂