Warbirds over Rangiora!

[baz62]

Ha ha all you sad people who paid to go to Wanaka when all you had to do was go to little old Rangiora Airfield!!! (home of fine Auster rebuilds!)
Ok not exactly the spectacle of a real airshow but Anthony Galbraith and I went out to potter away in the Auster hangar when the sound of radial engines became audible. Down tools and up cameras!












Yep the Roaring Forties had stopped in for fuel and it was like being at Wigram with Harvards everywhere. Didn't take long for the Rangiora locals to drive in for a look either.












But that's not all, then the RNZAF arrived in there A109 Mako!



Then a Bird Dog arrived. man she was a busy little airfield!


The Mako then departed with a friendly wave from the crewman in the back.






But there's more! As the Mako lifted off overhead the Red Checkers arrived with a nice formation (smoke on natch!) buzz and break (which I missed owing to rotor blast from the Mako!)





Looked they planned on staying a while as they parked up in a nice neat military row.


There were only 4 here but when I left later there was a fifth one in the lineup so a late arrival perhaps?
But then the Harvards cranked their engines into life and departed.










We tried to impress with a T7 Auster Ford Mondeo formation but no one seemed impressed. Sad buggers!!

[11SQNLDR]

Ooo-err, she was "all go" in Ranganui by the looks ;D

Thanks for posting those beaut photos mate!

[corsair67]

(In stern voice) Young man, if you spend too much time looking at the aeroplanes outside, how are you ever going to finish your own aeroplane??? ;D

Great shots there, Baz - certainly cheaper than a trip to Wanaka!

[Ykato]

Apr 9, 2012 17:47:49 GMT 12 corsair67 said:

(In stern voice) Young man, if you spend too much time looking at the aeroplanes outside, how are you ever going to finish your own aeroplane??? ;D

Great shots there, Baz - certainly cheaper than a trip to Wanaka!

Awesome Photo's Baz V cheers.

[shorty]

The plastic rats didn't stay Baz, at 1510 hours six if them were overhead Spotswood heading north in a loose vic formation.
Not quite as loose as a 3 squadron formation though!(you know, 3 Sqn formation = same direction , same day)

[Dave Homewood]

Cool, a nice surprise visit for you Baz.

[gunny]

Great shots Baz i have a brother in-law still in rangiora and used to take our street machines there Ahhh old memories.
One question i must have missed on the boards, what is the mako replacing??
And I for 1 am impressed by the Auster Ford Mondeo formation, good to see she is getting such a through makeover, but then again as a ford fan (who now drives a V8 mercedes coupe) Mondeo,really??? haha just kidding if i had an aircraft to restore i could'nt afford shoes to walk to work. hats off to you.

[Dave Homewood]

"what is the mako replacing?"

The Sioux

[nuuumannn]

Neat piccies! Busy day at Pommie-ora, then? Good ole' Ford Mundano.

[skyhawkdon]

I saw a photo on Facebook last week of the ex South Africa Harvard doing a wheels up on the grass somewhere - was that at Rangivagus? Anyone know what happened?

[aldee]

Heard this rumour myself, best answer I get is it wasn't 60 but maybe another T6?

We sold her January so definitely wasn't @ RT

Any link to the Facebook page ?

[baz62]

Apr 15, 2012 12:10:38 GMT 12 aldee said:

Heard this rumour myself, best answer I get is it wasn't 60 but maybe another T6?

We sold her January so definitely wasn't @ RT

Any link to the Facebook page ?

Where is 60 based now aldee? Saw her at the pumps at Rangiora a while ago, she looks good in the SAAF markings especially when there is a fresh coat of Day-Glo on her!

[Ykato]

Apr 15, 2012 16:55:25 GMT 12 baz62 said:

Apr 15, 2012 12:10:38 GMT 12 aldee said:

Heard this rumour myself, best answer I get is it wasn't 60 but maybe another T6?

We sold her January so definitely wasn't @ RT

Any link to the Facebook page ?

Where is 60 based now aldee? Saw her at the pumps at Rangiora a while ago, she looks good in the SAAF markings especially when there is a fresh coat of Day-Glo on her!

Tauranga By the looks?
www.xx-aviation.com/home/root/aircraft

[aldee]

Yep, Tauranga unfortunately

The joys of syndicates !

[baz62]

Ah well at least we have a FW190, Avro Anson and (soon) a MK XIV Spitfire in the mainland!! Oh and of course a heap of Austers!! ;D ;D

[Dave Homewood]

So which Harvard had the accident?

[baz62]

Well if it wasn't 7660 there are plenty of other ex SAAF Harvards flying round the world. Don? Any answers?

[Deleted]

I remember seeing a very "action" photo which must've been taken just after the incident, dirt flying up etc. I thought it was 7660 at Rangiora due to it being on grass, but it could have been at Tauranga (never been and am unfamiliar with the field). I'm pretty sure it was 7660.

[FlyingKiwi]

I saw that photo as well, was surprised to not hear any more about it.

[Dave Homewood]

It's all part of the Harvard pilot's 'senior course' to have a landing accident, isn't it?