Here's a few shots my dad snapped off the day before the RNZAC's annual pageant in 1989. For that year Wanganui Airport was the location, and from the looks of the programme there was a fine variety of aircraft attending. Mum, Dad and I had a great look at the arrivals - we lived less than 100m from 11/29!
Harvards ZK-ENF and -ENG at rest on a glorious summer afternoon.
Fokker Triplane, RNZAF Herc and A-4s, Aero Work flying their Fletcher team (dropping coloured water from the hoppers, not smoke!), a powerpole installation demo with JetRanger HTM (which Dad flew on occasion), and the heavy metal warbirds.
Devon ZK-CBK. This was one of the aircraft which returned to Wanganui for the Aero Club's 75th anniversary bash a coupla years back. We need these birds here more often!
We haven't had a proper airshow since this one. We had some warbirds come down for Labour Weekend 95 (I flew in the Dak, we got buzzed by the 40s!), the Aero Club had their 75th anniversary fly-in, but nothing on this scale has been seen since.
Harvard ZK-ENE - last I heard this bird was in USN colours and based at Wanaka.
Sigh........as I was only 18mth old at the time, all I have to "remember" it by are a copy of the programme, these pics and a video I was lucky enough to borrow from a gentleman who was there. Great stuff!
Replica Plans Se.5a ZK-SET, now unairworthy and kept at the Wanaka Transport Museum. She fought against Fokker ZK-FOK at the show.
And now, the Heavy Metal component! Excellent!
The mighty Hawker Sea Fury. This was exported in 1999 to Oz, and her current owner is now in jail for tax fraud. His entire collection, including the old AFC Yak-3 and several other warbirds, was seized by the Aussie Feds earlier this year.
NZ's first warbird import, the P-51D Mustang ZK-TAF, was flown (apparently to perfection) by the venerable TT Bland. Judging by the three minutes of video'd performance I;ve seen, it was the greatest Mustang show Wanganui's ever seen.
Finally, the good old Venom. Hard to believe that in two years' time she'd be written off after landing short at Ardmore. I think we still have another Venom in NZ, also registered ZK-VNM, though I haven't heard much of her for a few years.
Thanks for putting up with my little nostalgia trip guys! I always enjoy reading your feedback, though of course I can't take the credit this time.
I can't make any promises though.