LZ Hot!: Flying South Africa's Border War

After an early childhood in Pretoria, Nick reported for National Service duty with the SADF. This saw him deploying to the Border as an infantry soldier with a brief interlude to Pretoria for pilot assessment. Much to his surprise, Nick was called forward for pilot training and this saw him learning his craft on the Harvard and Impala. He soon graduated to rotary with the Alouette and shortly thereafter, in 1977, Nick became a Puma pilot. At the height of the South African Border War, Nick flew Puma helicopters across the 'Operational Area' conducting troop moves, casevacs, fighting patrols with special forces and more. In the Drakensburg mountain range Nick conducted daring cliff rescues, whilst at sea, he was instrumental in a number of difficult rescues. Nick now lives in Durban, South Africa, with business interests in Johannesburg. He continues to love anything to do with aviation.