The Southern Soaring Team

Southern Soaring is New Zealand's longest established commercial gliding business.

The Southern Soaring Team is dedicated to giving you an enjoyable experience and providing quality service.  We like meeting people as much as we like flying.  Sharing the joys of gliding is what we do best!

Mike Till Senior Instructor

Mike joined the Southern Soaring team in 2005. With over 10,000 glider hours and over 2000 hours towing, Mike isn't new to the gliding game! He has worked at the Coventry and London Gliding clubs in the UK – as well as with the Wellington Gliding Club during New Zealand ’s summer months. Mike will make your gliding experience pleasurable, whether you are trying it for the first time or are learning advanced soaring.

Darren Smith Tow Pilot/Instructor

Darren Smith is an experienced pilot with over 2000 hours fixed-wing time (1100 of this being in tail-dragger aircraft) and over 1000 hours as a glider pilot. During the off-season he flies gliders and tow planes in Canada and works in New Zealand flying a Cresco aircraft on sky diving operations out of Queenstown and Wanaka.

Gavin Wrigley Senior Instructor

Gavin Wrigley first flew for Southern Soaring in 2004. During the 2009 NZ winter he was instructing as Deputy CFI at Husbands Bosworth in England. Total time in gliders is 4000. Originally from Yorkshire, he has been based in Darwin, Australia, since 1978. He owns his own motorglider, which he uses between seasons to teach flying to pupils at The Essington School in Darwin. He is among the few who have regularly soared the world famous Morning Glory wave over the Gulf of Carpentaria. An experienced yachtsman, Gavin has a circumnavigation of the globe in a 10m sloop among his many accomplishments.

Rod Dew Equipment Manager

Rod Dew joined the team in 2006 and has been a great asset in helping prepare gliders and equipment each day. Rod, who has been gliding since 1992, is well known for his work as Sports Editor for the Christchurch Press and in writing Master of The Wave, the biography of Terry Delore. His help on the airfield ensures a smooth operation and his ability to talk to visitors about all aspects of gliding is greatly appreciated.