A trip to Omaka

[K5054NZ]

Hi all.

Apologies for posting this series of pics sooo long after the fact, but in late June/early July Lana and I flew to Blenheim for some much-needed time off.

While there we met up with Graham Orphan, editor of the single greatest magazine of our time (in my humble opinion), Classic Wings, who took me out to Omaka Aerodrome for the Saturday afternoon. Graham is also president of the Marlborough Warbirds Association and quite well-known amongst the Marlburian aviating crowd, and as a consequence has access to most hangars on the field.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. On the Thursday the MWA had its monthly Film Night at the soon-to-be-opened Aviation Heritage Centre, where these pics were taken. Apologies for the poor quality, but the light wasn't all that good for photography that night.


This is the most beautiful biplane ever, the Pfalz D.IIIa. This was built for the 1968 film The Blue Max, and is now owned by Peter Jackson. I'm hoping to fly this one day.


One of the five Fokker Triplanes based at Omaka.


The Airco DH.2, a real stringbag if ever there was one.


Graham's Fleet 16B biplane, imported from the States a coupla years back. Check the "Requested Repaints" thread for my plea relating to this pretty bird.


A view from the Fleet's rear cockpit of some of the lineup - Fokker DR.I, DH.5 and Fokker D.IV. Also in the hangar, but not photographed, were another two Fokkers and a Hawker Hurricane replica, as well as Harvard 78 and a Nanchang.

To be continued...

[K5054NZ]

So, to Saturday: my grand tour of almost every single hangar at Omaka! Let's begin.


Grant "Muddy" Murdoch's Nanchang. This baby is undergoing, according to Graham, the most thorough restoration ever undertaken on a CJ-6a. No idea yet as to when she'll fly. Canopy, cowls etc are all ready to go, but systems work is still progressing.


The Yak-11, one of several "evacuated" from Egypt some years ago, owned by Steve "China Doll" Petersen and David Dew. Plans are afoot, I learned, to restore this highly original plane to Yak-7UTi configuration - ie, fitting an Allison V12 engine to create a highly practical warbird trainer and adventure flight platform. I'm a tad disappointed they aren't leaving it with the radial, but the idea makes sense.


At one point Graham dove into an old "Moth Garage" hangar, clambered over countless hundreds of used fertiliser cans, and passed to me these four Tiger Moth leading-edge slats. Not very valuable in NZ, he said, as most Kiwi Tigerers don't fit them, but still - my very first Treasure Hunt!!!


This is Graham's P-40 project, formerly "based" in PNG. She is, as you can see, in a very sad state. I won't bore you with too many details, but most of her is there, the other parts which didn;t come "giftwrapped" with her are in Graham's hangar, and she is most definitely a long-term project.


The newest Nanchang import into NZ is ZK-JSQ, callsign "Twenty Twenty". Flown about a month before I was at Omaka, she is set to go to a syndicate at Paraparaumu. I was privileged enough to have a seat in her front cockpit, as seen here. Joy of joys! B) A long-time dream realised!


Now, what better way to end a day of clambering over and around old aircraft than to strap into one and take it aloft? This is exactly what we did. I took the back seat of Graham's Aeronca Champ (I have a freeware Champ for FS9, flies the same, it's great!) and we were up for about 45min.


Omaka, vintage aeroplane Nirvana, viewed from the back seat of a fabric, wood and steel aeroplane which, later this year, turns 60. Bliss my friends, pure unadulterated bliss! Graham also generously handed me the controls for about ten minutes, great fun! (Scenery developers, you have my permission to use this pic for reference when you build that photoreal, super-detailed Omaka we're all waiting for. The AHC mentioned in my last post is the large silver building at extreme right.)

So there ya go! I think I have a couple more pics (as well as those I took at Wanaka this year), just ask if you'd like to see 'em. Nothing much better than what's here though.

[Charl]

I think I have a couple more pics (as well as those I took at Wanaka this year), just ask if you'd like to see 'em.

Go for it!
Think a moment, where else on earth would one get a casual glimpse like that, of NZ treasure tucked away in some shed?
Well done, hope you get your repaints soon

[K5054NZ]

Same here mate! If I could I'd love to do 'em myself. But oh well, fingers crossed and hope for the best.

I'll post some of my Wanaka pics shortly if it's cool with everyone.

[rAj]

Hey K5054NZ,
Nice shots of those Really Old Aircarft..It's amazing how they are kept in very good condition..Some of the oldest Aircraft.Awesome stuff..

[FlyingKiwi]

Great pics, would love to see the others you mentioned!

[K5054NZ]

No worries Mr Kiwi - I'll post up the better Wanaka 06 pics in a sec! Stay Tuned!

[ardypilot]

Excellent collection mate, thanks for sharing