Warbird crossing the Tasman

[bazzaboeing]

Hi, not sure if this is the right place to post this but here goes. Was reading the latest Australian Aviation mag (July) and in the Warbirds section it tells of ZK-KEE an L39 jet warbird that was rebuilt at Wanaka then flown across the Tasman via Queenstown,Nelson,Kaitaia and then onto Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands before heading to its new home of Coffs Harbour. I remember reading quite a while ago of a DH Vampire (A76-649 now ZK-VAM and now owned by John Currie) which also flew the Tasman to New Zealand. I think the pilots were Bill Rolfe and I stand to be corrected on this Ross Ewing??.
This would make the L39 the second not the first Jet Warbird crossing of the Tasman so maybe the writer did not do their homework in researching this item.

Cheers Barry

[Bruce]

Certainly the T11 Vampire did fly the Tasman, I was working at Ardmore when it came in. 1992 or 1993 from memory. also, would you count the RNZAF Canberra and Skyhawk crossings? after all they could be "Jet Warbirds"? As far as warbirds in general go, there have been several DC3s of course, That aussie guy in the P51 (noted on another thread) and the Hawker Sea Fury formerly ZK-SFR has made at least 3 crossings - 2 of them doubles. add the Catalina ZK-PBY and Gerald Rhode's C60 lobestar (multiple crossings as well)and the fomer Alpine Collection Avenger, and theres a well - worn warbird trail across the ditch!

[Damon]

Dont forget the ex RNZAF Harvards that have crossed the Tasman since 1978 .The latest would have been Harvard NZ1099.

[Peter Lewis]

. . . and (sob!) ex-RNZAF Airtourer T6/24 Whiskey Bravo Whiskey, which has done the trip twice.
But he was initially asking about jets . . .

[Dave Homewood]

Blast, I thought this thread might be news of a new arrival in NZ.

That B-25 can't be far away.