Warbirds over Wanaka 2024

nuuumannn · Apr 14, 2024

Gidday guys, some images from a terrific Warbirds over Wanaka, held over the last weekend of March. I went on one day only as I was working that weekend. A friend of mine chartered a King Air for the day and we flew down in style, staying for the day before departing just after the show ended.

There aren't many venues set in a more beautiful location, although throughout the show, the crowd line is facing into the sun, which hampers photography...

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Some interesting aircraft in the static lineup...

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The most recent P-51 restoration, this one was making its airshow debut at the show. I've posted images of this aircraft already, not long after its post restoration first flight.

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Always good to see the Corsair.

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The star of the show, Rod Lewis' Mosquito, which I featured in an earlier post when it flew to my local airport.

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Highly modified former Reno racer Yak-3 Steadfast opened the show.

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USAF Viper turning and burning.

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Interesting Avro Anson Mk.I and Harvard duo.

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Anson in the morning glow...

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Two BAC Strikemasters, one ex-RNZAF and the other ex-Saudi Air Force.

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Strikemaster 72 is an airshow regular.

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That backdrop...

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WoW always pays tribute to helicopter operators in the country, especially since the airshow's late founder Tim Wallis made his money from alpine deer hunting. Fun fact, New Zealand has more helicopters per head of population than any other country in the world.

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Bell 205 doing what is frequently done over a dry hot New Zealand summer.

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Hughes 500 and Enstrom.

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More to come...

nuuumannn · Apr 14, 2024

More WoW.

The two Strikemasters arriving.

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RNZAF Black Falcons T-6 Texan IIs break.

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RNZAF parchutists.

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Texan II.

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The air force's newest toy, the first display of the P-8 Poseidon.

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SH-2G(I) Sea Sprite.

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NH-90. A controversial aircraft, the RNZAF doesn't seem to suffer the supply and technical issues that other NH-90 operators have, largely because a purpose built maintenance facility has been established in New Zealand, which means that ours are kept at a good state of serviceability and availability. They are logging the highest operational hours of any NH-90s world wide.

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Agusta A-109s.

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40 Sqn RNZAF 757 and C-130H flypast.

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C-130 tac display. This is the last time the RNZAF's elderly C-130Hs will appear at an airshow as they are retiring this year. These Herkys were the first aircraft I worked on as a young engineer.

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Reverse...

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Run up...

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USAF C-17.

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More following...

Jeff Hunt · Apr 14, 2024

The Kiwi Bent Wing is a beauty. While the Mossie gets lots of votes for being new, that Corsair is hands down the sharpest looking bird of the assembled flock.

Cheers

Jeff