WONZ 333 – Matt Wilcock and the Gnat

Guest: Matt Wilcock

Host: Dave Homewood

Recorded: 17th of August 2025

Published: 19th of August 2025

Duration: 1 hour 16 minutes, 43 seconds

Matt Wilcock was born and bred in Hamilton, New Zealand, but he moved as a child to Edmonton, Alberta, in Canada. Having a lifelong interest in aviation, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, where he learned to fly gliders, and then powered aircraft.

He moved back to New Zealand in his 20s and completed his private pilot’s licence at Ardmore Flying School, and a few years later gained his commercial pilot’s licence. His aviation career began as a pilot dropping skydivers at Mercer, before getting a role with Mountain Air, followed by a fill in job with Barrier Air. He then moved to Air Nelson.

After a few years flying the SAAB 340 with Air Nelson, Matt moved to Hong Kong to join CR Airways, which then led to him joining Cathay Pacific. He had a short stint with Fiji Airways, but these days Matt is back based in Hong Kong with the Cathay Pacific. He visits New Zealand often however, on his time off.

Matt got involved with NZ Warbirds around 15 years ago and has had involvement with a number of warbird syndicates, but in 2018 he bought Folland Gnat T.1 XR987, from the USA. This Gnat is a former aircraft of the RAF Yellowjacks team, and then the RAF Red Arrows team for many years. Among many pilots who flew and displayed this aircraft over the years with the RAF was the extraordinary pilot Ray Hanna.

Matt talks all about getting his Gnat to New Zealand, its restoration back to flight by Aero Restorations at Ararimu, his plans for the jet once it is flying, and his own Conversion training to the Gnat in an example at the Heritage Aircraft Trust at St Athan in the UK.

Quick Links:

• The “Gnat In New Zealand” Facebook Group

• NZ Warbirds Association

• Classic Flyers (NZ) Museum

• Heritage Aircraft Trust’s Gnat Display Team, UK

• The Gimli Glider

The music is Wild Flower by Joachim Karud.