* * * STATICS * * *
The second aeroplane I was most looking forward to seeing fly, TVAL's newly completed Sopwith Triplane. What a beauty! Sadly, due to rising wind conditions, only the Pfalz, Fokker D.VII and Nieuport XI flew yesterday, with the Tripehound and other WW1 types groundbound. A real shame.
Aero Work represent!!!
Good selection of ag aircraft present, including a Beaver with hopper and gear installed! Very cool.
The Yaks. Nine in total this year! Only eight flew, though. Interesting to see KGB has a 52W-style three blade prop with a spinner!
My gf Stevie showing her approval of DH Dove ZK-DHW
Many of you won't recognise this man, but if you've ever seen the GHOSTS calendars, or read the Warbirds Over Wanaka books, you'll be familiar with his work - Phil Makanna, world-renowned warbird photographer
* * * FLYING DISPLAY * * *
Ribbon cutting with a couple of Tiger Moths. Great to see a MASSIVE Tiger presence in the display
Dogfight between The Blue Max movie star Pfalz D.III and Nieuport XI, with Tim Sullivan in the Pfalz
The Yak-52s all ready to go for their pylon race. I really think this should become a permanent fixture at Kiwi shows, it was great!
Richmond "Ditch" Harding's Tiger Moth doing what it does best.
Tiger Moth ZK-ANL, which had its spraying gear fitted at Wanganui Aero Work late last year. Was cool to see this happening! Apparently she flew her last "serious" spraying mission in 1980!
John Bargh in the big Air Tractor, demonstrating modern topdressing techniques. Impressive machine this.....but not as cool as the mighty Fletcher 400!
Brett Emeny's lovely DH Vampire...
...which flew with Peter Vause's equally lovely L-39 Albatros, also New Plymouth-based.
The Fokker D.VII, another Blue Max movie veteran, the WW1 aeroplane I most want to fly.
Keith Skilling in the Old Stick and Rudder Company Corsair, always a delight to see.
Kiwi Blue take to the sky in their....Islander?!
Very cool Iroquois demo, four aircraft each doing something different. The car drop was very loud!
Kiwi Blue in formation....on the left you can see a bit of dark blue, this was the chute of one of the jumpers, that had to be cut free! He made it down safe with his reserve chute.
Seasprite, a chopper I always like to see.
One for Nick aka choppernut, one of the veteran Bell 47s of the "Sioux Blue" display team.
The Red Checkers, led this year by sometime warbird pilot Scott McKenzie - he flew the blue-tail Fokker Triplane at Wanaka last year.
Graham Bethell with a characteriscally restrained Mustang display. Always great to see though!
The Dak, which I think is the honey of the airshow circuit. I love that scheme!
The Harvards of the "Carterton Bandits" performing a buzz and break for landing after their failed "attack" on the airfield.
The final fighter flypast. Very poignant....especially as so many veterans were present at the show.
All in all, a decent show, but the lack of Spitfire and large WW1 display were a massive letdown for me. Kudos to SVAS and co for putting on a show still packed with displays!
was she joking ! 
