My P51d Mustang Flight Over Wellington

[cooldad]

Warning for dial up users, sorry....

Hi everyone. I was the winner of a trip over Wellington won by entering on the WOW 09 website. I thought I would share some of the photos I took from my trip with Graham Bethell in the P51d Mustang. I apologise for the quality of some of these but the conditions weren't that suitable for photography from the back seat once strapped into the harness etc! The window sill was about level with my eyes so I had to hold the camera above my head to get ground shots unless the aircraft was banking

Here's a picture of the Mustang...




This is Graham with me just before we took off ...





Here's my view from the back seat ...



We first took off with the P40 Kittyhawk in toe for some aerial photography from 2 Cessnas while we circled over Masterton. Graham gradually brought the Mustang wingtip to wingtip with the Kittyhawk. We seemed really close and with a bit of turbulance it became a little scary



Masterton from the air ...



We then headed on over the Rimutakas and down the Hutt Valley to Wellington. Here's a couple of shots over Wellington ...





We headed over Wellington to the south and made a high speed fly past of Wellington airport just off the tarmac!

See who can spot Wellington Control Tower ...



We then headed back over the hill and over Carterton Graham announces "hang on to your cameras". We then did a really steep climb and completed a loop. I've never felt G-Forces like that before! We did another one and then a couple of barrel rolls. Great fun!

A high speed flypast of the Hood Aerodrome and we came down. All over too quickly!

I meet up with John Pattison (91 yr old WW2 veteran who was supposed to have ridden in the Spitty but had to make do with the P40) just after landing ...



and even made the front page of the Wairarapa Times-Age!




A great trip and one I will remember as being the highlight of my life.

Thanks for watching...

Paul

[AlisterC]

You're a very lucky man! Congratulations, what an experience to win!

[Ace]

Glad to see we shared a newspaper article (Im the "Josh Flynn" near the tail end). Although the story was sposed to read that I was lucky enough to get a flight in the back of the Bristol Fighter playing gunner for Philip Makanna (Ghost Squadron), and then the next morning I had my first solo (In the Ace Aviation Piper Super-Cub). Which was pretty cool, having all the airshow 'scenery' out for a first solo was a little bit special in my opinion.

Congratulations Paul, hope it was a flight of a lifetime, and judging by the description of the loop, it was.

Also I'll have a look through my collection of photos, I might have something of you either taking off or making your pass when you returned.

[Ian Warren]

PAUL! . wing tip to wing tip in a muzzie with nextdoor a P40 , to meet John Pattison and one brilliant day , SUPERB ! .......and G's what a prize

[spongebob206]

Awesome mate,

Experience like no other.

[kiwibarguy]

I think you have made alot of people here jealous Paul. Thank you for the posting!

[Naki]

Awesome! Very jealous!

Also congrats on your first solo Josh..and in a Cub..not many people solo first in a Cub nowadays!

[Alex]

What an awesome flight Paul, 'jealous' doesn't do it justice at all.

Alex

[Bazza]

Thanks for sharing Paul, that's probably about as good as it gets...

[spongebob206]

QUOTE (Ace @ Jan 29 2009, 07:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Glad to see we shared a newspaper article (Im the "Josh Flynn" near the tail end). Although the story was sposed to read that I was lucky enough to get a flight in the back of the Bristol Fighter playing gunner for Philip Makanna (Ghost Squadron), and then the next morning I had my first solo (In the Ace Aviation Piper Super-Cub). Which was pretty cool, having all the airshow 'scenery' out for a first solo was a little bit special in my opinion.

Congratulations Paul, hope it was a flight of a lifetime, and judging by the description of the loop, it was.

Also I'll have a look through my collection of photos, I might have something of you either taking off or making your pass when you returned.

Congrates on your first solo Josh,

I bet that was even more memorable having the airfeild set up and flying a cub.

Awesome.

[FlyingKiwi]

Truly an experience of a lifetime, thanks for posting the photos here!

[Gavin Conroy]

I bet you had a blast in the Mustang.
The close formation flying is one of the big reasons I take Air 2 Air photos.
Pilots liks Graham and Stuart are as good as it gets.
When you fly with good pilots they always have a way out and it took me 20 flights to relax but am sure this exhillarating memories will be burned in your memory for ever.

By the way, Ace I bet the flight in the Bristol was cool.
I flew in it last year and flying in an original WW1 fighter is quite unique.

[victor_alpha_charlie]

Wow! WHat an awesome prize! I'm sure everyone is glad that it went to someone that would p[ost up some pics for us all to enjoy.

[spongebob206]

QUOTE (victor_alpha_charlie @ Jan 30 2009, 03:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wow! WHat an awesome prize! I'm sure everyone is glad that it went to someone that would p[ost up some pics for us all to enjoy.

I agree, Love your Footer. HAHA
What a hoot.

Cheers VAC

[ardypilot]

QUOTE (victor_alpha_charlie @ Jan 30 2009, 03:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wow! WHat an awesome prize! I'm sure everyone is glad that it went to someone that would p[ost up some pics for us all to enjoy.

Cheers for posting the photos mate, you lucky, lucky guy!

Tell me Paul- does that Merlin sound as brutal and grunty as it does from the outside of the Stang, or is it baffled and quite inside the cockpit? I for one just love the drone that the P51 makes on fast appoaches and low fly-bys... must have been a spectacular experience to actually be a POB!

[cooldad]

QUOTE (Trolly @ Feb 13 2009, 01:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Cheers for posting the photos mate, you lucky, lucky guy!

Tell me Paul- does that Merlin sound as brutal and grunty as it does from the outside of the Stang, or is it baffled and quite inside the cockpit? I for one just love the drone that the P51 makes on fast appoaches and low fly-bys... must have been a spectacular experience to actually be a POB!

Hi Trolly, Well I'd hardly say inside the cockpit was baffled or quiet! Without the earphones on you would quickly become quite deaf. Still an awesome experience though, so much power and noise

Cheers
Paul