Born to Fly

The thrilling and entertaining lives of New Zealand’s helicopter dynasty.

Three generations of Reids have flown helicopters. It’s in their blood. First there was John, a World War Two fighter pilot. After the war he used helicopters for things no one dreamed possible, carrying out 300 rescue missions and training a generation of Kiwi pilots along the way.

Next there was John’s son Bill, who began flying in the early 1970s, during the dangerous venison recovery and live capture years. Over the course of his 40-year career, Bill flew helicopters for almost every kind of job you can imagine, from mountain rescue to Hollywood location scouting. He’s since restored an Avro Anson Mk I reconnaissance bomber, used in World War Two and the only airworthy craft of its type left in the world.

And finally there’s Toby and his wife Rachael, whose helicopter business continues the legacy of 60 trailblazing years in helicopter aviation.

Adventure, enterprise and courage … Born to Fly tells you how the Reids have it in bucketloads.