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Post by Chris F on Feb 22, 2011 11:10:15 GMT 12
I was reading on the net about the possibility of the USN Blue Angels or USAF Thunderbirds been invited to participate at this Airsow at Base Ohakea on March 31st 2012.
The idea was to strenghten ties between the two countries and the USA has in past Airshows such as in 1981 sent a good amount of kit for those shows.
There is also talk of a possible of a Hickam Air Force Base Hawaii F-22 Raptor as well,if this was to happen this would be a huge crowd puller and Ohakea would be busting at the seam.
I know the Thunderbirds have been to Australia but unsure about the Blue Angels,this would be a fantastic coupe if this sort of high quailty military display team were to visit.
Gives you goose bumps just thinking about.
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Post by corokid66 on Feb 22, 2011 11:40:23 GMT 12
I have read people discussing on other sites along the lines of wouldnt be great but, they mentioned nothing along the lines of invitations or even speculation or possibilities.
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Post by Chris F on Feb 22, 2011 11:56:35 GMT 12
Never say never.Anything is possible.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 22, 2011 16:01:58 GMT 12
I would much rather see aircraft that the RNZAF flew from the past than some foreign team, especially a navy team at an Air Force day.
Vampires, Venom, Spitfires, Kittyhawks, Mustangs, Harvards, etc plus if anything come from overseas then maybe a Hudson, Bleriot, etc.
I have read many times that the Thunderbirds are disappointing and nowhere near as good as the UK, NZ and European jet teams.
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Post by kb on Feb 22, 2011 19:21:39 GMT 12
I have read many times that the Thunderbirds are disappointing and nowhere near as good as the UK, NZ and European jet teams. I would love to see them there. However you are correct Dave. I have seen them both and they are clinical rather than exciting. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 22, 2011 20:50:28 GMT 12
They could always book The Patriots. ;D Or not.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2011 18:47:59 GMT 12
Why Dave, if they booked The Patriots I would even buy my ticket in advance!!!!
It would be great to see a foreign team here, I'll reserve judgement until seeing the act/s.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 23, 2011 19:56:06 GMT 12
It was a joke. Rememebr how Ken Ross told everyone he'd booked them, and hadn't?
I think we have enough warbird jets to have a pretty damned good team now without having to import foreign teams. Vampires, Venom, Blunty and L-39's would provide a good bit of jet noise for the base. Maybe they'll even fly some Maachis, if they're not sold by then.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2011 19:19:51 GMT 12
It was a joke. Rememebr how Ken Ross told everyone he'd booked them, and hadn't!!! Sorry Dave, I forgot to put in a smiley! I remember receiving the mailer and sharing around at the Marlborough Aero Club, much interesting discussion ensued ;-) Fair call, it will be great to see a historic RNZAF jet formation one day soon. |
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Post by oggie2620 on Feb 25, 2011 6:47:41 GMT 12
Keep up the rumours and maybe someone will fulfill it? Its such a pity its too far for the Lanc from either UK or Canada to come over because that would be even more awesome than the jets!!! Especially if she was painted in 75 Sqn colours.... Will have to nag them again when they come to RIAT! A 75er for the 75th Anniversary!
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Post by bell407 on Feb 28, 2011 10:51:06 GMT 12
I hope so, I’d much rather see the Thunder Birds and Blue Angels then another round of privately owned Harvards again, don't get me wrong, I love the old birds and think it should be a national priority to keep them in the air and get more into airworthy status, but nothing beats modern, currently active military jets, especially being in New Zealand where we are denied proper military aircraft, I love the C130's and all, and nothing beats a good old Huey, but when that Aussie F18 was here, every eye was turned skyward, every jaw was dropped and once it landed, everyone went home.
As awesome as the old birds are, they do get a bit boring, we need, want and must have fast, loud, kick ass jet fighters, the more modern and exotic the better.
Growing up in South Africa with an uncle in the SAAF flying Harvards and going to the air shows where 50 Harvards come over in formation is nothing short of a spiritual experience, but when the Mirages took to the skies, that was it, the high speed Mirage F1 fast over the flight line popping flares as it goes by, the noise, the heat and the excitement, kind of like a Formula 1 race being compared to some old blokes racing golf carts, obviously the F1 race is the crowd pleaser, WE NEED JETS.
I’ve been lucky enough to be at a huge air show in South Africa, they a Flanker, Mig 29 Mirage 2000 a whole bunch of air refuelling tankers, Hercs and the big ass C5 Galaxy there, the US had some F16’s an F15E and some others, the high light was the Red Arrows, they were amazing, indescribable really, all my 8 year old, plane crazy son gets to see is what we see at Ardmore every Sunday, the same old Harvards flying slowly around the airfield, then came the F111 and the F18 and he was blown away, as good as they are, the Harvards and the Vampire and L39 cannot ever measure up to the Red Arrows, Blue Angles, Thunder Birds or any other military team, the noise, the speed and the precision of a military team can’t be matched by a civilian team, at least not here, there isn’t enough money for civvies to get that good.
Please don’t take this as war birds bashing thread, it is not, I love them all, I really do, and I’m happy that these people with the kind of money to own and fly these aircraft are nice enough to choose to do so, they can spend their money on anything, I’m just happy they choose to own Harvards and L39’s and the like and even happier that they choose to show them off from time to time.
But lets get real, the chance of having some of the most prestigious display teams and some of the most exotic and desirable military aircraft in the World, of the type and scale one would normally have to go to the USA or to Farnborough to see, come here to little old New Zealand could quite possibly be a once in a life time event and unless one can afford to go to those big shows, (Not cheap for a small family to get air tickets, air show tickets and food and accommodation) it will be the only time most people get to see the aircraft they once only saw as plastic model kits they built as kids, up close and in the flesh so to speak.
Sorry if this was a bit long and come off like I hate War Birds and NZ in general, I was just telling someone here about what could be the most epic air show in NZ history and how I hoped we’d see the US demo teams or any other teams and some nice modern military jets and they turned all green on me and started that we don’t need and should not encourage the war mongering US to come here with their stuff and that New Zealand was a peaceful country and needs nothing more at air shows then the war birds, so I am a bit heated as I write this, so I apologise in advance if I cause any offence to any one.
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Post by mumbles on Feb 28, 2011 11:07:54 GMT 12
Sorry if this was a bit long and come off like I hate War Birds and NZ in general, I was just telling someone here about what could be the most epic air show in NZ history and how I hoped we’d see the US demo teams or any other teams and some nice modern military jets and they turned all green on me and started that we don’t need and should not encourage the war mongering US to come here with their stuff and that New Zealand was a peaceful country and needs nothing more at air shows then the war birds, so I am a bit heated as I write this, so I apologise in advance if I cause any offence to any one. No apology necessary, I entirely agree. Contemporary examples of currently operational combat aircraft are an almost entirely absent component of our current airshow scene, which I have to reluctantly admit, has been a little samey of late at the shows I have been able to attend. And while I enjoy seeing jets such as the L-39, Vampire and hopefully Strikemaster, lets face it, they are trainers, and tame in every respect compared to an F-16 or F-18. I wince every time I hear someone refer to an L-39 or Strikemaster as a 'Jet Fighter'. I too have heard reports of the Thunderbirds being underwhelming, but would still go and see them merely for the sake and spectacle of it, not to mention it would be the first time a non NZ military aerobatic team had ever performed in NZ, with no guarantee such a thing would ever happen again. |
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Post by Chris F on Feb 28, 2011 11:18:16 GMT 12
I am sure the RAAF will provide a big pressence of some nature for this show.
Its all about getting the mix right,aircraft from the past,present,and this should include modern military aircraft and I would hope the USA and the UK particpate in some form.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 28, 2011 11:53:29 GMT 12
"not to mention it would be the first time a non NZ military aerobatic team had ever performed in NZ"
Forgive me if I have got this wrong as I was not there, but didn't the RAAF's Hornet team display at Wanaka last year?
And the USAF had a team of F-105's display at Ohakea in 1958, did they not?
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Post by ErrolC on Feb 28, 2011 11:57:57 GMT 12
"not to mention it would be the first time a non NZ military aerobatic team had ever performed in NZ" Forgive me if I have got this wrong as I was not there, but didn't the RAAF's Hornet team display at Wanaka last year? That wasn't a display team as such, just a detachment from a line squadron. So the display reflected this. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 28, 2011 12:13:31 GMT 12
Kiwi Red was just a detchment from an operational squadron, as is the Red Checkers from a training wing. They are still teams. I am sure the Hornets and F-105 pilots still worked up a display routine and practised, like any team would, maybe not as elaborate as a full time team though. I guess the difference you're looking at is that the Blue Angles, Red Arrows and Thunderbirds perform no other roles apart from air display flying for PR purposes. In that case then no, none of that type has flown here.
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Post by Chris F on Feb 28, 2011 13:33:19 GMT 12
You are correct Dave the Hornets were at Wanaka,and if I remember correctly Richie McCaw was in the back seat of one.
They were here for mountain flying training from memory.
And yes F-105's but not sure if part of a display team as such.
I truely hope our Allies participate in this show as the RNZAF has made such a wonderful contribution to world affairs over the years.
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Post by ErrolC on Feb 28, 2011 13:35:00 GMT 12
Kiwi Red was just a detchment from an operational squadron, as is the Red Checkers from a training wing. They are still teams. I am sure the Hornets and F-105 pilots still worked up a display routine and practised, like any team would, maybe not as elaborate as a full time team though. I guess the difference you're looking at is that the Blue Angles, Red Arrows and Thunderbirds perform no other roles apart from air display flying for PR purposes. In that case then no, none of that type has flown here. There was a world of difference between what the Red Checkers did and the Hornets did - I assume primarily due to the amount of time they were able to spend practicing. IIRC Hornet displays were mainly capabilty demos (e.g. pairs on target in close sequence from different directions) and passes, with a couple of wide formation turns. All the sort of thing that can be justified as part of normal training. Am I right in thinking that the RAAF has a couple of designated solo display pilots? I don't know if the original claim is true, but the Wanaka Hornet display was firmly in the 'team doing a display' camp, as opposed to a Display Team (or Display Pilot and friends) in my view. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 28, 2011 14:20:10 GMT 12
Fair enough, thanks Errol. As I say, I wasn't there and have not seen the display, only photos.
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Post by sqwark2k on Mar 3, 2011 22:24:41 GMT 12
Maybe the Blue Angels could go retro and use a couple of spare A4's floating around to form a 80's Angels team.... that would meet Dave's preference for something that NZ has operated in the past.
S2k
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