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Post by suthg on Oct 4, 2015 20:43:17 GMT 12
This was my first Airshow I ever visited - it was at Hamilton International Airport Easter 1995 over 3 days. I believe we went to the final day and it was a stinking hot day with two kids 5 and 8 walking and a 18m old in pram and wife very pregnant with No.4. She was brave but supportive. I was using my trusty Pentax ME with a Soligor 80-200mm physically small by today's lenses. There were some fabulous planes there including a RAN Hornet that came over for a brief display then headed vertical out of here! Very memorable! They were scanned about 5-8 years ago so they were a low quality scan then. I may find the negatives and be able to improve the images a long way then. The first photo is of The Alpine Fighter Collection's Supermarine Spitfire XVIe probably flown by the late Tom Middleton and Sir Tim Wallis. He can be seen leaning on the fence on the left talking with the public. In the background can be seen the P-51D Mustang and the Corsair, then the Avenger, to the right is the Devon and a DHC-2 Beaver.  Spitfire XVIe by Graeme Sutherland, on Flickr The next photo is of the New Zealand Historic Fighter Trust's North American P-51D Mustang possibly flown by Trevor Bland  MustangP51D by Graeme Sutherland, on Flickr The next photo is of The Alpine Fighter Collection's Curtiss P-40K Kittyhawk, flown by John Lamont, who is seen standing on the wing.  Kittyhawk P40K by Graeme Sutherland, on Flickr This photo is of the late Tom Middleton getting out of the cockpit of the AFC Spitfire XVIe  MiddletonSpitfire by Graeme Sutherland, on Flickr Two further photos now of the tail-chase of the Mustang following very closely behind the Spitfire. Not sure who the Spitfire pilot is, perhaps the late Tom Middleton or Sir Tim Wallis - I don't know. Sir Tim appeared fairly well dressed for the day - well for the weather and the talkfest along the crowdline... DH thinks the P-51D pilot may have been Trevor Bland.  MustangChaseSpit by Graeme Sutherland, on Flickr  MustangTailchaseSpit by Graeme Sutherland, on Flickr Enjoy - they are in a fairly large size on Flickr if you wish to look a bit closer - you might even be there!!  PS - thanks to Dave H for naming the pilots and describing the planes and the Airshow title! |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 4, 2015 21:09:44 GMT 12
Looks like Russell Coutts in that last photo!
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Oct 5, 2015 3:04:53 GMT 12
Thanks for the memories, I was there! A stand out memory for me was the WAW Birds boys flying FU-24s I think, really impressive display. At one point I had my heart in mouth when one of the Fletchers executed a wingover maneuver followed by a steep dive (like the return for a sowing run) and was still in plan-view at less than 100' - he sharply raised the nose as he disappeared from my view behind the crowd line. I seriously expected to see bits of Fletcher disintegrating everywhere... But no, thank goodness.
These pics emphasize the support of the warbird movement by Sir Tim Wallis and his generosity. P-40, Corsair, Avenger, Spitfire all from his collection in Wanaka dragged all the way to Hamilton. Good on ya mate!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 5, 2015 7:34:44 GMT 12
My overwhelming memory of this airshow was disappointment. Not in the Warbirds nor the displays - as they were awesome - but in the organisation of the airshow. I had followed closely the pre-publicity that had been rolling out about the show. The organisers were really talking it up, saying it would rival, if not better, Wanaka. They made some big and bold promises in the Waikato Times such as the appearance of a Stealth bomber and also the Russian Knights display team with their Mig 29's. As a result I decided to invest in a new thing they'd come up with, the VIP gold pass. I assumed there'd be a hundred-thousand people there and I wanted a decent view. It turned out the gold pass basically gave nothing more than to sit on a bleacher (not even a proper grandstand like you see today) and they also had some complimentary orange juice - not much for the huge bucks it cost. It also turned out the Stealth bomber which they'd been talking up as passing through on the way back to the USA from Aussie (there had definitely been one in Aussie the week before at another airshow by the way) was nothing more than a stupid commentator's gag with a " keep your eyes peeled" and a pyro explosion at the end. Stupidity, after talking it up in the press. And the Russian Knights who they'd been advertising as the big drawcard and who also were in Aussie at the time, they announced a couple of days before were no longer coming. The Times investigated and discovered the airshow committee had refused to pay their accommodation costs and the team had cancelled. Again stupidity on the organisers' part. When the weekend came the crowd was tiny compared with what they'd expected, and I believe most of the Warbirds people never got their expenses paid after the show. A real disaster. Their big plan to make it the bi-annual alternative to Wanaka each Easter failed as the Warbirds went to Omaka the next odd-year Easter and that airshow is now No.1 on the airshow scene. Save a few Waikato Aero Club open days, Hamilton has not had a big airshow since, and that idiot who ripped everyone off a few years back probably ensured they never will again.
Positives from this airshow where the tailchase between Sir Tim and Trevor in the Spitfire and Mustang. There was the equally awesome 'Knights of the Air' display where Sir Tim in the Spitfire did an impressive pairs display with Sir Kenneth Hayr in his newly imported Yak 52 (the first time this type had been seen at a kiwi airshow I seem to recall). It was the only time I got to see the orange Venom flying as far as I recall. It was also the last time I'd see the Corsair and P-40K from the collection, and I thought for some time the last time I'd seen Plonky, but thankfully not. I also got to catch up with Sir Tim for a chat and he let me sit in the Spitfire which as very cool indeed.
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Post by komata on Oct 5, 2015 15:15:32 GMT 12
Memories, what memories:
Like you Dave H, we went expecting great things, but although the 'advertised' didn't arrive there were other compensations: For me it was a chance to sit in a 'Kitty's cockpit once more after a very long absence, with the 'owner' / minder very generously even permitting me the privilege of closing the canopy over 'for memory's' sake ('nuff said). My son was also allowed to 'inhabit' the Corsair's cockpit (aren't they huge - and very dark down below the 'floor'?) and gain a chance to understand what his 'old man' had been talking about for so many years. It wasn't 'Josephine', but close enough for the purpose...
A long day certainly, and as already noted, disappointing as to what didn't eventuate, but still worth while. Thanks for reminding us Graeme.
BTW: Did anyone else see the Spitfire display that Sir Tim put on over the river flat area between Cambridge and Mt Mangakawa ('Sanatorium Hill') between 1800-1830 that same evening? We had a grandstand view, and suffice to say it was awesome; Sir Tim simply having fun and playing around. Very, very memorable. but alas all too short...
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Post by campbellbox on Oct 5, 2015 19:20:31 GMT 12
I was there for the weekend - camping with Mum and little brother and sister. Not the greatest plan for a spectacular weekend of airshow action in hindsight. I get the feeling I didn't really appreciate it, that line up looks really good, but I don't have a great recollection of the flying. My abiding memories are that the crowd line fence was barbed wire, which made leaning on it a challenge, and that some old bugger got rather put out when he took a photo of the back of my head. Hardly my fault I'd have thought. You don't have a scan of that shot do you Suthg?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 5, 2015 20:21:43 GMT 12
I never knew about that evening Spitfire display Komata, that sounds fantastic!
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Post by Bruce on Oct 5, 2015 20:35:57 GMT 12
Memories, what memories: Like you Dave H, we went expecting great things, but although the 'advertised' didn't arrive there were other compensations: For me it was a chance to sit in a 'Kitty's cockpit once more after a very long absence, with the 'owner' / minder very generously even permitting me the privilege of closing the canopy over 'for memory's' sake ('nuff said). My son was also allowed to 'inhabit' the Corsair's cockpit (aren't they huge - and very dark down below the 'floor'?) and gain a chance to understand what his 'old man' had been talking about for so many years. It wasn't 'Josephine', but close enough for the purpose... A long day certainly, and as already noted, disappointing as to what didn't eventuate, but still worth while. Thanks for reminding us Graeme. BTW: Did anyone else see the Spitfire display that Sir Tim put on over the river flat area between Cambridge and Mt Mangakawa ('Sanatorium Hill') between 1800-1830 that same evening? We had a grandstand view, and suffice to say it was awesome; Sir Tim simply having fun and playing around. Very, very memorable. but alas all too short... I remember that "display" by Sir Tim over Cambridge - a stunning sight and sound. It was Sir Tim just enjoying himself, it wasnt even a practice for the show display which was a lot different, very agressive compared to the informal, flowing aeros that night. Awesome! |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Oct 5, 2015 22:09:53 GMT 12
My memory of that airshow is slightly traumatic.
It was the first time I had flown myself into Hamilton airfield and also the first time I had taken an aircraft away overnight (or two nights, as it happened).
I remember having great difficulty in finding the airfield, just one large green paddock in amongst all the other green Waikato paddocks. Pre-GPS times, of course. In the end the exasperated tower guy got me to follow another aircraft so that I could actually find the right place.
The resposibility of having a whole live aircraft solely in my care for all that time really got to me. I kept on wanting to rush back to the aircraft park to pat Whiskey Alpha Hotel just to make sure no-one else had damaged it or stolen it. Quite nervewracking.
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Post by baronbeeza on Oct 7, 2015 11:06:24 GMT 12
It was the first time I had flown myself into Hamilton airfield and also the first time I had taken an aircraft away overnight (or two nights, as it happened). I remember having great difficulty in finding the airfield, just one large green paddock in amongst all the other green Waikato paddocks. I used to fly up from New Plymouth and also had difficulty finding Hamilton airport. One more memorable one was spotting a slow flying 737 a few miles ahead on my nose. I was flying a 172 but still managed to keep it in sight and it was obviously on approach so I thought I had it easy. Just follow this jet. It was only when it started a left turn that I realised he was actually at the end of his downwind leg and was turning base. Fortunately when I looked down I was directly over the airfield so positioning and the sequencing for my downwind worked out perfectly. I had similar issues in Lincolnshire but at least the airfields often had a bright light, a rotating beacon that could be seen from miles away. Did airfields here ever have, or use, them ? |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Oct 7, 2015 21:07:19 GMT 12
I later found that the trick for finding Hamilton airport was to look for the buildings, not the field.
Of course today, with GPS, it's so much easier!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 7, 2015 21:35:06 GMT 12
In the old days you could look for the hundreds of fighters and bombers in the corner of the airfield I'd bet.
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Post by ZacYates on Oct 8, 2015 8:06:50 GMT 12
Great photos and memories, all!
Dave - your recital of promised overseas acts never coming through brings to mind a more recent attempt at an airshow at Hamilton!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 10, 2015 21:51:14 GMT 12
Yeah but I was skeptical of that load of bollocks from the start, Zac. As was the Waikato Times that time round too.
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Post by eieio on Oct 11, 2015 19:38:37 GMT 12
Control Tower rotating beacon......Hamiltons old tower had one and the current control structure recently gained one
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Post by komata on Oct 11, 2015 21:02:27 GMT 12
Bruce
Re: 'I remember that "display" by Sir Tim over Cambridge - a stunning sight and sound. It was Sir Tim just enjoying himself, it wasnt even a practice for the show display which was a lot different, very agressive compared to the informal, flowing aeros that night. Awesome!'
As you say, very 'flowing' and a joy to behold. Glad to know that someone else also saw it. Unfortunately no camera to record the event, but certainly a memory to treasure.
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