Easter in New Zealand - Aviation Photos - Part 2

The main reason for this trip was to attend the three day Warbirds over Wanaka Airshow.   Sadly, the weather didnt co-operate, and we had some terrible weather.  Of the the three days we got one reasonable morning and one reasonable afternoon.

At the start of the day we could "walk the flightline" which allowed us to get up close to the displaying aircraft and chat to some of the pilots.  Here are the beautiful Fox Moth ZK-APT, a Chipmunk N861WP, the Waco UOC ZK-AEL and a chinesee Nangchang CJ6 ZK-CVI(that didn't fly).

There was also a large static display which included some STOL aircraft and some amphibians. Super Cub VH-YUP, AAK Hornet ZK-CCM, Lake Buccaneer ZK-EEL and Super Petrel ZK-ESS

One lunchtime I took a walk around the visiting aircraft park where there was a good mix including a Cessna 172 tailwheel conversion ZK-MLY, Aerostar ZK-JOS and a Cessna 206 floatplane ZK-DXC.

But we were all here to see the flying.   Mostly low level because on the low cloudbase. There were plenty of russian aircraft here with up to 12 Yak 52s in formation, The only flying Yak 7 ZK-YKB "Liberte" (Which had an issue and didn't fly) along with 2 different versions of the yak 3 one with a V12 engine ZK-VVS "Full Noise", the other with a radial engine ZK-YOV "Steadfast".

Four  Aero L-39s put on a great show despite the low cloud.

The prize for the most unusual plane must go to the AgTruck ZK-DMZ.   Definately built for function, not for looks!

There were formation displays by a group of De Havilland aircraft , Vampire and Strikemasters and also by Harvards.

Helicopters were not left out, with a good selection flying including a UH-60 Blackhawk ZK-HKU, a UH-12 ZK-HBU and Hughes 520 "Notar" with it's distinctive no tail rotor design.

But what we were really here to see were the warbirds.  Spitfire mk9 ZK-SPI, Spitfire PR XI G-PRXI (The NHS spitfire , transported from the UK especially for this airshow), P-51 ZK-BHT and Avenger ZK TBM all put on great solo and group displays.

And, of course, the famous grand finale!

Easter in New Zealand - Aviation Photos - Part 1

I went to New Zealand for Easter, on an aviation oriented coach tour.  Here is the first part of the aviation photos covering some plane spotting at Christchurch and the museums I visited.  Part 2 will follow covering the airshow at Wanaka.

I arrived in Christchurch a day early to do some plane spotting and to visit the Aviation museum at Ashburton around an hour to the south as this wasn't included in the coach itinerary.

The weather was changeable to say the least!   Pouring rain and strong winds in the morning, but it did fine up in the late afternoon.   First thing I saw from my hotel room was a DHL Air Boeing 767 freighter VH-XQU. It was an oportunity to see some of the Air New Zealand domestic fleet including Airbus A320 ZK-OAB, ATR 72 ZK-MVJ and DHC-8 ZK-NEQ.   A nice suprise was a San Marino registered private A 319 corporate jet T7-1177.  I also saw some Royal New Zealand Air Force Beech Texans NZ1411 and an Emirates A380 A6-EUS

Ashburton Aviation Museum is a lovely little museum.   It wasn't very busy, so one of the volunteers there showed me round. They have a Royal Air Force Harrier (XZ129) there which I understand is the only one in the southern hemishpere.  I also saw an RNZAF BAC Strikemaster NZ6374, a British built Chrislea Super Ace  ZK-ASI, a Burmese Air Force Provost UB232 and their stunning DC-3 ZK-AMY.

At the Air Force Museum of New Zealand, we were treated to a "behind the scenes" tour which took us to some areas not generally open to the public.  In the restoration areas we saw a Cutis P-40 NZ3000 and an Andover NZ7621. In the main halls we saw a Bristol Freighter NZ5903, Avro 626 NZ203, Spitffire Mk16 TE288  and a P-51 NZ2410 amongst others.

The Croydon Aviation Heritage Centre has a small museum, and  a workshop that revolves around restoring De Havilland aircraft.  Around the museum were DH-90 Dragonfly ZK-AYR, DH-82 Tiger Moth ZK-BFH, DH-83 Fox Moth ZK-ADI and Aermacchi MB339 NZ7465.  We also toured the restoration workshop where we saw planes in various stages including Tiger Moth NZ1459, almost ready to have it's wings attached, and a much less complete DH-87 Hornet Moth.