NZFF

Posted: **Fri Feb 01, 2008 1:01 pm**

Royal Australian Air Force to Show its Wares
(my bolds to draw the attention to the aircraft -ZY)

28th January 2008: The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has confirmed a big show of force at the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow 2008 (WOW08). General Manager Gavin Johnston said, "This will be the largest and most impressive involvement yet by the RAAF".

The RAAF has confirmed the return of the F-111 supersonic long range strike aircraft, which was so spectacular, and such a hit with the large crowd at the 2006 airshow. Its signature "Dump and Burn", using fuel dump and afterburner, will again thrill the large crowds expected for this year's show.

Australia's newest acquisition to the fleet, the C-17 Globemaster, will debut at WOW 08. The C17 is a high wing four jet-engine heavy transport. It has three times the carrying capacity of the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft used by the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the RAAF, and will provide something very different from anything seen at previous shows.

A favourite with airshow crowds is the venerable DHC-4 Caribou twin piston-engine light transport. Introduced in 1964 and employed in Vietnam, this short take off and landing aircraft rounds off the three RAAF types appearing at the show. Three DHC-4 Caribous will be appearing the event.

Gavin said, "I am thrilled the RAAF has kindly agreed to show off its hardware, and I am confident the displays will thrill the crowds".

Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow 2008 will be held over Easter weekend (21-23 March 2008).

----------------

HOWZAT?! Not just the Globemaster as previously announced, but THREE Caribou and also the F-111! Are we spoilt or what?

Doug Brooker's soon-to-arrive Spitfire TR.IX (some say arriving on TUESDAY!!!) will make its South Island debut at Wanaka.

Also, the list of aircraft on the site includes several not previously seen on the NZ circuit: Sopwith Triplane, Fokker D.IV, and a pair of Klemm 35s! Yes, I know one was at Wanaka 02, but two?! How cool is that!

Posted: **Fri Feb 01, 2008 1:50 pm**

Freakin sweet! Can't wait. 3 Caribou!

Posted: **Fri Feb 01, 2008 2:02 pm**

SWeeeeeet!!!!!!!

Posted: **Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:34 pm**

I think you'll find 2 static , 1 handling display as they will more than likely be over here for some mountain flying, whereas warbirds over wanaka just happened to be on at the same time eh, lucky bou crews.

Posted: **Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:43 pm**

Wonder if you can get a C-17 into Wanaka? Ramp space would also be an issue. Probably could get one in lightly loaded but I guess in this case it will be a flyover display.

Posted: **Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:45 pm**

Bugger. I wanted to go this year (I think I've only been once before) but Mum doesn't want to go, and she doesn't want me going down on my own this year (strange, normally I think she'd be fine with it).

Bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger. Dam!

Posted: **Fri Feb 01, 2008 4:23 pm**

I cant wait to go!!!!!! :plane:

This Beats all of the other airshows in the coming months!!! B-)

Who else is going down to the airshow?

Cheers
Daniel

Posted: **Fri Feb 01, 2008 5:08 pm**

Daniel wrote:
QUOTE (Daniel @ Feb 1 2008, 05:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I cant wait to go!!!!!!

This Beats all of the other airshows in the coming months!!!
Who else is going down to the airshow?

Cheers
Daniel

Probably everyone that knows something about aircraft in NZ

Oh, except brotonee :lol:

Posted: **Fri Feb 01, 2008 5:34 pm**

I want to go!

Posted: **Fri Feb 01, 2008 6:15 pm**

Sounds way better than 06 already!!

Posted: **Fri Feb 01, 2008 8:13 pm**

sounds fantastic, hopefully I can attend

Posted: **Fri Feb 01, 2008 8:17 pm**

I just need to get down there, I'm not fussed over just doing the one day thing......just get me there.........

Posted: **Wed Feb 20, 2008 4:34 pm**

Hi Guys,

A bit of new news for WOW 08,

Warbirds Over Wanaka News

QUOTE

An LC-130 ski-equipped Polar Hercules will make a debut appearance at Warbirds Over Wanaka this year, Gavin Johnston, General Manager of Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow, announced today. The aircraft is used by the New York Air National Guard for Antarctic support and will be attending the airshow on static display.

The Lockheed LC-130 Polar Hercules was developed from the C-130 Hercules which is currently operated by the RNZAF. The Hercules first flew in 1954 and in 1959 the original wheeled version began flying to the Antarctic in support of Operation Deep Freeze. In 1961 a modified ski equipped version was introduced which allowed aircraft to fly to the South Pole in conjunction with the Antarctic operations.

The US Navy flew the Antarctic flights until 1998 when the New York Air National Guard took over the operation and they now fly the only ten active LC-130's remaining. The LC-130 Hercules is the largest ski equipped aircraft in the world. The ski modification is not a simple retrofit but rather a major modification to both the landing gear and the actual fuselage. The main skis are 5.1m long and the complete ski units add 2.5 tonnes of weight to the aeroplane.

"In past Warbirds Over Wanaka Airshows, the RNZAF has demonstrated its C-130 Hercules, but this is the first time this significantly different aircraft, an LC-130 Ski Equipped Polar Hercules has attended", Mr. Johnston said. "With a RNZAF Hercules taking part in the flying display, this will be a unique opportunity for the public to see two different variants of the same aircraft type".

"The aircraft is one of six New York Air National Guard with a New Zealand connection. The aircraft are equipped with Nelson based company FlightCell's DZM tracking hardware, which allow the aircraft to be tracked anywhere in the world by Dunedin based global tracking company Daestra New Zealand, enhancing safety and improving operational efficiencies in one of the worlds most extreme climates."[/quote]

NZFF

Warbirds Over Wanaka 2008 News