The New Zealand gliding community is in shock following the deaths of two Queenstown pilots in an accident in Namibia.
Bill Walker and David Speight died when their glider crashed in the African country yesterday, although details of what went wrong are proving difficult because communication with the area is patchy.
The pair have been described as the senior statesmen of New Zealand gliding and news of their deaths has left the Queenstown community reeling.
Former Queenstown Lakes district mayor and gliding pilot Clive Geddes said the news had been shattering. He was a close friend of Mr Walker and Mr Speight.
He said both had been involved in the sport for more than 40 years each and had set world records for the sport in New Zealand. Both were instrumental in establishing the Omarama Gliding Club.
Mr Walker was a notable business person in tourism and engineering circles. He was a former director of Skyline Enterprises and the Queenstown Airport Corporation.
He was a close friend of American aviator Steve Fossett, the first man to fly a balloon solo non-stop around the world and who was also killed in a plane crash in 2007.
Mr Speight was dedicated to the Arrowtown and Queenstown communities and Mr Geddes said many would find news of his death particularly hard to come to terms with.
Gliding New Zealand president Karen Morgan said the pair intended to make a 1000km non-stop flight but their first flight on the first day turned to tragedy.
"It's hot, it's over a desert. It's very good for long for long craft flying. It was the first day of their flying and they were on their first flight, just a local flight to have a look round the area," she said.
"They were booked to be there for a week."
The crash has devastated the gliding community, Ms Morgan said.
Another friend and gliding companion, Nigel Davy, said both men would be missed.
"The pair of them were characters. They in a lot of ways were quite different. But there once thing in common was gliding.
"Our thoughts are going out to the families, and they're having a pretty tough time."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is offering consular assistance, with the remote area proving difficult to access.
