Air Force Day 1981, Ohakea

[Dave Homewood]

Was anyone here at the Ohakea Air Force Day on the 28th of Feb 1981?

It must have been one of the truly great airshows and I'd love to see photos from it.

For example, the RNZAF flew 12 types which must have been:

- The 75 Sqn RAGNSBQGAT team (first public display of RNZAF Skyhawk team)

- The Red Checkers (the CT-4B's, and had such great pilots in the team as John Bates and Frank Sharp)

- Andover STOL Display, also para drop of SAS
- Orion solo
- Hercules Handling display
- Cessna 421C Golden Eagle debut
- RNZAF Museum's Harvard NZ1015 (before the Historic Flight was formed)
- Iroqouis
- Sioux
- Devon?
- Strikemasters in aerobatics pair
- What was the 12th type? Airtourer or Boeing??Was the Boeing in service then? Or was T.6 the 12th?

Also visiting due to Exercise Triad 81 were, for the first public display in NZ:
USAF F-15 Eagles from Kadena AFB, Japan
USAF F-4E and C-130 from Clark AFB, Phillipines
USAF KC-135 from Guam
RAAF Mirages from Williamtown
RAAF F.111's from 1 Sqn, Amberley
RAAF Canbera B.20from 2 Sqn, Amberley
RAF VC-10

There were also civil operated Harvards, and Dominie ZK-AKY in mock RNZAF colours

Has anyone got any photos or memories please? I've checked Airliners.net with no luck on photos.

[Dave Homewood]

Oh, and a report said also on the flightline were the Avro 626, still under restoration, and the Vampire was taken off the pole and put on the flightline for people to view. That's very considerate don't you think?

[Kereru]

Dave,
Check Ray Massey's 1981 Ohakea photos on myaviation?
www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=00421376&size=large
www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=00322759&size=large
Click on his name to see the rest after opening one of the links. You might have to search through them a bit as they are mixed in with others.

Cheers,
Colin

[Dave Homewood]

Awesome, thanks very much Colin.

[Glen T]

Hi Dave,
I was there and took quite a few photos. I'll find them and scan them for you. Do you want me to post them here ?

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Glen, that would be great. Yes, please post them here. Cheers.

[mumbles]

I was there.
I have a clear memory of being scared by the F-4's tailpipes, as they were long and dark (I was still scared of the dark at the time ), and by the noise of the Skyhawk display, which was just loud and unpredictable to a four year old.

I remember an Iroquois with door gunners firing blanks, and watching Dad go charging across the field in his Dodge fire engine. Also remember Dad getting my sisters into the control tower and not me, which I found most upsetting at the time.

[Dave Homewood]

I have now discovered why this particular airshow was and is still considered such a big deal. It was the first RNZAF airshow after the oil crisis was deemed over. Between 1973 and 1981 there had been few RNZAF airshows or displays at other shows, due to the oil crisis.

However, in a Wings magazine I got today, apparently several bases had airshows on the 1st of April 1977 for the 40th Anniversary of the RNZAF. This included a five ship Skyhawk display! Not an aerobatic team as seen at Ohakea in 1981 obviously, but close I guess.

[Glen T]

Not the best shots.... wasn't a spotter then !!

s128.photobucket.com/albums/p185/glenturner/RNZAF%20Ohakea%20Air%20Show%20March%201981/

[Dave Homewood]

Hay Glen, those are excelent. Thanks very much for chucking them up online.

[mumbles]

Second that Glen, thanks. Really interesting to see photos of an event I was at but was too young to remember much of

[obiwan27]

I have quite a number of photos from this airshow taken by a friend of mine who was there. When my Uni exams are finished as of this Saturday afternoon I'll get them organised, scanned and posted as soon as I can.

[Dave Homewood]

Cheers Ken, looking forward to them.

[obiwan27]

OK I've scanned some pics while on a study break. The rest I hope to have done tomorrow. When I look at these pictures the thought that goes through my head is " I can't believe it's not Wigram" due to the excellent weather conditions and the very brown grassed areas......

Firstly something for fans of Lockheed product....











No doubt you'll note the early style paint scheme essentially basic USN style but with RNZAF markings. This is prior to the avionics upgrade.









Also the Hercs are in the pre-camo style paint scheme....

Now something for Rotary Wing fans....well Iroquios specifically.....















I think the early 1980's were when the Huey's were first painted in this camo scheme, superceding the earlier Olive Drab scheme....


Next the first public display by the Red Checkers using the CT4B's I believe....














There were a number of RNZAF and visiting Air Force aircraft on static display. This has to be the best A4K static display I've ever seen!!




and lastly just to whet your appetite until tomorrow.....The 'Red and Gold Nothing Special But Quite Good' Aerobatic Team gets airborne......



All of these pics were taken by a friend of mine who was in his second year as a University Officer Cadet with the RNZAF, based at Wigram. Luckily he was both an ardent aviation and photography enthusiast!!!!! Hope everyone enjoys this lot. More to come tomorrow :-)

[corsair67]

Gee, that takes me back to the good old days!

Thanks for sharing, and thanks to your friend for taking them.

[Naki]

Great pics - waz there ...part of airshow programme on this thread..which reminds me I must add some more programmes to this thread.

rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=airshow&action=display&thread=7891

[kiwithrottlejockey]

I was there and I've still got the official program.

Give me a bit of time and I'll scan the cover, the introductions by the Chief of Air Staff and the RNZAF Ohakea Base Commander; and the pages listing which aircraft were on display, as well as the actual flying display program itself.

[Naki]

We posted at about the same time KTJ..I have the whole programme as well ...some of it is in the thread I linked to

[kiwithrottlejockey]

[FlyNavy]

KTJ, Thanks for the program. Was there a 6th page or is that last page blank?