Polikarpov display team

[Dave Homewood]

I am planning to add the Polikarpov display team to my NZ airshow display team webpage. However I'm a little short on information.

Firstly, I know that the I-16's debuted with five fighters at Warbirds Over Wanaka in 1998. The official book lists 8 pilots as having flown them! Does anyone know which pilots flew which aircraft in which display? I guess this might have been because there was a dedicated display routine with the five which appraently included Ray and Mark Hanna, but in the airfield attack some of the pilots might have jumped into other planes and been replaced???

These are the eight pilots in question for that airshow:
Ray Hanna
Mark Hanna
Keith Skilling
Steve Taylor
John Lamont
Tom Middleton
Rex Dovey
Stuart Goldspink

It's hard to believe three of those fine men are no longer with us.
Did the team display anywhere else other than Wanaka in 1998?

Now onto 1999 - did the team display at all that year?

I know they did in 200 at WoW 2000 with five I-16's and three I-153's. Does anyone know which pilots and which aircraft?

I'm assuming that the team flew at each consequtive Wow and Classic Fighters since. Any details of pilots and their aircraft would be appreciated.

I saw the team, much diminished, for the first time at this year's WoW. The aircraft were flown by John Lanham, Cliff Goldspink and another. Does anyone know who the third chap was? And who was flying which aircraft? I think John lanham was in the Chaika wasn't he?

Any details of the WoW and Classic Fighters displays by this team would be really appreciated - and if they have ever displayed elsewhere in NZ I'd be keen to hear details too please.

[xr6turbo1]

As for Wanaka 06 the pilot in the I 16, was John Petersen. John Lanham flew I-153, 75 and Stuart flew I-153, 10.

The polikarpoves have never been displayed outside of Wanaka but January 2007 is an excpetion where an I- 153 will display at the Masterton airshow.
Will go back through some photos an see who was flying at the other dates.

[xr6turbo1]

By the way, from memory at the 98 show, Keith Skilling flew 34, John Lamont flew 9, Steve Taylor 28 and Mark Hanna flew No 4. Mark wouldnt let anyone else fly it as they each have there own personallity, No4 was also the first to leave our shores for the US

[xr6turbo1]

at the 2000 show I think it goes like this.
I 153 pilots:
Tom Middleton: 16
Stu Goldspink: 10
John Lanham: 75

I 16 pilots.
Keith Skilling
Steve Taylor
John Lamont
John Petersen
Rex Dovey.

I remember seeign different pilots in different aircraft of both types. That was a very memorable formation indeed.

[Dave Homewood]

Excellent stuff, thanks very much Gavin.

I had assumed they'd been at the Omaka airshows, I never realised they've not left Wanaka. Does Wanaka still have a small display at home each odd-Easter like it used to?

[xr6turbo1]

As fas I know there are no other displays apart from WOW shows now.
Classic Fighters is held on the alternative easter to Wanaka and its great that there is a major airshow in NZ every year, as well as Masterton.

It will be neat to see an I 153 there

[Dave Homewood]

Cheers. So I guess the Poli's really haven't had a lot of air time then.

[xr6turbo1]

There were a lot of hours clocked up in the early days with pilot ratings etc especially for the 8 ship formation, 8 ratings would take a while with those tricky aircraft but I dont think they fly much these days which is sad, but you really appcreciate them when you see them, also due to them being up for sale I guess they wouldnt want to clock up too many hours.

[Dave Homewood]

I was certainly impressed when I saw the two Ratas and the Chaika this year, the first time I'd seen the types in the air. Wonderful aircraft, really noisy and nifty. I also went around to the dispersal as they taxied in from the display and you could see the pilots were totally drained. Stu Goldspink uttered something like thank goodness that was the last display, and John Lanham said a few words to the assembled crowd of just how difficult they are to fly, and how physically challenging they are. It made me appreciate greatly the display pilots - but moreso the poor sods who had to fly them into combat versus the Bf109's and Fw190's!

[spinkers]

For the record my log book reads... ZK-JIN I-16 No 9
10th
11th
12th April 1998
Two flights each day, the 11th and 12th being the Warbirds over Wanaka airshow.

I flew the I-153 "Chaika", and I-16 "Rata" at WOW 2000,
I-16 x 5 Flown by... Rex Dovey, John lamont, Keith Skilling,Steve Taylor, and John Peterson, and
I-153 Tom Middleton, John Lanham and myself
8 polly's in formation! Fantastic!!

[spinkers]

also..
2002 WOW
I-16 ( 9) and I-153 ( 75 )
2004 Retirement ( Hurricane only! )
2006 I-153 ( 10 )
I have enjoyed every moment of my Polly flying, real aeroplanes.
Regards,
Stu Goldspink

[Dave Homewood]

Wow, thanks very much for that info Stu. Welcome to the forum.

Thanks very much for not only the wonderful Polikarpov displays at Easter which I thoroughly enjoyed each day, but also the fantastic Hurricane flying. It was the first time I had seen a Hurricane airborne and it was a great thrill of a lifetime to finally see.

[Dave Homewood]

OK, I have put what I have so far on the Poli's online here
www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/Airshow_Display_Teams.htm#Rata

Now I just have to fill the gaps.

Stu, would you be interested in giving the readers here a pilot's point of view of what the two Polikarpov types are like to fly? We'd very much appreciate any thoughts and comments you have, thanks.