Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 11:26 pmIn these threads I'm going to try to recreate the Wanaka Airshow and hopefully do some justice to Robin's great scenery along with Charl's added atmosphere!
This is essentially another part of my Kiwi tour and picks up were I left off with my arrival in NZWF in ZK-MIF!
After a nice breakfast and a chat with the guys and gal's at Wanaka Flightseeing I decide to make my way around the airfield on foot to find out what sights I can take in early on day one.
The Flightseeing gang sure have a cosy little office! In fact this whole airfield has charm in abundance!
Not all too far away is the famous New Zealand Fighter Pilot's Museum who play a big role in making this whole event happen.
It's not all about the planes either....the Army's static display generates plenty of interest too.
Enjoying the view from the fenceline at the runway....perhaps this should be called "Warbirds over Paradise"?
These boys have the right idea!
I quickly sneak over the fence and take a snapshot of the granstand!
Strolling around and taking it all in....
The Spitfire Pavillion....full of fantastic stalls and info....there was even a Flight Simulator group in there! What were they called? NF..um,no, NZF...oh I can't remember now!
Scenic Junkfood!!....Hot dog anyone?...hmm, perhaps later!
A RNZAF C-130 sits on display as an Air Fiordland Cessna arrives with more plane buffs!
Seeing my first warbird in action today....Hawker Hurricane Mk.II ZK-TPK takes off for a flight...
Goodyear FG-D1 Corsair ZK-COR warms up her engine in preparation for her first flight of the day.
Not too far away an incredible line up of Mustangs, in order from L to R are: ZK-PLI, ZK-TAF, the Aussie CA-18 VH-JUC and ZK-SAS. More Mustangs to come as well according to the programme!
My attention is thrust skyward by a loud scream....I want to duck as the Temora Aviation Museum (AUS) based Vampire T.35 VH-VAM flys low over the airfield....that woke me up
With my heart still beating a tad fast I spot a van giving me the opportunity to "Recaffeinate!" - Great idea! One Espresso please!
Three local warbirds make for an impressive sight together. From back to front are: ZK-WFI - a Nord 1002 (Licence built Me-108) in 109 colours, ZK-YYY - a Soviet Yakovlev Yak-3 with especially "aged" paint scheme for this weekend and ZK-RMH a Curtiss Kittyhawk in a really sensational paint scheme!
Another Vampire is spotted! Unlike it's Aussie sister ship, this Kiwi example being ZK-RVM sits silently on the ground!! . Douglas DC-3's ZK-AMS and ZK-DAK parked just beyond.
This has to be one of my favourites! The Polikarpov I-16 "Ishak" ZK-JIN...(You will notice that I used a slightly incorrect model of the I-16 here...I found the correct model after the screenie was taken
)
My attention turns once again to the skies....the Aussie Spitfires VH-HET and VH-XVI in formation flight. Both are from the Temora Aviation Museum. XVI will be very familiar to the local public!
As I was mesmorised by the gracefulness of the Temora Spitty's I totally missed the landing of the first special International guest (Australians excepted)....She was the German based Messerschmitt Me-109-G4 D-FWME known simply as "Red 7". It's not that often you get to see a real 109 now is it!!
Sadly, the Me-109 above is actually not airworthy at the moment. She crashed at her home field on landing in 2005 being badly damaged
After "Red 7", More of the International Warbirds start arriving...
A distinctive sound fills the air as an impressive formation of Spitfire's head towards Wanaka
The three Spitty's consisting of the RAF owned P7350, NX2TF of the Planes of Fame Museum (USA) and the French based "Contra-Prop" F-AZJS make a low & slow pass overhead
With a deep rumble in my ears I look on as the CASA built Junkers Ju-52 N352JU makes it's final approach.
This big old German warhorse is based in the USA and is owned by the "Commemorative Air Force". Seeing the "Alte Tante Ju" (Translation: Old Aunty Ju) roll to a stop was a beautiful sight!
The Ju was followed in by the RAAF Museum's Commonwealth CA-18 Mustang VH-SVU. The contrast between the two planes is unbelievable
The next aircraft to arrive overhead surprised the heck out of me! ...I thought my eyes were deceiving me as not one but TWO Mitsubishi A6M Zero's gracefully glided on by! The rare planes in question were NX46770 from the Planes of Fame Museum and N8280K of the Fargo Air Museum. Both are based in the USA. The former is one of the last original flyable Zero's left in the world today.
Alot of the talk around the airfield is now of the Japanese fighters but outside the Fighter Pilot's Museum I spot an aircraft that would have come up against them all those years ago. ZK-CAG may well be a Kiwi warbird but her markings and her name of "Currawong" are unmistakably Aussie!
As I was checking out ZK-CAG, I heard the sounds of jet power again. I followed the noise and discovered that the English based F-86 Sabre G-SABR had arrived and was just shutting down outside the Transport & Toy Museum.
N352JU & D-FWME stand side by side for probably the first time ever....what a great photo opportunity!
Later another German based aircraft arrived....She was the immaculatley restored Yakovlev Yak-3 D-FLAK and I'm really looking forward to seeing her in full flight alongside the Kiwi Yak-3!!
With most of the "Stars of the Show" here now, there is a really great buzz all over Wanaka. There are still a few planes expected tommorow morning and then things will really start getting into full swing.
Also yours truly has negotiated to get his hands on one of these fantastic planes for a spin around the area tommorow morning!!....
This is going to be a wonderful few days
.....on to Day Two
This is essentially another part of my Kiwi tour and picks up were I left off with my arrival in NZWF in ZK-MIF!
After a nice breakfast and a chat with the guys and gal's at Wanaka Flightseeing I decide to make my way around the airfield on foot to find out what sights I can take in early on day one.
The Flightseeing gang sure have a cosy little office! In fact this whole airfield has charm in abundance!
Not all too far away is the famous New Zealand Fighter Pilot's Museum who play a big role in making this whole event happen.
It's not all about the planes either....the Army's static display generates plenty of interest too.
Enjoying the view from the fenceline at the runway....perhaps this should be called "Warbirds over Paradise"?
These boys have the right idea!
I quickly sneak over the fence and take a snapshot of the granstand!
Strolling around and taking it all in....
The Spitfire Pavillion....full of fantastic stalls and info....there was even a Flight Simulator group in there! What were they called? NF..um,no, NZF...oh I can't remember now!
Scenic Junkfood!!....Hot dog anyone?...hmm, perhaps later!
A RNZAF C-130 sits on display as an Air Fiordland Cessna arrives with more plane buffs!
Seeing my first warbird in action today....Hawker Hurricane Mk.II ZK-TPK takes off for a flight...
Goodyear FG-D1 Corsair ZK-COR warms up her engine in preparation for her first flight of the day.
Not too far away an incredible line up of Mustangs, in order from L to R are: ZK-PLI, ZK-TAF, the Aussie CA-18 VH-JUC and ZK-SAS. More Mustangs to come as well according to the programme!
My attention is thrust skyward by a loud scream....I want to duck as the Temora Aviation Museum (AUS) based Vampire T.35 VH-VAM flys low over the airfield....that woke me up
With my heart still beating a tad fast I spot a van giving me the opportunity to "Recaffeinate!" - Great idea! One Espresso please!
Three local warbirds make for an impressive sight together. From back to front are: ZK-WFI - a Nord 1002 (Licence built Me-108) in 109 colours, ZK-YYY - a Soviet Yakovlev Yak-3 with especially "aged" paint scheme for this weekend and ZK-RMH a Curtiss Kittyhawk in a really sensational paint scheme!
Another Vampire is spotted! Unlike it's Aussie sister ship, this Kiwi example being ZK-RVM sits silently on the ground!!
. Douglas DC-3's ZK-AMS and ZK-DAK parked just beyond.This has to be one of my favourites! The Polikarpov I-16 "Ishak" ZK-JIN...(You will notice that I used a slightly incorrect model of the I-16 here...I found the correct model after the screenie was taken
)My attention turns once again to the skies....the Aussie Spitfires VH-HET and VH-XVI in formation flight. Both are from the Temora Aviation Museum. XVI will be very familiar to the local public!
As I was mesmorised by the gracefulness of the Temora Spitty's I totally missed the landing of the first special International guest (Australians excepted)....She was the German based Messerschmitt Me-109-G4 D-FWME known simply as "Red 7". It's not that often you get to see a real 109 now is it!!
Sadly, the Me-109 above is actually not airworthy at the moment. She crashed at her home field on landing in 2005 being badly damaged
After "Red 7", More of the International Warbirds start arriving...
A distinctive sound fills the air as an impressive formation of Spitfire's head towards Wanaka
The three Spitty's consisting of the RAF owned P7350, NX2TF of the Planes of Fame Museum (USA) and the French based "Contra-Prop" F-AZJS make a low & slow pass overhead
With a deep rumble in my ears I look on as the CASA built Junkers Ju-52 N352JU makes it's final approach.
This big old German warhorse is based in the USA and is owned by the "Commemorative Air Force". Seeing the "Alte Tante Ju" (Translation: Old Aunty Ju) roll to a stop was a beautiful sight!
The Ju was followed in by the RAAF Museum's Commonwealth CA-18 Mustang VH-SVU. The contrast between the two planes is unbelievable
The next aircraft to arrive overhead surprised the heck out of me!
...I thought my eyes were deceiving me as not one but TWO Mitsubishi A6M Zero's gracefully glided on by! The rare planes in question were NX46770 from the Planes of Fame Museum and N8280K of the Fargo Air Museum. Both are based in the USA. The former is one of the last original flyable Zero's left in the world today.Alot of the talk around the airfield is now of the Japanese fighters but outside the Fighter Pilot's Museum I spot an aircraft that would have come up against them all those years ago. ZK-CAG may well be a Kiwi warbird but her markings and her name of "Currawong" are unmistakably Aussie!
As I was checking out ZK-CAG, I heard the sounds of jet power again. I followed the noise and discovered that the English based F-86 Sabre G-SABR had arrived and was just shutting down outside the Transport & Toy Museum.
N352JU & D-FWME stand side by side for probably the first time ever....what a great photo opportunity!
Later another German based aircraft arrived....She was the immaculatley restored Yakovlev Yak-3 D-FLAK and I'm really looking forward to seeing her in full flight alongside the Kiwi Yak-3!!
With most of the "Stars of the Show" here now, there is a really great buzz all over Wanaka. There are still a few planes expected tommorow morning and then things will really start getting into full swing.
Also yours truly has negotiated to get his hands on one of these fantastic planes for a spin around the area tommorow morning!!....
This is going to be a wonderful few days
.....on to Day Two
Very nice.
Love the additions Ian! 
