Replica of 'Britannia', New Zealand's first military aircraft, built by David Comrie, Dunedin. The original aircraft made its first flight over the country from Epsom Showgrounds, Auckland, on 17 January 1914, piloted by Lt Joe Hammond.
Constructed at Omaka is this taxiable replica of 2-seat Bleriot XI-2 ‘Britannia’, the first military aircraft in New Zealand. The original was presented to the New Zealand Government by the Imperial Air Fleet Committee in 1913.
Stored with AvSpecs at Ardmore is this former US Navy J4F-2 Widgeon BuAerNo.37726. The F-2 was the 5-seater version of the F-1 for the US Navy. In total 131 aircraft of this version were constructed. This Widgeon came to New Zealand in May 1964.
Former Indonesian Air Force F-51 Cavalier/Mustang II F-367 (ex USAAF 44-74827) was rebuilt to her original P-51D standard at RNZAF Base Ohakea. She is on display as 'NZ2410', of No. 4 (Territorial Air Force) Squadron at Taieri from 1951-1955.
Brett Emeny’s T-28C wears the colours of VA-122 ‘Flying Eagles’ at NAS Lemoore, California. The T-28C had a strengthened undercarriage and an arrestor hook for carrier training. Its propeller blades were 9 inches shorter than those on the T-28B.
ZK-BHS is the second of six F.2b replicas built by Vern Ohmert of Michigan in the 1970s. Her first post-restoration flight was here at Omaka on 17 January this year, piloted by Ryan Southam, as also seen here landing the elegant Brisfit.
ZK-BHS (ex N34HC) ‘N3483’ is powered by a 200 hp in-line Fairchild Ranger 6-cylinder engine instead of a Rolls Royce V-12 of the Falcon I, II or III series, which originally powered most of the F.2B aircraft.
One of only 3 built, this WACO UOC is now the sole survivor. She was purchased new by the Marlborough Aero Club, registered ZK-AEL in May 1936. She was impressed into RNZAF service as NZ575 and joined the Communications Flight at Rongotai, Wellington.
This RE.8 reproduction was built by The Vintage Aviator Ltd (TVAL) of Wellington and represents ‘D’ of No.3 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, as flown by Captain R.G. Francis from Poulainville near Amiens, France, in April 1918.
Harvard III NZ1087 is finished in the colours of Harvard II NZ948 of No.2 Service Flying Training School (SFTS), RNZAF Base Woodbourne. NZ948, one of 67 Harvard IIs ordered direct from the Inglewood factory, entered service with No.2 SFTS in July 1941.
Initially serialled A29-1050, the Kittyhawk became A29-449 on 9 August, 1943, and entered service with No.75 Squadron, RAAF, coded ‘GA-C’ as seen here, piloted by Frank Parker. On the starboard side ZK-CAG carries her original serial A29-1050.
ZK-RFR ‘Stahlgewitter’ is powered by a Chinese license-built two-row 14 cylinder Shvetsov Ash-82T radial instead of a BMW801F, slightly compromising the classic lines of the original Fw 190A design.
The T-28 Trojan Team, consisting of Brett Emeny’s T-28C 140563 and the T-28B (137801/ZK-TPV) of Peter Vause, coming in to land on RWY-30. Both aircraft are in VA-122 markings.
NZ3220 ‘Gloria Lyons’ of 18 (F) Squadron, RNZAF, was solely employed on fighter bomber duties. The 2½ Japanese kill markings, seen under the windscreen, are the cumulative squadron score and so not specific to NZ3220.
NZ2049 was part of a batch of 300 Hudson IIIAs for the RAF, however the majority found their way to the RAAF and RNZAF. Under the nose window is the aircraft’s construction number, whilst beneath the windscreen the USAAF identity 41-36976 can be found.
Flying from Guadalcanal with 3 (GR) Squadron, RNZAF, NZ2049 survived at least two attacks from Japanese aircraft. Eventually she survived the war, but could easily have ended wrecked somewhere in a Pacific island jungle as presented here.
S/L Sean Perrett taxiing back to the flight line. The Spitfire represents EN568, the personal aircraft of W/C Alan Deere, Wing Leader of the Biggin Hill Wing in 1943. The Wing consisted of No.611 Squadron, No.341 Squadron and 485 (New Zealand) Squadron.
Airworthy ‘Full Noise’ is on part-time duty in the Dangerous Skies Exhibition of the Aviation Heritage Centre. The paint scheme is based on that of Yak-3s of the 4th Guard Fighter Division, Sovjet Air Force, as based in Germany at the end of WW II.
Graeme Frew’s Yak-3UA ‘Full Noise’ is one of 11 Yak-3s, made by Yakovlev at their Orenburg factory in the 1990s. These aircraft were designated Yak-3M, although the Allison V-1710 powered machines are also referred to as Yak-3UA (A for Allison).
Former RAAF Anson I MH120 is finished in the colours of No.206 Squadron Anson K6183/VX-B as based at RAF Bircham Newton in Norfolk, England in 1939. Piloted here by owner Bill Reid and Ryan Southam, coming in for a landing on RWY-30.
NZ3614 is one of eight SH-2G(I)s operational with No.6 Squadron at RNZAF Base Auckland (Whenuapai). Two further aircraft (NZ3615 and NZ3620) are held as attrition airframes. All helicopters are ex-Royal Australian Navy. NZ3614 is ex N29-161656.