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Post by shorty on Jun 1, 2014 10:10:56 GMT 12
Is their an Armistice Day Airshow at Masterton this year? Are there any shows at Masterton before Wings over Wairarapa?
It's a fair hike from Dunedin so would like to start planning any expedition soon.
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Post by ErrolC on Jun 2, 2014 13:36:10 GMT 12
If prior history is anything to go by, they will announce on Facebook etc a month before. There may be references in media interviews before then (as there were for the event earlier this year).
Personally I've bought flights to Wellington on the assumed date, as they are typically much more expensive closer to the time.
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jun 2, 2014 14:40:26 GMT 12
Ah, the joys of living in Masterton where more airworthy warbirds reside than anywhere else in the country....   |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 2, 2014 15:26:02 GMT 12
Hmm, Auckland might well dispute that claim Bruce.
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jun 2, 2014 17:23:13 GMT 12
Hmm, Auckland might well dispute that claim Bruce. Last count, there were 26 airworthy WWI machines at Hood, plus two WWII fighter planes, so that makes 28 warbirds. And I guess you could count a couple of the SVAS aeroplanes as warbirds too, although I don't know what their current airworthy status is. Anyway, even if those Aucklanders did just pip Masterton at the post by a tiny amount, we could always fall back on "warbirds per capita" and say, "beat that, JAFAs!"  |
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andynz
Pilot Officer
Posts: 47
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Post by andynz on Jun 28, 2014 7:34:42 GMT 12
Don't they usually kick the display season off with a show in November? I haven't been since 2007. No excuses, just didn't make it... Will definitely be there in 2015 though. I have passed through on my way up and down the country a few times on my travels (usually my mid way refuelling spot) but indeed, not a bad place to be based.  |
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Post by gyrocaptain on Jun 28, 2014 12:07:02 GMT 12
Are there any recommendations as to which Masterton show is the best for viewing the TVAL collection in its element?
The three day Wings over Wairarapa, or the afternoon Remembrance & Anzac shows that TVAL put on themselves?
I ask as a bloody foreigner who has to plan a trip from the middle of that unsightly dustbowl to the west of you. So I'm kinda looking for 'bang for buck' as it were. Maximise my pre-1920 aviation fix if you will.
Cheers!
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jun 28, 2014 12:53:28 GMT 12
If you want to attend a big three-day (Friday-Saturday-Sunday) airshow, the bi-annual Wings Over Wairarapa is the one to go to. It is held during Wellington Anniversary Weekend on the odd-numbered years. Wellington Anniversary Day is the third Monday in January, so the airshow will be held on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday immediately prior to that third Monday.
However, although most of TVAL's collection will be on display during Wings Over Wairarapa, they won't all be flying. If you wish to see their entire airworthy collection in the air, you'll need to attend one of TVAL's own mini-airshows. These usually occur on the Saturday of Wellington Anniversary Weekend during the even-numbered years (when Wings Over Wairarapa isn't on), the Saturday closest to Anzac Day (25th April), and the Saturday closest to Armistice Day (11th November). However, they occasionally change things, such as this year when they canned the January and April mini-airshows and instead held one on 22nd February. You have to keep a close eye on TVAL's facebook page to get confirmation of their mini-airshows, and as already posted, they often don't announce airshows until a month before, although there is often info on the grapevine a considerable time before that if one has one's ear to the ground.
Basically, if you wish to maximise your pre-1920 aviation fix, attend one of TVAL's mini-airshows.
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Post by ErrolC on Jun 28, 2014 13:22:24 GMT 12
For what flies at what shows, see comments at rnzaf.proboards.com/post/204680/threadNote that Wings Over Wairarapa is NOT a "Hood Aerodrome TVAL show", and would not 'normally' see other than "the replicas that haven't been built by us" flying. So the Hood Aerodrome TVAL shows will have most types that you won't see flying elsewhere. The downside is the weather risk on a single-day show (and also not so good for ground-to-air photography). Sometimes flying is cancelled (or restricted to certain types) late in the day, and you can still have a good look at everything on the ground. Another approach is to go to Wings Over Wairarapa or Omaka Classic Fighters, and do a hangar tour at Masterton later (I'm not sure how accessible all the TVAL collection is during the actual WoW show?). There are a few WW1-types at Omaka that don't belong to TVAL, and generally display at Classic Fighters. In any case, you will want to get to Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre as well. Any of these events will provide a great time, and are well run. |
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jamo
Warrant Officer
Posts: 43
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Post by jamo on Jun 28, 2014 23:35:32 GMT 12
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Post by gyrocaptain on Jun 29, 2014 14:08:43 GMT 12
Thanks for the info guys.
I'm already hopelessly addicted to the Classic Fighters show.
I guess next year I could just extend the Easter Omaka trip a bit and head across the strait to see if I can poke my nose in the TVAL hangars the following weekend...
Otherwise I'll certainly keep a beady eye on the TVAL facebook page for details of this year's Armistice Day show.
Cheers!
That LVG looks superb!
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