Last night at the Russley
 

The Russley, iconic CHC aviation pub, shuts its doors for the last time this sat night. Many happy hours spent after the hanger doors closed. In its glory days home to CAC instructors, NAC overnights, Air NZ tech, cabin and ground crew, ATC and occasionally the All Blacks. After 1 fairly lengthy session, I finally, through the haze, recognised Mrs M wasn't such a bad looking old sheila, and popped the question, and shouted her one of Adams finest.Might pop in for a quiet one to raise a toast to old aviation mates departed-Bob B, Westie, Billie Aki. Being demolished to cater for our future needs-a retirement village!:8 Al

Fine establishment... did my shout there for my IFR rating there many years ago. That was a good night! But...

Who's the bloody rocket-surgeon that came up with that idea... a retirement village at an airport??? Fine for retired pilots, but they're a fairly small proportion of the overall population I would have thought! Fertile fields for more noise complaints...

Hey Mr Mod. Why was this moved into "the place for students, instructors and charter guys" most of whom would never have set foot in this historic aviation establishment.?The post was for those who now inhabit , mostly, the left hand seat, in airlines worldwide. :(

Flight paths and busy highways are great places for retirement villages: mostly hearing impaired residents and cheap real estate close to services.

Give us a hint where it was?

Slightly to the north of 1 mile final for RWY 29 at Christchurch.Many a current aviator enjoyed its charms-some even worked there to pay for flying:sad:

...as did I...and sat several CPL exams there too. Enjoyed serving my senior peers and listening to the stories, even found out that I was related to a well known NAC driver from one of them!

Last I heard a new multi-level hotel was being built in it's place?! When did this change to a retirement home???

LP