Part 1- Warbirds Over Wanaka, 2016

Drum roll please........

In no particular order and a brief description where possible, I present to you a collection of photos from Warbirds Over Wanaka, 2016. I'm by no means an expert but this being my fourth New Zealand airshow and I'm beginning to recognise many of the planes.

Many of you will know that the Yak52 is the plane that Jim Hickey, TV1's former long time weatherman, owned for many years. Jim was one of the commentators for the show and his old plane performed in the acrobatic display.

Yak 52

 With precision timing and trails of smoke, the Yaks put on an impressive flying display.

Yak 52

The Royal New Zealand Airforce displayed a number of their aircraft along with thrilling displays from the French, Australian & the United States Airforces.

Top left- Armee De L'Aire with their CASA CN-235-300 did an aerial display.

Top Right- RNZAF's  T-6C Texan II aircraft are used to train pilots and are purpose built for military training with all the latest technology.

Bottom left & right- The NH90 helicopter replaced the very familiar and much loved Iroquois.

It was about here that I decided to vacate the show proper and move to the fenceline in the carpark at the end of the runway. There was no way on earth, without being rude and trampling over and pushing through people twenty deep, that I was going to get to the front along side the runway. And the sun was all wrong for taking good photos too.

The RNZAF's C-130 Hercules flew in from Whenuapai, Auckland to do a magnificent display and then finished with a brilliant blast of flares.

Next up is one of my favourites; the North American Harvards with their loud and throaty roar.

The Roaring Forties Team but on an awesome display in their fully aerobatic Harvards.

The Harvard was used as the primary trainer for most Commonwealth aircrew during WWII.

First flown in 1937, the RNZAF Harvards were used as pilot trainers for over 30 years.

And just because I love Harvards, here are a couple more. I love seeing the pilots in the cockpit.

The US Airforce's C-17 Globemaster made a spectacular and impressive sight as it approached the airfield, doing a low pass followed by a few maneuvers for the crowd. Obviously it wasn't able to touchdown due to the size of the runway and flew off, back to Christchurch once it had finished it's display.

This Globemaster is based in Hawaii and attends numerous airshows around the world as an ambassador for the US Airforce.

C-17 Globemaster III facts (from the programme) and because I find them fascinating- 

• Primary function- Cargo & Troop transport
• Prime Contractor- Boeing Company
• Power Plant- Four Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 turbofan engines
• Thrust- 40,440 pounds, each engine
• Wingspan- 51.75 metres to winglet tips (the commentator mentioned that the winglets are 2 metres high)
• Length- 53 metres
• Height- 16.79 metres
• Speed- 450 knots at 28,000 feet (8,534 meters) (Mach .74)
• Service Ceiling- 45,000 feet a cruising speed (13,716 metres)
• Range- Glocal with in-flight refueling
• Crew- Three (two pilots & one loadmaster)
• Load- 102 troops/paratroops; 36 litter & 54 ambulatory patients & attendants; 77,519 kilograms of cargo (18 pallet positions)
• First Deployed- June 1993

Incoming! 

 

The Royal Australian Airforce put on a fast and furious display in their Hawk 127 fighter-trainer jets.

One of the start attractions at Warbirds this year is the Messerschmitt Buchon ME-109, the last time one flew in New Zealand was 20 years ago in 1996 at Warbirds, when the airshow founder Sir Tim Wallis brought one out.

The German ME-109 has the distinction of being the most produced fighter aircraft of all time with over 33,000 built and was the main rival of the Allies Spitfire during WWII.

This particular model, the Buchon,  was developed by the Spanish Airforce following WWII with the original German airframe paired with a Rolls Royce Merlin 500-45 engine. This particular aircraft is also a movie star, appearing with 27 others in the 1968 film "Battle of Britain". 

The beautiful & graceful bomber Avro Anson MKI (can a bomber be graceful?) with it's prominent gun turret bubble, is always a popular sight at the airshow as it seems to 'lumber' along with it's smaller fighting buddies, the Corsair & the Kittyhawks.

This aircraft is the only remaining wartime Avro Anson MKI in the world that is airworthy.

The RNZAF used 23 of these aircraft as navigation trainers during WWII. 

The iconic Spitfire...

And it's highly recognizable wing shape; something I manage to capture too many times. Talk about fast on the fly past!

The Yak 3; a nimble "Russian Spitfire"

I caught this fly-past with just a little too fast a shutter speed, although there is a hint of a blur; a purist aircraft photographer likes to catch some blur from the props to give the plane a sense of movement otherwise it can look like the plane is suspended in mid air or it looks like a toy! Especially when you can see the pilot. 

Yak 3

And here is the famous (or is that infamous) Martin Jetpack. This is what David was wanting to see at it's Wanaka debut. It was a little disappointing in that it was unable to have a pilot, as it needed, for safety, a low-altitude parachute fitted or it could only fly over water- neither were at the show. It did lift off with one heck of a noise that could be heard all over the airfield, from up on the terrace and back in our paddock where we stayed. I wasn't nearby to catch it's flight when it lifted off. And it had malfunction problems on Sunday so didn't lift off either, which disappointed many.

Another visitor to the show was the iconic Catalina Flying Boat. The 70 year old Catalina last appeared at the show in 2010 and has since under gone an extensive $250,000 renovation.

With its amphibious qualities and a flying range of over 3000 miles the Catalina was the most widely used seaplane of WWII

The RNZAF had 56 Catalina aircraft  between 1943 and 1953 and used them extensively in the Pacific for rescue, reconnaissance and anti-submarine missions.

This particular Catalina started it's flying career with the Canadian Airforce in 1944 for anyti-submarine duties. I like how you can see the passengers in the bubble.

Warbirds Over Wanaka, 2016- Part 2 is here.

Warbirds- Part 3



Commemorating 100 years of military aviation, these rare & flimsy fighters of the Great War, WW1 took to the sky over Wanaka. Aircraft included the Sopwith Camel, Nieuport XI, Airco DH5, Bristol Fighter F.2B, Fokker DR.I Triplane & the Fokker D.VII

Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk- another favourite of mine (I think it must b the paint job), the RNZAF operated 297 Kittyhawk fighters in the Pacific during WWII. Eventually replaced by the Corsiar the Kittyhawks returned to NZ to be used as advanced fighter trainer.

De Havilland Vampire- considered highly experimental in its developmental stages the Vampire came on line too late to see action in WWII. The Vampire was used as a training aircraft and remained in service in NZ until 1972. And they still look futuristic to me! 

Supermarine Spitfire- another crowd favourite with a beautiful wing profile. This Spitfire was restored & is owned by the Deere Family of Marton who have decorated it in honour of a family member Air Commodore Alan Deere who served with the RAF for 40 years.

 

A North American P-51D Mustang joined the Spitfire for a flight display.

The British inspired, American built Mustang was one of the most potent & versatile fighters of WWII. The long ranging Mustang escorted American bombers all the way to Germany. It was known as the "Cadillac of the Skies" I think it looks like one of those model aircraft you make up; the air intake underneath looks like a clip that holds the wings in place! Add to that the little model man in the cockpit and it could have come straight out of a box.

YAK 3- the sleek & fast little brother of the YAK52, the Yak 3 was regarded as one of the finest interceptors of WWII. German pilots were horrified to find they were being beaten by a well flown, simple little 1300hp Russian fighter made of wood.

A first for NZ & for Warbirds Over Wanaka, Reno style racing. The Wanaka Jet Race- three American pilots & three Kiwi raced their jets around a 5 lap course marked by giant inflatable orange pylons (mega road cones). After three races, one each day, the Kiwis were declared the winners! It was a thrilling race with many different tactics used to gain speed & position.

The grand finale- the airfield is defended by the fighters from an attack by enemy aircraft. On the first day the explosions set fire to the tinder dry grass that borders the runway. From high up on our vantage point we could see tiny figures rushing around everywhere in panic & beating the ground with sacks. The next day the fire brigade crossed the runway well before the finale & drenched the area with water from their tanker.

  

And that folks was WOW- Warbirds Over Wanaka, for another two years. We had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed the show, it was a good feeling knowing we could retire to our van after the show finished each day without having to be stuck in a traffic jam a few miles long waiting to get home. It was a shame that there was a major storm happening right around New Zealand as some of the aircraft were unable to leave their home towns to fly in to Wanaka but on the other hand the weather Gods took mercy on Wanaka, it was fine all weekend.

PS- Apologies to those that get notification by email of a blog post- you've already seen these photos! The joys of a hap-hazard connection.