Kwek 0 Report post Posted April 5, 2008 I attended the Warbirds over Wanaka 2008 this Easter. It's certainly ranks amongst the best airshow that I have attended. If you like Warbirds, this is the best one in the Southern Hemisphere. Here's a selection of the photos. THis P-40 got off to an early start before the actual flying program and provided a demostration of the live firing of her cannons - apparently for the first time since the end of WWII. Two Vampires kicked off the show. It's a blast watching these two old timers swinging around, pulling Gs. You can be right by the runway if you want to. Too bad I missed the start-up of these two birds parked at the normal parking apron, which is a distance away. Must be hell of smokey, if the photos that we see of start-up sequence in books are correctly depicted. Zipping around and pulling Gs....I suspect there must some strengthening of the twin tails. These wooden wonders are really old! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peter Smith 1 Report post Posted April 5, 2008 The one thing New Zealand has going for it! hahahaha Awesome stuff, Kwek! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gavin Andrew David 6 Report post Posted April 5, 2008 Wooo , nice nice , Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Simon 3 Report post Posted April 5, 2008 Rare aircraft, nice Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pieter C. 5 Report post Posted April 5, 2008 Excellent shots or some rare aircraft there, Kwek, please, can you share us some more ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arfian Abdul Rahman 0 Report post Posted April 5, 2008 nice shot of a rare bird, kept it coming Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Norman 1 Report post Posted April 6, 2008 Wow... wow... wowowoooo..... Very nice...!! Share some please, Kwek.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kwek 0 Report post Posted April 6, 2008 (edited) Is that a Mustang? No, look closely. She's not the real thing - a three-quarter scale representation, with modern instruments and engine. This souped up bird can go things that you won't try with a real warbird... There's a couple of real Mustangs that will come on later. Next is the re-enactment of WWI aerial warfare. Later the Fokker IVs and Pfalz D111 and will be joined by a Sopwith Triplane (she splutters very minute or so....) and a Nieuport 11. The WWI replicas took off from the grass strip, as they did many moons ago. It was a very cloudy day but still, beware the Hun in the sun!!! Rat-tat-tat....damn shiok! Next up are the Wanaka aerobactic team consisting of Harvards. I enjoyed watching aircraft taking off from the grass strip. Yellow... Checkers... There's a ton of them here....painted in all shorts of markings. Simulating a chase... Edited April 6, 2008 by Kwek Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kwek 0 Report post Posted April 6, 2008 The Air Bandits is a unique group consisting of a Juka, Yak 50 and Sukhoi 29 - all mixed up and flown by a Lithuanian, a Japanese and a New Zealander. Juka taxiing to park. This Jurgis guys is crazy - he took part in 3 of the displays!!! There is ton of Yak-52s at Wanaka. Must be cheap cheap... A water bomber sneaked into the display.. I haven't got a clue on the aircraft type. The Vietnam re-enactment has a Birddog, Trojan and helis flying simulating attack and Search and Rescue...ala M.A.S.H (for those old enough to remember). The Aussies was a disappointment. Only the F-111 showed up. The Caribous and C-17 display were cancelled due to the low cloud base....they all had to fly in from Christchurch for this. I eventually got to see the C-17 on take-off roll (one of two in active service with RAAF) on my departure from Christchurch. The New Zealanders put up a brave display despite not having a fighter force. Too bad no B757s are they are both undergoing upgrade and conversion. Well, they still have transport.... some helis..... and trainers.... The Red Checkers (in yellow of course) are made up of instructors flying CT-4s This brings the time to almost 2 pm. It's been non-stop action since 10 a.m. No chance of toilet break or food if you don't want to miss anything.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T Azahan 1 Report post Posted April 6, 2008 Nose shot beautiful! So many classics!! And the crowd could practically kiss the runway. Thank you kwek. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kianhong 0 Report post Posted April 6, 2008 Ooooo.... very nice. So many rare stuff and classics. Got more? A water bomber sneaked into the display.. I haven't got a clue on the aircraft type. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v455/Kwe...317_hi10_c8.jpg Look like a Pacific Aerospace Cresco, with a very distinct high lift dihedral wing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Victor A. 2 Report post Posted April 6, 2008 Great shots Kwek... anymore? love the oldies and classic warbirds and what not. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Loh ka yi 0 Report post Posted April 6, 2008 (edited) woww..even i duno anything on plane..but IT NICE ! Edited April 6, 2008 by Loh ka yi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TK 0 Report post Posted April 6, 2008 many years i plan to go.... Didnt make it. Nice one Kwek... Vampires...wohoo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Imran K. 0 Report post Posted April 6, 2008 Nice shots Kwek! Fuyoh...power! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peter Smith 1 Report post Posted April 6, 2008 Jurgis is now a regular down-under...since his first appearance in 2005 at Avalon, I don't think he's missed an event since! Oh, RAAF now has all 4 C-17's in service (A41-206/7/8/9) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chee Yong 0 Report post Posted April 6, 2008 Oh... those are the old warbirds... cool man... Thanks for sharing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kwek 0 Report post Posted April 6, 2008 Some misc pics before I round up the post on the Wanaka airshow with the main warbird display. The spectator line for Wanaka is not ideal for photography. The sun is always directly in your face for morning and till about 3 pm the afternoon - you need to aim towards the north in the afternoon and hope for some light on the subject. That's why a lot of the shots are three-quarter rear ;-) Perhaps the cloudy weather was a blessing, otherwise it will be backlit shots for most of the time. There were some aircraft were on static display, like this restored De Havilland Dominee. When you are in a hurry, take off in threes.....this was followed by another series of take-off in the opposite direction from the grass strip.. ATC did a great job to keep the flow and momentum of the flying display. Half plane, half helicopter..... This is the Gyrate Eagle. a tandem two-seat gyroplane. My favourite British WWII plane: the Hawker Hurricane. This is one of only ten remaining airworthy examples left out of the thousands that were built. I finally got to see the Staggerwing in person. WWI replica Fokker at the static park Yak 3-M being towed by a tractor. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kwek 0 Report post Posted April 6, 2008 (edited) The main event commenced at 2 pm. Consisting of a series of displays by the warbirds, this is non-stop action lasted till 5 pm. The "RNZAF in the Pacific War" section was depicted by P-40s, a Corsair and a CATALINA!! This included a section where a "Zero" (Harvard in disguise) would attack the Catalina and be repulsed by the Kittyhawks. There aren't many Catalinas flying around. Enjoy! P-40 pics Corsair pics Catalina I had the privilege of visiting the same aircraft at Wigram the week before. My only regret was not being able to secure a seat for the joyrides. There's a hugh demand for it and the cost is NZ$100 for a 30 minute ride. The net proceeds are donated to the Cancer society. (there's a story behind this, connected to this particular aircraft). Edited April 6, 2008 by Kwek Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Simon 3 Report post Posted April 6, 2008 Hope i was there Thanks for the pics sharing Kwek Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pieter C. 5 Report post Posted April 6, 2008 Awesome, Kwek, really really nice !!! Love the Corsair shots Would be dyin' to make a joy-flight in one of these YAK's Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Raj Changela 0 Report post Posted April 6, 2008 Ah Kwek, looks like you had a great time...excellent. Always enjoy watching your great work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Loh ka yi 0 Report post Posted April 7, 2008 kwek,u done a great job man. NICE pic,and thanx for sharing your nice nice pic with us~ :clapping: :clapping: :good: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kwek 0 Report post Posted April 7, 2008 Dakota. That name sure bring back memories for many older folks.... How about a fly-by? Bank a little for the camera please.... A gentle turn........ ...and on short finals to land. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Samuel Chy 0 Report post Posted April 7, 2008 Kwek, really appreciate it... especially the DC-3 pixes... so nice... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites