And he is pursuing the dream in the cockpit of Russian and Chinese wartime planes.

In fact, Egon Mahr spends a great deal of his time taking a different view of the world from the sky.

He is an international Qantas pilot when he is at work and he conducts flights in his warbirds - a Russian YAK-52 and a Chinese Air Force Nanchang - when he is at home.

Mr Mahr bought his first warbird, the Nanchang, about seven years ago and fully rebuilt the aircraft as a personal interest.

He soon recognised an opportunity to share his passion with others forming his family business, Highland Warbirds, about four years ago.

Mr Mahr said he decided to start the business because he wanted to share his love of aerobatics and flying with others.

He purchased his second warbird, the YAK, and enlisted the support of some pilot friends to help get the business off the runway.

These days he is showcasing the picturesque Southern Highlands from the sky for anyone keen to take on the excitement of a warbird flying experience.

Mr Mahr said the view from the planes, covered with “big glass canopies”, was incredible.

But he is quick to add a Highland Warbirds experience does not have to be a simple scenic flight.

He is always happy to draw on his aerobatic knowledge to offer a fun, tactical style of flying similar to that seen in the hit movie Top Gun for anyone keen for a more adrenalin-fuelled adventure.

Mr Mahr is part of a formation Air Show team called the Russian Roolettes and performs aerobatics in air shows all over Australia.

“We try, through Highland Warbirds, to give people an insight in to tactical flying with simulated bomb runs on enemy positions and military-style aerobatics,” he said.

It would seem the passion for flying has become a Mahr family tradition.

Mr Mahr said he first developed an interest in flying as a child when he would accompany his father, a private pilot, on flights.

“I could barely see over the instrument panel so I learnt at an early age to be a good instrument pilot,” he said.

“The great thing about flying is that no two flights are the same - I don’t think I could ever be bored, but possibly my most memorable flight was the first time I went solo.”

For the full story see the Southern Highland News, Wednesday, December 3

jackie.meyers@ruralpress.c om