Wings Over Wairarapa # 6: MXR Technologies MX2

WOW!

If I had to sum up this display, that would be the single word I'd use. WOW!

The display put on by the pilot of the MX2 [ZK-MXT] showed what can be done when you mix a stunning pilot with an equally stunning aircraft. Getting photos was a problem this time, not because of technical difficulty, but because my inability to take my eyes of the action.

I'm no aerobatic guru [or even a novice for that matter!] and most of the manoeuvres just made my head spin. Imagine if you will, a rolling vertical climb followed by rolling while hovering, followed by what seemed to be perfectly executed rolling tailslide, with around 4-5 rotations before the nose came down. Ouch!

Then there was an outside loop. Double ouch!

Needless to say, most images will fail to do any justice to the display, so here's three sample images. I guess you just had to be there. Enjoy!

Wings Over Wairarapa # 5: L-39 Albatros and de Havilland DH115 Vampire

There were only a couple of fixed-wing jets at the show this year, the L39 Albatros and the de Havilland DH115 Vampire, however, as always, they put on a fantastic display.

The Vampire was a British creation and the L39 Czechoslovakian, yet they seem to be a perfect match for a formation/aerobatic display. The Vampire was New Zealand's first operational jet fighter [I understand that there was a single example of another model that was earlier] and as such as a firm connectuion to this country.

The L39 is becoming popular as an entry-level warbird jet with [I think] three examples in the country now.

Not many photos this time - I need a better camera... and perhaps a little more skill on my part :-) Oh well!

Wings Over Wairarapa # 4: Yakovlev Yak 52

For me, the first of the more exciting displays had to be the Taranaki-based Yakrobats flying their Soviet-designed-built Yakovlev Yak 52's. I'm not used to seeing these aircraft, so to see eight of them at one time was certainly a treat! Perhaps the brightly coloured and varied paint schemes helps to add some interest also.

The Yak 52 pilots also had the task [privilege?] of flying what was billed as a "Reno-style" pylon race around three sheep trucks [a bit of Kiwi ingenuity there!] strategically placed around the airfield. The sight of these aircraft racing around the "track" was certainly a highlight, and one I would like to see repeated [and expanded on] in future.

For more information about these aircraft, I'd suggest this Wikipedia site [if anyone knows of a New Zealand website for these particular aircraft, please leave a comment].

Anyway, enough of my jabbering, time for the pictures! I've included a larger than normal number of pictures - I want to show off the paint schemes as much as the fantastic flying.

Wings Over Wairarapa # 3: North American Harvard 3*

One of the most popular [numerous] "Warbird" category aircraft in New Zealand are the North American Harvard 3* of which five were at the airshow to perform.

In the overall scheme of things, perhaps the Harvards are not the most exciting aircraft to watch, but their pilots do tend to put on a solid performance which most people seem to enjoy. For more information on these aircraft, check out the excellent New Zealand Warbirds website.

The aircraft themselves have a very strong link to New Zealand, as the Harvard was used as the Royal New Zealand Air Force [RNZAF] trainer in to the 1970's. Many of these aircraft are ex-RNZAF aircraft.

Wings Over Wairarapa # 2: de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth

After much thought, I thought that I would present most of the airshow images based on aircraft type or in display groups, with the exception of a few that will be "linked" together for various other reasons.

One of the most "common" aircraft at a New Zealand airshow would have to be the de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth. The Tiger Moth was known to generations of New Zealanders [somewhat older than myself I might point out!], firstly as a military, then civilian trainer and also as one of the earlier agricultural aircraft.

It is fair to say that New Zealand led the world in developing the practice of aerial application of agricultural chemicals, and the Tiger Moth led the way for New Zealand.

Alongside a couple of "stock" Tigers where a couple of ag variants. The most common noticeable feature of an ag Tiger is that the front cockpit is covered over [and used for the storage/ dispensing of the chemicals], although we were also privileged to see New Zealand's [and perhaps the world's] last spray-equipped Tiger being put through it's paces.

Top to bottom are:

ZK-BLK & ZK-BLV in formation/ribbon chasing [x 2]
ZK-AUZ, a former 'dung duster' from Wanganui Aero Work
ZK-ANL, New Zealand's only remaining spray-equipped Tiger Moth

Wings Over Wairarapa # 1: Getting there and back

I have been really looking forward to the Wings Over Wairarapa airshow, which was held today. Even the weather had been cooperative with nice days and [fairly] light winds over the past week or so.

Getting up today, the 2000' wind was up to around a 40 knot nor-westerly and the hills between Wellington and Masterton were topped with clouds :-(, hence the need to take a departure around the south-east of the hills [perhaps you can see an issue here...]. On the plus side, I got to swap planes, when 4 people bailed on the trip, and I got to fly a PA28-181 instead of a PA38-112 and took 3 passengers instead of 1. Yippee! The extra performance would be very helpful in the conditions.

The trip to Masterton was eventful. Turbulence was not as bad as it could have been [but still enough to keep me on my toes], but flying to the south-east of some hills in a strong nor-westerly was always going to make for a fun flight. If all this sounds familiar, it's probably because they are similar conditions to the last time I flew to Masterton for an airshow :-) Darn!!

Anyway, we got there and back. The airshow, which I will detail in future posts, was OK. The absence [due to a wheels up landing] of the Spitfire Mk IX was unfortunate, but the lack of any military "heavy metal" [apart from the Kaman Seasprite helo] was very disappointing - especially since all of the advertising material indicated the presence of both a P3 Orion and a Boeing B757. Some of the World War One aircraft appeared to be grounded due winds, but such is life I guess.

What follows are a few sample images. There are many many more that will posted over the next few days, so enjoy!

The pictures are as follows.

Piper PA28-181, ZK-TDJ - the aircraft I flew to the show.
de Havilland DH.115 Vampire
F4U Corsair
Harvard
Yak 52
UH1 Iroquois
Pacific Aerospace CT4/E
Taylor Monoplane U/L, ZK-FNR

Bigger might be better?

There is something new in the Wellington Aero Club hanger... a Cessna U206G, ZK-WWH. Today was my first chance to get up and personal with it and I'm suitably impressed!

The aircraft is not online as yet, and I don't know if I will be able to afford to fly it, but here's hoping! The photo isn't great - it was taken inside the hanger, and as you'll see from other photos, it was a grey and dreary day.

Other visitors I spotted today were a Sounds Air C208B Grand Caravan, ZK-SAA and a Skyline Aviation Beech B200C, ZK-PLK. The Skyline aircraft was here on an aero-medical mission.

More visitors then I'm back to work

Today is my last day of the Christmas holiday break; tomorrow I head back to work, and back to the [more or less] weekly updates for the blog.

Today's visitors included a couple of PA28's and an Australian registered Convair.

ZK-LJE is a Piper PA28-181 Archer registered to Canterbury Aero Club in Christchurch. ZK-FTR is a Piper PA28-161 Warrior registered to Air Hawkes Bay [I think this was on an IFR training/practice flight...?].

The Australian visitor is a Pionair Convair 340, registration VH-PDW. Interestingly, while the CASA website says Convair 340, Pionair's website says Convair 580. Not sure what or why there is this difference.

Enjoy the pictures... now I'm off to earn some dollars to pay for this flying gig! :-)

Air New Zealand's Mean Green Holiday Machine

Here is a quick snap of the Air New Zealand Holidays green paint scheme. This aircraft [ZK-FRE] was an original Freedom Air [Air New Zealand's original nuts and cola type airline] aircraft before they were re-equipped with A320's, then disbanded and re-absorbed in it's parent earlier last year.

Click this link to find all my blog references to Freedom Air including some of the very interesting Warner Bros paint schemes.

Busy again!

After a clear lull in traffic over the past few days, things seemed to pick up a little today.

Two of the very light visitors arrived yesterday [and photographed today] when the airport was very quiet. The biggest issue seemed to be how to get land-side when everything is locked up... a quick call to the friendly folks at Avsec sorted that out though. Both of these aircraft have flat screen displays.

The rest arrived/departed today. Top to bottom are:

Piper PA28-161 Warrior, ZK-LJD, Canterbury Aero Club

Cessna C172R, ZK-XAT, Ardmore Flying School

Cessna A185F, ZK-PRM

Kawasaki BK117, ZK-HLF, Helilink [operating as the Westpac Rescue Helicopter]

Bombardier DHC-8-311, ZK-NET, Air Nelson [part of the Air New Zealand Group]

Cessna 421C, ZK-MFT, Skyline Aviation [operating as an Air Ambulance]

Boeing B737-838, VH-VXR, Qantas Airways Ltd

Qantas Boeing 737-838

I was loitering with intent [to take photos :-)] around the airport today, when this Qantas B737-838 landed. I haven't seen too many Qantas B737-800's come into Wellington, and VH-VXO came with Sharing the Spirit plastered on both sides.

Nice! Anyway, here are the photos: