Great Southern Airshow

[kiwiracefan]

To all airshow fans....

This coming weekend here in NZ is the 2008 edition of warbirds over wanaka

This years show features the Royal Australian Air Force with the returning F-111 and also the DHC-4 Caribou light transport and for the first time at Wabirds over Wanaka the Boeing C-17

the C-17 will be the largest aircraft to display at the show and will be a sight to behold in the beautiful setting that is wanaka

Also present for the first time will be the USAF ANG with an Antartic program LC-130H on static display, this will give visitors a look at the major differences between the LC-130 and the RNZAF C-130H that will be flying on both days.

A major theme will be the Vietnam war, with a section dedicated to the RNZAF pilots that served with the USAF FAC pilots in O-1, O-2 and OV-10 aircraft on this difficult mission, the Vietnam portion will feature O-1, T-28 and UH-1 aircraft.

Other formations of interest will be the Polikarpov I-16, Yak-3U and Lavochkin La-9

A first for an airshow in NZ, one of two P-40's to be at the show, has been fitted with operational .50 cal guns, and these will be firing blanks during the pacific theatre portion of the show.

These are just some of the acts and displays confirmed, i should have a report from the show, Fri, Sat, Sun (nz time)

[flyingjibus]

Re: Great Southern Airshow

MUST have pictures of the Warhawk with shells dropping out of it and muzzle flash.

So incredibly jealous. Someday I will go to another airshow besides NCAR and Hillsboro airshow. Maybe not in NZ but at least another one.

[kiwiracefan]

Re: Great Southern Airshow

Well, practice day is over and tomorrow the show begins, the NY ANG arrived with their LC-130H to add to the static display, and the RAAF arrived with their C-17 and F-111

The NZ Warbirds Association of NZ also showed their tribute to NZ's Vietnam veterans, with an O-1 birddog, T-28 and A-37, with 3 MD-500 helicopters. Got pics to follow, just gotta sort them and see what tomorrow brings....

Also displayed was the FG-1D corsair and P-40 duo and a four ship jet display with L-39, A-37 and two DH Vampires.

Flying today was a challenge, with winds gusting 30kts at times, not the best day for flying warbirds, but all airplanes were recovered and will fly tommorow.

[AAFO_WSagar]

Re: Great Southern Airshow

Kewl Kiwi!!! Looking forward to a report!!!

[kiwiracefan]

Re: Great Southern Airshow

First Show day of Warbirds over Wanaka 2008 is in the books, and after overnight rain, the day dawned overcast and cold, but the crowds still arrived in their droves, with an estimated 45,000 people through the gates today alone.
The show got started with a duo display of DeHaviland Vampire jets, this is pretty special as there are only 10 vampires currently flying worldwide so the two NZ based examples represent 1/5 the of the flying total.

The show moved from the two first generations jets, to WW1 with 2 Fokker Triplane replicas, a pfalz replica representing the German airforce The allies represented by a Neuiport bebe replica and Sopwith camel replica launching to repel the germans... both the Nieuport and the camel are both powered by Le Rohne Rotary engines.

After the WWI display, it was the turn of the Vietnam era, with a Cessna O-1 birdog spotting an 'enemy' village and calling in the troops in 2 UH-1 Huey's and 4 MD-500 light choppers to insert troops and a T-28 as Close Air Support.... after the VC village was overrun by the US forces, the T-28 gave an impressive handling display.

The Lunchtime was the domain of the RNZAF and RAAF displays, with the RNZAF displaying 2 Bell Soiux choppers, the RNZAF still operate the venerable Bell 47 in intro Helicopter training for students transitioning to the UH-1 and Kaman SH2G seasprites.

After the Bell 47's, the UH-1 pair demo.

The next display was from the RNZAF 40 sqdn C-130, these guys are always impressive and didnt disappoint today showing the capabilites of the near on 40yr old C-130H to its full extent.

Next it was the turn of the RAAF with the always impressive, loud F-111 the F-111 was flown from Christchurch about 6hrs by road from wanaka, or in the F-111 about 20 minutes. The Aussies always show the power of these impressive airplanes, and finish the show with a 'dump n burn'

After lunch it was the turn of the warbirds, with the show starting with the NZ Warbirds PBY-5a Catalina attacking a Japanese Sub that had surfaced at show center. The catalina was intercepted by two japanese fighters (represented by 2 Nangchang CJ-6's) before these were intercepted by 2 P-40's and a single FG-1D corsair. all 3 intercepting fighters have local history as one P-40 was operated by the RAAF in the south pacific in WW2 and the other P-40 and the Corsair were operated by the RNZAF in the pacific islands during WW2.
The ex RAAF P-40 is unique in that it is fitted with 6 operational .50cal machine guns and all ammo feeds etc. this aircraft made a couple of runs at a target and fired the guns during the show, for what is believed to be a world first at an airshow and the first for a P-40 since WWII.

Next on the line was the Polikarpov pair of an I-153 and I-16. The I-16 was flown by multiple unlimited world Aerobatic champion Jurgis Karyis who showed the potential of this stubby little fighter surprising many by performing 2 snap rolls at the top of a loop.

After the russian pairing, the Alpine fighter Collections Hawker Hurrican IIb was on stage, the pilot for this year Steve Taylor is the current NZ unlimited Aerobatics champion flying an Edge 540. Steve has plenty of warbird time with P-51, spitfire, Polikarpov I-16 and Hawker Sea Fury time under his belt. Steve displayed the Polikarpov at CAF airsho 2001.

After the Hurricane, was Wanaka's resident Yak-3U, followed by both of NZ's airworthy P-51's in formation and solo action.

Last set piece of the day was the mock attack, with 6 of the gathered T-6's attacking the airfield and the 2 P-40's, FG-1D and Hurricane launching to defend....

F-111 dump n Burn

http://hotimg16.fotki.com/a/60_234/144_227/IMG_9960292.jpg

[rc38pilot]

Re: Great Southern Airshow

Did the kiwi thunder mustang put on a aerobatic display or just make a couple passes?


Jim A (blue thunder crew member)

[ShermB]

Re: Great Southern Airshow

Were there any TBM's? There's a fellow down there that has a number of them. His most recent acquisition came from Seattle,WA. The previous owner flew it in your show last year or the year before. He loved the altitude restrictions. They were better than here in the States.
Betty

[kiwiracefan]

Re: Great Southern Airshow

Hi all, another Warbirds Over Wanaka is now totally in the books with the second day of the show over successfully, and unlike yesterday where the day was cold and cloudy, the day today was clear, and hot....
To answer the above questions, yes the Kiwi Thunder Mustang performed a very nice Aerobatic display on both days, with todays being flown by Syndicate CFI Bryan Gault flying....
And unfortunately there were no TBM's at the show, the TBM's recently aquirred in our part of the world are in Australia.
todays flying program was pretty much the same as yesterday, with the Vietnam set piece, the WW1 set piece, the NZ warbirds Assoc T-6 team the roaring 40's again showing excellent formation and solo aero's, The RNZAF displaying C-130, Bell 47 and UH-1 Huey's and NZ built PAC CT-4e Airtrainers, the Aussies again displayed the awesome F-111 with the dump n burn's the highlight, the major change today was the display by the RAAF of the C-17, this was an amazing sight over the airfield and low around the mountains.
Jurgis Kairys again displayed his amazing Juka, both solo and with the rest of the Air Bandits team.
The afternoon was again dedicated to the warbirds, with the Pacific theater display of the P-40s, FG-1D corsair and PBY attacking a 'japanese' Sub that appeared across from the crowd line.
Two P-51's solo and duo display, and the Russian 4 of Polikarpov I-16 & I-153, Yak-3 and the Alpine Fighter Collections Hawker Hurricane, the Hurricane was recovered in the mid 90's from Russia.
The last display before the finale was the NZ Warbird Assoc Jet team, with 2 DH Vampires, 1 L39 and A37 Dragonfly in a very well flown display of dis-similar type aerobatics.
The Finale was again a mock attack with 6 T-6 attackers being intercepted by the FG-1D, 2 P-40's and Hurricane.
After the T-6s were defeated, the fighters formed with 1 P-51 and the Yak-3 to perform the Wanaka traditional fighter flypast in memory of the brave servicemen of all conflicts.
As a side note, as mentioned yesterday, one of the P-40's has been fitted with fully operational .50cal guns, and again these were loaded with blank ammo and the P-40 attacked a target on the airfield. The cases ejected have been collected and as a fundraising venture for the Warbirds Over Wanaka Community Trust and New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum, the cases have been signed by pilots Frank Parker and Garth Hogan and sold.
Garth Hogan restored both P-40's in NZ as well as several now flying in the US including a P-40K5 for dick Thurman and P-40E for Jerry Yagen.
Another unique feature of Warbirds is the fact that the Display aircraft are very close to the crowd when not flying, and most pilots are more than happy after a display to stand at the fence behind their aircraft and talk to the crowd.
Garth told of the P-40N that has been fitted with the .50 cals, that the guns, and all of the other items necessary to operate the guns have added a half ton of weight to the airframe. The aircraft fitted with the guns is Garth's own P-40.

So the end of the show brings a 2 yr wait for the next one.... roll on Easter 2010.....
Check out some images from the show at

http://public.fotki.com/fotosportz/warbirdsoverwanaka08/

[kiwiracefan]

Re: Great Southern Airshow

ok hopefully this works, but here are some images from Warbirds over Wanaka 2008



for all the thunder mustang fans....

[luscombe]

Re: Great Southern Airshow

Big thanx to you kiwi race fan im from across the ditch in oz good to see some of the airshow pics and you report
I would love to get across there one day to see the show maybe 2010 wistful look to the heavens,
for all the usa and europen members a F111 in australia is refered to as a Pig as opposed to the US pilots ardvark and we have the only ones in the world that will shoot down and f16 for 15 or su27 lol because our pigs carry sidewinders, just a bit of trivia to go with the great dump and burn pick from kiwiracefan
again great reporting Kiwi thanx

layton
Terra Australis

[kiwiracefan]

Re: Great Southern Airshow

Ok, got some more images from Warbirds Over Wanaka 2008
Jurgis

Jet Team

Yak n 'Stang

PBY

And for those who have asked, here is the P-40 on a strafing run, check out the cases being ejected under the wings....

[AAFO_WSagar]

Re: Great Southern Airshow

Wow... how else but via the internet and those good souls we encounter via it, could we experience this show, so soon after the event!

Thanks Kiwi!!!

[kiwiracefan]

Re: Great Southern Airshow

No problems Wayne I'm still sorting images, shot approx 2000 over the 3 days, as well as nearly 3hrs of video, several times got caught going for the video & the D Rebel at the same time.... but it was a great show, I overheard a couple of the NY ANG guys commenting on how good the show was and how they were going to come back if they got the chance.

[flyingjibus]

Re: Great Southern Airshow

Thanks Kiwi!

You dont by chance know another Kiwi named Wayne who imports the wingless 4 wheeled mustangs into NZ do you?

[kiwiracefan]

Re: Great Southern Airshow

Haha flyingjibus, sorry, i cant say i do know wayne who imports the wingless mustangs....