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Post by mumbles on Apr 20, 2014 22:34:50 GMT 12
I've spent the day working on models - such as the Trojan and OFMC's Buchon - while watching Wanaka DVDs of 1996-2006. Been very careful not to go on Facebook or WONZ too much, so as to save the coverage for tonight and tomorrow. Here's a couple for starters C-130 generating vapour during it's high speed pass. You don't see that very often:  Or the angel:   And PV270 getting airborne:  |
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Post by planegeek on Apr 20, 2014 22:54:16 GMT 12
Great photos Mumbles, thanks for sharing!
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Post by corsair5517 on Apr 20, 2014 23:00:27 GMT 12
In the "old days", it WAS WOW, with people going to see Wallis' collection of fighters, and before it got to the size it eventually bloated out to, my father assures me it was well worth the visit - I wonder how he will rate this years show?
If there are no "warbirds" - or to be precise, aircraft people readily recognise as warbirds - then there's surely an element of false advertising here?
And as for having a "menu", well, of course there is!! With individual disposable income at a premium these days, one has to be a bit choosy about what one spends large wads of cash on!!
And yes.... I do suppose the vintage aircraft viewer in NZ is a little spoiled these days....
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Post by TS on Apr 20, 2014 23:02:52 GMT 12
Jeez...in the old days nobody cared - they just went to airshows for the thrill of it but looks these days they have to a 'menu'  And if the "menu" does not perform then they have the right to complain?  ?............  |
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Post by mumbles on Apr 20, 2014 23:21:32 GMT 12
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Post by aeromedia on Apr 21, 2014 8:21:39 GMT 12
According to the Herald, the event attracted close to 50,000 people and will return "next year." Gee, so successful now its becoming an annual event.
See you at Wings and Rotors Over Wanaka in 2015 folks!
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Post by ErrolC on Apr 21, 2014 8:26:19 GMT 12
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Post by lumpy on Apr 21, 2014 9:48:28 GMT 12
Every " warbird " airshow I've ever been to ( which is not that many ) , has had some non Warbird content . Even the last Avalon show had a pretty dull hour or so of some guy in a single engine GA aircraft showing off what it could do - and you certainly couldnt describe " Jetman " as a Warbird .
I would rather see anything flying around , than nothing - if the schedule couldnt be filled with warbird displays ( especially before the official show start time , lunch time , display slots allocated to unservicable or unattending aircraft etc ) .
Who knows , maybe one or two of those younger SAA pilots may just go on to own shares in a Harvard etc - maybe not but you never know . I think too much is being made of that comment in the TV interview , the SAA were there to help fill out the schedule - hopefully in an interesting fashion for both the public and those involved ( and just possibly foster a bit of future warbird interest ).
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Post by aeromedia on Apr 21, 2014 10:48:03 GMT 12
Most of the WWI aircraft landed at Ashburton around 9.30 this morning. Cloud to the north has intensified and with them still here now (10.45 am), looks like they might have to sit it out for a while.
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Post by aeromedia on Apr 21, 2014 11:00:31 GMT 12
As you were, they just departed, 11am.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2014 11:04:51 GMT 12
That's amazing - 50,000 people and a visiting aircraft park with only 12 aircraft?! I guess with the ticket prices the way they are it's sustainable.....but wow. I just watched the TV3 piece and the reporter said "record crowds"....
I really don't want to be another "Jeremiah" (as that's apparently a thing now) but I can't imagine spending the money it takes to get to, and attend, Warbirds Over Wanaka when I can the same lineup at Masterton for nowhere near the same cost. Yes, the site has spectacular scenery, but considering the main attraction for the show (the resident collection of warbirds) is no longer there, it just isn't worth it for me. Additionally for most of the show you're staring into the sun, and the venue is miles and miles away from anywhere.
I'm sure those who went had a good time, but I hate to say it - I don't see Wanaka lasting much longer.
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Post by brendanodell on Apr 21, 2014 12:11:08 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 21, 2014 13:12:23 GMT 12
According to the Herald, the event attracted close to 50,000 people and will return "next year." Gee, so successful now its becoming an annual event. See you at Wings and Rotors Over Wanaka in 2015 folks! Maybe that is the free WWI show that they plan to hold, funded by the WW100 Trust. This is in the second round of funding, here: ww100.govt.nz/funding-sources-for-ww100-commemorations#.U1RvulWSySoWarbirds over Wanaka Community Trust Wanaka Free public aviation show of WW1 planes with commentary and land-based displays. $43,250.00 |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 21, 2014 13:16:04 GMT 12
Nice clip Brendan, that DC-3 looked bloody low!
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Post by baronbeeza on Apr 21, 2014 13:37:26 GMT 12
That's amazing - 50,000 people and a visiting aircraft park with only 12 aircraft?! Is that correct about the visiting aircraft ? Normally I would go down and have a walk about the parked GA aircraft. This year I didn't and never even saw one. I wondered afterwards how deserted the park must have been and yet I knew the crowd numbers were pleasing. I had a chat to Charlie at the CAA tent about my concerns with the complete freefall I am seeing in GA aircraft use. If there was only a handful of visiting aircraft then perhaps we are in a community that is fast approaching crisis point. I have invested heavily in the industry and do wish something changes for the better soon. I can think of several owners walking away from their aircraft now, machines that were worth tens of thousands of dollars not so long ago. I feel a little like the guy sitting in the tent trying to sell rolls of film and doing on-site developing. What has changed for the market to evaporate away ? EDIT****** I should add that the decline in visiting aircraft numbers may have been weather related also. It is possible people that had been intending to fly in may have made alternate plans. |
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Post by delticman on Apr 21, 2014 13:56:23 GMT 12
Wanaka has always been a gathering for Otago/Southland folk. Every non aviation person that I met this month down that way was going. It's interesting to hear about the visiting aircraft, long gone were the days when the aircraft were parked down the paddock to the end of the runway. Maybe it's a sign that aviation (and warbird) enthusiasts are no longer interested in going that far south when they can see more interesting and new aircraft closer to home. At least there was one Fletcher there.
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Post by baz62 on Apr 21, 2014 15:45:24 GMT 12
That DC3 pass was great, would have made the show for me! Wonder what his ASI was showing!!
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Post by scrooge on Apr 21, 2014 18:46:55 GMT 12
I know of at least one aircraft load from auckland that opted for A320 due to the weather.
My second Wanaka was via aero club trip and the day we flew in the GA park was full. I seem to recall entry was $20 a head. A couple of subsequent trips were similar, but over time GA aircraft numbers dwindled. Weather, entry cost, level of repetitive interest and hassle at the airfield itself all contributed to the decline I was aware of.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Apr 21, 2014 19:21:59 GMT 12
I'm just home from down south. Overall I came away very satisfied with my 3 days in the Silver Pass stand. The weather held out and the crowds came in their thousands. The organisation of the show seemed to run like clockwork this year. Even with some acts missing due to the weather you would never have known. I thought the non-Warbird displays were quite interesting and very professionally displayed - I loved the dual glider display. My only grizzle was all of the military aircraft did their practices on the Thursday and weren't flown on the actual practice day on Friday. If you are going to charge people to come to a practice day it is a bit off having some of the major acts do it the day before and have the Friday off!
The RAAF Hawks were a bit tame for me (too high and too far away from the airfield for most of their display). I guess we have been spoilt by the F-111 and F-18 displays in past years, the Hawks had big shoes to fill!
The jet racing was excellent. Very close and very low! Wanaka is a perfect venue for it with the course all out in front of you. I'd be surprised if this doesn't develop into something bigger next time. But the jets (except for the L-39) are all pretty marginal for operating out of Wanaka. I have thought that for a long time, having seen some close calls on take-off and landing in the past. There is just no margin for error. No wind and a wet runway and you have the makings of an overrun (one of the Vampires did just that landing on Friday - it looked like he ran out of brakes and ended up on the grass at the end). On Sunday one of the official photographers was right at the end of runway taking photos of the jets taking off. I bet he got some spectacular shots but you wouldn't catch me standing where he was with L-29s and Vampires taking off on that runway.
I thought the commentary team did an excellent job. They knew when to shut up and let the aircraft speak for themselves and had some really interesting special guests. The RNZAF does need to find a new commentator though. Accurate RNZAF history has never been Kate's strong point! I can't believe she still refers to the RNZAF aircraft as "our toys". Not very professional in my opinion.
Looking forward to seeing everyone's photos. I didn't bother taking any myself. Good to catch up with Bruce and Sam (those forum hats are great for spotting forum members!).
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Post by beagle on Apr 21, 2014 19:29:18 GMT 12
maybe someone with big wallets could bring Drakken over for the next races. 6 skyhawks racing around.
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