From the Cockpit
“I don’t really consider myself the owner of these planes, I’m a custodian of history. It’s an honour to keep them flying.”
Ross Harrison
Warbird Adventure Flights founder Ross Harrison has built a career—and a legacy—above the clouds.
Ross’s journey began in outback Queensland 40 years ago when he was a young regional fuel distributor, criss-crossing rugged terrain by car, selling petrol and diesel to farmers and graziers on far flung properties.
One ride in a plane owned by a farmer and he was hooked.
At 26, Ross earned his pilot’s license and purchased his first aircraft. Aviation soon became more than just a hobby, it was a powerful business tool that took him all over Western Queensland.
As his business grew, so did his fleet. By the time he sold the fuel company to Caltex, it was clear Ross wasn’t just a businessman with a plane, he was an aviation tragic.
Ross went on to become the Cirrus Aircraft dealer based at Caloundra and a director in the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)—a global organisation advocating for the future of aviation.
Ross has flown an incredible range of aircraft—from light single-engine planes to powerful twin engines and even helicopters. But his heart lies with the warbirds of World War II.
Ross says the Boeing Stearman, built to train pilots during WWII, holds a very special place in his heart.
But he says nothing will rival the thrill of flying the Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk solo for the first time—a legendary fighter that symbolizes an era of courage and innovation.
Ross founded Warbird Adventure Flights to share the wonder of these aircraft with others. “I don’t really consider myself the owner of these planes,” he says. “I’m a custodian of history. It’s an honour to keep them flying.”