The start of the second day of the Wanaka airshow has seen the weather change a little for the worse. Very overcast skies greeted me this morning. Still, the prediction is that it may clear up a little in the afternoon.
I put the weather out of my mind and get straight into enjoying the sights!
And isn't this a sight indeed...Mk.XIX Contra-Prop Spitfire F-AZJS. An awesome machine.
Suddenly some noises in the distance stir me....I see some shapes on the horizion and for an instance think I recognise it...but it can't be surely!
As I see the formation come closer I realise I was right. It's an Me-262!!
Not to mention his impressive Me-109G wingmen..
These three amazing aircraft are D-IMTT, D-FMBB and D-FDME respectivley and belong to the "Messerschmitt Stiftung" in Germany.
Shortly after the North American Texan/Harvards [url=http://www.airliners.net/photo/Commemorative-Air-Force/North-American-.../0788304/M/]ZK-USM[/url] and ZK-JJA come up from behind the grandstand on an aborted landing...Those Harvards are great planes!
Two fine examples of Australia's military aviation history lined up side by side....
Soon VH-VAM & VH-HET were joined by another Temora warbird in the CAC Wirraway VH-BFF. It's great to see the Temora Museum support this airshow on the other side of the Tasman so enthusiatically
Note DC-3 ZK-DAK departing in the background...she will be back later!
On the other side of the airfield, All the members of the Luftwaffe have now been accounted for and are going through their battle plans for the dogfights to come!!
Finally, with the kind permission of the Planes of Fame Museum my opportunity has come!...before the airspace above the airfield gets too busy I get to take the Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero NX46770 for a very quick circuit of the area.
With butterflies going crazy in the stomach I lift the old Zero away from Wanaka!
I take a moment to familiarise myself with the Zero's cockpit....
Soon the nerves go away and I get a good feel for the powerful aircraft....I can even start to enjoy the scenery!
And there is alot of stunning scenery to take in....these warbirds sure make great VFR planes!
Soon enough my short adventure must come to an end....but not before having the chance to entertain the crowd myself with a pass above the airfield!
I'm safely back on the ground just in time as four Harvard's begin a great display....
....as they scream overhead I almost strain my neck trying to keep up with them!
Coming back for another pass, the aircraft from top to bottom are: [url=http://www.airliners.net/photo/North-American-.../0819556/M/]ZK-WAR[/url], ZK-ENA, [url=http://www.airliners.net/photo/Harvard-78-Syndicate/North-American-.../0582245/M/]ZK-ENG[/url] and [url=http://www.airliners.net/photo/North-American-.../0987727/M/]ZK-ENC[/url]
The next display was just breathtaking....ZK-DAK returned with an escort of four Mustangs...
They were a picture of elegance as they overflew the airfield to a huge applause!
Things are really getting into full swing here now!.....having a great time here guys!!
Things move fast here in more ways than one! No time to dwell on the DC-3 as ZK-TMG "Kiwi Thunder" roars into my eyesight
This guy was really on it!....among other moves, a fast vertical climb high above Wanaka
...and before we knew it he was sweeping past us at eye level!!
A little later I was surprised by this lovely formation of aircraft in RAAF colours!
Hey! There's another 'new face' here! The CAC Boomerang VH-MHR leads her Temora hangar-mate VH-BFF (CAC Wirraway) and the Kittyhawk ZK-CAG
In a semi-roll the three make another pass overhead....just beautiful!
MHR makes another pass over the runway alone before circling to land!...a great little aircraft!! :Thumb:
Another elegant sight..
..Spitfire's P7350 & VH-XVI depart in tandem, as if leaving on a patrol!
It's Fast Jet time!! Vampire's ZK-RVM & VH-VAM are accompanied by F-86 Sabre G-SABR in an attempt to wow the crowd....needless to say they succeeded! the sound alone was undescribable!!
I think these guys actually helped clear the cloud cover!! Even the sun wanted to have a look at this lot!!
Keeping a perfectly tight formation, they really were a sight to behold....I'm starting to sound like a broken record!
The RNZAF wasn't going to let the vintage flyers have all the fun either!! - An Orion of 5 Squadron head towards us from the direction of Lake Wanaka
Woooohooooo! You could almost reach out and touch her as she buzzes over our heads!
A final pass...this time low and slow...flaps full & landing gear down
Back down on the ground Messerschmitt Me-262 D-IMTT taxis past the crowd on her way out for a solo show....alot of OOOHHH's were to be heard
There she goes!!!
Soon that distinctive shape above us was captivating our imagination!
The pilot was clearly enjoying himelf as he loitered overhead!
Not at all comfortable with having the German hanging around, The Russian's "Scramble" ZK-JIN
Hmm...
Is the tiny Polikarpov really the best aircraft to chase away an Me-262 Jet?? 
Nah...not really!!
Common sense prevails, the two enemies settle their differences and escort eachother home The crowd really got a buzz out of seeing those two aircraft together though....the cheers as they overflew the airfield were heart felt! The contrast between the planes is just wonderful!!
.....on to Day Three
I'm enjoying it too.
