Race   Pilots   RNZAF   Roaring 40s   Attack   Heavy Metal   Me 109   Info   (Up to OJB's Warbirds Page)

Warbirds Over Wanaka, 1996

For more information and a close-up view of any photo just click on the photo or click on the link "Photo". To hear the awesome sound of these machines click the link labelled "Sound" (they use QuickTime).

The Novelty Race

This car raced a racetruck, Pitts aircraft and Hughes 500 helicopter several times over the length of the runway. It was an interesting contest: the aircraft could turn at speed at the ends of the runway but the vehicles had to slow almost to a stop. The car definitely had phenomenal acceleration and seemed to win the contest convincingly although the race was somehwat chaotic! The car had an even more awesome engine sound than most of the aircraft!

Photo and Info   Sound

Pilots

Most of the aircraft were parked in an area where it was possible to examine them up close. This photo catches a couple of pilots discussing their flying exploits in front of a parked Kittyhawk.

Photo and Info

RNZAF Display

Skyhawk and C-130 Hercules

The Skyhawk flew at low altitude down the runway at 450 knots then climbed vertically for thousands of meters trailing smoke and releasing flares in all directions. This photograph was taken near the top of the climb, the aircraft can just be seen near the top of the smoke trail.

This was quite an impressive display, especially with the added unexpected element of the flares!

Photo and Info   Sound

The "Roaring 40s" Aerobatic Team

The AT6 Harvard isn't the greatest aerobatics aircraft in the world-- it lacks a certain amount in the department of power, rate of climb and handling but the precision of this team make up for it as you can see from the photo.

Photo and Info   Sound

Mock Attack on the Airfield

Two Harvards, part of the force "attaking" the airfield. Various aircraft including Mustangs and Spitfires were dispatched to repell the invasion, but only after much straffing by machine guns and numerous exposions of the attackers' bombs.

Photo and Info

The "Heavy Metal" Parade

A parade of some of the historic fighters flying individually and in formation with two Mustangs and Spitfires, a Corsair, a Kittyhawk, a Yak-3M and the Messerschmitt Bf. 109G-10.

Photo and Info

The Me-109's final display

The Messerschmitt Bf. 109G-10 Gustav was one of the special guests at the show. It flew several displays during the day. This photo was taken on its last "farewell run" at the end of the day.

Photo and Info   Sound

More Information

Go to this page for more information about the Wanaka Air Show, the Alpine Fighter Collection and general information about the photography.

Info

Contact: OJB, OJB@mac.com. Features: Blog, News Feeds, Podcasts, Feedback, Log. Modified: 05 Sep 2003. Hits: 14,064,440.

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