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Post by Dave Homewood on May 20, 2014 9:29:16 GMT 12
I have been looking through my Airshow Archive entries that go back many years with all sorts of airshows and it's amazing how the airshow scene has developed and changed over the years, with popular acts coming and going.
I was thinking, it would be interesting to start this thread to see which kiwi airshow acts from the past that are no longer seen today that people out there would love to see again at an airshow. Big or small aircraft, solo or team stuff, civil or military, which are the displays you miss from the olden days? Share your memories and photos.
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Post by komata on May 20, 2014 10:34:27 GMT 12
An interesting question. For starters, the following would no doubt be 'entertaining', although probably too pedestrian for a modern audience.
Tiger Moth Racing (and yes folks, it DID happen)
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Post by johnnyfalcon on May 20, 2014 10:49:08 GMT 12
One of the recent Omaka airshows had about 8 Tigers 'racing'. Tongue-in-cheek and entertaining low-level stuff
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Post by ErrolC on May 20, 2014 11:09:39 GMT 12
The Le Mans start, with pilots hassling each other on the way to the aircraft, was great!
Sent from my D5503 using proboards
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 20, 2014 11:31:23 GMT 12
Which show was that John? I have been to all the Classic Fighters since 2007 and cannot recall a Tiger Moth race.
However yes it used to be THE airshow act back in the 1930's, although then it was mainly DH60 Moths, Spartans and Avians, with the odd Tiger Moth. The first one took place at Mangere Aerodrome on the 20th of April 1929. Often the races were flown by female pilots too who often did well. I like the idea of a Tiger Moth race too.
I'd love to see that popular act of the 1990's come back where the Venom and Mustang did a nice close tail-chase.
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Post by komata on May 20, 2014 13:24:56 GMT 12
FWIW: Tiger Moth racing was occurring into the early 1960's at least.
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Post by DragonflyDH90 on May 20, 2014 13:32:47 GMT 12
The Tiger Moth race at Omaka was perhaps 2 possibly 3 shows ago, I wasn't flying in it but helped a little with the organization.
I was involved in a Tiger Race at the televised NZ Air Sports event at Wanaka a few years back with Le Mans start and associated tripping and antics whilst running to the aircraft and also flew in the Tiger race with Le Mans start held at Wanaka about '08 maybe '06, some may remember this when one of the pilots stumbled and went down in a screaming heap on the runway. Some thought the fall was staged but it was real, with associated nasty injuries due to faceplant with the concrete and another pilot stepping in at the last minute.
Sorry I can't be more specific, they all blur a little for me as time passes.
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Post by johnnyfalcon on May 20, 2014 13:42:08 GMT 12
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Post by Andy Wright on May 20, 2014 13:42:38 GMT 12
Omaka 2011 had a Tiger race. Only Omaka I've been too so remember it well.
Posted at the same time as johnnyfalcon.
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Post by alias on May 20, 2014 14:14:54 GMT 12
For what its worth;
John Lamont and Keith Skilling in a P-40 and F4U respectively, in a very tightly flown tailchase at a Hamilton airshow practice day. Absolutely phenomenal..
Trevor Bland's P-51 display, if you were in the right place at the right time..
Tim Wallis ringing out his Spitfire XVI at Wigram after the VE day airshow..
The original Roaring Forties with John Denton in the solo spot..
Bruce Thompson in AgDak BBJ..
Ray and Mark Hanna.. but alas, those days are gone..
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Post by Damon on May 20, 2014 14:25:29 GMT 12
For what its worth; John Lamont and Keith Skilling in a P-40 and F4U respectively, in a very tightly flown tailchase at a Hamilton airshow practice day. Absolutely phenomenal.. Trevor Bland's P-51 display, if you were in the right place at the right time.. Tim Wallis ringing out his Spitfire XVI at Wigram after the VE day airshow.. The original Roaring Forties with John Denton in the solo spot.. Bruce Thompson in AgDak BBJ.. Ray and Mark Hannah.. but alas, those days are gone.. I'd second that.. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 20, 2014 14:39:18 GMT 12
I must have been in the hangar or the AHC when that Tiger Moth race was on at CF11. Doh, missed it.
I don't recall one at Wanaka either so don't think it was 2006, Ryan. I recall a nice DH flypast there though.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 20, 2014 14:43:25 GMT 12
Who remembers the Knights Of The Air routine at Hamilton at Easter 1995? Sir Tim Wallis in his Spitfire Mk. XVIe and Sir Kenneth Hayr in his newly imported Yak 52, doing formation aerobatics. I wish there was film of that around.
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Post by Bruce on May 20, 2014 15:27:23 GMT 12
Back in about 1992 when I was at Gulf aeronautics we looked after Sea Fury ZK-SFR. Robbie Booth turned up one day to try out a new routine he was planning on using for the upcoming season - He wanted to "tighten things up a bit". I have never seen a more amazing warbird display - Robbie kept the big fury within the boundaries of Ardmore, pulling vortices off the wingtips all the way through. Absolutely stunning. When Robbie hopped out afterwards his eyes were all bloodshot from the Gs he had pulled - He decided that it was a bit too much so that particular performance was never seen again.
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Post by craig on May 20, 2014 16:00:30 GMT 12
Russell Baker used to do a really impressive performance in Cessna 185. You may think a bit tame but he really took it to the limit.
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Post by alias on May 20, 2014 16:04:12 GMT 12
Agreed, Craig.
I saw his display at the old Te Anau airstrip, it was just before his heart attack.
CFI was just an extension of him. Russell is a great man.
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Post by baz62 on May 20, 2014 16:32:15 GMT 12
but the pre-drama was the Tiger-by-the-tail that ended up in the scrub... How did I miss that one? That's one of the things about Tigers.....no brakes! |
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Post by corsairarm on May 20, 2014 16:33:53 GMT 12
I would like to see the topdressing display that I saw at Wanaka and I think is was by Robertson sir service in FU24's.
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Post by alias on May 20, 2014 16:51:36 GMT 12
That would be the Wanganui Aero Work team. That was another classic display.
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Post by corsairarm on May 20, 2014 20:08:02 GMT 12
That would be the Wanganui Aero Work team. That was another classic display. Your right it was. My mistake. It was certainly a classic. Bring it on again. |
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