1959 Wellington Airport Opening Airshow

[ErrolC]

May 23, 2015 13:19:43 GMT 12 @timgorman1980 said:

Been doing some research in to the identifications of the Aircraft that were at the opening in 1959, this is what I have come up with so far (I am 99.9% sure)

...

RAF Bristol Britannia C.1 - XL638

There is a letter from the pilot of the Britannia (Harry Liddell) in the just-released issue 12 of The Aviation Historian journal - mainly about the woes of the Vulcans on that trip.
There was also an article about the Vulcan incident by Jonathan Pote in the April 2013 NZ Aviation News, and The Aviation Historian issue 5.

[Dave Homewood]

I have made some more progress lately with identifying some of the aircraft and aircrews for this airshow.

www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/Airshow_History_1950s.html#59

[B747-419]

May 23, 2015 13:19:43 GMT 12 @timgorman1980 said:

Been doing some research in to the identifications of the Aircraft that were at the opening in 1959, this is what I have come up with so far (I am 99.9% sure)



So as far as I know the following are unidentified on my part;

1 RAF Avro Vulcan B1
Boeing B-50
USAF Voodoos
NAC DC-3
Lockheed Loadstar "Topdresser"
Cessna 180 "Spray Topdresser"
SAFE Bristol Freighter
RNZAF Harvards
RNZAF Vampires
USAF C-130 Hercules
USAF Douglas RB-66 Destroyer
USAF North American F-100 Super Sabre(s?)
RAF Armstrong Whitworth Argosy
Piper Aztec
Cessna 310

If anyone has any info on the ones unknown, please let me know.

My Father took me from Tauranga to see the Opening. The day after while returning to Tauranga there must have been an open day at Ohakea as all the military aircraft from the display were there. I have some photos I took with my box brownie of the Vulcan still out on the southern side of RW27 resting on its port wingtip. Also photos of USAF Voodoo No 60050 and USAF F100 No 81222 if that's any help. There was also a RCAF Canadair Argus No 731 but I cant remember if it was in the flying display at Wellington.

Also at the Wellington opening was Aero Commander 680F ZK-BWA from Bay of Plenty Airways.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks for these details, I'll update my page when I get home from my trip away.

[Swingtail]

Just found on YouTube the Airshow at RAAF Amberley 1959, which was held before the opening airshow for Wellington Airport.
Fantastic bit of film in colour, of the aircraft that went on to Wellington.

[Dave Homewood]

You can read the programme for this airshow here online (thanks to Mark McGuire for the heads up).
wellington.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/4452