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Well known local aviator Jules Tapper has flown the Queenstown, Southern Mountains skies for over 50 Years; a remarkable achievement. Now retired to Lake Hayes just a few minutes from here, Jules still flies his own Cessna 185, and Robinson R22 helicopter.
1961
Jules began flying with the Southland and Otago Aero Clubs, flying Cessna 172s, and an aerobatic Auster J5F.
1962
Purchased his own Tiger Moth, then a Piper Super Cub in 1965, a machine Jules used to establish the world-renowned Hollyford Valley Walk in Fiordland in 1968
1963
Started flying gliders. A foundation member of the Southland Gliding Club
1975
‘Hollyfordair’ commenced, as a remote area operation in and out of the Hollyford/ Northern Fiordland region
1988
Jules moved into the Mount Cook Group as Manager - General Aviation. Flightseeing from Queenstown and Mount Cook was a key feature of the operation.
1999
Jules retired, having flown 130 different types of aircraft, and instructing in many.
2001
Jules was now flying paragliders off the Queenstown peaks and overseas.
2014
Jules Tapper was the organiser of Mount Cook Airlines commemoration anniversary celebrating 50 years of continuous airline service in and out of Queenstown.
Like the other great flying stories featured in Airspresso, Jules Tapper’s aviation career in the Queenstown region truly puts him in the “Flying Legend” category.
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