Polikarpovs

[Dave Homewood]

I just learned today that there are now no longer any Polikarpovs in NZ. All the I-16's and I-153's have now gone overseas. They'll be missed at Wanaka shows I'd think. They were great airshow performers.

One of the I-16 Ratas has arrived at Duxford from Germany for this weekend's Flying Legends airshow by the way. This is Britain's first look at the type.

[vs]

Hopefully one day we will see some back in New Zealand

[furyfb11]

Yes the Polikarpovs will certainly be missed at Wanaka airshows they were great performers always fun to watch,landings were always exciting specially if there was two or three knots of crosswind.
I thought I might share some of my photos taken over the 1998,2000,2002 airshows.




I-153 ZK-JJB



I-153 ZK-JKN


I-153 ZK-JKM








1-16 ZK-JIP


I-16 ZK-JIO


I-16 ZK-JIR


I-16 ZK-JIN 2000




I-16 ZK-JIN 1998












1000hp of grunt

Another Polikarpov type that was in NZ briefly was this Po-2 ZK-POZ seen here at the Classic Fighters show at Omaka on 19/04/03.It went to the UK 08/03

[Dave Homewood]

What an impressive colection of aircraft and photos. thanks for sharing them. It is sad they had to be broken up as a group and spread to the four winds around the world, I'd guess the massed formations is a sight that will never be seen again.

Is that Po-2 the one now at Old Warden?

[Mike S]

Yes Dave, it's the Po-2 that's caused so much heartache (and wallet-ache!) at OW over the past few years.

[Richard Wesley]

Thanks for the great photo collection. Who would have predicted that little NZ would be the home to a whole fleet of these great little beasts!

With a Harrier at Ashburton, a flying Mosquito around the corner, I wonder what is next...?

[Peter Lewis]

Jul 8, 2010 19:12:25 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

One of the I-16 Ratas has arrived at Duxford from Germany for this weekend's Flying Legends airshow by the way. This is Britain's first look at the type.

Very good video coverage of the display by "Red 9" (ex ZK-JIN) at Flying Legends here:

www.focalplanes.co.uk/?p=221#more-221

[mgmike]

The latest issue of the UK magazine "Aeroplane" (airfreight issue in the bookstores at the moment) has a small article on the last Poli to leave NZ. Sounds like that is the one which had the landing accident, as the new owner in Russia spent ten months repairing it before it flew again.

I had read someone that one Poli was still privately owned in Wanaka, presume that never happened?

[Brett]

Kermit Weeks has just purchased the I-16 from the Commemorative Air Force (ex ZK-JIP). At some point the overhauled engine was removed and swapped for a time-expired engine from an AN-2, so there is at least some engine work required before it can fly again.

[ZacYates]

For those who want to see Kermit's pre-pre-purchase inspection:

[planecrazy]

Wow great pic's of the Polikarpovs at Wanaka, also interesting Kermits comment at the end of the
clip about the hours of the museum and reference to his museum, I guess he is referring to the lack
of punters through the door?

Is this a bit of a trend through out aviation museums around the world, is interest in old aeroplanes
falling away? I recall Dave's comment about some of the UK museum's just aren't open in the winter.

The above PO-2 at Old Warden last year.