Where Daz? I have searched and not found the answer to either question

Let’s make sure we see some of the less common aircraft types on the board in 2006.
Cheers

Cees

Less common? Is that aviation snobbery? 😀

I have been fortunate in my lifetime to see both Ray and Mark Hanna perform their wonderful airshow routines on a couple of occasions, a rare thing at this side of the globe compared to the fortunate Brits. They were both legends and in my mind both in the same class.

As for Stephen Grey, in comparison to many other warbirds pilots who are known to the public, I know very little about the man. I haven’t a clue what age he is, what his background was (RAF?), what he does for a living to keep his collection going, nothing. I do know that his fighter collection is one of the top such collections in the world and very legendary in its own right.

And for me personally, having seen Mr Grey display Sir Tim Wallis’s Spitfire TB863 at Woodbourne in Feb 1989, the first time I ever saw a Spitfire in the air, it’s a moment I’ll never forget. Just stunning, he proved in those few moments to me that the guy is a legend. In my mind anyway. I don’t know whether he reads this forum, but if he does, I’d like to thank him very much for that wonderful display, which really set my passion for warbirds alight. I hadn’t heard of the Hannas at that stage by the way, so for a brief period till I did discover Ray and Mark’s work, Stephen Grey was No. 1 with me.

I agree, tht thread is priceless, very funny.

Yep, I had worked that one out, but was trying to use it in my defence for accidentally saying co-pilot in my original post – this crap implanted it in my mind.

I wonder, does anyone have Park’s biography? I think it was by Vincent Orange. I’d like to know if the event is detailed.

1. Best Aviation Book of 2005
New book – Hurricane Tim – The Story of Sir Tim Wallis by Neville Peat
Favourite reread book – Battle of Britain by Leonerd Mosley
Old book but new to me – currently reading ‘Venture The Far Horizons’ by Teddy Harvie

2. Best Aviation DVD of 2005

Best I’ve seen this year, 2004 Warbirds Over Wanaka DVD

3. Museum of the Year 2005

Best museum I’ve visited this year – Museum of Transport and Technology and Social History, Auckland, and Warbirds at Ardmore

Best news in museums this year – Aviation Heritage Centre nearly complete at Omaka, and new aviation museaum centre was/is being built at Wanaka by Ray Hanna and others.

4. Most meritorious restoration (static)

Halifax in Canada, three cheeers for that team!

Also two favourite I’ve seen as ongoing static restorations – Oxford and Vincent with Subritzky family. Gorgeous they both are.

5. Ditto airworthy

From photos I’ve seen I love Peter Vacher’s Hurricane Mk 1, and of course Melvyn’s model Rearwin. Under restoration to fly, the OS&RC Hawker Hind at the Subritzky workshops. Beautiful.

6. Favourite airshow act

I haven’t seen any in the flesh 🙁

7. Airshow personality of the year

The late Ray Hanna

8. Forum personality of the year

The late Steve Young

9. Best thread 2005

Difficult to say. At the moment Ray Hanna’s tribute thread is an amasing public outpouring of emotion. A wonderful man, and a great loss.

10. Most anticipated show 2006 (not Legends)

Warbirds Over Wanaka

11. Most anticipated new airshow act/aircraft 2006

Anything at Wanaka
Red Checkers “Spagetti Break” seems highly anticipated

12. Best magazine article 2005.

Too many. Anything in Classic Wings is enjoyed, especially if it’s about the NZ warbird scene (which it rarely is these days…)

13. Funniest thread 2005.

ID Please – hilarious

14. Best misinformation 2005.

Walrus to NZ,
Stirling from China,
Setter (basically anything he mentions, it’s brilliant!!)

Here’s the remains of a Fairey Battle with the Subritzky family at Dairy Flat, NZ, taken in Feb 2005

Thanks Dave, I thought that must have been the case.