Skyshow - Auckland Anniversary Weekend

[Dave Homewood]

Can anyone please give me some details as to what will be attending and flying at the Skyshow airshow over Auckland at the end of this month?

What types can we expect ro see? Will there be anything from outside of Auckland, like the Corsair or P-40's?

Will there be Vampires?

Is there RNZAF participation?

I note that on the first day, the 28th, the Thunder Mustang will be at Taupo. Will it appear at Skyshow on the 29th?

Also, what sort of time is the display? And as there are two days listed for Skyshow, is it two full displays? Or some things on the Sunday, others the Monday?

And where is the best place to view the airshow from? I assume it'll be over the harbour somewhere?

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

[Bruce]

Not sure if there is anything on - the great Northern air Race is that weekend as well. I have checked the NZ Aviation News Events Calendar, which normally would have this sort of thing listed and it doesnt list Sky Show. There is the Ardmore pilots expo later in the year, that wouldnt be it would it?
Any of the Auckland guys know?

[Dave Homewood]

It's listed on the NZ Warbirds site events page.

[stu]

Due to various commitments (family, flying and work - in order of importance) I've been out of touch with NZ Warbirds for several months so I can't really say if the event's on or not.

I recieved an activity schedule from NZ Warbirds a week or so ago (along with a note saying the office is closed until Jan 15) and the Skyshow doesn't seem to be listed on it so it may have gone away I'll post the schedule on the Warbirds website as soon as I get a chance but in the meantime I've "cut and pasted" the schedule below - minus events that have already happened.

Cheers,
Stu.

6/7 january 2007 new year fly in pauanui
20/21 january 2007 wings over wairarapa masterton airshow
10 or 25 FEBRUARY 2006 fly in open day whangarei
16/18 february 2007 arte deco week end napier
25 February 2006 VINTAGE SPRINT CARS SPRING HILL - WELLSFORD
3 March 2007 AIRFORCE DAY WHENUAPAI
10 March 2007 mash hangar ball warbirds ardmore hangar
25 march 2007 Fly in aviation sports club whenuapai
6/9 april 2007 classic fighters omaka Blenheim

[stu]

admin said:

It's listed on the NZ Warbirds site events page.

..... but I hear their webmaster is a bit slack at times when it comes to keeping up to date

[flyjoe180]

The Ardmore Pilot Expo is a trade-style show, schools, clubs and manufacturers of aviation goods will be displaying their products over a two-day period in March. The Skyshow normally consists of a Harvard display and one or two other Warbird or aerobatic aircraft. Unsure what's happening this year, I'll ask around.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks guys.

So, instead I might consider a trip to Taupo on the 28th to see the Thunder Mustang vs Kittyhawk race!

[flyjoe180]

I did some asking around Warbirds and the Skyshow is not going ahead, no reason given. I guess as each pilot has to cover their own costs for Skyshow, and there are airshows looming, it makes sense to save the flying for another day. The P40-vs-Thunder Mustang should be good, but I doubt the poor old Kittyhawk will be able to keep up somehow.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Joe, much appreciated. I'll remove Skyshow from the calendar.

Why doesn't Ardmore have airshows anymore? They used to have awesome ones. Is it because of the traffic problem they had with the last one? Or the nimby nerks nextdoor?

[flyjoe180]

The nimby nerks next door and the bureaucratic types that think they are representing the local populace. CAA rules also play a big part, there is a difference between an airshow and an air display (number of 'displays' namely).

[Dave Homewood]

So, might there be another airshow at Ardmore in the future? Or is it a dead duck now?

[flyjoe180]

There will definitely be other air displays but nothing like the airshows of old we enjoyed in the 80's and early 90's.

[Dave Homewood]

That sucks that people can ,ove in next door and then disrupt what has always gone on there. Are the neighbours the reason the military jets have all seemed to move away from Ardmore (Vampires now at New Plymouth, Hunter in Tauranga, etc)?

[flyjoe180]

Those moves have been more due to the poor relationship the airport company has with the operators. The current airport manager is a ****er, they are more interested in profit and putting nothing back into the airport. If you get a chance have a close look at the runway and taxiways, cheap seal and weed killer to hide the plantation trying to poke through the surface. I wouldnt want all those stones going through my expensive turbine (or for that matter my low clearance propeller).

[flyjoe180]

Oh, and not to mention that the Tauranga museum is attractive to many operators too, as is operating freely out of Tauranga with the safety of ATC. In my opinion, Warbirds at Ardmore seems to have missed the boat on the museum front.

[xr6turbo1]

flyjoe180 said:

I did some asking around Warbirds and the Skyshow is not going ahead, no reason given. I guess as each pilot has to cover their own costs for Skyshow, and there are airshows looming, it makes sense to save the flying for another day. The P40-vs-Thunder Mustang should be good, but I doubt the poor old Kittyhawk will be able to keep up somehow.

You go P-40 you good thing, am interested to hear how the race goes

[Dave Homewood]

Unfortunately it seems unlikely that I'll make it to Taupo now. Have to see.

[stu]

stu said:

admin said:

It's listed on the NZ Warbirds site events page.

..... but I hear their webmaster is a bit slack at times when it comes to keeping up to date

Finally updated the Warbirds events page (for what it's worth) although I feel that Dave's calendar here on the forum is far more reliable.

Cheers,
Stu.