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Saturday 30 March 2013

Classic Fighters Air Show 2013

Good evening,

Just back from Omaka's Classic Fighter Air Show. Great show, great weather, great trip.

We saw some WW1 stuff...
















...yep, that's 7 DR1's in the air at the same time. Sharing the airspace with a Sopwith Camel, a Sopwith Pup, a Sopwith Triplane, an Avro DH5, a Bristol Fighter and the Fokker DVII. Glorious!

There was also some WW2 stuff...
















...and yes, they all flew! Though I didn't take many air shots, seeing as I only had my classroom point and shoot camera.




Well, apart from the tank. It didn't so much as fly as trundled. A Tiger 1, courtesy of Weta Workshop, they of Lord of the Rings fame.







There was also a splattering of some newer stuff, including the RNZAF's latest helicopters, the Augusta A109 and the Nato Helicopter's NH-90.



All in all, a great day out! I don't think I even got sunburnt - though that may have to wait 'till tomorrow to have that confirmed...

Nick
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22 comments:

  1. Paul30 March 2013 at 22:19

    Lots of nice eye candy in this post Nick. Getting sunburnt is a chargeable offense, so I will see you in the Orderly Room after you have been to Sick Parade with the MO.

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    1. Nick Grant31 March 2013 at 07:54

      But Sir, I lathered myself with sun screen - so much so that it made itself into my left eye (with unpleasant stinging results) during the Harvard display, and into my right eye while I was driving home. 'Twas a bit strange driving round the curves outside Blenheim with my good eye closed and relying on my considerably weaker eye (and my glasses) at 100 K waiting for a straight bit to pull over...

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  2. Rodger30 March 2013 at 22:26

    Awesome photos Nick. Excellent show and one that any WW1 or WW2 fan would not want to miss!!

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    1. Nick Grant31 March 2013 at 07:55

      Thanks Roger. It's a show I highly recommend.

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  3. Jacksarge Painting30 March 2013 at 23:28

    Great photos Nick, love the shot of the bi/tri-planes in the air together, also noticed a cool Kubelwagen next to the Tiger- are Weta going to make a WW2 movie?

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    1. Nick Grant31 March 2013 at 08:03

      I thought some might like that. It was kinda tricky to get, seeing as I had to lift the camera above the heads of those in front - I was just hoping I was pointing it in the right direction!

      Funnily enough, that Kubelwagen drove into the petrol station while I was getting gas for the trip home after the show. Sounded like a V Dub!

      And as for the "Tiger", nup, Weta Workshop just made it for the show. Peter Jackson is heavily involved with the Classic Fighters shows. I'm pretty sure he owns one of the fighters (the Camel? Not sure) and he, along with Weta, were the ones who did the fantastic displays in the Knights of the Sky museum at Omaka.

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  4. Anonymous31 March 2013 at 05:22

    Excellent looking day out. I will have to wait 6 months to see if I am running the risk of sunburn-it is still snowing here!

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    1. Nick Grant31 March 2013 at 08:06

      And how! We're even getting news of your snow down here. New Zealand is experiencing a bit of the other extreme. Half the country has been declared a drought zone!

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    2. Nick Grant31 March 2013 at 08:08

      Including the West Coast - normally you can almost always guarantee a spot of rain at any given day on the Coast. Just ask Paul!

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    3. Paul31 March 2013 at 13:09

      The lowest rainfall here for 45 years. Mind you the West Coast stretches a comparable distance from Auckland to Wellington, so you would expect a spot of moisture every now and then.

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    4. Nick Grant31 March 2013 at 14:16

      Oh hardy har ha!

      Has anyone asked how Fiordland is coping?

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    5. Paul2 April 2013 at 23:35

      I am sure the sandflies are hanging out for it as well.

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    6. Nick Grant3 April 2013 at 07:21

      Bzzztt!

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  5. Dux Homunculorum31 March 2013 at 12:21

    Good lord! What amazing stuff. Sounds like you had a great day out.

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    1. Nick Grant31 March 2013 at 14:21

      It was.

      One of the best bits was when the Corsair came in screaming left to right in a hard left bank @...can't have been more then 50 feet. Very impressive, made more so from my perspective as I was at the right front corner of the display area. Came in right over my shoulder!

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  6. Sean1 April 2013 at 07:38

    Looks like a fun day, and the hills look like those outside my parents house in Northern California.

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    1. Nick Grant1 April 2013 at 10:58

      It was a day. Apparently, from the pilots perspective, the hills make a great amphitheatre.

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    2. Nick Grant1 April 2013 at 10:59

      Opps, that's sposed to read great day!

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  7. Mad Padre2 April 2013 at 08:56

    Thanks for this great post. I now have another reason to visit NZ. Sounds like a fantastic event.
    Cheers,
    Michael

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    1. Nick Grant2 April 2013 at 10:10

      You're welcome Michael. The venue was great. Classic fighters happens every odd year in Omaka/Blenheim, Warbirds over Wanaka happens every even year down in Wanaka. Both lovely places to visit, if you've a mind to!

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  8. Al30 December 2013 at 14:10

    Cool pictures, love the bi-planes!

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    1. Nick Grant30 December 2013 at 15:30

      The Sopwith was a surprise. The engine has only got an on/off setting. Very Bszszt Berrpp. Bszszt Berrpp.

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