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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 20, 2006 12:21:36 GMT 12
It looks like the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow is shaping up to be another great show. There is planned to be three flying P-40's there! These are the Old Stick and Rudder Company's P-40E, Garth Hogans' P-40N "Currawong" and the newly restored P-40N NZ3125. Wow! Two genuine ex-RNZAF Kittyhawks in the air at once. That'll be the first time in quite a while. Also there will be Swedish pilot Mikael Carlsson's genuine Bleriot! That's a rare one. And marking 2006: The Year of the Veteran the airshow will stage a mass flypast of WWII fighters. I guess (speculate) with three P-40's, a Hurricane, a Yak 3, an LA-9, a Corsair, Polikarpovs, a Spitfire and two Mustangs, whoa!! Also taking part is World aerobatics champion Jurgis Kairys . Sadly I fear I may not make it down there now, despite all my best efforts. I simply cannot afford to. It's really annoying. Especially when I know so many friends from across NZ and the world will be there whom I'd love to catch up with and meet too. Damn! www.warbirdsoverwanaka.com/ |
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Post by mumbles on Feb 21, 2006 19:42:07 GMT 12
I agree, Wanaka gets harder and harder to get to each time if you don't happen to live south of Christchurch. I was quoted $1600 for a return flight for two ex Palmy on the Saturday by Air New Zealand.....
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 21, 2006 20:19:25 GMT 12
Phew! That's a lot of money, Then there's accommodation, show tickets (which are not cheap!), food, transport. An expensive time all in all!
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Post by phil82 on Feb 22, 2006 8:21:12 GMT 12
Wanaka is a victim of its own success in that it has become too expensive to attend unless you live there! I can recall flying in on an ANZ Saab for $120, and out at 4:30 back to Wellington. You must now link with a 'package' which costs hundreds of dollars. Driving requires three days, and again, accommodation is a problem, plus the cost of a rental car.They have priced Wanaka off the market for a lot of people.
It is actually cheaper to go to the Avalon Air Show than it is to go to Wanaka, plus there is the benefit of a couple of bottles of single malt!
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Post by corsair67 on Feb 22, 2006 9:08:46 GMT 12
Yep, it's pretty sad that it has become too expensive for most people to attend nowadays. I have never been to the Warbirds Over Wanaka, and if it continues to get more expensive I can't see myself ever getting there!  |
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Post by turboNZ on Feb 22, 2006 10:05:10 GMT 12
.......however !!!
I shall be there !!! I will bring back lots of pics to share here.
Looking forward to going, just hoping the motorcycle ride down isn't too cold.
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Post by corsair67 on Feb 22, 2006 13:02:20 GMT 12
Well Turbo, make sure you take your (Red and Black striped!) long-johns!
I can't wait to see the piccies! ;D
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Post by turboNZ on Feb 22, 2006 13:32:25 GMT 12
of course !!!! ;D ;D
( good to see Crusaders No.1 at the moment )
Yup, at the last WOW (2004) I took 140 pics !!
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Post by corsair67 on Feb 22, 2006 15:44:27 GMT 12
Is that all!  I usually take about 500 shots to get 40 pictures that are okay! Mind you, I only have a Compact digital (Canon A85) rather than a SLR.  Are you using a digital or analogue camera, Turbo? |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 22, 2006 15:54:20 GMT 12
I don't have a car and don't drive, so I've been looking at all the options, bus, train, aircraft, etc. It's just so expensive to get there from here. Even the cheaper end of the market, bus, has to include the ferry cost which is $45 each way on foot!
It'll cost hundreds just for transport before any other costs come into it. It's put the airshow well out of my league I'm afraid, despite my best efforts. The only option left is hitching which i haven't done before and am nervous about, especially as the ferry would have to be booked and getting there on time might be a nightmare.
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Post by corsair67 on Feb 22, 2006 16:07:13 GMT 12
Dave, you sound like you're in the same boat as me: probably better to wait until the DVD comes out.  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 22, 2006 17:26:39 GMT 12
Yes, the 2004 DVD was great to see, Peter Jackson and his team made a really great job of it. But being there is everything...
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Post by Bruce on Feb 22, 2006 18:05:33 GMT 12
I'm taking the REALLY expensive way of getting to Wanaka 2008 by constructing my own plane to fly down!.....  I'll take deposits on the extra seat! (Might help me pay for the thing!...) Seriously, although it is an awesome location, the remoteness and supply demand issues on accomodation work against it. its a real pity that so many NZ enthusiasts cant actually get there with the influx of overseas guests. I cant think of anything to really solve the problems though. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 22, 2006 18:28:42 GMT 12
I should add that I have nothing against the airshow organisers, they do a terrific job. And it is in the greatest location I can think of for any airshow - to me Wanaka is a magical place, even when there's no show on - and I'd rather see a show there than Duxford, Oshkosh or anywhere else.
It's just getting there that's a problem. Despite more competetition the costs of travel seem to have skyrocketed in recent years, and I'm sure it's not all due to the supposed oil crisis. Looking into the prices, the travel costs are phenominally more in proportion in the North Island than the South too, which is stupid. I went from Blenheim to Christchurch by train two years ago for $30. But Hamilton to Wellington, approx twice the distance, is $143 at the cheapest I can find. What is with this? You can fly to Wellington for $120.
South Islanders have another advantage in that they see both the big, special airshows, Wanaka and Omaka, which attract the glamour fighters and all the best acts from both north and south. Up north we get the Auckland based warbirds which are great, but nothing comes from Wanaka or Omaka this far north these days.
The furthest anything seem to come north now is Masterton which from here is also a long way south to go for a day out.
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Post by turboNZ on Feb 22, 2006 21:17:56 GMT 12
Is that all! I usually take about 500 shots to get 40 pictures that are okay! Mind you, I only have a Compact digital (Canon A85) rather than a SLR. Are you using a digital or analogue camera, Turbo? No, just have a small digital but I usually am careful with my shots. |
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Post by amitch on Feb 23, 2006 9:28:45 GMT 12
of course !!!! ;D ;D ( good to see Crusaders No.1 at the moment ) Yup, at the last WOW (2004) I took 140 pics !! At the last WOW I shot over 2000 photos! Yes, the 2004 DVD was great to see, Peter Jackson and his team made a really great job of it. But being there is everything... I don't think Peter Jackson was involved with the 2004 video. |
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Post by corsair67 on Feb 23, 2006 10:28:24 GMT 12
Well, even if I took 2000 shots, I'd still probably only get 40 or so usable ones! Thank Christ for digital cameras and reusable memory cards. One of the biggest problem over here is flies getting in the way when you're taking a photo. I took some great photos at Temora in October, only to notice that they're ruined by the appearance of a big, fat black blowie (or two) in shot! Turbo, you've taken some great shots with your camera; keep up the good work. |
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Post by turboNZ on Feb 23, 2006 10:32:47 GMT 12
Thanks Corsair67. I can't even begin to compete with the awesome pics Mr Mitchell takes but I try and I'll share as much as I can. Cheers |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 23, 2006 10:57:42 GMT 12
"I don't think Peter Jackson was involved with the 2004 video. "
Really? That's what some media was saying from memory, TV3 I believe stated it. And the work is far superior to any other airshow video done previously, all the chopper work etc. Are you sure he wasn't involved?
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Post by corsair67 on Feb 23, 2006 14:22:36 GMT 12
Yes, I know what you mean, Turbo; Alex takes some amazing shots. I always remind myself that my $400 digital camera is never going to be in quite the same league as someone with $20 000 worth of camera equipment. But I have fun anyway, and every now and again I manage to capture a cracker of a shot. ;D I'm just happy I'm not paying for the cost of developing and printing film anymore, and that work has a bloody good colour printer/copier! |
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I'll take deposits on the extra seat! (Might help me pay for the thing!...) 
