Grand tour of New Zealand (South Island)

Photos of warbirds, classic jets and museum visits
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Wbirdnut
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Grand tour of New Zealand (South Island)

Post by Wbirdnut »

Not a warbird but perhaps a classic? Flight over the famous Omaka airfield, Blenheim, used
for training pilots during WWII and home of the world class biannual Omaka airshow.


Link to net Easter's airshow.
https://www.classicfighters.co.nz

Two classics that are out in the open Safe Air used these as freighters around New
Zealand for many years.

Bristol Freighter
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Armstrong Whitworth Agosy
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Next up, bucket list visit to the Omaka Aviation Heritage Museum....
Last edited by Wbirdnut on Wed 10 Aug 2022, 7:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Wbirdnut
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Re: Grand tour of New Zealand (South Island)

Post by Wbirdnut »

Omaka, bit of a bucket list visit for many years and the place didn't disappoint.

While it is obvious it’s all about the planes what really surprised me was the people,
well the figurines!

Peter Jackson's team have done a wonderful job with these displays, some are replica's
and some are real, regardless the figures really bring a story to these machines.
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More soon......

Wbirdnut
Posts: 374
Joined: Wed 16 May 2018, 8:19 am

Re: Grand tour of New Zealand (South Island)

Post by Wbirdnut »

Dangerous Skys is the title given to the WW II section of the museum, the Hurricane
and Stuka are replicas, the Nord will fly one day all the others are airworthy.
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The Lydia Litvyak figure is so realistic, more on this Russian ace below.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydia_Litvyak

John Smith's wonderful Mosquito and Kittyhawk next.......

Wbirdnut
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Re: Grand tour of New Zealand (South Island)

Post by Wbirdnut »

John Smith acquired this Mosquito from the RNZAF when they sold them off,
she had around 80 hours on the clock. He cut her into manageable pieces
then trailered them to his place where she was resembled and remained for
over 60 years.

On John Smith's passing his family decided to loan this mosquito to the Omaka
Aviation Heritage Centre, she has been carefully restored for all to see.

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Recent engine run.


"Gloria Lyons" another machine from the John Smith collection.
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Wbirdnut
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Re: Grand tour of New Zealand (South Island)

Post by Wbirdnut »

Edit double post sorry slow internet.
Last edited by Wbirdnut on Sat 13 Aug 2022, 7:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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aviationanoraks
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Re: Grand tour of New Zealand (South Island)

Post by aviationanoraks »

That P-40 is something special, a real time capsule

Wbirdnut
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Re: Grand tour of New Zealand (South Island)

Post by Wbirdnut »

aviationanoraks wrote:
Fri 12 Aug 2022, 12:24 pm
That P-40 is something special, a real time capsule
Yes, for me the P40 was the one I really wanted to see, following my rapid
wander around this museum, please feel free to comment/correct my chatter?


Wbirdnut
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Re: Grand tour of New Zealand (South Island)

Post by Wbirdnut »

Next stop south to Christchurch, the Ferrymead Aeronautical Society has been around
for many years, the site also houses a large train museum.
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Sadly in 2011 the city of Christchurch suffered a large earthquake many buildings
and houses where destroyed, 185 people lost their lives. Evidence of this event are
still evident in the city to this day.

Check out the walls that cracked in the earthquake, injected epoxy the fix.
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Harvard waiting her turn for restoration.
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Hudson
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Mosquito restoration.
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aviationanoraks
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Re: Grand tour of New Zealand (South Island)

Post by aviationanoraks »

Good to see the wings on the Viscount, they were not fitted when I saw it back in 2004.
The Mosquito is coming along, albeit slowly, but it did need a LOT of work to bring it up to display standard.

Really enjoying these photos, please keep them coming!

Wbirdnut
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Re: Grand tour of New Zealand (South Island)

Post by Wbirdnut »

Thanks mate, short video of my look around Ferrymead.


Wbirdnut
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Re: Grand tour of New Zealand (South Island)

Post by Wbirdnut »

Next stop a quick look around the RNZAF museum at Wigram in Christchurch,
quite different and much better than my last visit many years ago, some
renovations under way so not all the collection on display.
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K5054NZ
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Re: Grand tour of New Zealand (South Island)

Post by K5054NZ »

Wbirdnut wrote:
Tue 09 Aug 2022, 9:49 pm
Two classics that are out in the open Safe Air used these as freighters around New
Zealand for many years.

Bristol Freighter
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It's worth pointing out the Freighter is in taxiable condition:
Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG"
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

Wbirdnut
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Re: Grand tour of New Zealand (South Island)

Post by Wbirdnut »

Wee wander around Wigram, RNZAF museum in Christchurch.

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CJS
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Re: Grand tour of New Zealand (South Island)

Post by CJS »

This is a great thread, thanks for sharing them all!
"There's only one way of life, and that's your own"

Wbirdnut
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Re: Grand tour of New Zealand (South Island)

Post by Wbirdnut »

Thanks for the comment, I grew up in New Zealand and most know it is a stunning country.
I forgot just how truely stunning and of course it has a wonderful aviation history with some
great collections and museums more importantly some great people working on preserving
said history. Of course a long way to go for you folk in the UK but when you get there it is
short distances and easy to get around, well worth the journey.

Queenstown international airport.
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Bit of a parting shot or to, took a punt looking at the angle and sun’s position really wanted
to locate the shots with hills in the back ground, very fluky, got lucky!
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From the flight back across the ditch, up over 30,000ft.
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