WONZ 350 – Biggin Hill Hangar WONZ Forum Meet

Guest Speakers: Brendon Deere, Tim Costley MP, SQN LDR Craig Clark, FLT LT Stu Glendinning, Roger Dalziell, and SQN LDR Michael Williams

Host: Dave Homewood

Recorded: ‎28th of February 2026

Released: 9th of May 2026

Duration: 3 hours 14 minutes 55 seconds

In this bumper-sized 350th episode in the Wings Over New Zealand Show podcast series, we hear the various presentations given at the Biggin Hill Hangar WONZ Forum Meet at RNZAF Base Ohakea. We were very fortunate to be hosted by Brendon Deere, who is a great supporter of Wings Over New Zealand.

In order we hear from:

Tim Costley MP – Tim is a former RNZAF pilot, and he talks about his experiences in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, particularly flying the Bell Iroquois but also in other types. He served operationally on several occasions. And he talks a little about his current position as a Member of Parliament for Otaki in the National-led coalition government.

Squadron Leader Craig Clark – Craig is the Officer Commanding No. 42 Squadron RNZAF, based at Ohakea, which operates Beechcraft King Air 350s in two roles, two C-12K examples as transports which can carry up to nine passengers , known as Slicks, and two MC-12K used for Air Warfare training and sensor suite training. In this fascinating talk Craig explains how the squadron has been evolving with its previous role of multi-engine training having been phased out, and interestingly the MC-12Ks are being used for actual front line operational missions more and more now, at home and overseas in the Pacific. He also talks about the future of the squadron, and his personal hopes that it will soon be expanded and larger aircraft platforms will be brought into the squadron’s capabilities.

Flight Lieutenant Stu Glendinning – Stu is a pilot and a QFI on No. 5 Squadron RNZAF, also based at Ohakea, flying the new Boeing P-8 Poseidon. He talks about his RNZAF career, including flying training with the RAAF on NZAI CT/4B Airtrainers and Pilatus PC9s, in a rare case where RNZAF pilots joined an RAAF aircrew course. He talks about his progression to No. 42 Squadron and then No. 5 Squadron, and flying the Lockheed P-3K2 Orions. He then transitioned onto the new Boeing P-8A Poseidon fleet and he shares insights into this amazing aircraft. He also tells the very emotive story of his experience as the Search and Rescue Captain on a P-8A when he was scrambled following the sinking of HMNZS Manawanui.

Brendon Deere – Our host for the event at the Biggin Hill Historic Aircraft Centre, Brendon spoke about his Biggin Hill Trust collection of warbirds that are based at Ohakea. They include his Supermarine Spitfire IX PV270, North American P-51D Mustang NZ2423, Grumman TBM Avenger “Plonky”, and North American Harvard IIa NZ1037.

Roger Dalziel and Mike Williams – In a very rare opportunity, the audience were able to hear from two Grumman Avenger pilots, Roger Dalziell who flew the Avengers in the RNZAF from Ohakea in the early 1950s; and Squadron Leader Mike Williams who is a current instructor pilot based at Ohakea, and is the current pilot of Plonky, the Biggin Hill Avenger, with the Air Force Heritage Flight. He explains the work of the Heritage Flight, which Mike himself was behind the creation of. Roger is the last known pilot who flew original RNZAF Avengers still living today. Mike had just arrived back at Ohakea following flying a display at New Plymouth in the Avenger, and the two pilots compared notes on flying Avengers 75 years ago and now.

Quick Links:

• The Biggin Hill Historic Aircraft Centre

• The Biggin Hill Historic Aircraft Centre on Facebook

• The Royal New Zealand Air Force

• The Beechcraft King Air 350 in RNZAF Service

• The Boeing P-8A Poseidon in RNZAF Service

The music at the end of this episode is Wild Flower by Joachim Karud.