Hamilton Airshow 1994 or 1995 ???

[sbeck]

Hello,

In 1994-1995 I worked in Auckland before returning to Christchurch. Deciding many years later
to write a "CV" of aircraft I've been onboard, I'm writing to anyone here for some help on
the aircraft that were at the show.

I recall going to Hamilton airport in early 1995 or late 1994 (anyone know the date of the airshow??)
and seeing a massive amount of aircraft on display.

At some point I boarded an airliner that I believe was the RNZAF's B727-100QC, or some other type -
a foreign owned 737??, that was open for public viewing. It was definitley an early Boeing - does
anyone have an ID for this type?

Thank you.
S Beck

[Brett]

The Warbirds Fighter Meet was held in Hamilton over Easter 1995.

Air New Zealand had a B737 there, and Kiwi Air had a B737 that they had leased from Air Nauru.

I don't know if any of them were available to tour - they may have been operating their normal services.

[sbeck]

I definitely remember an ANZ B737 landing on a normal passenger flight as the commentator said "he had to make a nice landing with all these people watching", it was a smooth landing with no tyre screech at all. Normal flights operated at the airport around the airshow. It was not open for tour. I think it seems probable, unless someone has definite knowledge the RNZAF 727 was there, that it was the Kiwi Air 737 that was parked and open for viewing. It was all-white in colour as I remember.

[camtech]

Just had a quick look at my negative file and note I was there 16 April 1995.
I don't have any negs of a 737, but note among others a Falcon of Aeronavale. A lot of airshow regulars including Mustang, Corsair, Harvards, Catalina, Airtrainers, Devon, Fletcher, Andover, Mil 8, Yak, Spitfire, Avenger, Kittyhawk and DH94.
I don't recall a 727, but at that stage ANZ was still operating 737's into Hamilton, plus the resident Kiwi Air aircraft.

There was another airshow - Wings over Waikato - 27 Feb 1993. I co-led the airside security for that one.

[Brett]

The Kiwi B737 would have been in Air Nauru colours, I think. At that stage Kiwi were still only running charters, and hadn't become a scheduled airline. Their later aircraft were all white with the Kiwi logo.


Photo of B737 @ Hamilton on Airliners.net

[Dave Homewood]

The airshow was held over three days at Easter, 14th to 16th of April 1995.

[Dave Homewood]

Have you any registration or serial numbers for the Falcon of Aeronavale, the Harvards other than ZK-WAR (Gavin Trethewey) and ZK-MJN/NZ1052 (Kieth Skilling), the Airtrainers other than NZ1943 (Jim Rankin), the Devon, the Andover, the Mil 8, the Yak (I assume this was Sir Kenneth Hayr's Yak 52?), and the DH94 (was this Stan Smith's Moth Minor?). I'd also like to identify the Boeing being discussed. I actually do not recall some of these aeroplanes at that show. I didn't take enough photos back in those days.

[Dave Homewood]

I just found this of the Yak 52 display, definitely Sir Kenneth Hayr's aircraft and the foreign rego is prominent.


I think the Andover was NZ7626, can anyone confirm? It was in the Euro 1 scheme (green, green and grey).

Also Harvard NZ1065 was one of the three Harvards I am missing the details for, anyone know who flew that one? Was it Steve Taylor, John Lamont or John Peterson?

There was also a Nanchang there, green overall with what looks to be 06 on it in white, I can see it in the background of a shot. Any idea who's and what the registration was? Was this NZ's first Nanchang?

[camtech]

Falcon - I only have "65" in the notes.
Others - Airtrainers 1945, 43, 48, 46. Catalina ZK-PBY, Devon NZ1808, Andover NZ7626, Harvards NZ1033, 78, 52, 99, 65, ZK-WAR, 1099, Mil 8 RA70870, Yak LY-ANH, Spitfire TB863, Mustang NZ2415, Avenger 2518, Corsair NZ5201, Kittyhawk NZ3018, DH94 ZK-AKM.
Without going through the photos themselves, that's all I can come up with at the moment.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Les.

[suthg]

I have a photo that shows the Avenger, Corsair, Mustang, Spitfire and the P40 wingtip and in the background was a red DHC-2 Beaver and the Devon. Sorry the quality is poor... oh, and Sir Tim Wallis...


Spitfire XVIe

by Graeme Sutherland, on Flickr