Hi all
Today there was an airshow of sorts at Wangarratta including the display and landing of an FA18 – something I didn’t think could land there . Also in Todays pics is the “Time capsule” A20 “Big Nig” a wonderful machine which arrived only last week for restoration to flight status. The condition is nothing short of amazing and it is anticipated that a high degree of original material will be included in the final restoration to airworthy status of this great Veteran aircraft. Also present was the original pilot of Murrays P40N -5-CU USAAF BuNo42-105915 Lt Robert Warren.
I visited Wangarratta 4 weeks ago and have now posted some pictures of all the new work being done there including the P38, P39 . P40 . Kingfishers and A20s etc have a look – very interesting and great work
http://community.webshots.com/user/setter126007
Regards
John Parker
Todays Pictures from my correspondent on the spot – includes shots of the Ki61 Fuselage in the jig and the wing also in it’s nes jig.
By: setter - 11th September 2005 at 11:56
Sorry James
Didn’t think you were there !!!
Regards
JP
By: JDK - 11th September 2005 at 11:54
here’s a couple of fun pics!
Kiwi Harvard marking for Dave H.
The three boys who want to be a fighter pilot when the grow up, as well as the boy who is in love with the cone. Oh dear. 😀
By: JDK - 11th September 2005 at 11:51
I wonder who John’s correspondant is? Wasn’t me!
Here’s my pics.
It was not an airshow, but Pacific Fighters Reunion 2005, organised by the Gouldburn Ovens TAFE (for non Aussie’s this would be the local tech college). It was Sat 10th, BTW, not Sunday.
The P-40 operated by Murray’s Griffiths’ Pacific Fighters did a couple of displays, and a highly honoured guest was Lt Robert Warren, the aircraft’s original pilot. He was here with his wife, and his brother and his wife. His brother flew P-47s in Europe, I understand, but didn’t get the other Warren’s details firsthand. There were a number of other pilots and veterans attending as well.
Gus Larard (ex- Mirage and Hornet driver) flew the P-40 with the Hornet on his wing down the runway, once in each direction. (Apologies for no flying aircraft pics, my digibox is ground photos only, real camera film to be processed later.)
The F-18 was flown by Wangaratta boy Sqn Ldr Shawn Matthews of 77 Sqn who performed a ‘handling demonstration’ rather than a full display, and who then spent about 2 1/2 hours taking questions from the crowd. Lots of good RAAF PR, something often overlooked by the suits and scrabled egg caps.
Also in attendance was Jim’s Yak, two Nanchangs, a Harvard in NZ Colours and the resident Wirraway.
Apart from an excellent pair of displays by the P-40 (one by Gus Larard, the other by Murray Griffiths) the Nanchangs did a departure pass and the Yak displayed.
A few pics attached to give a feel. The weather was VERY changeable – a couple of bright patches, and serious rain fall coming down in chunks. At two points I had to shelter under the P-40 😉
Of course if I’d had four Hurricanes and a Squadron of Spitfires, it wouldn’t have been nearly as good (see (current) DX moan thread) – A$40 for lunch, speeches and a little flying and a load of history. I’ll pay my money and appreciate what I’ve been offered thanks.
Cheers
By: oscar duck - 11th September 2005 at 11:49
An A-20 with my A-26! Now that will be a sight.
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September 11, 2005 at 11:15 am