Air Force Heritage Flight of New Zealand - News and Events

[Dave Homewood]

Apr 9, 2022 12:28:53 GMT 12 oj said:

"gaining permissions"

For this sort of thing you don't do "permissions", you just do it! Repercussions would be unlikely.

As a nation we are absolutely ruining our pioneer and adventurist spirit with compliance to everything!
That is not the way to a free society.
What will our "heritage" snapshot of 2022 (for any topic) look like to future generations?
We older members have to stand up for OUR NZ heritage values to provide good mentoring to those younger.
Otherwise each successive generation just pussy-foots their way into blind compliance and oblivion.

Absolutely the wrong attitude OJ. There are rules for civilian aircraft, all of them, they have to comply with the 1000 foot minimum altitude over a built up area. The Texans might be allowed to go lower but the Spitfire and Avenger are on the civil register and cannot without incurring a severe penalty.

The Spitfire and Avenger are certified as Special-Limited aircraft, and therefore have to get specific permission from the CAA to fly over any built-up area.

Plus the aircraft are borrowed, the RNZAF does not own them. How dumb would the AFHF look if they bust the minimum height restrictions and get fined and grounded - that would be the end of the AFHF.

Just because people were wreckless in your days did not make it right. The rules we have now are usually because people did really dumb things in the past and killed people or themselves.

And frankly there was nothing wrong with the altitude from where I was standing.

[Dave Homewood]

Good stuff Evan.

[TS]

Bugger, no Spitfire does anyone know why yet...

[oj]

Great photos Evan, and interesting footnote, spoiled only by this: "(socially distanced and masked of course)"

[Damon]

A follow up on Dave's comment, there's aa difference between airshow display or display flying and fly pasts. Each has their sets of rules that must be adhered to. Pilots /formations get authorization to display levels AGL at airshows .As mentioned in the posts earlier the Heritage flight must adhere to CAA regulations for these and other flypasts , unless they get permission to fly at levels below 1000 feet. Regular PPL and CPL pilots must adhere to regulations set by CAA to fly at 1000 feet above AGL over built up areas.
Dave also mentioned that the Spitfire and Avenger are Special Limited certifications which have restrictions on their operation. Without permission from CAA or a chief pilot of an organization to get authorization to do special flights or display our aviation scene would head south pretty quickly. see below.

Pilot, 76, loses licence after flouting safety tenets 20 yrs
See rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/30069/pilot-licence-flouting-safety-tenets?page=1&scrollTo=305311

I hope every success for the Air Force Heritage Flight of NZ. This may be the exposure the air force needs to recruit new blood into the services and bring the past into today This seems to be a positive and exciting direction (judging by Facebook feedback on their page) that the public are embracing.

[camtech]

Apr 9, 2022 14:07:01 GMT 12 TS said:

Bugger, no Spitfire does anyone know why yet...

Flat tyre on landing at Whenuapai

[chasper]

Whilst I enjoyed seeing the formation I am worried that this is all that we can do for such an important moment in the history of the RNZAF. My fear is that there will never be a 100 year anniversary as the few aircraft surviving will be split between the other services to reduce the admin overhead that exists. I really think that this is now probable rather than possible, although I would love to be proved wrong.

[pjw4118]

Must admit being a bit underwhelmed by the flypast , quite high and brief , but thanks Damon for the comments on the rules. Living within the Whenuapai control zone , we get used to low and slow and better still , low and fast fly overs and I had expected the same yesterday . A pity the "historic " flight cant borrow a Harvard , P51 and P40 to make up the numbers .

[Deleted]

Unfortunately I completely forgot! I had a plan with a vantage point in mind, Dad's camera charged, but work this week (in Bulls no less!) distracted me and I was in bed sick when a forumite txtd to say they were on their way - I jumped out of bed, threw on a jumper and grabbed the camera, but only made it halfway when they arrived.

But I saw them! And heard them - or more accurately, as Mike discusses in the excellent WONZ Show episode, I heard the Avenger!

[skyman]

The Heritage Flight seem to have overlooked Tauranga, maybe they thought we see enough vintage aircraft at Classic Flyers?
Al

[Dave Homewood]

I am sure if Tauranga invites them to the next airshow you could get a full display from the AFHF team.

[ErrolC]

Apr 10, 2022 15:09:12 GMT 12 skyman said:

The Heritage Flight seem to have overlooked Tauranga, maybe they thought we see enough vintage aircraft at Classic Flyers?
Al

One of their posts said that they couldn't fit Tauranga within the range limitations (of the Texans cruising at a speed suitable for the Avenger).

[flyinkiwi]

Apr 9, 2022 13:24:53 GMT 12 hardyakka said:

Just a smug little footnote. In the crowd of watchers that I stood with (socially distanced and masked of course), I was the first to spot the formation and yell "There they are!".
All those years standing on the judging grid at Club and RNZAC competitions is great practice for spotting distant aircraft approaching
Isn't that right flyinkiwi ?

No comment

[pjw4118]

The Spitfire took off 10 minutes ago , did a nice low circuit and headed south.

[Dave Homewood]

I have to say that the awesome buzz that the Air Force Heritage Flight has created over recent days with both aviation fans and the general public at large has been amazing, and I reckon it is the biggest thing to have influenced the public since the return to flight of Mosquito KA114. Huge well done to all the team for inspiring the nation with some Air Force heritage and some cool modern RNZAF kit.

I do not think I have seen so many positive posts on a topic on the Cambridge community FB pages as this generated, and not one single negative remark there as far as I saw.

[altmikey]

Anzac Day flypasts announced. Northland and Manawatu-Whanganui!

m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=124272590207015&id=100078728232300&sfnsn=mo


FLYPAST ALERT: NORTHLAND AND MANAWATU-WHANGANUI!

The Air Force Heritage Flight of New Zealand are excited to detail our planned 25 April 2022 Anzac Day Flypasts.

Northland

Northland played a significant part in New Zealand’s Military Aviation Heritage, including the extensive facilities at RNZAF Station Waipapakauri. The Air Force Heritage Flight is recognising the importance of Northland on Anzac Day by conducting a series of flypasts with Harvard ZK-ENB “NZ1076”. Note that the flypasts will be in accordance with Civil Aviation Rules and will therefore be no lower than 1000 feet above the ground. Whilst the Harvard will not be low nor fast, we hope that you enjoy its undeniable presence and character!

Northland Harvard itinerary:

0930 NZWP
0932 Huapai (SH16)
0933 Waimauku (SH16)
0936 Helensville (Town Centre SH16)
0938 Kaukapakapa (SH16)
0942 Shelly Beach (Waterfront)
0951 Wellsford (Town Centre SH1)
0955 Kaiwaka (Town Centre SH1)
0958 Maungaturoto (Cnr. SH12 and Gorge Rd)
1011 Dargaville (Town Centre Victoria St)
1027 Kaikohe (Lindvart Park)
1029 Okaihau (Town Centre SH1)
1043 Kaitaia (Commerce St)
1046 Waipapakauri (SH1)
1053 Mangonui (Waterfront Road)
1058 Taupo Bay (Taupo Bay Waterfront)
1107 Kerikeri (Kerikeri Domain and Pavillion)
1110 Kerikeri Airfield

Land and refuel (lunch!) at Kerikeri Airfield.

1330 Kerikeri Airfield
1333 Haruru (SH11)
1335 Paihia (Waterfront SH11)
1336 Russell (Russell Wharf)
1340 Kawakawa (Town Centre SH1)
1342 Moerewa (SH1)
1351 Hikurangi (Hikurangi Sports Park)
1355 Whangarei (Town Basin Marina)
1359 One Tree Point (Waterfront, One Tree Point Rd)
1401 Ruakaka (Travelling South along Marsden Point Rd)
1404 Waipu (Caledonian Park)
1409 Mangawhai Heads (Molesworth Dr)
1410 Mangawhai (Moir St)
1418 Omaha (Omaha Beach)
1420 Matakana (Town Centre)
1421 Warkworth (Wharf St)
1424 Snells Beach (Waterfront)
1430 Orewa (Orewa Beach)
1433 Whangaparaoa (Main St)
1436 Long Bay (Long Bay Beach)
1437 Browns Bay (Browns Bay Beach Reserve)
1437 Mairangi Bay (Mairangi Bay Beach)
1438 Milford Beach (Waterfront)
1439 Takapuna (Takapuna Beach)
1441 Devonport (Devonport Beach)
1445 Whenuapai

The Harvard will be flown by SQNLDR Stu Anderson.

Manawatu-Whanganui

The Air Force Heritage Flight Display Team will this year conduct flypasts around the Manawatu-Whanganui area. Comprising of the mighty Grumman Avenger leading two modern Beechcraft T-6C Texan IIs from the Central Flying School and the Supermarine Spitfire, the Team will conduct flypasts over the following route:

0950 NZOH
0950 Sanson (Cnr. SH1 and SH3)
0952 Rongotea (Town Centre)
0955 Himatangi (Cnr Rangiotu Rd and SH1)
0959 Longburn (Following SH56)
1000 Palmerston North (Te Marae o Hine / The Square)
1002 Ashhurst (Ashhurst Domain)
1005 Pohangina (Pohangina Hall)
1009 Apiti (Centre)
1014 Hunterville (Cnr. High St and SH1)
1019 Fordell (Following Kauangaroa Rd)
1022 Aramoho Cemetery
1023 Whanganui (Anzac Parade to Cooks Gardens)
1023 Whanganui Airport
1026 Whangaehu (SH3)
1027 Turakina (SH3)
1029 Marton (Cnr. High St and Wellington Rd)
1032 Halcombe (Cnr. Stanway Rd and Willoughby St)
1034 Feilding (Feilding Town Clock)
1037 Bulls (Cnr. SH3 and SH1)
1037 NZOH

The Avenger will be piloted by SQNLDR Jim Rankin, with SQNLDRs Michael Williams and Paul Stockley piloting the Texans, and SQNLDR Sean Perrett in the Spitfire.

Note that the flypasts will be in accordance with Civil Aviation Rules and will therefore be no lower than 1000 feet above the ground. All flypasts are highly weather dependant.

The Avenger and Spitfire are operated by the Biggin Hill Trust. www.facebook.com/groups/119982544710555

The Harvard is operated by Rex Brereton.

[Chelsea57986]

Didn’t see the heritage flight but saw an Orion and one of the sets of Texans and it was great to see people stopping and looking. Bravo and well done to all involved.

[Deleted]

The Avenger, Spitfire and Texans were warmly received at Whanganui and I was at the airport along with several other enthusiastic observers to witness the Flight's flypast:
DSC_3697 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3701 (2) by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3702 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3705 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3707 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3708 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3709 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3710 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3712 by Zac Yates, on Flickr

Aurally the Avenger dominated but I did detect a little Merlin purr as they flew by. Marvellous to see and hear!

[Damon]

nice pic's Zac. Nicely composed !

[nuuumannn]

The three Texans spent an hour on the ground at Woody then circled around Nelson. I shot these from my house. a bit far away, but the best I could do.

ANZAC Flypast i

ANZAC Flypast ii

ANZAC Flypast iii