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Post by gibbo on Feb 27, 2017 20:33:11 GMT 12
I did Saturday only and very happy with the whole thing (except wind spoiling Black Falcons high-display & mass fly-past)... has anyone seen any mention of visitor numbers? Did feel a little light but hard to gauge being spread over such a large area.
Just a couple of little things... of the scenarios, maritime = lack of P3K2 handling display of old; army = a little too drawn-out, but not a major!
My biggest niggle was the lack of a P3K2 on static & what we did see of it in the air was a little tame. It departed back to Whenuapai without landing due, apparently, to the requirement for it to remain on SAR standby.... really? I know one is headed to the Middle East but there would've been another 4 (somewhere) & surely a crew to spare!?! Yes as you guessed P3K2 is pretty much my favourite RNZAF platform.
...Gibbo
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Post by planewriting on Feb 27, 2017 20:57:56 GMT 12
Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't NZ4206 a P3K2? That was parked both days until about 1630 Sunday in front of the Australian C-17 and a Singaporean C-130. NZ4202 was the active one. Another aircraft I think should have been on display, which I'm sure I did see on the Feilding bound bus, just as we were leaving, was an Iroquois. It was hidden somewhat behind a building. As for the bus going the wrong way that seems very strange although I'm not disputing it. All the buses seemed to be traveling in pairs or threesomes so why one driver failed to keep with others or follow the clearly marked road signs erected for the buses I don't know. The (correct) entrance my buses used was signposted "VIP and bus entrance". As for the air show I thought it was very good although I gathered it was meant to go right through to 1600.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 27, 2017 21:08:10 GMT 12
There was Iroquois '08 parked next to the static NH90's, A109 and Sioux
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 27, 2017 21:12:24 GMT 12
I know one is headed to the Middle East but there would've been another 4 (somewhere) Two are probably at Woodbourne undergoing heavy maintenance. The Orions have very limited hours and spares these days, as they draw very close to retirement and replacement, so I have no issue with them being spared a little from airshow duty. I must admit I got a little excited when the commentator Kate Bint announced the Hercules was going to do a 'wheelbarrow' manoeuvre. And then they didn't.... Why even call it that when they are not doing the wheelbarrow? it used to look spectacular and now it looks pretty dull. |
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Post by planewriting on Feb 27, 2017 21:14:35 GMT 12
Strange - I didn't see that displayed although I do recall seeing Sioux NZ3713.
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Post by campbellbox on Feb 27, 2017 21:15:42 GMT 12
I had a great weekend away in Bulls, with two full days of airshow action to distract me from the abomina-bull puns. I cannot remember the last time I had such a great time at an RNZAF show - probably 1987! It really looked like the RNZAF had put time and thought into creating the displays and concepts - the massed start and flypast being the best example. Many of the displays drew spontaneous applause. I chatted to several service men and women over the weekend, and they were all approachable, friendly and knowledgeable. The A400 pilot tells me they see the Atlas as a Hercules replacement, which I thought was interesting. Even the Aussie F-18 display pilot was gracious when I was rude enough to tell him how much I enjoyed the F-16 routine. I'd like to think that's why the Sunday Hornet display was more spectacular than Saturday's. This sums things up very nicely: I suppose I could go on. It was fantastic. Don't have a single gripe, just a wish list. The RNZAF should be very proud of themselves. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 27, 2017 21:34:13 GMT 12
Strange - I didn't see that displayed although I do recall seeing Sioux NZ3713. To be honest I never saw it either, although I wasn't really looking at the static helicopters, seen them all before. I just happened to see loads of photos of the Iroquois next to NZ3306 in posts on the Air Tattoo Facebook page. |
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Post by ErrolC on Feb 27, 2017 22:13:15 GMT 12
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Post by Peter Lewis on Feb 27, 2017 22:19:51 GMT 12
NZ1015 cannot legally fly yet, I understand that the CAA paperwork is incomplete. they tried to get her ready for the Tattoo but just don't make it. So no, that Harvard didn't fly. But gosh it was cool seeing NZ1037 and NZ1052 tucked up so close to Mit's Devon, a great formation! To be nitpicky, NZ1015 is now actually ZK-RNZ/2 |
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Post by Naki on Feb 27, 2017 22:31:44 GMT 12
I guess there was too much else to do, a lot of work was clearly put in to set up for the airshow - much more than previously. And surely most ex-Skyhawk people have retired from the RNZAF now. It's been over 15 years since they were taken out of service. Yesterday after the show the commentators said the F-16's were both departing for Christchurch to rendezvous with the KC-135 and then head back to Japan. We saw one depart, but not the other despite them both running their engines for about 40 minutes. Did one have an issue? . Japan? I thought they were going to Avalon? |
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Post by dazz on Feb 28, 2017 2:38:56 GMT 12
The second Viper had a tech issue after start that couldn't be resolved, so the leader went for a jolly low level VFR up the west coast toward New Plymouth for 45mins. I'm guessing our crews don't have quite so much discretion over how our tax dollars are spent! Having said that, I wouldn't be thinking too deeply about going for a VFR scenic in an F16 if I had the option!
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Post by skyhawkdon on Feb 28, 2017 6:36:35 GMT 12
Both F-16s also went for an evening jolly last night, just before sunset (not just for the sake of it, but to fully test the aircraft systems before their long over water transit). They leave for Melbourne today.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Feb 28, 2017 6:39:11 GMT 12
And surely most ex-Skyhawk people have retired from the RNZAF now. It's been over 15 years since they were taken out of service. There are still heaps of ex Skyhawk people at Ohakea Dave. Many in senior positions or as civilians. I spent most of both days catching up with them! |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2017 9:29:40 GMT 12
I can vouch for the presence of NZ3808 in the static display area, on Saturday at least:  |
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zkarj
Warrant Officer
Posts: 38
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Post by zkarj on Feb 28, 2017 11:49:16 GMT 12
Great to see someone being positive....2012 is history ....good onya Dave If you're a politician or a head of something in a government deparment and you make ONE doozy of a mistake, it doesn't go unpunished nor get forgotten. History is very much a part of life. It's all well and good to be positive, but if no-one is "negative" then nothing changes for the better. I seem to recall the 'Force didn't even acknowledge the traffic problems in 2012 until there was an uproar. The reason this one won't lie down is because of how spectacularly wrong it went. It stands out amongst the 20-or-so airshows I've been to in my life because it's the only one I failed to get to despite trying. And that includes a Duxford and a RIAT show - both WAY bigger events. I note attendance at this highly promoted "anniversary tattoo" is about the same as the 2008 "open day". The niggles with the 2017 event mentioned above will disappear into oblivion before long. The ghost of 2012 will live in infamy. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 28, 2017 12:22:33 GMT 12
I have been told the attendance figures were around 19,000 on the Saturday and around 12,000 on the Sunday, so about 31,000 overall.
You mention that the Air Force never acknowledged the traffic issues till it became a big thing, however what about the traffic management company that they hired to do the job, failed on an epic scale, and then said nothing at all and let the RNZAF take all the blame over their failure? Downer ITS and MWH Solutions still claim to be the best in the business, they should be ashamed of themselves over that debacle and then standing back and allowing others take all the flak. I think Foamhand did a fantastic job and should take a bow.
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clint
Squadron Leader
Posts: 136
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Post by clint on Feb 28, 2017 12:47:48 GMT 12
The F-16s just did a very nice take off followed by a 'goodbye NZ' run over the base with climbing barrel rolls.
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zkarj
Warrant Officer
Posts: 38
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Post by zkarj on Feb 28, 2017 13:40:10 GMT 12
I have been told the attendance figures were around 19,000 on the Saturday and around 12,000 on the Sunday, so about 31,000 overall. Pretty much bang on the air force's own estimate in 2008 of "about 30,000" ( reference). You mention that the Air Force never acknowledged the traffic issues till it became a big thing, however what about the traffic management company that they hired to do the job, failed on an epic scale, and then said nothing at all and let the RNZAF take all the blame over their failure? Downer ITS and MWH Solutions still claim to be the best in the business, they should be ashamed of themselves over that debacle and then standing back and allowing others take all the flak. I think Foamhand did a fantastic job and should take a bow. Indeed they should. But where does the buck stop? And even if able to blame it on "the subbies," why not acknowledge and apologise immediately instead of pretending it didn't happen? And why was the decision to subcontract made in the first place? Should it have been a bigger deal than the 50th anniversary in 1987? Anyway. It's over now and we can bring it up again in 5 or 10 years and see if the public will have forgiven by then. |
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stuartd
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 8
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Post by stuartd on Feb 28, 2017 13:42:35 GMT 12
I must be one of the few but I had no issues getting to the 2012 show and my sons and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My sons raved about the F-18 formation for days, the ground shook when they did a low pass. Its the one thing I missed this time around.
However, I'm one of those anal people who are at the gates the second they open and will happily leave Tauranga at 3am to do it. :-) We got a perfect park next to the Herc's on the taxiway, great spot on on the fence and hung around after looking at the static displays so no traffic worries leaving either. Apparently not everyone had such a favorable experience? :-P
This show was better in most respects and obvious huge amount of effort in planning. But I had no complaints about the last one.
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Post by airuarak on Feb 28, 2017 14:05:43 GMT 12
With respect to the crowd size... I thought it made for a comfortable experience for me, but I hope it didn't hit the defence people in the pocket. The reality is, there were lower crowd numbers this time because of last time. If they do an 85th tattoo (yes please), then I'm picking a crowd nearer the 75th and the traffic management this time will give a lot more people confidence next time. So, RNZAF, please remember that what you've done this time is won back some confidence in the public around traffic management... which means more people will come next time. keep the same system next time! You couldn't hide from the "ghosts of 2012" in any of the media releases... that would have stymied the numbers going... it's the equivalent of when my wife says, "this is gross, taste it"... I don't. Next time, when it's advertised, people will didn't go this time will go, because they will think "they got it right last time".
Anyway, fantastic event. Maybe the ground attack scenario (maybe not the hornet attack) could have been better if it was the near side of the runway... it seems a little too far away to hold peoples' interest. They do it on the crowd side at Avalon so it is possible (which by the way, the fence line seems a lot closer than Ohakea... and also with Wings over Wairarapa... or am i just imagining?)
Appreciated the mass fly past... but couldn't get a good photo of all aircraft in frame as my boy and I had just finished getting through the 787. Anyone get a good pic they can share here?
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