This is my report on the Warbirds Over Wanaka Air Show for 2006. I've chosen some of the highlights and more unusual displays for this web site. I used my latest digital camera, a Canon EOS350D with a 300 mm (effective focal length almost 500mm) for these photos.
The show this year had several aerobatic displays, featuring a Pitts, a Sukhoi 29, and the famous Sukhoi 31 of Jurgis Kairys. The photo above shows Jurgis performing the well known "hanging on the propeller" routine, where the aircraft is supported by the power of the engine.
The show this year had several aerobatic displays, featuring a Pitts, a Sukhoi 29, and the famous Sukhoi 31 of Jurgis Kairys. The photo above shows Jurgis performing the well known "hanging on the propeller" routine, where the aircraft is supported by the power of the engine.
The Royal New Zealand Air Force displayed a variety of their aircraft at the show. The photo above shows a pair of Kaman SH-2G(NZ) helicopters performing a coordinated routine. They aren't the most attractive aircraft I have ever seen, but they are very flexible and quite modern - the first delivery to the RNZN was in 2001.
These are movies of the mighty F-111 Aardvark taken at the Warbirds Over Wanaka 2006 air show. This was avery impressive display, with the dump and burn, and plenty of noise!
The F-111 was truly awesome. It arrived unannounced and flew down the runway at high speed. One moment it was flying past totally silently, the next the sound hit you as it caught up with the speed of the aircraft. As the commentator said: by the time you hear it, its too late! You could tell the Aussie commentator really loved this aircraft (and who wouldn't), which he referred to as the "old girl". The F-111 is fairly old - it was designed in the 60s and retired from the USAF in 1996.
The New Zealand Army has 105 of these light armoured vehicles, known as NZLAVs, built by General Motors Defense, Canada. It is an eight-wheeled light armoured vehicle, which is crewed by three soldiers, and is designed to carry seven soldiers and equipment in the back. It has a 25mm cannon in a turret and two 7.62mm machine-guns. They have been in use in New Zealand since 13 August 2004, and are also used in the US, Canada and Australia.
It took us 3 hours to drive the 300 kilometers to Wanaka from Dunedin, but the Hawker Hunter can do the journey in 7 minutes, according to the local paper. I'm not sure if they are quite right, but its certainly fairly fast considering what an old aircraft it is (it was first flown in 1951).
It took us 3 hours to drive the 300 kilometers to Wanaka from Dunedin, but the Hawker Hunter can do the journey in 7 minutes, according to the local paper. I'm not sure if they are quite right, but its certainly fairly fast considering what an old aircraft it is (it was first flown in 1951).
I like the variety of aircraft displayed at the show. About 50 years of progress is demonstrated between the Bleriot with a top speed of about 70 kilometers per hour (shown above) and the next aircraft to fly, the F-111 which is capable of around 3000 kilometers per hour. That's a fairly significant improvement, you would have to agree!
Aircraft of the World War II era have traditionally been the major type displayed at the show. In the past there have been Spitfires, a Hurricane, Corsairs, Mustangs, Kittyhawks, an Me 109, Yaks, Polikarpovs, and many others.
10 aircraft were displayed. Click a thumbnail image or title above to see information about the aircraft.
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