Willie Sage - From Shearer to Helicopter Pilot (and everything in between)

[@jacquiandbrendon4779]

A great introduction to my new neighbor!! What a fascinating interview

[@kiwitales]

Pleased you enjoyed it. You have a great spot over there!!! Might catch up one day.

[@hollytour]

This wpould be the most insightful and best motivational interview I have viewed in over 60 active years in aviation - including private and commercial flying and corporate expeience It is a must view for anyone interested in aviation or wondering "where to now" as they start down the aviation learning path. Willy gives practical down to earth and easy to understand logical explanations to what many of us have experienced along the way. I am most impressed and congratulate you both for making this recording. It will assit a lot of people with their future. Highly inspiring

[@paulrenner1826]

Whata great story

[@lucasmcmahon2615]

Very cool 😎

[@andersonhelicopters2853]

Great work Craig

[@kiwitales]

Cheers Fletch 😊

[@johnfunnell4639]

This is a real life story about a boy from high country in the back of Taihape who left school at the end of primary school who wanted to be a pilot. Willie went on to fly many fixed wing types and and helicopters, experiencing aviation in NZ and Australia. Willie is an inspirational leader, high country shepherd, shearer, auctioneer, flight examiner and highly regarded in aviation, with a wealth of experiences, and above all else is a hell of a nice guy.

[@ryannicholl5173]

Great interview Craig. Especially enjoyed the last question 😉.

[@kiwitales]

Haha thanks Ryan!!

[@skrswift]

Very enjoyable, Thank you.

[@davidfenwick9577]

I remember flying in the Astra with Willy east across the Marlborough ranges for a shot in the roar. We had a southwest wind chasing us a long and I never forget as we crossed over a fairly high range into rough turbulence and I thought shit I hope this machine holds together as I had been hearing about mast bump..when we landed remember saying to Willy that was bloody rough going for a while and he explained to me that you just chop your way through it quietly and you have no worries👍

[@kiwitales]

That sounds like Willie! Very common sense and practical :)

[@NeilgRichardson]

Willies a bloody legend, thanks for sharing

[@timkiwi]

This is the most interesting Aviation interview I’ve seen. Willie did my Caravan rating which allowed me to fly ten amazing years in west papua. A really nice practical guy.

[@richholland4185]

Great interview. Great guy.

[@kiwitales]

Cheers :)

[@nzstol]

fantastic interview Craig and Willie both great guys and really interesting topics loved every second well done

[@KevinPaulineNeal]

Nice work. Great story. Top man is Mr WS

[@annamarie9050]

I really enjoyed listening to this. I listened to the whole thing. Great interviewing Craig. I could see you doing this a lot in the future. I loved how you never talked over Willie and you let him speak. You asked excellent questions. Willie expressed his thoughts/views so well. Honest, sincere and real. Obviously, he is a great leader. Inspiring and encouraging. Wonderful. It held my attention for two hours. I learned a lot about "the life of a pilot". Very thought provoking. Thank you to you both. You succeeded in your description above - "Everyone has a story to tell, and that is my goal with this little idea, to try and tell them, and in doing so to encourage, provide hope, and to inspire." Go for it and I would love to hear more stories in the future. - Anna R

[@kiwitales]

Thanks Anna. Pleased you enjoyed it!

[@mattathm]

I still do stuff with Willie, good guy, down to earth and practical. Hi5

[@KevinPaulineNeal]

Yip. It killed it for me. Trying to fly like a book. Always having the book in your head and checking to see if the window looks like the book.

[@sjhansen]

Great interview, interesting insights of his career, top bloke. Only critique, to much Plosives in the mic

[@georgejoseph4164]

Worked with Willie in Rotorua in the 90s. Great fun. 👍

[@richholland4185]

What are you up to these days George?

[@hughrobinson6435]

Absolute gold Craig,

[@nzmeateater]

Nothing wrong with Robinson, helis just have to fly them right, very reliable, and there have been fatality's in the robbys during commercial work in NZ, during the deer recovery. but not many, .

[@JoshKosmalaOffGridKiwi]

Top video, part 2 please... talk about the Citation and more stories of flying, I bet there's loads 😀

[@kiwitales]

Hmmmm not a bad idea at all ... Will see what Willie thinks (he's a bit shy though so prob won't be keen)

[@chriskeene241]

@@kiwitalesyou should talk to his brother he’s got some good stories

[@kiwitales]

@@chriskeene241 I think one Sage with a big head is more than enough ...... :)

[@markblampied]

Chopppppaaaaaa!

[@markblampied]

That was time very well spent. Great to see you both too. Lovely interview Craig, sound quality and interview style were spot on. I look forward to more. Choppa, we love you mate, you're a true legend of NZ aviation and have helped so many of us along the way over the years. Cheers to you both. Whens the Vinnies Reunion?

[@KevinPaulineNeal]

What’s that saying?… err… lose yourself in your work and you will find yourself there

[@petefinnegan3873]

your sound system to low