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Post by corsair5517 on Apr 21, 2014 22:21:24 GMT 12
Now, see, I had imagined that with what y'all were saying that the heavy metal was absent - the Corsair, Kittyhawk, Avenger, Spit, et al - and that GA aircraft had filled the gap but I see they were there.
I'd crawl across broken glass blindfolded to see the Corsair, I can assure you; that would be worth the price of admission alone and I'm absolutely positive that my father would have enjoyed watching and reminiscing.....
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Post by ErrolC on Apr 21, 2014 22:59:00 GMT 12
Now, see, I had imagined that with what y'all were saying that the heavy metal was absent - the Corsair, Kittyhawk, Avenger, Spit, et al - and that GA aircraft had filled the gap but I see they were there. I'd crawl across broken glass blindfolded to see the Corsair, I can assure you; that would be worth the price of admission alone and I'm absolutely positive that my father would have enjoyed watching and reminiscing..... And if you had seen the Corsair, Kittyhawk, Spit, Yak-3, Blunty, A-37, 4 of the WWI replicas, et al three months earlier at a location reachable as a long day trip drive, would you have spent 1-2 week's take-home pay to travel 1,000km to see them? For some people the answer is "Yes", but I'm sure you can understand that for many it is "No". |
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Post by mumbles on Apr 21, 2014 23:16:42 GMT 12
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Post by mumbles on Apr 22, 2014 0:05:06 GMT 12
Sam (Mumbles) posted this photo I took this shot at the 1993 airshow at Wanaka, very reminiscent.  Nice. Same Avenger, different era  . |
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Post by corsair5517 on Apr 22, 2014 1:22:50 GMT 12
And if you had seen the Corsair, Kittyhawk, Spit, Yak-3, Blunty, A-37, 4 of the WWI replicas, et al three months earlier at a location reachable as a long day trip drive, would you have spent 1-2 week's take-home pay to travel 1,000km to see them? For some people the answer is "Yes", but I'm sure you can understand that for many it is "No". No, i wouldn't, hell; I haven't been to an airshow since we left Europe, hence my comment about being careful with how you use discretionary income. My point was that the tenor of this thread - to me - was that the WW2 aircraft that most non aviation people associate with the term "Warbirds" were not going to display at Wanaka; this was an assumption on my part which was mistaken. To be brutally honest, a/c other than those with a direct link to my family history or that have some "Wow!!" factor bore me rigid these days and certainly I wouldn't cross the road to see a Jet Provost, or a Cessna Dragonfly and watching the shadow of an air force make believe they have some relevance in the 21st century is a little desperate.... |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 22, 2014 1:41:48 GMT 12
I'm not sure how you got the impression that Warbirds Over Wanaka was not going to have any warbirds appearing. The negative theme that has come from many quarters in this thread over the months was all about it being so horrendously expensive compared with other airshows, and that there was no imported drawcard warbird act. Nothing about it not having warbirds.
I think your comment about the current RNZAF is pretty wide of the mark. I am sure the people who they're currently supplying disaster relief aid to in Guadalcanal and other parts of the Solomons are finding their efforts right now pretty relevant, as are the families of the missing MH370 airliner who are pleased to have our expert P-3K2 crews in the search, and the fishermen and yachties who were rescued recently by our Orion crews too. The RNZAF still has an important function and an important presence. It may be smaller now than it was, and it's much under-appreciated by the public compared with the olden days, but the individuals who are in the RNZAF are still doing as good a job, if not better, than any who went before them. It is the politicians that have let them and us down.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Apr 22, 2014 8:16:10 GMT 12
The NH90 which arrived late Saturday (after being weather-bound at Christchurch) and carried out a display sequence on the Sunday was '05.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 22, 2014 9:09:28 GMT 12
Thanks Peter. I didn't realise there were five operational yet, cool.
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Post by suthg on Apr 22, 2014 9:27:10 GMT 12
Hasn't the lightning damaged one been sent back to manufacturer for a rebuild/repair? I don't think that one is operational yet.
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Post by baz62 on Apr 22, 2014 12:51:07 GMT 12
Dove of Peace: I wonder where it went. Wasn't that Mustang sold? I'm sure I saw it for sale somewhere. Mind you may not have sold yet if indeed it was. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 22, 2014 13:18:01 GMT 12
It was for sale but I have seen nothing to suggest it has sold.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 22, 2014 16:26:48 GMT 12
Hasn't the lightning damaged one been sent back to manufacturer for a rebuild/repair? I don't think that one is operational yet. No, it has been flying again for some time and never went anywhere. See this post from Thax (who flies these aircraft) way back in December rnzaf.proboards.com/post/202457/thread |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 22, 2014 16:29:22 GMT 12
I have updated the 2010's Airshow page with all the info I so far have gathered on this airshow. Can people who went to the show please take a look and fill in the missing aircraft and display pilots, and offer any corrections please? It's at the bottom of this page: www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/Airshow_History_2010s.html |
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Post by chewy on Apr 22, 2014 19:32:07 GMT 12
Just got home. I enjoyed the airshow even though it was the first WOW that i have been to. The swarm of helicopters had me reaching for a can of fly spray. The RNZAF NH90 did a display on sunday but the 109 was static only. Met Don there. I enjoy the military reenactors as well. For those that enjoy military history but can not aford a War bird this is a cheaper alternative. I love the Anson. The car/plane race was different. Overall i thought it was well worth it. While in the RNZAF i never had to pay to see an air show.
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Post by corsair5517 on Apr 22, 2014 21:08:30 GMT 12
I'm not sure how you got the impression that Warbirds Over Wanaka was not going to have any warbirds appearing. The negative theme that has come from many quarters in this thread over the months was all about it being so horrendously expensive compared with other airshows, and that there was no imported drawcard warbird act. Nothing about it not having warbirds. It was my error and I put my hand up to it; no-one actually said that the heavy metal was going to be there, and there was much discussion about the cost/entertainment ratio... I think your comment about the current RNZAF is pretty wide of the mark. I am sure the people who they're currently supplying disaster relief aid to in Guadalcanal and other parts of the Solomons are finding their efforts right now pretty relevant, as are the families of the missing MH370 airliner who are pleased to have our expert P-3K2 crews in the search, and the fishermen and yachties who were rescued recently by our Orion crews too. The RNZAF still has an important function and an important presence. It may be smaller now than it was, and it's much under-appreciated by the public compared with the olden days, but the individuals who are in the RNZAF are still doing as good a job, if not better, than any who went before them. It is the politicians that have let them and us down. And your point is what?! Surely the idea of an air force is protection of ones sovereign borders, and support of the other armed services by acheiving air parity in the (unlikely) event of hostilities? OK, the personnel do sterling work supporting worthy humanitarian causes, and the Orions are great for SAR but really, if push comes to shove, what actual good is an airforce with no teeth? You're right about the politicians screwing the armed services; they're an easy target because they spend large wodges of the consolidated fund and don't appear to actually do anything much in return but then the NZ govt is renowned for its parsimony; WW2 service medals in Australia are all engraved with the recipients name and number; all my old man got was a tatty Pacific Star ribbon!! I'm not having a go at the personnel, just the fact that NZ doesn't have an air force; just a collection of non-combat aircraft and a government that contimues to trade on the well-earned reputation of those who have gone before, and that of the non-complaining current staff. |
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Post by rayo on Apr 22, 2014 21:34:39 GMT 12
Guys I am sure these are all really salient points but have very little relevance to this thread (Warbirds over Wanaka 2014) don't you think.
On the subject of the ticket prices if you think about it rationally they are only are minor percenrage of the cost of attending Wanaka from the North Island.
What has actually happened is that there are now lots of options that were never there in the past and people are making decisions based on Cost/benefit. Don't blame the fact on the $20 price difference on the $1k total.
I have been to Wanaka 5 times and every other venue multiple times. Unless I am going to see something unique of particular interest that I can't see locally I would usually choose not incur the cost.
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Post by mumbles on Apr 22, 2014 21:41:32 GMT 12
My 2 cents. My wife and I have just got back from the airshow after 3 days in the silver stand. Traffic management was was super slick, the weather gods smiled on us for all 3 days, the flying was excellent as was the commentary, food and trade stands and ground displays where also good. Overall nothing to complain about really. I was reading some of the comments posted before and after the show. I think for some of us here, after having been to many airshows, and being spoilt by having one of the largest warbird collections for a small country anywhere in the world, maybe we all have become a bit blase about our airshows. The bar has been continuously lifted for years and years and even I have been guilty of thinking that its just the same-old same-old. One has to remember how lucky we have been for many years. Most of these aircraft are privately owned, and sheer cost of rebuilding and owning even a GA aicraft in these times is staggering, let along a rare warbird. Imagine if the owners for these magnificent aircraft thought "screw it people have already seen a spitfire" and decided that a holiday would be better, rather than the effort and money required to make it down? I can only imagine the reaction. Perhaps this is the reason why some of the regulars didnt show...who knows. So from the the guy who took my ticket to the display pilots, I thankyou for the effort you put in just so I could enjoy seeing your aircraft. Thankyou and I look forward to seeing you fly again next time. Agreed. Despite my pessimism and doubts earlier in the thread, I still had a great time. I was only able to get there by sharing costs with friends, and otherwise wouldn't have gone to my first Wanaka since 2002 (having attended '92, '94, '96, and '98 beforehand). That said I don't think I wasted any money. While not a true headline act, the jet racing was much more interesting and compelling than I expected it to be, and I'll admit mea culpa and eat some humble pie on that one. Was Wanaka this year up with the supposed "Golden Era" of the 1990's and early 2000's? No, but there was still some magic to be had. Was it average? Yeah, a bit, but the standard of "average" at a major NZ airshow these days is now pretty high, and it's awfully easy to take it for granted. |
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Post by DragonflyDH90 on Apr 22, 2014 23:54:42 GMT 12
I flew the F1 EVO Rocket in the Sport Aircraft display
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2014 0:24:48 GMT 12
corsair5517, In my opinion it is very disrespectful to current and past serving personnel to degrade what is a proud air force, I certainly know I'm proud to soon be part of the RNZAF. It is not relevant to the thread and just for the record an air force is not entirely made out of strike aircraft. Please do not degrade something that others still proudly serve for and help others through being a part of. Please keep on track of the thread topic.
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Post by beagle on Apr 23, 2014 4:03:16 GMT 12
The NH90 which arrived late Saturday (after being weather-bound at Christchurch) and carried out a display sequence on the Sunday was '05. oh man, there was one at chch and I missed it again. when am I going to see one of these machines in real life. sniff sniff. |
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