By Derek Royal

Richie McCaw became the most storied All Black rugby union captain in history when in October he held aloft the Webb Ellis Trophy after New Zealand defeated France 8-7 in a pulsating World Cup final in Auckland. The first All Black to play 100 test matches, McCaw is a national icon and revered in the world's most rugby-mad nation. Unbeknown to many, McCaw escapes the intense scrutiny of his country's obsession for rugby by heading for the skies to indulge in his love for flying. A licensed gliding instructor, private pilot and CPL student, not to mention the grandson of a World War II fighter pilot, the All Black captain spoke to Derek Royal about his passion.

HARDSHIP
New Zealand has in 2010-11 suffered many national hardships, including the Christchurch earthquake (182 deaths), Pike River Mine accident (29 deaths) and the Bay of Plenty oil spill, so the All Blacks’ World Cup victory wasn’t just a sporting achievement, it was also an important part of the nation’s healing process. 

As captain of the All Blacks and a member of the Christchurch-based Canterbury Crusaders Super 15 franchise, McCaw understands  the ramifications better than most, especially the earthquake and mine tragedies, which occurred within the heart of the Crusaders’ region.

McCaw was in Christchurch during the ‘quake, and while severely shaken, the 30-year-old said that while it would take time for the devastated city to rebuild itself, the future was a promising one.

"If people are positive we'll get this city back up and running before long,” McCaw said. “I know there's been loss of life, but bricks and mortar can be fixed and it won't take long to get things up and running. It may even be better than before.”

Since then, Christchurch has had its moments, but like the rest of the country during September-October, locals embraced the blacks’ mighty run to World Cup glory. McCaw believes rugby and city pride has helped Christchurch return to normal, not just during the World Cup campaign but also during the Super 15 when, despite playing every match away from home, still defied the odds to reach the tournament final.

"There will come a time when we've got to look forward and try and work out the way to get things back to as normal as possible,” McCaw said. “I guess rugby's that, from a pride point of view, you can see a bit of normality; that's where we (rugby players) can have an influence."

FLYING PASSION
In New Zealand, McCaw is public property and lives a goldfish bowl existence. Everything he does is recorded in newspapers, magazines, and the electronic media. Everywhere he goes, he is mobbed by adoring fans. So to chill out and forget about the game, McCaw heads to Omarama, in the heart of the South Island, and immerses himself in gliding.       

Omarama is world-renowned for being a gliders’ haven. It’s located smack bang in the middle of the South Island, is close to the magnificent Southern Alps and protected from the coastal air, enabling it to heat up during the summer.

“It’s pretty awesome being amongst the mountains,” McCaw tells Aviator. “You get heating, thermals and winds blowing but you also get the wave (prevailing westerly wind) which allows you to go fairly high and to get some good distances. The combination of all that makes it a pretty unique spot.”

As famous as McCaw is for his rugby-playing exploits, so passionate are the McCaws about aviation, that family conversations tend to revolve more around flying than rugby. McCaw’s father Donald has been a pilot for as long as Richie can remember, while there are plenty of others in the family who enjoy soaring. “Sometimes there are six McCaws flying at Omarama at one time,” Richie says. “It’s awesome being able to share those experiences with family members of different age groups. Flying is the McCaw passion whereas the rugby influence comes from my mum’s side.” 

Being at Omarama also enables McCaw to relax amongst people with a common interest other than rugby. “When I meet a lot of people in normal times, the only thing we probably have in common is rugby. But when I’m at the airfield everyone’s passionate about flying so that’s where the conversation starts. You get to know everyone and they just let you be. People look after you and just treat you normally. It’s a great way to get away.”
 
MILITARY EXPLOITS
While McCaw has won every gong and award available in professional rugby, one of his lifetime highlights occurred in 2010 when he was made an Honorary Squadron Leader of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and experienced the thrill of flying back seat in an FA-18 Hornet. McCaw’s Hornet took off from Christchurch Airport and travelled across the South Island before conducting a low altitude flypast over Wanaka during New Zealand’s “Holy Grail of Air Shows” - Warbirds Over Wanaka.
 
“That was an awesome experience,” McCaw says. “I played a game of rugby the night before and I was more excited about what was coming the next day and hoping like hell I wouldn’t get injured. I’m very grateful to the RAAF for giving me the opportunity.”

To keep with the military theme, Richie’s grandfather, Jim McCaw, flew Typhoon and Tempest aircraft in World War II with the Royal Air Force’s 486 (NZ) Squadron. The late Flight Lieutenant (retired) lived in Wanaka until 1996.
 
In 1944 Jim McCaw saved countless Londoners’ lives by shooting down German V1 rockets and when he ran out of ammunition bravely risked his life by bumping missiles off-target using the wing-tip of his Hawker Tempest MK5. He was credited with 19 1/2 “kills” and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his attacks on German-controlled railways and missions over sea which saw 73 ships destroyed.

“I remember my grandfather being around the farm,” McCaw says. “He used to tell stories about when he was flying during the war and I always loved those stories. I remember his stories about flying the Tempest and the Hurricane. He told a story about one of his mates being shot down over France before D-Day and my grandad saw him him land his Typhoon in the street and run away. Then the downed pilot arrived back in England a few weeks later, ready to fly again. Amazing.

“Grandad also shot down a few flying bombs; in fact there’s a well-used set of photographs of a bomb exploding and his gun camera was the one that took those photos. So he tells the story of getting a bit close to the bomb before it exploded. He was only 21 or 22, it’s remarkable. He passed away when I was 15.”

GROWING UP WITH AVIATION
So did McCaw’s passion for aviation come from his grandad’s wartime exploits?

“Not necessarily,” McCaw replies. “When I was young we had a gliding club on our farm and I was always around aircraft, so that’s where my passion for flight came from. My father was a keen pilot and I always used to hang around the club hoping to get a ride.

“I always wanted to learn to fly and when I ended up playing professional rugby I earned enough money to do so. Thats why I got into it.”

McCaw  started taking fixed wing lessons in 2002, when he was 21.  He went solo and received his licence six months later.

Today, McCaw and his father own a glider between them but on the odd occasion he gets behind the controls of a powered aircraft to flit between A and B. “I belong to an aero club and have a couple of mates who have their own private aircraft,” he says. “The majority of my hours have been done in Cessna 172s, but I’ve also flown Piper Cubs, Maules, and Cherokees.”    

So what’s McCaw’s favourite part of being in the sky?

“I’m not sure,” he replies. “In regards to gliding, people say it’s peaceful and you just float around. But actually you have to concentrate a fair bit and you need to be thinking all the time to keep it going and to stay in the air. I think its about as close as you can get to putting some wings on your back. You feel a part of the glider but the challenge of being able to keep it up there and go places, the satisfaction of flying around some magnificent scenery and getting home again, only people who’ve done it can understand. Thats what I really enjoy.”      

McCaw has an initial instructors’ rating for gliding and he’s halfway through his CPL (powered fixed wing) studies, having completed three out of six exams. Keen to complete his CPL after the World Cup, McCaw doesn’t necessarily see a future as a commercial pilot, but is driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge

“I’m not sure what I’ll use the CPL for but I just enjoy learning,” he says. “I know studying the CPL is not recreational reading but when you’re interested in something I think you should always want to keep learning and learn as much as possible about that particular subject. That’s what I feel about flying.”   

Just two months after New Zealand’s World Cup victory, McCaw will no doubt be looking at making the most of the opportunity to relax, rehabilitate a broken foot, catch up with family and friends and to indulge in his passion to fly.

“Richie is an excellent pilot with exceptional situational awareness,” says Gavin Wills, MD and chief pilot of Glide Omarama, where the All Black captain began his soaring training and where he’s now a part of the furniture. “I believe that he may well become an even better glider pilot than a rugby player!” Wills continues. “He is the Patron of Youth Glide Omarama and actively involved in the development of Youth in Gliding.  Now that the World Cup is over he has allowed himself to compete in his first glider races during the South Island Regional championships”.

With a family so attuned to aviation, his appetite for knowledge and enjoyment of being around aircraft and aviation folk, McCaw’s hands-on involvement comes as no surprise.