Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 4, 2012 18:24:50 GMT 12
Today I attended the Matamata Airshow (www.matamata-airshow.co.nz).
Firstly a huge thanks to Errol Cavit who kindly picked me up and took me to the show, and a huge thanks to Bruce Cooke who kindly brought me home again.
I was not really knowing what to expect of the airshow, it was not going to be a warbird show, the type I'd normally attend. well, my verdict is - it was excellent.
A thoroughly enjoyable event. The parking was well organised, a good selection of food, the commentary was pretty good and really explained things well for the non-aviatiors in the crowd, the layout was good, and the weather was superb.
The array of aeroplanes, mainly general aviation, WWII trainers and other light stuff, was very interesting too. And there was also a good selection of military vehicles and other displays.
The flying was really excellent. Well known performers like Phil Hooker and John Parker were involved in displays plus a load of people I am less familiar with. We got to see great displays by three Stearmans, a Tiger Moth, a Chipmunk, a CT/4B Airtrainer, a Fletcher that dropped a tonne of lime, a Hughes 300 that did some spraying, a Yak 52, a Cessna 172 and a lot more. Some of the standout acts were crazy flying in a Piper Cub, and more crazy flying in a Kitfox, and I was thoroughly impressed by the Gyrocopters, especially the hard out aeros that Phil Hooker did in the one he was flying, amazing stuff. Phil also did a brilliant display in a twin engined Tecnam, quite interesting to see it thrown around.
Fraser Briggs also flew his wonderful model aeroplane aerobatics act, and some guys from Tokoroa flew a large model of a Eurofighter that was massively impressive to see and here.
I will post some photos when I recover a bit from the big day. But overall I really enjoyed the old school, laid back, relaxed family day out kind of airshow for a bit of a change.
Firstly a huge thanks to Errol Cavit who kindly picked me up and took me to the show, and a huge thanks to Bruce Cooke who kindly brought me home again.
I was not really knowing what to expect of the airshow, it was not going to be a warbird show, the type I'd normally attend. well, my verdict is - it was excellent.
A thoroughly enjoyable event. The parking was well organised, a good selection of food, the commentary was pretty good and really explained things well for the non-aviatiors in the crowd, the layout was good, and the weather was superb.
The array of aeroplanes, mainly general aviation, WWII trainers and other light stuff, was very interesting too. And there was also a good selection of military vehicles and other displays.
The flying was really excellent. Well known performers like Phil Hooker and John Parker were involved in displays plus a load of people I am less familiar with. We got to see great displays by three Stearmans, a Tiger Moth, a Chipmunk, a CT/4B Airtrainer, a Fletcher that dropped a tonne of lime, a Hughes 300 that did some spraying, a Yak 52, a Cessna 172 and a lot more. Some of the standout acts were crazy flying in a Piper Cub, and more crazy flying in a Kitfox, and I was thoroughly impressed by the Gyrocopters, especially the hard out aeros that Phil Hooker did in the one he was flying, amazing stuff. Phil also did a brilliant display in a twin engined Tecnam, quite interesting to see it thrown around.
Fraser Briggs also flew his wonderful model aeroplane aerobatics act, and some guys from Tokoroa flew a large model of a Eurofighter that was massively impressive to see and here.
I will post some photos when I recover a bit from the big day. But overall I really enjoyed the old school, laid back, relaxed family day out kind of airshow for a bit of a change.
