SPLASHDOWN: ADVENTURES OF A NEW ZEALAND SEAPLANE PILOT

by Russell Smith

This book tells of a young couple who struggled against the odds to introduce a seaplane service to New Zealand’s Marlborough Sounds, and to members of the travelling public between the South and North Islands.
Locals looked askance at what was a totally new concept to the area, but the aeroplanes soon became accepted, especially after their lifesaving use in emergencies was recognised by people in the far-flung reaches of the outer Sounds.
Russell Smith, owner and pilot, writes of years of incredible happenings, some adventurous, many humorous, and some just plain harrowing. One account bordering on surreal, occurred at a boat ramp where he was surrounded by nine policemen, accused of being a UFO from outer space! Unbelievable, but true, as is the whole book.

217 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 30, 2023

About the author

Russell Claude Smith is a Canadian writer and newspaper columnist. Smith's novels and short stories are mostly set in Toronto, where he lives.

Smith grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He attended the Halifax Grammar School and Queen Elizabeth High School, and studied French literature at Queen's University, the University of Poitiers, and the University of Paris III. He has an MA in French from Queen's.

Russell Smith is one of Canada’s funniest and nastiest writers. His previous novels, including How Insensitive and Girl Crazy, are records of urban frenzy and exciting underworlds. He writes a provocative weekly column on the arts in the national Globe and Mail, and teaches in the MFA program at the University of Guelph. He hates folk music.