NZFF

Posted: **Sun Mar 16, 2008 9:50 pm**

So... here are my pictures from today. I've tried to really cut the number down; but as usual I've failed dismally... :rolleyes:

Without any further ado, here they are. They aren't really in any precise order (during the upload they got a bit scrambled), but overall I suppose the order is chronological (i.e. start => finish).

I stopped off at Taupo airport on the way, and took a couple of photos.

And a nice view of Ruapehu as I drove over the Central Plateau...

And how could I go past this and not take a photo...

So, in Palmerston North now, I popped out to the airport and spotted a rather sad looking Convair, CID.

Inside the Singapore Military C-130 (see next photo for exterior)...

...and the outside of it; again, very shiny.

The regular old Beechcraft sitting on the tarmac.

A strikemaster, not something you'd see at your regular airshow I suppose, but that's the same story with what's coming up next...

Yes, the Air Force band :lol:

, but really, the next thing is the one.

Nice to see them roll the Skyhawk out, and I heard a few: "If Helen was here I'd..." while I was standing near it. :lol:

They also put out the Aermacchi, which was neat to see.

Yaks all lined up this morning, adjacent to the...

...Harvards. :thumbup:

And there were two Australian F-111's from 6 Squadron over as well.

Iriquois all lined up down the far end.

A Red Checker close to the crowd-line.

And a Pitts hanging around as well.

Sioux' prepping for their display.

Herc lined up on runway 09.

And airborne...

Posted: **Sun Mar 16, 2008 9:55 pm**

Glider coming to a stop after the tow-flyby.

Dropping some pallets out of the rear end there; lucky I had a quick finger on the camera trigger.

...and then they floated down...

But of course things have to be done the hard way, so one was picked up, flown round, and then put on a truck. :rolleyes:

The Herc was still buzzing around, doing a couple of fast/slow passes.

The Sioux lifted off for their display...

It did the stock flare thingy, which was still cool. :bow:

After which the Yaks rolled off...

And the Trojan (?) came back to do it's display, which was impressive.

The Tiger Moth display was good as well, with all the usual aerobatic tricks.

There was a LAV hanging around as well, for the afternoon race I suppose...

The warbirds DC3 got up as well, which was cool.

A quick look over towards the 'nerve-centre'...

The Yaks did their thing.

I think it must be a 'How many kids can we get on a LAV' challenge.

The ~~Strikemaster~~ (Edit: A-37) flew around as well, which was good, the commentator reminisced about the sound of jets around Ohakea...

Iriquois heading out to their display

Posted: **Sun Mar 16, 2008 9:56 pm**

AWESOME and thank you :thumbup:

Posted: **Sun Mar 16, 2008 9:57 pm**

The Orion did a few fly-overs; it's display was pushed back into the afternoon for some reason...

They did a few cool things, like dropping guys down ropes, dumping water, and then...

Dumping a car... Made a big bang as well.

After that I decided to hit the road to get home before too late.

So, some more travel pics.

Mt Ruapehu again...

Turangi Airfield

And the last pic *whew, say the audience*.

Thanks for viewing guys, apologies again for the number of them. :plane:

If you want to see more of something (except Airtrainers/F-111), just shout out, I have heaps more photos wanting to be posted (same with high-res copies etc).

Alex

PS: Sorry about the three posts, it seems the forum has a system in place to stop people like me posting a gazillion pics in one post. :lol:

Posted: **Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:07 pm**

That second to last Huey pic is art. Just fantastic. Never would have guessed it was taken in daylight.

Seems i missed quite a bit by arriving as late as i did.

Posted: **Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:28 pm**

Also nice pics Alex - wish I was there!

By the way the Strikemaster flying around is actually an A-37 (privatety owned). No Strikemasters are currently airwothy in NZ. I suspect both the Skyhawk and Aermacchi are airworthy and are currently flying - pity they couldnt put on a display but I guess Uncle Helen would'nt want that!

Posted: **Mon Mar 17, 2008 12:36 am**

ALEX I was going to say , if you got a chance to get inside that Singapore Herc , look at how well maintained for display , its as good and polished on the outside as she is in ! Welldone Singapore
That T28 ... a trainer with guts 'Beat a P51 to 10,000

Your cookie bear dak , Now that would be a goodie to see on a FS Dak

shsss ,

your Strikemaster ......... its a little A/T37 Dragonfly/Tweetybird Trainer , but we all no ya just testing us all

THE LAV tho ... my sorta ground Vehicle , no washing ,worry about scrapes or dents , and if people really peeve ya off ..... B-)

IM COOL

Its the Convair I'm worried about

Posted: **Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:27 am**

Some great photos there and thanks for covering the event so well.
We were going to come up for the day but it didnt work out so thanks for showing those that didnt go some great photos.
The load being pushed out of the Herc is a cracker.

Posted: **Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:56 am**

Fantastic photos, Alex. Thanks for sharing

Posted: **Mon Mar 17, 2008 6:24 am**

Awesome photos Alex, thanks for sharing. Also for including things like Ruapehu. Very nice compositions!

Posted: **Mon Mar 17, 2008 7:18 am**

Awesome pics alex

Posted: **Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:22 pm**

Great photos! Looks like you had a great day out! :plane:

Posted: **Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:41 pm**

Thanks for posting these photos, looks like it was a great show!

Posted: **Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:53 pm**

Great Shots Alex!

I'll have to try and go to this next year (if it happens).

Posted: **Mon Mar 17, 2008 3:55 pm**

Wicked pics- the tilts work really well.

What time did you end up leaving the show then? Unfortunately you seemed to have missed the F111 performance which was utterly amazing, better than all the other displays combined I'd say! And you didn't see a DC3 shaped wedge above you in the sky on the way back via Ruapehu did you- we flew past at around 4.30pm..?

Funny you should post that Cookie Monster DC-3, me and HCP were only discussing that yesterday! And you're right Ian, it would make a brilliant FS repaint, any volunteers?

Also, is the last DC3 photographed the one sitting on stands outside McDonalds in Taupo? I remember eating a BigMac on it a few years back :lol:

QUOTE

[/quote]
Haha, they pulled that stunt at Tauranga airshow too, although seeing as there were no speakers near the crowdline for some odd reason, I couldn't hear if the commentator was pretending that the above car had been parked illegally and was being moved, then was dropped by 'accident'

QUOTE

[/quote]
We must have clicked our shutters at exactly the same time, as I caught this pic from the Herc line too:

Didn't post it in my main thread due to the awful zoom though, told you you're lens was a billion times better than my own!

Anyway thanks for posting, was great to relive the day through the pics

Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:21 pm

by Charl

Alex, here's a thought: how about I shout you the trip to Wanaka next time out - I'll go as well but see it live, but then get first pick of your photos B-)

What an excellent series.
Aside to Trolly: Now how do we get that parcel drop onto the masthead, just for a while eh?
Champion.

Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:30 pm

by Alex

Thanks for all the comments guys, sorry, got a bit mixed up with the strikemaster/A-37 thing. :rolleyes:

(Like Ian said, just testing

)

I left just after you went off to find Jared, so maybe 1:45? Yea, the last thing I saw was the end of the Iriquois display. Hmm, I would have been closer to Turangi at about 4:30 (I think), and can't remember seeing something like that around... Nice to meet up and have a chat again.

Yeap, outside the Taupo McDonalds. :lol:

Alex

Edit:

Charl wrote:Alex, here's a thought: how about I shout you the trip to Wanaka next time out - I'll go as well but see it live, but then get first pick of your photos cool.gif
What an excellent series.

Hahaha, works for me Charl. :lol:

Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:45 pm

by deaneb

Naki wrote:
QUOTE (Naki @ Mar 16 2008, 11:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Also nice pics Alex - wish I was there!

By the way the Strikemaster flying around is actually an A-37 (privatety owned). No Strikemasters are currently airwothy in NZ. I suspect both the Skyhawk and Aermacchi are airworthy and are currently flying - pity they couldnt put on a display but I guess Uncle Helen would'nt want that!

The Skyhawk at Ohakea was never an operational machine - it is a "bitser" made for the museum from a variety of spare parts. To my knowledge six Strikemasters remain in NZ, all are ex-operational machines, but as you said - none flying. One is at OH, one at Wigram museum and four at Woodbourne for Engineering training.

Deane

Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 6:56 pm

by Kelburn

You know, I think my Bass and Trombone teachers were away and performing as they are in the Air Force Band.
(My Bass teacher and Jazz Band leader was away today)

Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:08 pm

by NZ255

Good to see that Macer's DC finally repainted, been wanting a new coat of paint for years!

NZFF

Alex's Ohakea Pics