About our club

Cassian Steidle - President

Cassian’s love for aviation was ignited when he visited an airshow as a young boy. The roaring sound of aircraft become music to his ears. Watching all sorts of aircraft flying in and out of two airbases near his family home throughout his youth manifested his dream to become a pilot. When he was 18 years old, he was due for the military service for the German Bundeswehr and becoming a helicopter pilot became his career choice. 

The big blow came when he was diagnosed with a mild form of epilepsy. A stutter and communication problems in case of a seizure. That was the end of flying, at least for many years to come. His condition stabilized and so he joined the Piako Gliding Club in 2003. At least for training. After a brief period in Germany, he settled in Hamilton for good, where he joined the Waikato Microlight Club in 2010. The only obstacles between regular flight training and the first solo flight were the medical requirements to fly solo. Then, the requirements changed and with it, the first solo flight came within reach. 

Then, in 2018, Cassian got his first solo flight - after 28 years. Still a rookie, with just over 40 hours flying, Cassian is working hard to clock more hours in the years to come.

Julian Thornton - Instructor

1974 - Started flying De Havilland Chipmunk in RAF cadet force

1975 - Flew Gliders K13 and Ka7s at Lasham UK

1980's - Flew Blanik Gliders at Paraparaumu NZ 

1992 - Hang gliding Auckland and Waikato

1996 - Started microlight flying at Te Kōwhai 

2020 - Started instructing on microlight aircraft

Hours to date over 800

1996 to 2015 Julian has scratch built a Zenair CH701, a Parker Teenie two, and kit built a Just aircraft Escapade/Highlander tail dragger

Noel Bailey - Instructor

Stuart Parker - Secretary

Semi-retired electronics design engineer, NZ agent for MGL Avionics.

Ex PPL waaaaay back (too expensive), microlights since early '90s. 

Initially weight-shift trikes (heaps of fun), then built & flew 3-axis single seat Poorby PB1 (OK but a bit marginal for my short strip), now going over to the dark side with a single seat Fusioncopter Nano gyro. 

760hr Advanced pilot, was Senior Instructor groups A and B but now lapsed, might refresh it with group G gyro rating.