Warbirds Over Wanaka 2008 January Update

[Dave Homewood]

From their website:
www.warbirdsoverwanaka.co.nz/article_2008.asp?id=latest

18th January 2008: A Supermarine Spitfire will make its South Island airshow debut at the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow 2008. Making the announcement today, General Manager Gavin Johnston said "We are so pleased that an iconic Spitfire will again be seen at Wanaka".

Her new owner, Doug Brooker of Auckland, has imported the aeroplane from the USA after a lengthy rebuild. It made its maiden flight from Bartow, Florida on the 16th September 2007.

This particular Spitfire is a Mk IX and is fitted with two seats. It is the first time a Spitfire like this will have been seen flying in the Southern Hemisphere. After WWII, Supermarine developed a two seat trainer version of the Spitfire and the type was used by the Israeli and Irish Air Forces.

The aircraft is painted to represent the Spitfire flown by American Major Robert Levine of the 4th Fighter Squadron in the Middle East. Gavin said, "The Spitfire will perform both days of the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow. It makes a welcome addition to the number of exciting aircraft that will appear at the show".

Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow 2008 will be held over Easter weekend (21-23 March 2008).

[p40fanatic]

Great to have it confirmed! Excellent stuff!

Although "South Island airshow debut" is interesting.....SportAvex or Hamilton, or both for the triumphant NZ debut?

[DragonflyDH90]

As far as I know the container wont be here until early Feb so will be cutting it fine for either event to get it reassembled and paperwork complete.

[Radialicious]

It's not a Kiwi airshow if a bunch of enthusiasts aren't working to 3am in the days leading up to the show. Good luck!

[merlin]

Thanks Dave you have just made my day.I am heading over for this years show and was a little upset at the possibility of not seeing and hearing a spitfire at the show.

Being a 2 seater does this mean there might be a possibility of flights being available sometime in the future.Please say YES...

[Gavin Conroy]

I see more aircraft have been added to the WOW site

[p40fanatic]

Fantastic! At last we'll get to see the D.IV fly!

And TWO Klemms? How cool is that going to be? AWESOME NEWS!

I'd really better get into organising my way down there....

[p40fanatic]

Ok, yet another update:

Royal Australian Air Force to Show its Wares

28th January 2008: The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has confirmed a big show of force at the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow 2008 (WOW08). General Manager Gavin Johnston said, "This will be the largest and most impressive involvement yet by the RAAF".

The RAAF has confirmed the return of the F-111 supersonic long range strike aircraft, which was so spectacular, and such a hit with the large crowd at the 2006 airshow. Its signature "Dump and Burn", using fuel dump and afterburner, will again thrill the large crowds expected for this year's show.

Australia's newest acquisition to the fleet, the C-17 Globemaster, will debut at WOW 08. The C17 is a high wing four jet-engine heavy transport. It has three times the carrying capacity of the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft used by the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the RAAF, and will provide something very different from anything seen at previous shows.

A favourite with airshow crowds is the venerable DHC-4 Caribou twin piston-engine light transport. Introduced in 1964 and employed in Vietnam, this short take off and landing aircraft rounds off the three RAAF types appearing at the show. Three DHC-4 Caribous will be appearing the event.

Gavin said, "I am thrilled the RAAF has kindly agreed to show off its hardware, and I am confident the displays will thrill the crowds".

Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow 2008 will be held over Easter weekend (21-23 March 2008).

---------------------

Excellent - I for one enjoyed the F-111 and Caribou....go the RAAF! Where do I sign to join?

[DragonflyDH90]

Unfortunately the Klemm's will be in a vintage gaggle style fly past with a whole pile of different machines (mostly from our patch) that looks to take place around lunch time.
Very small slot so nothing to exciting, shame really.

[p40fanatic]

Oh. Well, being the big International Airshow that it is, that doesn't really surprise me. Sigh. Thanks for the headsup tho, Ryan.

Any chance a certain silver, bespatted Percival monoplane will be there? I do love that bird!!!!

[DragonflyDH90]

All going according to plan, I will be flying it and hopefully in formation with a certain bright red, radial engine machine.

[p40fanatic]

Excellent!

[vgp]

LC-130H NYANG to appear this year at wanaka

Ski-equipped Hercules to make Inaugural Visit to Warbirds Over Wanaka 2008

20th February 2008:An LC-130 ski-equipped Polar Hercules will make a debut appearance at Warbirds Over Wanaka this year, Gavin Johnston, General Manager of Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow, announced today. The aircraft is used by the New York Air National Guard for Antarctic support and will be attending the airshow on static display.

The Lockheed LC-130 Polar Hercules was developed from the C-130 Hercules which is currently operated by the RNZAF. The Hercules first flew in 1954 and in 1959 the original wheeled version began flying to the Antarctic in support of Operation Deep Freeze. In 1961 a modified ski equipped version was introduced which allowed aircraft to fly to the South Pole in conjunction with the Antarctic operations.

The US Navy flew the Antarctic flights until 1998 when the New York Air National Guard took over the operation and they now fly the only ten active LC-130's remaining. The LC-130 Hercules is the largest ski equipped aircraft in the world. The ski modification is not a simple retrofit but rather a major modification to both the landing gear and the actual fuselage. The main skis are 5.1m long and the complete ski units add 2.5 tonnes of weight to the aeroplane.

"In past Warbirds Over Wanaka Airshows, the RNZAF has demonstrated its C-130 Hercules, but this is the first time this significantly different aircraft, an LC-130 Ski Equipped Polar Hercules has attended", Mr. Johnston said. "With a RNZAF Hercules taking part in the flying display, this will be a unique opportunity for the public to see two different variants of the same aircraft type".

"The aircraft is one of six New York Air National Guard with a New Zealand connection. The aircraft are equipped with Nelson based company FlightCell's DZM tracking hardware, which allow the aircraft to be tracked anywhere in the world by Dunedin based global tracking company Daestra New Zealand, enhancing safety and improving operational efficiencies in one of the worlds most extreme climates."

Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow 2008 will be held at Wanaka Airport over Easter weekend (21-23 March 2008).

+ and I am sure you are all looking forward to it STAR ATTRACTION

MINI MUSCLES
(sorry just thought I would try and be funny)

www.warbirdsoverwanaka.co.nz/article_2008.asp?id=latest

[vgp]

Rare Hercules for display at Warbirds
By WILL HINE - The Southland Times | Thursday, 21 February 2008

Warbirds Over Wanaka attendees could be hoping for an unseasonal dump of snow this Easter, after organisers announced yesterday the airshow would be graced by a huge transport plane equipped with skis to land on snow and ice.


Airshow general manager Gavin Johnston said next month's event would welcome a Lockheed LC-130 Polar Hercules, one of only 10 in the world.

Operated by the New York Air National Guard, the LC-130 was the largest ski-equipped plane in the world, Mr Johnston said.

"The ski modification is not a simple retrofit but rather a major modification to both the landing gear and the actual fuselage. The main skis are 5.1m long and the complete ski units add 2.5 tonnes of weight to the aeroplane," Mr Johnston said.

Though the LC-130 would be on static display, the public would be able to see another Hercules in the air, Mr Johnston said.

"With a RNZAF Hercules taking part in the flying display, this will be a unique opportunity for the public to see two different variants of the same aircraft type
www.stuff.co.nz/southlandtimes/4408837a6570.html

Detailed schedule:

Friday 21st March

Warbird, civil and military aircraft conduct practice displays in preparation for the following two days events.

Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd March

The flying programme for both days may vary in content and sequence and will be subject to aircraft serviceability. Display start times are only approximate at date of printing.

Morning Programme 1015-1200
1015
Fast, noisy and low - two Vampires get the early risers excited with a show opening sequence.
1020
Stunning aerobatics from Doug Brooker in his newly acquired MX2 - a two seat, state of the art, high performance aerobatic aircraft.
1025
Thunder Mustang - "Tiger's Blood" is a 3/4 scale version of the original P51 Mustang. This high performer can reach 10,000 ft in 2 minutes - about half the time taken by the real Mustang.
1035
The beginning of Aerial Warfare - British, German and French Fighters of WWI.
1050
"The Roaring Forties" - Harvard Formation Aerobatics. These early 1940s trainers were the aircraft (together with a Chipmunk) around which the NZ Warbirds Association was formed in 1978.
1105
The "Air Bandits" - never before seen in NZ! Be prepared for aerial chaos as Jurgis Kairys (Lithuania) in his Juka, Yoshi Muroya (Japan) in a Yak 50 and Rob Fry (NZ) in a Sukhoi 29, mix it up!
1120
Soviet Trainers - Yak 52's perform formation and aerobatic routines.
1135
Aircraft from the Vietnam War era - Bird Dog, T28 Trojan, MD 500's and RNZAF Hueys - re-enact a typical offensive operation.
1150
Royal Australian Air Force Caribou - unusual antics by this venerable Aussie workhorse - a veteran from the Vietnam War.
Lunchtime Entertainment 1200-1230
Model Aircraft Display by Frazer Briggs.
Part plane, part helicopter - the unusual gyrocopter.
Flypast by 1930's de Havilland's and two German Klemm 35 WWII trainers in Swedish Airforce markings.
Warhorse Display - Military Re-enactment.
Yurgis and his Juka vs a Formula 3000 Race Car.
Afternoon Programme 1230-1600
1230
Heart stopping maneuvers by world champion aerobatic pilot Jurgis Kairys as he performs his unique solo routine.
Royal New Zealand Air Force Display 1240-1335

Displays by C130 Hercules, Kiwi Blue Parachute Team, Sea Sprite, Sioux and Iroquois helicopter pairs and the Red Checkers Formation Aerobatic Team.

Royal Australian Air Force Display 1335-1400
1335
Swing Wing Wonder - the Royal Australian Air Force F-111 Bomber returns to rip the skies apart over Wanaka.
1345
Military Heavy Lifter - The RAAF's newly acquired C17 Globemaster.
Main Warbird Display 1400-1600
1400
Spitfire TR9 - This two seat Spitfire displays for the first time at Wanaka.
1410
The RNZAF in the Pacific War: two P40 Kittyhawks, FG-1D Corsair and Catalina - and for the first time since the end of WW II - hear the sound of the P40's six x .50 inch machine guns in action.
1430
A Pair of North American P51 Mustangs - Regarded by many as the greatest piston engined fighter built during WWII.
1445
From the Russian Front. The Polikarpov I-16 & I-153, Hawker Hurricane, Yak 3 and the Lavochkin LA-9.
1515
Jetabatics - Two Vampires and Two L39 Albatros perform close formation and aerobatic routines.
1535
Airfield is Under Attack! - Fireballs light the sky from a sneak attack by enemy airborne troops and light bombers. Our defending fighters scramble to protect the airfield assisted by the local militia forces.
1550
Massed Fighter Flypast - The fighter boys flypast to celebrate their "Victory" in the recent battle!
1600
Show Closes.


www.warbirdsoverwanaka.co.nz/article_2008.asp?id=schedule

[skyhawkdon]

Looks like a very full and interesting programme - I'm getting goose bumps thinking about it! We must organise a Forum gattering sometime over the weekend for those planning on attending.

[p40fanatic]

Ditto! Looks to be one of the best in recent memory. Will be great to see a pair of Albatri (?) performing together, and the update regarding the Vietnam scenario got me quite excited, too.

AND it's about time some heavy metal got some sound effects! Will be pretty different to hear the gunfire coming from the aircraft rather than the PA!

Very very cool to see the term 'Jetabatics" [sic] return to NZ aviation!!

Still that Spitfire's being advertised...

Anyone passing through Wanganui on their way south? Still keenly seeking transport to NZ's Biggest Airshow Event!!!

[vgp]

what on their way south to Ohakea's open day

[p40fanatic]

Sorry, to Wanaka.....I'd love to fly in to Ohakea, but when I can drive for about 1/10th the price I think I'll get the car!

[vgp]

sorry just thought I would try and be funny - cheers

[sputnik767]

From todays NZ herald
"Spitfire downed
5:00AM Sunday February 24, 2008
By Cliff Taylor
The most famous fighter plane of World War II has lost none of its awesome reputation if the reaction of United States authorities is anything to go by.

A Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX, which was to have been the star attraction at this weekend's Mercury Bay Shell Airshow at Whitianga, has been impounded by US Customs - apparently because they still consider it to be a deadly military machine.

The rebuilt two-seater, one of only five in the world, was bought in the US by Aucklander Doug Brooker, who had hoped to see it fly over the Coromandel this weekend and appear at the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow in March.

It would have been the first time such an aircraft had been seen in the Southern Hemisphere. But the fighter has been prevented from leaving the US, caught for the past fortnight in a web of bureaucratic red tape.

"From what I can gather, the rules were changed in the last few months after a couple of understandable issues they had over there," said Brooker.

"It seems that a plane built in 1943 goes into the same category as an F16 or something. With an exported military aircraft it has to be in a certain category.

"My guess is the same thing would happen with a WWI aircraft."

Brooker would not reveal how much he paid for the Spitfire, which comes complete with replica wing-mounted machine guns, except to say the price was "very reasonable".

The plane is painted to represent the Spitfire flown by American Major Robert Levine of the 4th Fighter Squadron in the Middle East during WWII.

Brooker said he had been a Spitfire enthusiast "since reading Biggles books as a boy".

He was still hopeful the plane would make it for the Wanaka airshow, but admitted it was "getting pretty tight".