Upcoming Warbirds in NZ

[Dave Homewood]

There is a lot of rebuild activity in NZ nowadays but a lot of it is for offshore customers. I wondered what are the most exciting ones that we'll see stay in our own skies? And which do you want to see most?

Here are some I am looking forward to very much:
- The Anson Mk 1 at Wakefield
- Pioneer Aero's other P40N, though it will be some years off.
- Bristol Blenheim (Bollingbroke) for Omaka possibly.
- The Hawker Hind that the Subritzky's are rebuilding for the Old Stick and Rudder Company is a much looked forward to flyer by myself and many others.
- Brendon Deere's Spitfire, and maybe the Subritzky Spitfire too if they decide to re-engine it.

Anything else of interest that may be coming up for the NZ airshow scene that you want to see? (pity the Walrus project proposal fell through)

[hairy]

Here we go..............

-Glynn Powells Mozzie
-The Mandeville Comet
-Stan Smiths Miles Gemini
-M. Nicholls Hawk 75
-M. Nicholls P-40N
-R. Mackleys L.10 Electra
-Avspecs Mk.5c Spitfire
-J.Chambers/D.Subritzky P-40M
-Subritzky Meteor NF-11
-Blenhiem Yak.11
-M.Nicholls Yak.3

[Dave Homewood]

Ooh, a great list. I dear say Glyn Powell's Mosquito may be a wee way off yet, but still much anticipated.

Am I right in thinking that the Subritzky P40M has been sold to the OS&RC too? It is in a photo here next to their Hind, but then it may have just been on display loan for the Masterton Airshow?

oldstickandrudder.com/restoration.html

(note two Hinds side by side by the way - a rare sight these days!)

Is the AvSpecs Spitfire to stay in NZ? Cool if it is.

The Comet would be very cool to see. And it will be good if Mike Nicholls gets his P40 up in the air too.

There are certainly some exciting prospects for the future at airshows here.

[Bruce]

According to the Aeroplane Monthly I brought the other day, Glynn Powell and Avspecs are co-operating in rebuilding an ex Canadian Mosquito to airworthiness. the project time frame is 5 - 10 years, which is a lot closer than any figure previously floated around. It will be for an overseas client, but most of these restorations do get a bit of exercise in NZ before heading off shore.
I'd add the Dornier 28 under restoration by Avspecs and one of the Sabres which is also intended for airworthiness as well. The Tauranga Hunter trainer is also a possibility. Iam aware of some Stampe Biplanes under rebuild as well, then theres the Omaka collection with all the WWI stuff....

[Dave Homewood]

Dornier 28 is a Warbird??? hmmm

I'd much rather see a Do17 or Do24.

Glynn Powell said to us in February that he has a list of Mosquitoes on his order books. He has completed the static for Canada of course (the assembled fuselage in all the photos), and the Canadian one you mention is for Jerry Yagen of the Fighter Factory in the USA.

He is also to make fuselages for Kermit Weeks, someone else, and himself. I think maybe Paul Allen was mentioned as one buyer but don't quote me on that. Or was it an Aussie guy. Can't remember. But he did say his was fourth on the cue for the moulds.

The Yagen one is progressing quite fast, you can follow it on AvSpecs' website here
www.warbirdrestoration.co.nz/current.html

Are any of the current WWI projects at Omaka genuine WWI aircraft? Or are they all replicas? I think there is a genuine Avro 504K (ex-NZPAF) being restored there, isn't there?

[Bruce]

There is a genuine NZ 504 at Omaka, and I think a number of other machines as well - cant exactly remember which. I also have just remember that Avspecs also has an early Fairey Firefly (with chin radiator) that is a fairly straight forward restoration (the guys are really busy....) There is also Owen and Grant Harnish's Widgeon (s) at Ardmore.
BTW a DO 28 is definitely a warbird - they were used in anumber of african civil wars etc. (Its as much a warbird as a Miles Gemini)

[Dave Homewood]

Ooh yes, the Firefly will be cool and unique. But is it owned by Kiwis? Or is it for an overseas customer? I think they came here via someone in South Africa didn't they? Or is he now NZ based?

It would be great to see that Avro 504K flying (is it actually flyable now or still being restored?). That type was highly significant in NZ's aviation development. In fact, my research has found it to be the earliest aircraft type to visit Cambridge in 1921, a Walsh Borthers example:
www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/Walsh%20Bros%20Avro.htm

I have not heard anything of the Widgeon before, what's the status of this? Is it actively being restored now? How far from flight is it?

What was the "Cold Water Surf" Grumman boat again? Was that a Widgeon or a Goose? I loved seeing that at the Ardmore Airshow in 1990. It wasn't trailing any washing though.

[Bruce]

Warbird restorations are truely a global business now, the reputation of NZ overhaul shops is the best in the world, and as s result we are in the fotunate position of seeing a lot of this exotic stuff, even if the aircraft only stay one season in NZ - it stops all the shows getting stale
my "Aeroplane Monthly" also says that Peter Jackson has a genuine BE2C nearing completion at Omaka - definitely a rare bird.

The widgeon amphibians are interesting. They are the smaller bothers of the Goose, which was the "surf" plane (unfortunetely that one was exported to the USA and subsequently sunk in deep waters of the Florida keys) Vintage and Aquatic Airways have two and the substantial remains of a third. One was flying until quite recently from Paihia in the Bay of Islands (I flew in her in 1994) but a Cof A inspection has dragged out longer than expected and it now sits partially dismantled in a Hangar at Ardmore. the other widgeon is being rebuilt on the owners farm near clevedon (down the road from Ardmore) but this has also been a very long term process. I think they hope to have at least one of the widgeons back up and running for the summer tourist season, back up in the Bay of Islands.
I think with the high US dollar at the moment, we may see some more heavy metal aircraft coming to live in NZ (I'd love to see a Skyraider....)

[Bruce]

Oh about the '504. Peter Jackson already has a 504 flying, but that was U.K sourced (I think it may even be a replica) but he and stuart Tantrum want one with Kiwi History. There is also a batch (5 I think) of full scale SE5A replicas under contruction, based on original drawings and powered by genuine Hispano engines! This is what happens when an enthusiast has money and a crew of builders used to making replicas!

[Dave Homewood]

I knew about the genuine BE2C at Omaka, but wasn't sure if it was Peter Jackson's. Thanks for clarifying. He's building FIVE SE5A's??? That rumoured film MUST be going ahead! Cool.

I think Stuart Tantrum has owned the remains of the genuine 504K for some years, I read about him having it in Wings magazine in the early 1990's or so - it was found under a hedge on a farm from memory.

Were any of the Widgeons you mention previously with Fred Ladd's airlines I wonder? Pity about the Goose, I didn't know it had been lost.

There was another Grumman boat that came here for a Wanaka airshow, owned by a couple touring the Pacific is it, wasn't there? In blue, white and yellow US Navy markings I think. What a way to see the world. They always make me think of the cool series I watched as a kid, Tales of the Gold Monkey, and also Fantasy Island.

[Dave Homewood]

By the way, you may well see a Skyraider at an upcoming Wanaka airshow, flown by a member of this very forum, who says once his example is restored he hopes to cross the Tasman to bring it to the Wanaka airshow. Watch this space.

[turboNZ]

A Spad

For real ??
That would be absolutely awesome !!! The Skyraider has long since been a favourite of mine.

Wow,...can't wait !!!
Thanks for this info, Dave.

Cheers
TNZ