Classic Fighters 2013 DVD

[Dave Homewood]

The Classic Fighters 2013 official DVD is now available. Produced by the Aviation Heritage Centre at Omaka, Blenheim, the DVD covers the highlights from the magnificent three-day Classic Fighters airshow held over the Easter weekend of 2013.

I attended this airshow and I look back now on it as one of the best airshows I've been to. I met up with so many great friends from the aviation world; I made a lot of new friends; and I had a really brilliant time. But importantly the flying was, as usual, top notch. There was lots of exciting, close, low and rare flying displays from a huge array of types in attendance.

I love going to airshows, and I have to admit that Classic Fighters is my personal favourite of the regularly held airshows. Each time it seems to get better, without losing anything from the past shows. It has great displays by amazing aircraft and pilots, and I always meet a suiper bunch of people in the wonderful friendly atmosphere that Omaka has.

Even with very fond memories of being at this particular airshow, interestingly this DVD reminded me of several things at the show that I had completely forgotten, and it brought back many more happy memories.

The film is narrated by Peter McQuarters (who is also one of the key commentators at the airshow), and there are also contributions by Mark O'Sullivan (Nanchang pilot), Jim Hickey (Yak 52 owner), Keith Skilling (world class warbird display pilot), Cam and Tracey Hawley (Staggerwing owners), Craig Anderson (Piper Pacer bush pilot), Murray Miers (FW190 owner), Nick Milne (young pilot), Graeme Frew (Yak 3 owner), Amelia Reid (daughter of Bill and Robin Reid), and Bill Reid (Anson owner/pilot).

This film takes you right up close to the action, on the ground and in the air. The battle sequences are great, particularly the WWI flying scenes which have such amazing energy to them. There's some great footage of the Fokker Friendship, the Staggerwing, the Corsair, the NH90, the Piper bush planes, Fw190, the Yak 3 pair, the lovely Anson, and lots, lots more.

The big finale with the WWII aerial battle and then the 29 aircraft Balbo is also superbly covered. And there's an additional piece at the end of the film covering the Friday night sunset airshow and the very impressive fireworks display.

Run time for the main film is 1 hour, 17 minutes, 33 seconds. But there's also an extra film on the DVD that separately covers the Warbirds Awards Dinner event held at Omaka on the Saturday night of the airshow. This runs for over 50 minutes. So total screen time is over 2 hours.

I highly recommend this DVD as a superb souvenir of that wonderful weekend at Omaka, for anyone who was there at Classic Fighters and all those who were unable to make it along. It captures the essence of the event really well. And remember that sales support the wonderful Aviation Heritage Centre at Omaka too.

You can order the DVD here for NZ$25.00 plus postage and packaging:
www.omaka.org.nz/omaka-merchandise.htm

[kiwithrottlejockey]

Sept 7, 2014 15:51:06 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

But there's also an extra film on the DVD that separately covers the Warbirds Awards Dinner event held at Omaka on the Saturday night of the airshow.

Well worth purchasing it just for the Awards Dinner part alone, especially if ALL of Stan Smith's speech (after he won his second award of the night) is included. And even better if his comment (muttered under his breath, but loud enough for everyone to hear) uttered when that second award was announced is also included in the footage.

[kiwithrottlejockey]

Well, after watching the Awards Dinner part of the DVD, I can confirm that Stan Smith's bloody hilarious speech is all on it, completely uncensored (colourful language and all), and if you weren't there, it is extremely entertaining. Unfortunately, the camera's mike didn't pick up his comment when the second award of the night for Stan was announced, but no matter, all the rest of it is there.

Now I've just got to watch the rest of the DVD....ie, the airshow part.

[Mustang51]

I think I ordered one of these............ but I cannot remember. Guess if I did it shall turn up in the fullness of time.

[vs]

almost a year and a half after the show to come out?

[kiwithrottlejockey]

Sept 19, 2014 8:22:15 GMT 12 Mustang51 said:

I think I ordered one of these............ but I cannot remember. Guess if I did it shall turn up in the fullness of time.

I can remember filling out a DVD order form at the airshow, and when I asked the chap I was dealing with in the merchandise tent about payment, he said the order form wasn't really an order form as such, but that I would be contacted (presumably by email) when the DVDs were produced and invited to go online to place a firm order, including paying for it.

I've actually been visiting the website regularly for about the past year looking for any info about the DVD, but all I could see was the option to purchase the DVD of the 2011 Classic Fighters airshow, so when this thread was posted, I decided to act straight away and get an order in.

Almost a year-and-a-half after the airshow, the DVD has finally been produced, but I haven't received any email or any other form of contact, so when I first saw this thread I went straight to the website and ordered some copies of the DVD for myself and others, and within a few days they turned up. As to what has happened to all of those "so-called" orders placed at the airshow, who knows where they ended up?

[Mustang51]

Hmmmmmmmm. Guess that I had best make contact with them. I know that it has taken a long time to get the thing out but I do know that Pete's dulcet tones shall be worth it !