Wings Over Wairarapa 2009

[Brennanx]

Jim Hickey is the man. He does the war birds over wanaka aswell

[flightnse]

QUOTE (markll @ Jan 18 2009, 04:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Highlight for me was Doug Brooker's display in the MX2.....almost seemed as if he was going extra hard out, in an attempt to make up for the spit incident...

Lowlight? What idiot decided to get Jim Hickey to do the commentary? I couldn't care less if he can fly, and is rated in a Yak-52, the guy is a total tool!

Mark

Are you rated in a yak? He has done more in his life then you will ever do. you sound like a tool mate!!!!!!!

[Adamski]

QUOTE (flightnse @ Jan 18 2009, 04:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Are you rated in a yak? He has done more in his life then you will ever do. you sound like a tool mate!!!!!!!

He's not questioning his ability to *fly*. I've never heard Jim, so can't comment, but I've been to enough air shows to know that a cr*p commentary can ruin the day - particularly if the loudspeakers are omni-present (and loud).

At a display at Duxford (that happened to have 21 flying Spits) the commentator actually said "I will now *SHUT UP* for 15 minutes to let you enjoy these beautiful aircraft to the full".

[flightnse]

QUOTE (Adamski @ Jan 18 2009, 04:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He's not questioning his ability to *fly*. I've never heard Jim, so can't comment, but I've been to enough air shows to know that a cr*p commentary can ruin the day - particularly if the loudspeakers are omni-present (and loud).

At a display at Duxford (that happened to have 21 flying Spits) the commentator actually said "I will now *SHUT UP* for 15 minutes to let you enjoy these beautiful aircraft to the full".

It was not Jim who was bad It was the pom woman who was giving the commentary for the airforce.she was cr*p. She was too loud and she would not Shut up when the aircraft were flying and She got It wrong some times.

[NZ255]

I'm not trying to fuel the fire.....but she was quite annoying and loud. And who really cares where the airforce crew live and what they do in they're spare time.

[Fauville]

Have to agree that the RNZAF commentator was over the top, I think I heard her call the Hueys 'Chinooks' at some point today. It's good to know who's crewing what during the display, but do we really have to have every crewmans nickname also (Dago, bonzo, spud, Crunchy the clown.... )

Also I guess the 'RNZAF Today' really showed that its an Air Force of Helicopters and Airtrainers, with a Harvard to replace the expected 757 and P-3 displays. Out of 2 757's, 5 Hercs and 6 P-3's you'd think they could find I spare (dig not aimed at the Air Force personnel, they have to make do with what they got!)

If you were there both days you would have noticed that Jim's and Ian's and the other commentators useful info was exactly the same, i.e. scripted with a little ad lib (mostly about the Tui Girls )

[ardypilot]

In the program it said B757 under the RNZAF display....so I was disappointed when the show finished and the fifty seven wasn't screaming overhead

Apparently the P3 was also supposed to be making an appearance:

http://www.wings.org.nz/aircraft/rnzaf.shtml

Edit:

QUOTE

Harvard to replace the expected 757 and P-3 displays[/quote] you mean they were replaced by that 1 Harvard?

Last edited by NZ255 on Mon Jan 19, 2009 12:15 am, edited 1 time in total.

[flightnse]

It was not the best airshow I have been to. maybe Wanaka 2010 Is the way to go....

The best bit of the day was not the airshow but doing some good spotting at Wellington airport in 80kph winds before my flight back to auckland.

[greaneyr]

QUOTE (NZ255 @ Jan 19 2009, 01:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

In the program it said B757 under the RNZAF display....so I was disappointed when the show finished and the fifty seven wasn't screaming overhead

Yeah me too. I've been a steady airshow stalwart since the 1980s and have been to practically every open day/airshow at Ohakea, Palmerston North, or Masterton. Since the RNZAF introduced the B757s, I'm still yet to see one on aerial display at an airshow. Every airshow I go to where there's an RNZAF presence, there always seems to be some convenient excuse for why the 75 isn't flying at that particular event. I was hoping that this was going to be the airshow that broke this trend, since it was shown on the website but nope, sorry.

I've seen them flying in and out of Ohakea plenty of times, just never seen on displayed at an airshow. It's getting a bit ridiculous really!

[ardypilot]

The weather looks much the reverse of last years Wanaka show - sunny on the Saturday and very overcast on the Sunday?

Hopefully it didn't spoil the day for those who only went yesterday, maybe the clouds were a nice natural sunblock for the punters... anyone got pics?

[Adamski]

QUOTE (greaneyr @ Jan 19 2009, 12:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah me too. I've been a steady airshow stalwart since the 1980s and have been to practically every open day/airshow at Ohakea, Palmerston North, or Masterton. Since the RNZAF introduced the B757s, I'm still yet to see one on aerial display at an airshow. Every airshow I go to where there's an RNZAF presence, there always seems to be some convenient excuse for why the 75 isn't flying at that particular event. I was hoping that this was going to be the airshow that broke this trend, since it was shown on the website but nope, sorry.

I've seen them flying in and out of Ohakea plenty of times, just never seen on displayed at an airshow. It's getting a bit ridiculous really!

The 757 (and P-3) are regular fliers at the Whenuapai events. Hardly surprising, as they live there . I've always enjoyed the Whenuapai shows - quite low-key, but friendly - with a good load of flying. Yay - even the commentary is good!

I heard from someone at the base that it's the Station Commander's privilege to do the display routine in the 757. As I live fairly local, I've occasionally seen it "practising". The actual display routine is very "toned down" compared to what he does when no-one's looking! No passengers and minimum fuel - it flies around almost like a fighter!

I'm really not keen on choppers (*ugly*, noisy etc. ) but the RNZAF chopper displays at Whenuapai have been *stunning*.

[markll]

QUOTE (flightnse @ Jan 18 2009, 04:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Are you rated in a yak? He has done more in his life then you will ever do. you sound like a tool mate!!!!!!!

No I'm not rated in a Yak, nor will I ever bother to get a rating in one. But at least I'm able to get people's names right when they're written in front of me. Jim Hickey had to be corrected by Ian Brodie (who *was* good, by contrast) after stating several times that "Don Booker" crashed his spitfire but was flying in his MX2...oh, and the number of times he condescendingly asked the WWII veterans what their names were and still managing to get them wrong, defied belief.

He should stick to the weather forecast (not that he's that good at that either)...oh, and before you ask if I know how to predict the weather, I do have some idea, having studied it at University...

Mark

[Adamski]

QUOTE (flightnse @ Jan 19 2009, 10:58 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It was not the best airshow I have been to. maybe Wanaka 2010 Is the way to go....

The best bit of the day was not the airshow but doing some good spotting at Wellington airport in 80kph winds before my flight back to auckland.

Great pics ... ALL of them! Love the ATR on finals! The overcast conditions seem to make dramatic shots!

[Alex]

Mainly the 757 performances were limited to the (relatively) short period between delivery, and when they flew off to the States for various upgrades/modifications. I saw the 757 display at Whenuapai in 2007 and it was very cool. The first of the two 757s arrived back from the US late last year, so haven't had much of a chance to do the Air Show circuits really.

Awesome pictures as well flightnse, every one has something going for it.

Alex

[mavman]

I was surprised no mention was made at the show that the P3 and 757 weren't showing up even though they were both highlighted in the programme.

[Fauville]

QUOTE (Trolly @ Jan 24 2009, 01:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The weather looks much the reverse of last years Wanaka show - sunny on the Saturday and very overcast on the Sunday?

Hopefully it didn't spoil the day for those who only went yesterday, maybe the clouds were a nice natural sunblock for the punters... anyone got pics?

Yea, I was there both days, will put up some photos once I have sorted through them,

Regarding the 757 and P-3, Kate the RNZAF commentator promised they would be at Whenuapai show at the end of sundays Commentry.

[cambridgedan]

Hey how many of you came to see our stand?? aerosport Aviation we had the 2 sports cruisers there.

[flightnse]

They are very nice aircraft inside and out.

[beaufighterguy]

QUOTE (flightnse @ Jan 22 2009, 08:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They are very nice aircraft inside and out.

Yeah they're so tiny,like from the 1st pic it looks like you have almost need to lay on your back

[greaneyr]

QUOTE (Adamski @ Jan 19 2009, 02:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The actual display routine is very "toned down" compared to what he does when no-one's looking! No passengers and minimum fuel - it flies around almost like a fighter!

Hahahaha! I can imagine. I've seen it getting airborne off Ohakea under a similar configuration a few times, and whoever flies it seems to have the philosophy that there's only one throttle position and consequential climb speed during take-off. At near empty weight, that demands a very nose-high attitude on climb-out, which looks just stunning.