Meet Hayley Coulson – Behind the Scenes at Open Air Adventure Flights

When people think of Open Air Adventure Flights, they often picture Johan in the rear cockpit of Winnie, sharing his passion for vintage aviation with every passenger who climbs aboard.

And rightly so.

Open Air Adventure Flights began with Johan's dream. His lifelong passion for aviation, his love of vintage aircraft, and his determination to preserve a remarkable piece of history are the foundations on which this business was built.

Behind every flight, however, is another story.

It's the story of Hayley Coulson.

Hayley may not be the pilot, but she has played a significant role in helping transform Johan's vision into the experience that thousands of people now see today.

Their story actually began long before Open Air Adventure Flights. Hayley and Johan first met while working for Emirates Airline, where Johan was a pilot and Hayley worked as cabin crew. Both shared a passion for travel, aviation and creating memorable experiences for people, although neither could have imagined that years later they would be building their own aviation business together in Bunbury, Western Australia.

Originally from Melbourne, Hayley Coulson has always worked in customer-focused roles. Her background in aviation, hospitality and customer experience naturally evolved into business operations, marketing and creating memorable customer journeys. Those skills have become an important part of Open Air Adventure Flights.

While Johan is usually found flying Winnie or working on the aircraft itself, Hayley is often behind the scenes bringing the business to life. From designing the website and writing blog articles to developing merchandise, creating marketing campaigns, managing social media, photographing flights, planning the customer journey and building new ideas, Hayley has embraced every opportunity to help grow the business.

Many of the ideas that guests now experience started as conversations between the two of them. Johan is the visionary. He's constantly thinking about aviation, history and the next adventure. Hayley enjoys taking those ideas and turning them into something guests can experience, whether that's a new product, a new piece of merchandise, a better booking process or another way of sharing Winnie's story.

Every idea, however, always comes back to Johan's vision. He remains the founder, the pilot and the driving force behind Open Air Adventure Flights, with Hayley helping bring that vision to life and ensuring every guest enjoys an experience they'll never forget.

One of the most memorable moments in their journey together came at the 2026 Bunbury Geographe Business Excellence Awards, where Open Air Adventure Flights was named the winner of the Emerging Business category. During his acceptance speech, Johan paused, looked over at Hayley and said, "Behind every successful man is a supportive wife."

It was a simple moment, but one that perfectly captured the partnership behind the business.

Open Air Adventure Flights has never been about one person. It has always been about combining different strengths. Johan brings the aviation knowledge, creativity and passion for preserving history. Hayley brings the business development, customer experience and operational support that helps transform that passion into an unforgettable experience for every guest.

Together, they share one goal: to preserve the legacy of Winnie, celebrate the golden age of aviation, and inspire the next generation of aviators by proving that even the biggest dreams can become reality.