Aerofix Fiordland Chief Engineer, Jeff Ludemann, has packed up his tools after 50 years of working as an aviation engineer, including 40 years in Fiordland. 

Born Jeffrey Ludemann in 1954, the second of seven children grew up on the family farm at Five Forks, about 20km inland from Oamaru, before attending Waitaki Boys’ High School.

Asked if there was any family connection to aviation, he mentioned his Scottish grandfather who served in WWI as a rigger/carpenter on HMS Argus – the world’s first aircraft carrier.

Jeff Ludemann (17) at the start of his aviation engineering career, wearing his RNZAF uniform. Photo: Supplied

Having taken an engineering course at Waitaki Boys’, Ludemann joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1972 at the age of 18 to train as an airframe fitter.

At the end of that year he won the top engineer award.

After completing three engineering courses he was posted to Auckland where he worked for No. 3 and No. 5 Squadron.

In 1978 Ludemann was transferred to Wigram to work on training aircraft. While there, he was involved in the introduction of Fokker F27 Friendship aircraft from Air New Zealand.

When his contract with RNZAF ended in 1980, he took 18 months off work to travel overseas.

On his return in 1982 Ludemann moved to Fiordland for a job at Gibson Aero, servicing helicopters, small planes and floatplanes. During that time he was involved in building the helipad on Te Anau lakefront, now used by Southern Lakes Helicopters.

However four years later he lost his job when the Gibson Aero hangar burned down.

Jeff Ludemann (right) with Fiordland Aero Maintenance owner Russell Baker. Photo: Supplied

In 1987 Ludemann completed his Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Certification and the following year teamed up with Fiordland aviator Russell Baker to start Fiordland Aero Maintenance.

They worked together for 30 years, until Baker decided to sell his business in February 2018 to Paul Preston and Debbie Gamble.

The new owners, both who had worked for Fiordland Aero Maintenance, renamed the business AeroFix Fiordland with Ludemann continuing as the Chief Engineer until his retirement last week (20 May).

Ludemann said the highlight of his working career was meeting people and developing friendships. 

As an aircraft engineer it is no surprise that he liked flying.

He has been a member of the Fiordland Aero Club and served a term as its president.

He became involved maintaining aircraft for a new flying school collaboration established in Te Anau between local helicopter pilot Gavin Burgess who was the then chief instructor with South West Helicopters, and Southern Wings, the flight training wing of the Southland Areo Club. Ludemann enjoyed meeting the young trainee pilots and established firm friendships with many of them.

However, Ludemann said the worst part of the job were the accidents.

"Fiordland is a difficult place to fly because of its terrain and severe weather conditions. I lost quite a few friends in plane crashes.”

When he was not flying or fixing aircraft, Ludemann enjoyed skiing and running. On his big OE trip in 1981, he skied in Europe, including on Matterhorn in Switzerland. 

Jan and Jeff Ludemann. Photo: Supplied

Back in New Zealand he met his future wife, Jan, while skiing at Cardrona in 1985. They tied the knot in 1989 and have now been happily married for 33 years.

In the early 1980s his love of skiing gave Ludemann and Tony Gibson an idea to run a heli-skiing operation on Mt Luxmore using a semi-portable ski lift, but it proved too difficult and was abandoned after only one season. 

Other business ventures the Ludemanns have undertaken include running a small deer farm and a B&B.

Jeff Ludemann with the large plaque presented to him at his farewell. Inscribed “Congratulations on your retirement. Presented to Jeffrey Ludemann. 50 Years of Service”, it also includes the propeller from 2K-CFI, Air Fiordland's first plane and the pride of the fleet. Photo: Supplied

His long-term colleague and Aerofix Fiordland employer, Paul Preston, said that Jeff was a pleasure to work with and he had taught him a lot.

"He’s been a huge asset to the Fiordland aviation community over the past 40 years, and his retirement is a great loss to the industry. Personally, he’s one of the nicest guys that I’ve known, who’d go over and beyond for anybody”. 

Shaun Ferris, the owner of Fly Fiordland, who has known Ludemann for 25 years, describes him as “one of life’s gems”.

“He has a lovely personality and wouldn’t have an enemy in the world. Everyone who had an aircraft maintained by Jeff wouldn’t find anything wrong with it afterwards, which isn’t always the case.”

Ludemann’s farewell last Saturday (21 May) at the Te Anau Airport Manapouri, was attended by around 120 family, friends and business associates. He has no plans for his retirement, but his wife has a long list of jobs to keep him busy.