A beautiful day today down here in New Zealand. Excellent practice session from OFMC – better than ever despite the Winter break. AFC Hurricane flew a photo sortie and Polikarpov fighters were airborne practicing for the weekends show – all against the wonderful alpine background. Well worth 21 hours flying to get here 🙂 . Will update as the week progresses.
By: Dave Homewood - 7th April 2004 at 08:32
Originally posted by Mark V
There are two I-16s and at least one I-153 still here (I will check today on the exact numbers) and three flew in a formation display practice sortie on Monday. Miss Torque (P-51) is part of the Breitling Fighters team for the weekend and I will be well placed to give here a pat during the airshow as I will be working as part of her ground crew. The weather is a bit mixed at at the moment but there has been flying each day so far this week including a full Breitling display on Monday and a duo display with the P-40 and Corsair yesterday. More soon.Dave: The Speights is great!!
There were three, actually maybe four, I16’s at Wanaka in February. I can’t recall the exact number – I’ll have to check my video I took. There were certainly more than two.
Yes, Speights is a great beer, but the Montheiths range is the best in NZ in many people’s opinions. Worth trying the original and the black, and the pilsner, oh heck, all of them!
By: Aileron Roll - 7th April 2004 at 08:18
Mark V, sounds like your having fun !
… see if you can talk someone into taking you for a circuit in the P51 !
By: OFMC Fan - 7th April 2004 at 08:18
I too am winging my way to Wanaka tomorrow (Thursday).Looking forward to seeing the show and catching up with a few friends.Hopefully I will be able to spend some time on the other side of the fence helping out with some of the aircraft.
Final displays of the Breitling Team.They were fantastic at DX this year and Legends in 2002!
Its going to Great!!
OFMC Fan
By: duxfordhawk - 6th April 2004 at 23:18
This is one airshow i hope oneday i can visit,hope you all have a great safe Airshow and that your weather improves for you.
Enjoy the Brietlings and La9.
By: Mark V - 6th April 2004 at 23:05
There are two I-16s and at least one I-153 still here (I will check today on the exact numbers) and three flew in a formation display practice sortie on Monday. Miss Torque (P-51) is part of the Breitling Fighters team for the weekend and I will be well placed to give here a pat during the airshow as I will be working as part of her ground crew. The weather is a bit mixed at at the moment but there has been flying each day so far this week including a full Breitling display on Monday and a duo display with the P-40 and Corsair yesterday. More soon.
Dave: The Speights is great!!
By: Dave Homewood - 5th April 2004 at 10:49
Welcome to New Zealand Mark, I hope you enjoy it. Have you been here before?
How I wish i could be there too. It’s only two hours flying from my place, but I still won’t make it. As I’ve been saying since 1992, I’ll definately make it to the next one…but I never do…
Don’t worry about the weather, remember, it’s run by Southern Men. A trifling of snow won’t bother Sir Tim and the gang!
Mark, I highly recommend the Monteiths brews by the way. Don’t muck round with the Speights that they’ll try to force on you.
Are you going to get to see any other parts of NZ while you’re here? Wigram is a must if you get to Christchurch, and MoTaT in Auckland is worth a look. Also Omaka at Blenheim, and Ardmore too of course. Further south is Mandeville which i hear is well worth seeing, all those De Havillands…
Have a happy and safe visit.
By: DaveM2 - 5th April 2004 at 10:30
Will be there on Friday ,supposed to a bit of bad weather in the next few days…hopefully that will pass by and we will have a bit of snow on the mountains for an even more spectacular backdrop ;-))
Dave
By: Firebird - 5th April 2004 at 10:29
Lucky bu**g*r……:D 😀
By: Aileron Roll - 5th April 2004 at 10:29
…. am very homesick !
Give the P51 Miss Torque a pat for me !
… go easy on that fine South Island beer !
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April 5, 2004 at 10:26 am