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Post by ZacYates on Feb 27, 2017 7:44:51 GMT 12
Amen - the ghosts of 2012 are well and truly gone. I heard no grumbling about traffic and the crowd seemed a pretty fair size to me on Saturday. It's been fantastic to see the mass of positive comments flooding into the Facebook page. While I didn't partake of either, I'd like to echo Dave's commendation for the Park and Ride facilities. Two great ideas that made me think "good on ya" - brilliant. They really did well. Likewise the tanker supplying free water bottle refills was great. Did Harvard NZ1015 fly yesterday? Also it was great to see the RNZAF Museum's 80 Stories exhibit at the show. I saw a few faces and names I recognised, but this is one I felt obligated to share on the forum: Stuff has a great overview of the show and the Singapore discussion link]. They don't say who it's from, but this quote intrigues me: "Given this is our 80th, it's a very special year and what better way to do it in style and in a more significant way than with an Air Tattoo like this ... I think every five years, to be able to do this for the New Zealand public is fantastic." "2022 Air Tattoo" has a nice ring to it!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 27, 2017 8:03:32 GMT 12
NZ1015 cannot legally fly yet, I understand that the CAA paperwork is incomplete. they tried to get her ready for the Tattoo but just don't make it. So no, that Harvard didn't fly. But gosh it was cool seeing NZ1037 and NZ1052 tucked up so close to Mit's Devon, a great formation!
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Post by flyinkiwi on Feb 27, 2017 8:10:48 GMT 12
My 2c:
We drove down on Friday and got stuck in the mother of all traffic jams. Took us 3 hours to get to Taupo. Stayed overnight in Linton then took the park and ride from Fielding, which was well signposted and well organized. Our bus driver managed to find Ohakea OK but after driving in the wrong entrance and being turned around (not an easy feat in a 44 seat coach btw) when he went into the right one had difficulty finding the bus park due to a lack of signposting. Contrasting that, everything inside was well organized and labelled. Could you guys who know people serving please pass along my regards, the personnel I came across were extremely helpful and professional all day. Loved the Strike Eagles, never seen one up close before. The A400M is a lot bigger than I had imagined. The Aussie Hornets are looking old and well used, show us ya Super Hornets please. It was great to see Plonky and PV270 airborne again! It's been 10 years since I've seen a F-16 airborne and I couldn't wait to see it again. How they accelerate vertically is incredible, and those high alpha aileron rolls... just wow. I guess the cloud that blew over in the afternoon meant the 757 couldn't do the pull up and wingover from the high speed pass, I was telling everyone around me how impressive it was so it was a bit disappointing they didn't do it. Oh and if I ever catch up with the owner of the Range Rover who a) brought their dog to an airshow, and b) locked it in inside their car on a fine and sunny day, I'll be having more than words with them. Security should have smashed the windows first then told the owner why they did it. Grrrrr.
All in all, a really good day out. And I was actively looking for you Dave but I didn't spot you, you must have been well concealed.
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Post by airuarak on Feb 27, 2017 10:31:24 GMT 12
So weather wise the second day was the better... it would have been very sad if the Black Falcons weren't able to do the high show after Saturday's restrictions. I couldn't believe it when on Saturday the Herc flew into the clouds at the time it dropped the flares... Sunday's flare drop was perfect.
I would give the tattoo an A+ for the organisation.
In terms of flying... shame the Venom didn't turn up (any idea why?). The mass fly past on Sunday was great, especially the view if you were along the fence line as they came through... Saturday didn't get to see this, but it was nice on Sunday.
I see everyone liked the Viper display... for me nothing beats a Hornet display. That was my favourite of the two. Oh, I absolutely loved the opening flypast of the spitfire.
It's a shame (just for nastolgia) that the TA-4K they had parked for the 75th couldn't be next to the Aermacchi.
Seeing F-16, F-15, and F-18 all parked next to each other was nice to see.
I could go on. It was brilliant. Ways to improve for next time... get an RNZAF historic (warbird) fly past too, as well as the current mass fly past. Maybe, if that Singapore thing happens, we could see an F15 flying next time? Would have been cool to wheel out a Red Checker... that let people sit in cockpit last time.
I suppose I could go on. It was fantastic. Don't have a single gripe, just a wish list. The RNZAF should be very proud of themselves.
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troops
Flight Sergeant
Posts: 20
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Post by troops on Feb 27, 2017 10:37:46 GMT 12
I thought it was a solid airshow. Flying displays were on point - the fast jets especially so. Well organised, well run, and good picture opportunities. RNZAF B757 Hope you like them. RNZAF NH-90 RAAF C-17 RNZAF B757 CASA USAF C-17 USAF F-16 Kiwi Blue RAAF F/A 18 Inverted Pass RAAF F/A 18 RCAF C130 Black Falcons AirNZ B787-9 with Black Falcons RNZAF C130
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Post by flyinkiwi on Feb 27, 2017 10:59:03 GMT 12
I see everyone liked the Viper display... for me nothing beats a Hornet display. That was my favourite of the two. I've seen a number of Hornet displays over the years and Saturday's wasn't all that great. You could tell it was the pilots first show. What was more impressive was the RAAF SQNLDR flying the F/A-18B who flicked into a steep turn 50 feet above the runway when he took off. I thought to myself, "that is what 2500 hours on type looks like".
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 27, 2017 13:54:44 GMT 12
Who were the two Hornet pilots?
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Post by ZacYates on Feb 27, 2017 14:10:31 GMT 12
I had every intention of writing things like that down to help you out with the Archive. I even brought a notebook. Do you think I followed through?!
The twin-seater (A21-102) pilot was OC of 2OCU, callsign Woodsy - that's all I can remember unfortunately.
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Post by longforgan on Feb 27, 2017 14:40:33 GMT 12
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Post by skyhawkdon on Feb 27, 2017 15:18:23 GMT 12
The RNZAF can be very proud of the Air Tattoo. The ground and air displays were fantastic. A shame the public turnout was so poor. The traffic management plan worked very well but wasn't really tested due to the low public turnout. Seeing F-16s (and F-18s/F-15s) on my old 75 Sqn flightline left me feeling just a wee bit sad but great to have them here.
I left feeling very proud of our Air Force and how far it has come since I left in 2001. They have some great new kit and as always their people are their greatest asset.
The event could have been even better had NZ Warbirds been invited to bring a few representative types along. There was plenty of room for them and enough gaps in the flying programme for them to fly. Something for the RNZAF to think about for next time...
I can answer a couple of questions regarding missing aircraft. The Venom flew in the practice on the Friday but then had an engine/generator problem so was parked in No 3 hangar all weekend (not sure why they didn't drag it out and park it beside the Macchi so it was at least on static display?). Skyhawk "57" was similarly parked in the hangar all weekend. I was particularly dissapointed in this and sad to hear why. The aircraft's condition/appearance is apparently not good and it was decided to leave it out of sight rather than fix/clean it up and put it outside. They should give to to the Biggin Hill boys and I'm sure they will sort it/look after it as they do with the Macchi and Iroquois.
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Post by flyinkiwi on Feb 27, 2017 15:40:21 GMT 12
I had every intention of writing things like that down to help you out with the Archive. I even brought a notebook. Do you think I followed through?! The twin-seater (A21-102) pilot was OC of 2OCU, callsign Woodsy - that's all I can remember unfortunately. The solo display pilot had a callsign like Trails or Tails? They interviewed both of them on Saturday morning and I must admit I didn't pay a lot of attention. I know he is 28, got his gliders license before his drivers license, loves mountain biking and is from Adelaide. My memory retained only the useless facts it seems...
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Post by ZacYates on Feb 27, 2017 15:44:15 GMT 12
Yes! Surname Traill maybe? Dave - I've asked the RAAF for the names on Facebook.
Don - I thought the reason "57" wasn't on the line was because officialdom may have been embarrassed to have it sat next to the F-16s. I had no idea it was in poor shape, that's sad to hear. It looked very nice in 2012.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Feb 27, 2017 16:55:28 GMT 12
Yes! Surname Traill maybe? Dave - I've asked the RAAF for the names on Facebook. Don - I thought the reason "57" wasn't on the line was because officialdom may have been embarrassed to have it sat next to the F-16s. I had no idea it was in poor shape, that's sad to hear. It looked very nice in 2012. That was also a consideration I believe because there were a number of politicians present and "57" isn't supposed to exist... but the main driver was its condition. That paint scheme it got prior to the 2012 show was terrible. Wrong colours and gloss finish! It still has it.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 27, 2017 17:35:35 GMT 12
Two other aircraft on their website that I never saw there yesterday were a Spitfire Replica, and the Catalina. Is the Cat poorly?
Thanks for the posters of the art tent Don, I was so busy watching aeroplanes and talking with my friends that I never got a chance to look at any of the displays in tents.
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Post by phil on Feb 27, 2017 17:58:53 GMT 12
My 2c: Our bus driver managed to find Ohakea OK but after driving in the wrong entrance and being turned around (not an easy feat in a 44 seat coach btw) when he went into the right one had difficulty finding the bus park due to a lack of signposting. You were on the same bus as I was then. 57 is covered in bird poo unfortunately. It does look pretty shabby, although the colours don't look all that wrong to me, just that it is shiny.
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Post by tbf25o4 on Feb 27, 2017 18:49:07 GMT 12
Yep a pity some of the other warbirds were not present even in a static line-up. I can't remember seeing the Historic Flight Tiger Moth either.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 27, 2017 19:37:47 GMT 12
Sounds like the Skyhawk needs some white plastic shrink wrap between Air Tattoos to keep the birdturd off?
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Post by skyhawkdon on Feb 27, 2017 20:01:14 GMT 12
The two F-16s went for a sunset jolly this evening for about an hour to test everything before heading across the Tasman tomorrow. The KC-135 that left Ohakea yesterday morning before the airshow started was in Christchurch when we arrived early this morning. It has gone to Melbourne now apparently.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Feb 27, 2017 20:05:28 GMT 12
My 2c: Our bus driver managed to find Ohakea OK but after driving in the wrong entrance and being turned around (not an easy feat in a 44 seat coach btw) when he went into the right one had difficulty finding the bus park due to a lack of signposting. You were on the same bus as I was then. 57 is covered in bird poo unfortunately. It does look pretty shabby, although the colours don't look all that wrong to me, just that it is shiny. Pretty disappointing that all of the ex Skyhawk guys still at Ohakea couldn't get together and get it sorted before the airshow. How hard is it to give it a wash?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 27, 2017 20:10:10 GMT 12
I guess there was too much else to do, a lot of work was clearly put in to set up for the airshow - much more than previously.
And surely most ex-Skyhawk people have retired from the RNZAF now. It's been over 15 years since they were taken out of service.
Yesterday after the show the commentators said the F-16's were both departing for Christchurch to rendezvous with the KC-135 and then head back to Japan. We saw one depart, but not the other despite them both running their engines for about 40 minutes. Did one have an issue?
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