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Post by stu on Mar 7, 2016 13:20:02 GMT 12
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2016 13:21:39 GMT 12
I really enjoyed having two days full of talks in interesting locations. That said, I'd still attend single-day events if the Forum Meet is held somewhere where there are other places of interest to visit beforehand.
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Post by baronbeeza on Mar 7, 2016 13:27:15 GMT 12
How did you guys manage to get Dave into a Cessna...... and then somehow convince him it was a Spitfire. A good effort all round
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 7, 2016 14:27:18 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 7, 2016 14:31:08 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 7, 2016 14:32:56 GMT 12
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2016 14:56:31 GMT 12
I have a handful Dave, will upload when I get home* - the hotel failed to give me their wifi password (limit was 300mb anyway!) and I was too tired last night. I really can't name any highlights of the weekend as everything was great, although seeing Dave take off with Doug in MH367 yesterday ranks right up there on my list of top aviation experiences...even if I had nothing to do with it. I still smile now just thinking about it - bravo Doug, and bravo Dave! Interestingly, at dinner the night before Dave was telling us about his chat with Colin Gray at Wanaka in 1993. Who'd've dreamed that less than 24hr later he would be flying in a replica of Colin's machine?! *not sure I want to now, these are beautiful! Great shots, drpc!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 7, 2016 16:22:45 GMT 12
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Post by camtech on Mar 7, 2016 19:57:09 GMT 12
Regretfully I could only attend Sunday's event, but thoroughly enjoyed the day. One small thing that perhaps might make a difference could be to spend a few minutes introducing the attendees. Although I knew a few by sight, many I only know through their forum names and it would have been valuable to be able to match the face to the handle. Everything else went well - just some minor interruptions by those damn aircraft. Normally I would prefer one day events, but can understand that for others travelling, cramming as much as possible into a weekend.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 7, 2016 22:40:31 GMT 12
Thanks for the feedback Les. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
You make a great point of getting everyone to introduce themselves. At a smaller gathering that would be easy enough, although on Sunday I noticed a lot of people were arriving in dribs and drabs, and then disappearing too so at what point it could be done I don't know. Another option is everyone to wear the Hello, My Name Is... stickers. We have done the name-tag thing in the past which is good. For this event so few people had confirmed they were coming till the last minute it was impractical to arrange printed tags.
J.K. (John Kelly, Warbirds Vice president) and I were discussing after the event yesterday maybe we should look at doing the next Ardmore one on a Saturday rather than Sunday so there's probably less noise and distraction. Yesterday was a particularly busy day for them with all the flypasts and rides going on.
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Post by adamski on Mar 8, 2016 0:54:53 GMT 12
I have no opinion either way on the 1 or 2 day thing (I'm afraid), as I'm in Auckland - and could make either/both days. Sunday was great, but I really did want to get to Saturday's event as well - shame.
My only suggestion is to try and beef up the [advance] publicity for the next event, if possible. I only got to hear of this one through a chance visit here on Proboards. Did all the NZ Warbirds mailing list get emailed?
BTW - I loved the whole "format" of the event on Sunday. Amazing to hear such informative speakers - interrupted every few minutes by the "real thing"!!! I ask you - how many events are there where you can talk about Spitfires or P-40's and watch them fly at the same time? Maybe it was just fortunate - as many of the aircraft were performing at MOTAT that day, but I strongly suggest that another "excuse" be found for them to fly for the next one!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 8, 2016 7:23:05 GMT 12
But the 1 versus 2 day event does not always pertain to an Auckland event. We looked at a two day event in Cambridge for a while too a few years ago and got the similar lack of interest, we cut it to one day and got a hundred people!
As for pre-publicity, it was pushed heavily here and on Facebook, and every member of the forum (over 4,400 people) were sent an email with the details through the "Email All" function, and it was also placed into the NZ Warbirds' Ops Order circular. So I am not sure what else can be done.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Mar 8, 2016 8:17:45 GMT 12
I'd prefer a one day event.
These days most people are pretty busy, and to find a weekend where you can devote both days to things-with-wings (as my wife calls it) is verging on the impossible.
As it turned out I had about eight "must do" events on over last weekend, and could only attend Don's place.
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Post by stu on Mar 8, 2016 10:37:58 GMT 12
Starting to work my way through the video from the weekend - a bit hamstrung by the time it takes to upload though (no ultra fast broadband in our street until mid 2017 despite the pacific cable terminating only a couple of kilometers away) so I'm doing it in small, bite sized segments.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2016 13:50:54 GMT 12
A selection of my photos from the weekend. Many, many thanks to Dave for organising and to all our gracious hosts and speakers. I arrived at Dairy Flat as Don was wheeling out the Vincent. "Glad you made it up," he said! Very kind. The Subritzky family Oxford is a "hometown" one for me, having been stored in Wanganui for many years. "If only someone living there had done something with it," Don said pointedly at one point. "When you recovered it I was only eight!" was my reply! One of the three Hawker Hinds on site. I can't wait to see them completed. The Fairey Battle. I made a mental note to pay it a special visit after remembering it was there. The crowd begins to gather under the Anson. I really believe we could have a complete two-day Forum Meet with Don Subritzky as the only speaker, he has so many stories! The middle hangar was a great setting for our speakers: Westland Scout helicopter on one side, Vampire next to the speaker, Anson suspended above (cue some anxious shuffling aside by two members when they saw this) and a range of engines scattered nearby. Dave introduces Dam Busters movie pilot Dick Lambert - a real treat to hear him speak and be able to ask him questions - while Stu records for posterity. A close-up of the Blackburn Baffin. When I arrived I paid it little attention, upon learning what it was - and hearing the airframe's history from Don - I became much more interested. We had a good number of people at Dairy Flat. My cellphone camera isn't suited to low light, but this was Kiwi Corsair vet Frank Culliford's colourful and highly entertaining talk. Besides Don's talk(s!), Canberra nav Mick Murray was a real highlight. I've developed quite an interest in Kiwi Canberras and it was fantastic to hear from a veteran of the type and its use in Malaya. Someone needs to write The Book on 14 and 75's Canberra ops. Sunday to follow...
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2016 14:04:21 GMT 12
Sunday at the NZ Warbirds Assoc hangar? Brilliant! Partway through the day I realised how cool it was that, Saturday's programme having been conducted next to a Vampire, we were with a Skyhawk on Sunday. It and the Macchi look really at home in the hangar. Doug Brooker's talk about the Spitfire and his one was great. It was amazing to examine two original, unrestored dataplates from his machine up close. Having had the Wanganui Library's copy of Pacific Scrapbook issued to me countless times over the years, it was wonderful to have Bryan Cox speak. I hope someone is able to upload his Eta Aerobatics video to YouTube..."I'll just have another chip, please!" Bryan brought several photos for his talk and had a simply beautiful print of NZ3072. I want one. While Dave and Doug were away in the Spitfire - I've never smiled so much when someone else is flying! - I took the time to wander round some of the parked, resident machines and pay quiet tribute to their past and present pilots, restorers and maintainers. It was a very special moment when Dave returned to the microphone and we all applauded. Doug is to be commended for extending to Dave the offer of a flight in the Spitfire, and I see that flight as truly earned by our Fearless Leader. Bravo Dave! We finished with a talk about all things Mosquito by Warren Denholm, who was a great speaker and provided some insight into KA114's recent history as well as giving an excellent update on the current/upcoming Mossie projects he's overseeing. A great end to a great weekend. Bravo again Dave. Please don't let this be the last one.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 8, 2016 14:30:57 GMT 12
Zac said, "Someone needs to write The Book on 14 and 75's Canberra ops."
You'll be pleased to know Mick hopes to do just that, and having heard his brilliant talk on the type (which was perfect in complimenting Gavin Trethewey's talk on flying Canberras at the 2014 Forum Meet) I reckon Mick will do a fantastic job.
I believe Bryan hopes to get his deadstick aerobatics film up onto his website soon, when the site goes live. We are so privileged to have him as a speaker, he drove himself up from Tauranga to be there. When you hear him talk and see that amazing footage of his incredibly skillful flying, he has to be New Zealand's equivalent to Bob Hoover in my opinion. A living legend.
That Baffin is a stunner and it is coming together rapidly. I'm so looking forward to following progress on it in the future.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2016 14:43:35 GMT 12
Bob Hoover is exactly who I thought of while watching that video. Brilliant comparison.
And thanks for the great news about the Canberra book! Another to add to the Must Buy list.
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Post by stu on Mar 8, 2016 14:49:39 GMT 12
Dick Lambert Part 2
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Post by stu on Mar 9, 2016 17:00:09 GMT 12
Frank Culliford Part 1
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