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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 7, 2009 20:57:14 GMT 12
John Kelly of New Zealand Warbirds has kindly supplied us with some information on this year's Christmas Open Day. He says:
"December 6th will be an occassion to remember Pearl Harbour and a bit of an event for the public as a Christmas at Ardmore style day.
Quite a bit of ground displays...Fire Service "burning kitchen", possibly a Childflight aircraft, and maybe a Huey. Air displays are not confirmed yet but looking towards Red Checkers, DC3 T28, Roaring 40s and maybe yet Doug's spitfire. Flying practice times are 1200-1245 and 1400-1445, gates open from 1000-1600. Warbirds are having a BBQ afterwards (probably $15-$20 Dollars) and there will be food and alcohol for the public during the day
Will let you know more when I find out.
Looking for volunteers for crowd control around the flight line and crowd line, parking of aircraft and taking donations. If we can get enough people we are hoping to run two shifts...a start up team and a shut down team."
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Post by flyjoe180 on Nov 8, 2009 11:38:05 GMT 12
Do they do an Armistice open day?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 8, 2009 18:54:22 GMT 12
No. But NZ Warbirds was involved this weekend in Cambridge.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2009 6:12:40 GMT 12
Nice to see the first semi-official mention of Doug Brooker's two-holer Spit for the coming season...exciting! I won't be at Ardmore sadly, so please post lots of pics  |
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Post by matariki on Nov 11, 2009 11:43:02 GMT 12
Hear the Spitty's engine running this week... Can anyone up North confirm?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 11, 2009 16:10:24 GMT 12
Yes indeed they're doing engine runs. It should be back in the air within days. So this disproves the people who've been saying it's not going to fly till late next year. Avspecs have done a great job in repairing it. Where they get their info from is beyond me.
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Post by baz62 on Nov 11, 2009 16:49:29 GMT 12
That is good news. Look forward to seeing two Spitfires in formation again!
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Post by stu on Nov 29, 2009 7:41:27 GMT 12
 25 November 2009 MEDIA RELEASE NZ Warbirds commemorate Pearl Harbor December 7 1941 will long be remembered for the devastating Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. To mark the 68th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, the New Zealand Warbirds Association is holding a “Warbirds Open Day” at their Ardmore Airport base on Sunday 6 December starting at 10 am. This is the final Open Day for 2009 and will feature aircraft with US Navy markings. The most recent Warbird to undergo refurbishment – Harvard 92 – now sports an outstanding colour scheme of white with red and blue markings to clearly identify the US Navy heritage. A wide range of former military aircraft will be on view and the public will be able to see pilots practising their display routines at 12 noon and 2 pm. A feature will be a significant RNZAF presence with the very popular and skilled Red Checkers aerobatic team and helicopters. Other services – Fire, Police, St Johns- will be demonstrating their skills and Ardmore–based flying training clubs will be present A range of food and refreshments will be available along with scenic flights in the DC3 . The $5 cash entry fee - primary age children are free- will go towards completing the development of the recently-opened Warbirds Aviation library and display facility in the main hangar. The entry fee also provides the chance to win a ‘lucky draw’ flight in a Warbird aircraft. As President Gavin Trethewey says, “This Open Day gives everyone the chance to have a close-up look at these magnificent historic aircraft and this time we want to make it a family focused picnic day” Ends |
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Post by flyjoe180 on Nov 29, 2009 9:20:09 GMT 12
Excellent, for once I will be in the same place as an air display!
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Post by skyhawkdon on Nov 29, 2009 19:17:40 GMT 12
That has got to be the best value entry fee to a Warbirds open day anywhere in the world. Wish I could go!
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Post by hardyakka on Nov 30, 2009 20:06:45 GMT 12
I should be there. I'm cadging a ride up as a passenger with a couple of other pilots from the Waikato Aero Club. As a small preview...  Yesterday, I was on the ground at Mercer airstrip waiting in vain for the weather to clear enough for aerobatics competition when who should buzz make an inspection pass of the strip.... Mr Brooker out for a Sunday fly in his Spitfire. Practicing for next Sunday no doubt. Sorry for the crappy image. Nowhere near the standard expected on this site. The light was terrible and the plane was going fast. I only just got time to switch on the camera, point it and click... |
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Post by flyjoe180 on Nov 30, 2009 20:46:54 GMT 12
Still a good photo, catches the essence of the speed of the aeroplane, and if you made it black and white or sepia I bet it would look like a wartime shot. Thanks for posting it.
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Post by ErrolC on Dec 2, 2009 20:04:19 GMT 12
Note that Glenbrook Vintage Railway are having a Military weekend, with Military Re-enactment Society (WW2 I assume) and Black Powder Group, Military Trains and vehicles, vintage cars etc. My tentative plan is to pop along for the morning to get photos of the re-enactors in a different setting, then make it to the 2pm at Ardmore. Looking forward to the Spit! www.railfan.org.nz/GVRcontent/GVR_home.htm |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 4, 2009 15:54:40 GMT 12
Judging by the weather forecast I saw this morning this will be a wash out, like the rest of this week has been in Auckland. Sad, but I wasn't intending to go anyway and with bad weather and no Spitfire I'd probably have cancelled my journey if I was going anyway.
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Post by ErrolC on Dec 4, 2009 16:17:31 GMT 12
Judging by the weather forecast I saw this morning this will be a wash out, like the rest of this week has been in Auckland. Sad, but I wasn't intending to go anyway and with bad weather and no Spitfire I'd probably have cancelled my journey if I was going anyway. Clearing on Sat, ok on Sun according to metvuw. Unless muddy ground is an issue, should be ok. |
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Post by Kereru on Dec 4, 2009 16:46:35 GMT 12
Judging by the weather forecast I saw this morning this will be a wash out, like the rest of this week has been in Auckland. Sad, but I wasn't intending to go anyway and with bad weather and no Spitfire I'd probably have cancelled my journey if I was going anyway. Weather is going to be fantastic after all the rain we have had....... gotta be we have had enough by Sunday! Pack the car up with your gear and head to Ardmore for a great day and lets support all those great folk that work so hard behind the scenes on those magnificent flying machines! i am sure the Warbirds team will be glad of a good turn out. See you all there. Colin |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 4, 2009 16:58:02 GMT 12
Sorry guys, I could have sworn I saw it forecast as raining solid over the North Island on Sunday. I may have gotten it wrong. I do hope it will be fine for everyone at Ardmore.
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Post by flyjoe180 on Dec 4, 2009 21:07:25 GMT 12
You MUST have it wrong Dave. I am in Auckland that weekend so it is sure to be fine.  |
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Post by ErrolC on Dec 6, 2009 13:56:44 GMT 12
You MUST have it wrong Dave. I am in Auckland that weekend so it is sure to be fine. It was good airshow weather at Glenbrook, so Ardmore would have been the same. We got a single Tiger Moth, but more rifle fire. |
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Post by Gavin Conroy on Dec 7, 2009 6:07:08 GMT 12
Was a good day out. Here are a couple of forum members that I spotted,and caught up with Jo as well which was good. Special thanks to Frank Parker, Peter Beaumont, Rob Silich, Andrew Hope for there help and great flying, and especially Colin Hunter for the car trips etc. Really enjoyed the trip and should be heading back to Ardmore on a regular basis as a few flights here and there.   |
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