An update on the Wanaka airshow just appeared on TV3 News. Sadly they didn’t show any warbirds from today’s practice session (except Miss Torque was seen in the background of an interview), they concentrated on the awesome Lithuanean display pilot Jurgis Kairys, who is said to be the greatest stunt pilot ever. And WOW! What a display. How on earth he does it is amazing!
Oh how I wish I was there…:(
By: DaveM2 - 11th April 2004 at 09:05
Final Day
Well glorious weather , they don’t call this place ‘Godzone ‘ for nothing ..what a brilliant backdrop for all those wonderful aircraft.
Highlight in the Warbird section was Lee Proudfoot throttled right back trying to keep station with the Sopwith Camel in the Spit …he managed it for about 15 seconds ;-))
Dave
By: Dave Homewood - 10th April 2004 at 09:46
Cheers for the update Dave, I have been a little worried about the weather, it’s been crappy here.
For anyone interested there is a One Network News report downloadable here about the airshow, from last night’s news.
By: DaveM2 - 10th April 2004 at 09:25
Saturday
Well first of the main show days today … weather was threatening early on , but
turned out fine , but a cold wind coming off the snow covered alps [ nothing a few
beers didn’t take care of ;-0 ].
A few dramas with the cross wind , so a few ‘go arounds’ ..and the comment for the
Birddog landing was ..a very nice three pointer..’two wheels and the prop ‘ 😉 .
Almost but not quite.. bet he got a fright though!
La 9 looked a powerful machine ..but was unable to do much of a display due to a
rudder shake problem and it landed prity smartly . Should be back in action
tomorrow …
Dave
By: DaveM2 - 9th April 2004 at 09:44
P-40 is still in Chinese colours. Beautiful Alpine day today, but I was a bit disappointed with the amount of flying, especially since my father came down for the first time ever and only for today. No Polikarpovs , no Hurricane and no La 9 in the air at all , not to mention no practise mock airfield attack either . Breitling Fighters put on a nice display , but really I don’t think we got value for money with a price hike of $10 entrance fee and about half the amount of flying compared to previous years …from a entertainment point of view at least.
Anyway two full on days coming up….
Dave
By: Dave Homewood - 9th April 2004 at 08:10
Awww, at the end of the news they played a piece of footage that they said was suplied by Warbirds over Wanaka. It was totally beautiful and really amazing. New Zealand’s Brietling fighters – the Corsair, P40, Mustang and Spitfire taxying out and taking off, and flying in formation round Wanaka.
The footage was taken from a helicpoter it seems, and the take-offs were filmed from above, wth the fighters lifting off, pulling up sharply and flying directly at the camera – wow. And all this was to the sound of the Dambusters tune. One shot saw the four in close formation doing a very very low run along the ground.
This piece was obviously not filmed today at the practice day I’d say, as the editing woud probably have taken longer.
The Corsair is back in it’s Kiwi colours, but sadly the P40 isn’t, unless hey’ve repainted it in the meantime.
Simply a beautiful piece of of footage. Now I REALLY wish I was there.
By: Mark9 - 9th April 2004 at 07:50
Wish I was there too:( 😉 Anna;)
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April 9, 2004 at 7:34 am