Time for a Southern Hemisphere Airshow

Hi Steve

I am at work – can you send your email address to me at [email]parkerj@launch.net.au[/email] and I will send you some pics

Regards
John P

DaveM2 – I didn’t mean anything derogatory towards Omaka’s great efforts, I only meant that the AFC can’t be in two places at once, and Omaka is a better option. Has it really only been three years? Classic Fighters is already so ingrained on the scene I thought it had been longer.

I remember the Wanaka shows from the ‘odd’ years were usually NZ Fighter Pilots Association events too, weren’t they? That certainly was the case in 1993 when I attended, as they opened the museum that year. And I think that during the 1995 one Phil Murray crashed the P40 too didn’t he? Or was it Tom Middleton in the I153. Not sure now.

For NZ the “four seasons in one day” situation is also a factor, essentially the weather is far more stable in March and April.

Quite correct, which is also why most NZ weddings are held in those two months too.

I think Omaka is probably a great airshow and I’d love to attend it, but it’s difficult and expensive for many North Islanders to get down to both Omaka and Wanaka each year (or either in my case). My only alternative has been Ardmore, but I didn’t get to this year’s and next year it seems there is none???? Doh.

However the NZ Warbirds site has many more events listed than what Classic Wings magazine lists – I was surprised that CW wasn’t fully comprehensive as they’re usually the best source. There is going to be an RNZAF Whenuapai airshow next year again. And also a DC3 airshow in Wanganui. Plus Mock Attacks at somwhere called Ahipara 20 Flats?? But no Ardmore show. A pity.

http://www.nzwarbirds.org.nz/events.html

I realise there is a lot of work organising an airshow, I have worked myself behind the scenes in a couple of the ‘Wigram Wings and Wheels’ shows in the early 1990’s while in the RNZAF, so I admire anyone who can put together an airshow. Despite the huge costs involved and lots of work, there is still an interested public who are keen to pay for the privilege to see all the old warbirds and modern Air Force types displayed, and the costs are easily outweighed by the benefits for the community at large.

It’s a shame there is no Ardmore show though, they are usually excellent.

For NZ the “four seasons in one day” situation is also a factor, essentially the weather is far more stable in March and April.Also Easter being a long weekend gives better oppotunity for travel, i.e. travel on the Friday and Monday,airshow Saturday and Sunday. Over the last 3 years upper north island grass runways have been unusable until December/January- this year things are much better, but the previous years would not have allowed suitable public viewing areas or parking in local fields.

Prior to Omaka was a Warbirds Fly-in alternating with Wanaka, that developed with attendance and public interest into the airshow.

Basically airshows are hard work, volunteers are great at one off events but don’t appreciate being expected to show up each year, every year. The same applies to pilots and aircraft owners, especially if someone wants to make a profit, then everybody needs to be paid and costs go way up. Not to mention Health and Safety requirements, fencing, toilets, security, food etc- all these cost, so you apply a cover charge, which leads back to the points above. Which could all be ruined by bad weather- so you need insurance or a strong bank balance- which means profit last time or next……

sort of just keeps going doesn’t it?

scrooge

Dave

The Omaka show only came into being in 2001, so I don’t think that had anything to do with Wanaka not holding a show every year. They did have smaller Shuttleworth type shows in the non WOW years..but that was before Sir Tim had his accident.
If anything I would say insurance is the problem, not fuel
Dave

Steve,

One good thing about an airshow at Easter is that you might not get as sunburnt standing out there all day as you would if it had been held December/January/February. You have to remember we sit under the Ozone hole and our UV level is 6 x that as at Eyre’s Rock in the Australian desert.

Wanaka at Easter is only really cold in the early morning, once the sun is up it seems to be ok. I did camp there for an RNZAF Exercise Wise Owl in 1993, two weeks after Easter, and my toothpaste was frozen solid in the tent (among other things!) but by mid morning it was all good.

There’s usually a great airshow at Ardmore, South Auckland (home of NZ Warbirds) in February but I don’t see one listed for 2005. In fact it does seem like airshows are thin on the ground these days in NZ – we used to have big airshows at the main Air Force bases (Whenuapai, Ohakea and Wigram) in the olden days, plus they used to have them regularly at smaller dromes like Matamata, Hamilton, Mandeville, etc. And Wanaka used to have a show annually, but I guess Omaka has quelled that. As far as shows go, there ain’t much listed in CW for next year. Is it because the fuel’s too expensive these days?

Hi Steve

Caboolture is near Brisbane and they have a pretty respectable airshow in Feb which could be good and there is always the big Avalon airshow about that time as well.

Regards
John P

Steve

Yes people are busy at Easter..going to airshows ;-). I have been to Wanaka six times, and really only two of those were cold, with 2000 being the worst as far as inclement weather goes. Besides it is all that snow on the alps that makes it so spectacular !
‘Classic Fighters’ is on here in Blenheim this coming Easter, and since it is much further up the Sth.Island it is generally a bit warmer.
I think it is because of the three days holiday that Easter is chosen, Xmas ….people have family things to do, and with the exception of NZ day, all other holidays are outside the summer months. Perhaps NZ day would be an option ( Feb.) though.

Dave

You’re right, Gnome, Classic Fighter is very odd year (opposite WOW)

Cheers
TNZ

SRP

There’s also the Classic Fighters show at Blenheim (lovely sunny place in the north of the South Island of NZ) but again at Easter (25-27 March 2005). I don’t know for sure but suspect it is every second year on the odd numbers (WoW every second year on the even numbers).
http://www.classicfighters.co.nz

And there’s the Avalon airshow held in Melbourne, Australia, also held every second year on the odd dates – next show 15-20 March 2005
http://www.airshow.net.au/index1.html

Clearly the dates are such that both could be attended by people wanting to come from afar – could even be integrated with a forum meet in Australia?
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=34988

cheers, Gnome

What about Wings Over Wairarapa, the Masterton Airshow ??

Thats held in 25-26 Jan and is getting better and better !!!

http://www.svas.org.nz/

TNZ