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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 3, 2011 22:05:37 GMT 12
It was suggested to me at the weekend that it would be good to have a thread on the forum dedicated to the airshow kings, Ray and Mark Hanna. Ray was a New Zealander and he and his son Mark both flew at several New Zealand airshows over the years, as well as many in the United Kingdom and Europe. They were both hugely experienced film pilots too, and both served in fast jets in the Royal Air Force.
If you have any memories, photos or film footage of their displays and the guys themselves, please post them here.
I first had the priviledge of seeing them at Warbirds Over Wanaka 1992 when they brought out the Bf109J Buchon, which Mark flew and dogfought with Ray in the Spitfire Mk XVIe. That was magic to watch. At the same show Mark test flew and then displayed the P-40K Kittyhawk too.
I next saw them dogfighting in the P-40K and Zero replica at Auckland Airport airshow. That again was wonderful.
The following week they flew the same act at Wigram's Wings and Wheels and the Avenger, which Mark flew down from Auckland, was put through its paces by, from memory, Mark, in the new RNZAF livery with the P-40 and Corsair as escorts.
I cannot recall if they were at Wanaka for the Easter 1993 airshow, can anyone confirm? I recall the first version of what became the Brietling team set up was flown that day. But I don't know if Ray and Mark were involved, I think not.
I don't think I ever saw them at other shows apart from on TV or DVD. But I always find it interesting how they became household names, not just among aviation enthusiasts but the general NZ population, as did Sir Tim Wallis at the time. Not many warbird pilots achieve such household name status as the Hannas, in fact I think few will ever equal them in flying skills. Ray's 'apprentice' Keith Skilling has taken over the mantle though in my opinion, and is now the master.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2011 13:42:58 GMT 12
Not my Video but a wonderful vid none the less, i'm assuming filmed in the week leading up to the 1998 show... Marks final pass straight down the runway is really something to behold  |
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Post by obiwan27 on Mar 4, 2011 14:53:08 GMT 12
I cannot recall if they were at Wanaka for the Easter 1993 airshow, can anyone confirm? I recall the first version of what became the Brietling team set up was flown that day. But I don't know if Ray and Mark were involved, I think not. I think that you mean the 1994 show Dave. It was the 50th Anniversary of D-day and Baz and I were there on Saturday. Mark flew the MkXIV and Ray the MkXVIe both as a 'dual' Spitfire display and later accompanying the Warbirds C47 - in Day markings if I remember correctly, as was the MkXIV. |
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Post by 11SQNLDR on Mar 4, 2011 16:04:55 GMT 12
Ray - the master of the low level beat up ;D Filmed as part of the TV series "Piece Of Cake" And i'm sure Ray would have laughed when he saw the reaction to this low pass  A fantastic pair of talented gentlemen, Ray was clearly heartbroken by Mark's tragic death but over many years they brough a great deal of you to many avaition fans |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 4, 2011 17:05:26 GMT 12
I cannot recall if they were at Wanaka for the Easter 1993 airshow, can anyone confirm? I recall the first version of what became the Brietling team set up was flown that day. But I don't know if Ray and Mark were involved, I think not. I think that you mean the 1994 show Dave. It was the 50th Anniversary of D-day and Baz and I were there on Saturday. Mark flew the MkXIV and Ray the MkXVIe both as a 'dual' Spitfire display and later accompanying the Warbirds C47 - in Day markings if I remember correctly, as was the MkXIV. No, I meant the Easter 1993 airshow. I was not at the 1994 one. The weekend I refer to was when the NZFPM opened and several warbirds flew in to join the collection and a great little show was put on. None of the thronging crowds of the other big shows, but a great event. The night before Sir Tim put on a wonderful event in the hangar which had the AFC crew, around 20 + fighter pilot veterans and their wives, and me, who'd been invited as i was on the team that painted the Avenger the week before and I'd been lucky to fly down to Wanaka abourd the TBM. At the do, which was basically a bbq and piss up, I got to hang out and chat with some amazing heroes, Colin Gray and his wife, Bob 'David' Spurdle and his wife, Des Scott and his wife, Max Collett, and several others. Those were the ones I chatted with most. Colin Gray was a wonderful chap, we got on very well. For some reason I didn't have my camera that night. i wish i could get some photos from that event. The museum opened officially on the Sunday and then there was the air display. One of the best weekends of my life. |
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Post by pjw4118 on Mar 5, 2011 9:45:29 GMT 12
A real gentleman and enthusiast. Here is is in MH434 over Duxford. From a card and letter he sent in 1998 as thanks for photos/details of NZ3009  |
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Post by aileronroll on Mar 5, 2011 16:17:22 GMT 12
Last time I saw Mark Hanna fly in NZ was at Masterton, I think in 1998 or 99?. Mark flew an excellent show in the P40, first as a pair with the AFC Corsair, flown by John Lamont, then as a pair with an RNZAF Macchi, then a solo.... then as part of the big end of show dogfight! From memory(starting to fade) Tim Middleton flew an excellent P51 display that weekend also.
Mark was always good for a chat, I had meet him at Duxford and Wanaka, he was often to be found wondering through an airshow crowd having a chat with whoever wanted to.
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Post by davekiwi on Mar 5, 2011 16:49:27 GMT 12
I most likely have posted these before but: Mark Hanna - Yak3M Wanaka '96  Mark Hanna - Bf 109 G10 Wanaka '96  Ray Hanna - Spitfire Mk XVIE Wanaka '96  Ray Hanna - Low slow fly past - Empire of The Sun Re-enactment, Wanaka '96  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 5, 2011 17:02:25 GMT 12
Do you mean Tom Middleton?
I would LOVE to see photos of the pairs display between the P-40E and the Maachi, that much have been a really special display at the ancestral home of No. 14 Squadron.
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Post by aileronroll on Mar 5, 2011 20:28:35 GMT 12
Oppppppppppppsssssssss! Yes I did mean Tom Middleton, another very approachable all round nice guy! From memory the afternoon of that day went very bad weather wise, I don't recall seeing any pics of the Macchi/P40, but there must be some out there!
About 15 years ago when I was a poor B-Cat working in Palmerston North, Tom Middleton would pop into the Aero Club from time to time when taking a break from his duties as an Air Nelson Captain. Always good for a chat, and very modest about the amazing stuff he was flying at the time! I would always ask him about flying with the Hanna's, Trevor Bland, and the other Ace's on the display circuit. He advised they had all looked after him well, but Tom being so humble would never put himself in their league.
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Post by aileronroll on Mar 5, 2011 20:35:42 GMT 12
As I recall Jeff Fisken was in attendance that day also. He had belly landed the P40 Mark Hanna was flying at Masterton during his time with 14 during the war!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 5, 2011 20:45:49 GMT 12
Yes I met Tom on a few occasions at Wigram and he was indeed one of nature's true gentlemen, just as you describe him. My happiest memory is of the day we flew down to Wanaka from Wigram, I was in the turret of the newly painted Avenger 'Plonky' and Tom was flitting around us hither and yon in the P-40K. He'd come right up close and sit in formation for a bit, then flit off and do some aeros, and then he'd be back in a flash. Every time he pulled up beside us the smile on his face was as big as mine.
That P-40E, NZ3009, is the first Kittyhawk that Geoff Fisken ever flew in fact, so he told me. it's such a great connection to have between a rare warbird and a rare top fighter ace.
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Post by fauville on Mar 5, 2011 23:38:56 GMT 12
Mark Hanna displaying the Mk.XIV at Wanaka '94  Beaming ear to ear taxiing in after the display  Ray Hanna low and fast in the MK.XVI  Father leading son in the spits  |
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Post by fauville on Mar 5, 2011 23:51:35 GMT 12
And from Duxford, Ray starting up the OFMC CAC.22 Mustang May 1998 Spitfire Airshow Duxford  Ray in MH434 leading a OFMC trio  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 6, 2011 10:56:45 GMT 12
Brilliant stuff!
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Post by novicepilot on Mar 9, 2011 17:46:21 GMT 12
Two from me, first attempt at posting images so fingers crossed! Mark in Hawker ISS Fury G-BTTA at a (very) wet Duxford, Classic Fighter, July 1992  Ray also in the Fury and also at Duxford, Flying Legends, July 1994  If these images post properly then I'll see what others are worth posting. Neil |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 9, 2011 18:23:27 GMT 12
Great stuff Neil.
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Post by yak2 on Mar 9, 2011 18:32:55 GMT 12
115 looks better on its starboard side |
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Post by novicepilot on Mar 10, 2011 20:01:26 GMT 12
A few more tonight. UK photos only I'm afraid as both had 'moved on' before the I moved out to NZ. Mark in the Buchon G-BOML, Duxford, Flying Legends, July 1998  Ray in the OFMC's P40E, Duxford, Flying Legends, July 1999. Ray flew a magnificient dogfight routine that year against Nigel Lamb in the Buchon, Steve Privett (also ex Red Arrows) in the TFC P40 wasn't bad either!  A Breitling Fighters photo next, Duxford Autumn Air Show, October 1999. This was a little over a month after Mark's accident and the team closed the show as a tribute. Aircraft are the usual ones with the exception of the second Mustang (in place of the Spitfire) which was the Scandinavian Historic Flight's 'Detroit Miss'. Ray was leading in the P40, not sure who else was flying as the team hadn't settled into the usual Ray, Nigel Lamb, Lee Proudfoot, and Keith Skilling group at that stage.  |
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Post by Andy Wright on Mar 11, 2011 10:13:38 GMT 12
Neil, amazing. You and I must have been standing within metres of each other at Legends '99.
The most outstanding thing I remember about that dogfight routine, beyond the superb flying, was as both aircraft flew towards the other end of the airfield, some bloke behind us called out "Get him, Ray". The response was much mirth and chuckling by his many neighbours!
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