Classic Fighters Easter Weekend

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nuuumannn

Major
10,149
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Oct 12, 2011
Nelson
Hi Guys,

Some images from the Classic Fighters airshow over Easter weekend. Held over three days; Friday evening twilight display and a full show on Saturday and Sunday, the event was a success for the organisers with over 30,000 attending over the three days. I went on Saturday only, so missed the Natter mock-up, which was on display on Sunday only and looked quite convincing from pictures I've seen. I work with the guy who organises the pyrotechnics and his pictures of it being blown up are quite spectacular!

Whilst there I met forum member gumbyk, who is part of the airshow committee, so missed the whole show while he had to work!

To begin with, I saw this L-29 at the main airport on the way into town the night before the show. Apparently the guys were offering joyrides.



The main entrance!



A few aircraft parked at the airfield on the morning of the show:

This D.H.60 is one of the oldest continually registered aircraft in New Zealand



Unfortunately the Courier didn't display, would have liked to have seen it do so. (Must add this to the Vietnam thread going at the moment)



Tigers, Aussie built Tiger Moth "Beyond Economic Repair"





"Can ya tell what it is yet?" Yeoman Cropmaster, rare beast; the only flying example in the world.





The Germans are always so welcoming...



The Tiger tank goes and the gun fires, but is largely built of fibreglass and wood, but looks convincing.



Next, the Great War.

 
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Because of Peter Jackson's interest in World War One aircraft, New Zealand is currently home to the largest collection of flying Great War aircraft, albeit accurate reproductions, in the world. Classic Fighters has always been renown for its Dr Is and this year they wheeled out the "Magnificent Seven" of Jasta I (again! Never thought I'd ever say that regarding a gaggle of Dr Is). Jackson's First World War repro concern, The Vintage Aviator also brought some toys again this year.

Triplanes:











Former Blue Max D VII



The three Great Sopwith Scouts were represented at this year's show for the first time; Camel, Pup and Tripe (with an interloper D.H.5 in the background).







This was the first year that a Pup made an appearance here; lovely to see. This is the first of two built by the Vintage Aviator and although there was a second Pup at the show - actually a Pfeifer-Sopwith Scout - it didn't fly.



Black Triplane of Naval Eight; Royal Naval Air Service.



Camel in the markings of New Zealander Capt Clive Collett, the first Camel ace.



More to come...
 
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Hi Chris, no, I didn't think to get a photo of Aaron and me, sorry. He was on his lunch break and we talked about the show - as you do. Nice guy. The Triplanes are pretty cool; the Great War sets are always worth watching since there's always a bit of re-anacting going on with pyros and a reproduction Great War tank as well.

 
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Tigers, Aussie built Tiger Moth "Beyond Economic Repair"
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Yeah, I wondered about the wisdom of buying into an aircraft with that registration! But, to date its been fairly reliable.

Did you and gumbyk get a piccie of youse?
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Unfortunately, not. Only got a brief chance to catch up, during my lunch break. Its amazing how little of the show I got to see this year. But I guess the pay-off is that I get to hang around these machines regularly.
 
More Great War aircraft.

Nieuport repro ZK-NII in its Lafayette Escadrille markings didn't fly, which is a shame.



The unusual Airco D.H.5 repro looks ungainly on the ground since its rearward stagger is even more pronounced.



The Bristol Fighter is a favourite of mine and looked radiant in the afternoon sun. By comparison to its WW1 siblings, it's quite a big machine.









Now, some Warbirds.

The theme of the show was The Yanks are Coming, which didn't really live up to expectations in my opinion, all things considered, such as the fact that only one aircraft debuting at the show this year was American and the big star was German (which also featured prominently on the airshow literature with the US flag in the background). Having been to US themed airshows in the past, the reality didn't live up to the vast possibilities that such a thing offers. Nevertheless, the show was still enjoyable regardless. Here are some US Warbirds to whet the appetite:

This beautiful Staggerwing was the very first of its type to be registered in Australia (note the rego) and was restored here in New Zealand. It flew back to Australia after the show.



T-6s or Haavaaards as they are called here.







NZ's two airworthy P-40s attended.



This RAAF example wore shark's teeth and early type US roundels under its wings (see above picture) especially for the event.





Ex RNZAF P-40E actually wears the colours of P-11151, Chinese fighter pilot Xu Hua Jiang's (not an AVG aircraft as most people think, despite the Flying Tiger logo) P-40E, of which China received 27 in 1943.





This P-51D has been a part of the NZ warbird scene for many many years now and was one of the founding aircraft of New Zealand Warbirds. A guy I knew said that he has gotten tired of seeing the Mustang at airshows, since its been around for so long. I said to him that I simply don't agree. I'll never get tired of looking at it.



ZK-TAF wore special nose art for the occasion.





Lastly for today, another surviving ex RNZAF bird, the Big Bent wing B*st*rd.











Next, other countries' warbirds.
 
Great pics Grant. The guy who said he's tired of seeing the Mustang must be a pooftah - it's as bad as saying your'e tired of beer!
They did a good job on that Tiger and WW1 tank.
 
Hi Falke, well, this is little ole En Zed! The airshow is held at Omaka, which is in the north of the South Island, the largest population centre is 1 and a 1/2 hours drive away and is about 46,000. Airshows here are lucky to get 15 - 20,000 on one day. I remember going to shows in the UK and a typical Flying Legends at Duxford managed 50 - 100,000! Which is a staggering amount! When I lived in the UK, airshows were the second biggest spectator sport, second only to football.

Got more pics coming.
 
Some German Metal (Arrg! Rammstein!)

Although bassembled in France as a Nord 1002, this Bf 108 was originally constructed in Augsburg and is a genuine warbird, having served with the Luftwaffe in WW2 and was shot down at one stage.



Undoubted Star of the show was this FW 190 (see my close up pics of it elsewhere here), which flew only once each day in the company of its WW2 nemesis,two Spitfire Mk.IXs. Frank Parker, the Southern Hemisphere's only Fw 190 rated pilot had a wee trouble getting it on to the ground, bouncing a couple of times, which caused everyone to hold their breaths as he struggled to get the machine under control, Luckily he did. Both Claus Collings, the founder of the Flug Werk company that built the aircraft and Murray Miers, its owner were at the show; Collings recounting how he built it, starting with a non flying mock-up to settle the details, then built his first flying aircraft; this one, in fact. Interesting to hear.











One of two Kubelwagens blatting round the airfield in the hands of the reanactors.



Some Brits. Bill and Robyn Reid's lovely Anson I made its Omaka debut this weekend, too and made a change from the fast stuff, although its engine noise rivalled the single-seaters in its din.







Spitfire IXs; a classic shape.











Two Yak-3s carried out a tail chase and were one of the best flying displays of the day.













Next, some other sights and sounds around the show of interest.

 
Although bassembled in France as a Nord 1002, this Bf 108 was originally constructed in Augsburg and is a genuine warbird, having served with the Luftwaffe in WW2 and was shot down at one stage.
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I was talking to the owner after the show, and he told me that they had to recover one of the control surfaces, and when they removed the fabric, the original fabric was underneath it, bulletholes and all!
 
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