Gidday everyone.
Here are some photographs taken during a special Warbirds Open Day held at Ardmore Airfield in the New Zealand Warbirds hangar. The focus of the day was a series of guest speakers, but a number of warbirds were also present for closer inspection. One of the highlights of the event was to be a flight for Alan Peart, a former 81 Sqn Spitfire pilot during the war, in locally based two seater Spit MH367, but the weather was too poorly and it's been organised for another day. The event attracted press and news media due to this. There was also a gathering of a number of veterans, who gave a Q A session. These included Roy Montrowe, Wellington and Mosquito pilot, Reg Dunbar, Wellington and Defiant WOp/AG, Bill Petersen Halifax pilot, Keith Boles, another Mosquito pilot, and Des Hall, Lancaster Flight Engineer.
Having an interest in Defiants, I cornered Reg Dunbar after the Q A session and we had a terrific talk about the aircraft; he was very patient and seemed genuinely interested in speaking about it to me, smiling the whole time. Lovely chap. Dunbar flew electronic counter measures flights with 151 Special Duties Flight out of Tangmere operating radio equipment from the rear turret that was designed to jam German Freya radars, named Mandrel, before a raid into German territory by heavy bombers. A flight of Defiants would fly toward the coast with their Mandrel equipment on, then turn away at the last minute, scooting back across the Channel at low level. He said it was a bit hair raising and very uncomfortable, as there wasn't much room in the back of the Defiant.
Other speakers included Brett Nicholls, who has bought two BAC Strikemasters and has one flying and the second receiving certification, Gavin Trethaway, former RNZAF Canberra pilot, who spoke of Canberra ops during the Malayan Emergency and the Indonesian Confrontation, Mark Halliwell, former RNZAF Skyhawk pilot and Frank Parker, the Southern Hemisphere's only pilot current on the Fw 190, to name a few.
The weather was usual Auckland spring muck; rain, wind, a bit of sun, but mainly overcast, but it provided some interesting photography, including some for the Black and White Photo thread.
Harvard NZ1052; a grey aeroplane against a grey sky.
NZ1053 adding a bit of colour.
Brett Nicholls' Strikemaster NZ6370 against a leaden background.
Graham Wood taking the Beaver out for a joyflight, brightening an otherwise overcast vista.
These two are my favourite ones I took of Alan Peart. The other gentleman is Jim Robinson.
MH367 being put to bed in the rain.
This also kinda works in black and white.
More next.
Here are some photographs taken during a special Warbirds Open Day held at Ardmore Airfield in the New Zealand Warbirds hangar. The focus of the day was a series of guest speakers, but a number of warbirds were also present for closer inspection. One of the highlights of the event was to be a flight for Alan Peart, a former 81 Sqn Spitfire pilot during the war, in locally based two seater Spit MH367, but the weather was too poorly and it's been organised for another day. The event attracted press and news media due to this. There was also a gathering of a number of veterans, who gave a Q A session. These included Roy Montrowe, Wellington and Mosquito pilot, Reg Dunbar, Wellington and Defiant WOp/AG, Bill Petersen Halifax pilot, Keith Boles, another Mosquito pilot, and Des Hall, Lancaster Flight Engineer.
Having an interest in Defiants, I cornered Reg Dunbar after the Q A session and we had a terrific talk about the aircraft; he was very patient and seemed genuinely interested in speaking about it to me, smiling the whole time. Lovely chap. Dunbar flew electronic counter measures flights with 151 Special Duties Flight out of Tangmere operating radio equipment from the rear turret that was designed to jam German Freya radars, named Mandrel, before a raid into German territory by heavy bombers. A flight of Defiants would fly toward the coast with their Mandrel equipment on, then turn away at the last minute, scooting back across the Channel at low level. He said it was a bit hair raising and very uncomfortable, as there wasn't much room in the back of the Defiant.
Other speakers included Brett Nicholls, who has bought two BAC Strikemasters and has one flying and the second receiving certification, Gavin Trethaway, former RNZAF Canberra pilot, who spoke of Canberra ops during the Malayan Emergency and the Indonesian Confrontation, Mark Halliwell, former RNZAF Skyhawk pilot and Frank Parker, the Southern Hemisphere's only pilot current on the Fw 190, to name a few.
The weather was usual Auckland spring muck; rain, wind, a bit of sun, but mainly overcast, but it provided some interesting photography, including some for the Black and White Photo thread.
Harvard NZ1052; a grey aeroplane against a grey sky.
NZ1053 adding a bit of colour.
Brett Nicholls' Strikemaster NZ6370 against a leaden background.
Graham Wood taking the Beaver out for a joyflight, brightening an otherwise overcast vista.
These two are my favourite ones I took of Alan Peart. The other gentleman is Jim Robinson.
MH367 being put to bed in the rain.
This also kinda works in black and white.
More next.