Journey to the Centre

Special Ops Winner

On Saturday 24 February Air Force Special Operations winner Mr Steve Bayley of Christchurch was transported by the RNZAF to the centre of New Zealand.

Mr Bayley was the overall winner of RNZAF Special Operations interactive online competition which has been running since November 2006. With over 7,000 competitors Mr Bayley considered himself lucky to be the first to achieve the overall aim of the competition and identify the location of the mystery parachutist.

As part of his prize Mr Bayley and his brother Chris were flown by RNZAF Beech 200 aircraft from Christchurch to RNZAF Base Woodbourne. He was met by members of No.3 Squadron RNZAF and flown to the centre of New Zealand - a monument on the edge of Nelson. Mr Bayley was met by the mystery parachutist and members of the media.

Mr Bayley then flew back to Christchurch via Woodbourne. The second part of Mr Bayley’s prize will be attendance at the RNZAF open day in Whenuapai on the 3rd and 4th of March. He will get to ride in a number of RNZAF aircraft and will complete a tandem parachute jump with the RNZAF Kiwi Blue elite parachute display team.

‘What a fantastic day, this will be hard to beat. I can’t wait for the parachute jump next weekend,’ Mr Bayley remarked after landing in Christchurch

My Bayley was a gold medallist in the 2002 Winter Para-Olympics for down hill skiing. He lives in Christchurch with his wife and eighteen month old daughter.