TVAL Flying Weekend December 2014

[Dave Homewood]

December 27th & 28th. 2014
TVAL Flying Weekend
Hood Aerodrome, Masterton

[Brett]

I wandered along to this earlier today.

The event is substantially different to the previous air shows (ANZAC & Remembrance Days) previously hosted by TVAL.

The new event is more like a pilot training day that the public can watch. With the number and diversity of aircraft operated by TVAL, they were having problems fielding enough current display pilots to fulfil their commitments. These flying days are one way they are dealing with the issue.

Some of the planes housed in the OS&R hangar are pushed outside onto the grass. The concrete apron in front of the hangar is roped off, together with some of the grass area in front of the SVAS hangar. This is the area the public have access to - entering through the OS&R hangar.

There is no program or schedule. Most of the flights are pilots doing circuits and bumps. There is no real display flying (topside passes etc), although a couple of aircraft may meet up for some formation work. I expect the pilots are using this opportunity to remain current, build hours, or transition to a new type. There may be two or three aircraft in the air at once, but they are generally doing circuits and may be using a distant runway. They all taxi back to the flight line in front of the roped off area. There were 8 different aircraft flying today.

In addition to the aircraft flights, there was a 'flightline walk' conducted by Sara Randle while the pilots were having lunch, during which she spoke about the aircraft, history, development etc. John Lanham then gave a talk on the Albatros D.Va, before firing it up and giving a display (only to be immediately bounced by a marauding SE5a).

No new aircraft were displayed (although the latest Snipe was on show in the hangar - see separate thread). Gene was not flying today, which may have restricted the types able to be flown.

This is the first of these days that TVAL have organised. I expect there will be some changes over time.

While not an air show as such, watching multiple WWI aircraft doing circuits and bumps still beats mowing the lawns and trimming the hedges.

[ErrolC]

Thanks for the report Brett.

Sent from my D5503 using proboards

[kiwithrottlejockey]

I finished work about 12:45pm today and had considered going, but it was too bloody hot in Wairarapa today and I just wanted to get somewhere cool and have a few cold beers.

I guess one of the advantages of living locally (less than 4km from Hood Aerodrome) is that I get plenty of opportunities to see the “toys”, so if I miss a few, it doesn't really matter.

[delticman]

I did wonder how it would go, you never quite know if it's windy or not at Masterton and it takes me two and half hours to get there.

I found my spot under a tree and caught up with world events. Mid morning I went along for a look and found ten world war one aircraft in the big hangar including the new Snipe, ZK-SBY as E7643 and is all silver devoid of any post war squadron markings. So far I've not managed to find which Squadron it served with.

Sadly the DH4 and new BE2c were not out but maybe next time.

Before the lunch break, the aircraft out of the Air Services hangar were brought over. That gave twelve aircraft outside including the SE5A which stayed with the Super Air Aircraft.

The afternoon's chat by Sara was interesting, everyone was invited to join her. Most of the folk stayed with Sara as she talked about Rotary engines while a few other visitors went and photographed the other aircraft.

I listened to John for a while but then I had a calling to go and visit the Middletown Railway which is featuring 1986, one of the years I was in the UK. And the cheese saga continues, Biddy is 72 now and not going to give up.

It must have been a little disappointing for TVAL that a lot of folk didn't turn up but it was very relaxed and even some of pilots had time to talk and chat with the visitors.

On the Friday afternoon before Wings over Wairarapa depending on the weather, it is hoped to fly some 27 aircraft.

After November and staying the night in Masterton and nothing happened..................was the flying day worth it? Yes.

[Gavin Conroy]

I was up there on the Sunday, was a nice relaxing day.
Avro 504, Fokker D.VII, Fokker Triplane, Pfalz, Sopwith Pup, BE-2f, and SE.5a etc all flew.
Was good practice for the pilots who flew really well I thought.