Programme

11 JANUARY 2012

Today the Organising Committee announced the programme for Classics of the Sky 2012. Click here to see what's flying on Saturday and Sunday, or use the links on the left.

Who and what can you expect to see?

Image Images courtesy April Stark, RNZAF and Gavin Conroy (web links are below)	Description	Airshow Pilot	Days Flying at Classics off the Sky 2012
	Spitfire Mk IX. This iconic British fighter plane of WW2, the Spitfire went on from its Battle of Britain success to serve in most theatres of that war employed as a fighter, ground attack and photo reconnaissance aircraft. A full scale replica of a Mk Vc is suspended in the hangar of our Classic Flyers museum, painted in the desert air force livery of Evan Mackie, the highest scoring RNZAF fighter pilot of WW2 with 21.5 kills, who was resident in Tauranga for many years.	Sean Perrett. Squadron Leader Sean Perrett, flew Harriers and Hawks in the RAF, also completed three tours with the prestigious Red Arrows display team. Sean joined the RNZAF in 2003, currently an instructor, also commands the Historic Flight.	Both Days
	Corsair FG-1D. With its 'W' wing form and long powerful nose, the Corsair is one of the most recognisable single engine fighting aircraft born during the 1939-45 conflict. Built in USA for carrier deck operation, it has a wide-set, sturdy undercarriage with the 'W' wing giving adequate ground clearance for a 4.37m diameter propeller. Our display Corsair is one of particular interest as it is an original RNZAF aircraft, one of the 424 Corsairs flown by NZ pilots.	Keith Skilling. Having flown classic fighters on the European circuit for many years, also with a deep involvement with all Wings over Wanaka airshows, Keith is NZ's most experienced classic fighter pilot. As a day job, he captains Air New Zealand 777s.	Both Days
	Kittyhawk P-40N-1. The Curtiss-Wright P-40 Kittyhawk is very well established in Royal New Zealand Air Force history, being operated extensively in the Pacific theatre of WW2. The P40 was initally considered very inadequate as a figher aircraft due to poor performance against the Japanese fighters of the day. In the hands of an experienced tactician however, who could use its virtues of very high diving speeds and immense toughness, it proved itself as a very capable and pleasant aircraft to fly. The RNZAF operated a total of 297 P-40 between 1942 and 1945. RNZAF pilots accounted for 99 Japanese aircraft destroyed and 14 probable with a loss of 20 P-40 to enemy action.	Frank Parker Frank served several airshow seasons with the Red Checkers display team whilst in the RNZAF. He also flew and instructed on helicopters. He is Vice President of NZ Warbirds Assoc, also Chief Flying Instructor. Also to be flown by Frank's wife Liz Needham.	Both Days
	Tomahawk P-40 This P-40 is painted in the colourful livery of the American Volunteer Group formed by Claire Chennault, a retired US Army Air Force General. Chennault was a military advisor to General Chiang Kai-shek in China 1937 to 1942. He persuaded the USA to covertly support China in the Sino-Japanese War. The AVG squadron (known as the Flying Tigers) was subsequently formed from American volunteers, who decorated their P-40 Tomahawk IIB with the striking shark face for their operations in China and Burma. The 100 AVG P-40 Aircraft were diverted from an RAF order. The AVG was disbanded soon after USA declared war on Japan, as the result of the Pearl Harbour attack.	Stu Goldspink 'Aviation is in the blood' is an accurate expression applied to Stu. From his grandfather in WW1, to his father in WW2, now to son. Stu is a very capable pilot of classic fighters, also fully aerobic, self-built Pitts S1 and soon an S2A. He is a current airline captain and is here from England to fly in this show. He is one of Europes most experienced warbird pilot, flies for most of the big collections there and Shuttleworth. Stu will also fly other planes at the Airshow.	Both Days
	Vampire T.11 The De Havilland Vampire first flew in 1943, becoming the first British single jet fighter, alongside the Gloster Meteor, a twin jet fighter. Unlike the Meteor, the Vampire did not see service in WW2. The Vampire cockpit and engine nacelle 'egg' is similar in construction to the DH Mosquito, being made of laminated wood. The Vampire is instantly recognisable by the twin boom structure supporting the tail assembly. The display aircraft is a T11 for pilot training, featuring the side by side seating so ideal for this role. The T11 first flew in 1950, being a development of a night fighter version of a similar configuration. Five T11 and six T55 (export version of T11) served with the RNZAF.	Brett Emeny Brett is from Taranaki, a member of a long-standing aviation family, his father being a WW2 Spitfire pilot in Burma. The tradition now reinforced by his daughter, who flies a Yak 52. Brett is an engineer as well as a very able pilot of helicopters and fixed wings.	Both Days
	L-39 Albatros The Aero L-39 Albatros is a Czech high performance jet trainer that first went into service in 1971, with production ceasing in 1999. It is still in service in many countries, among them Russia, North Korea, Egypt, Cuba and Thailand, as well as the Czech Republic. The L-39 was the first of the 'second generation' jet trainers in the world, also the first to be fitted with a turbofan engine. Although an un-armed training aircraft, the L39 is capable of an exhilarating performance, having a level maximum of 750 km/hr, with the airframe stressed to +8g/-4g, leaving plenty of scope for fun. Interestingly, in the movie 'Tomorrow Never Dies', James Bond steals an L-39 from under the noses of the enemy!	Frank Parker see above	Both Days
	A-37B Dragonfly The forerunner of this ground attack aircraft was the T37 basic trainer of the US Air Force. This was the start of a new era where pilots trained only on jet aircraft instead of having to make the transition from piston engine to jet at a more advanced stage. The transition from a benign trainer into the deadly A-37 was a result of the Vietnam conflict, with the 'B' variant up-rated with more powerful engines and hard points under the wings to carry 2500kg of bombs, napalm, missiles, rockets or gun pods. Primary armament was a 7.62mm (Gatling) mini-gun installed in the nose, with a maximum rate of fire of 4000 rounds/minute. The display aircraft operated in Vietnam, both with the USAF and the Vietnamese NAF.	Bruce Chapman Ex T.E.A.L. and Air New Zealand Flight Training Captain, flying Lockheed Electra, Douglas DC-8, DC-10, and Boeing 747 aircraft. Approximately 20,000 hours experience. Foundation member of NZ Warbirds Association. Crossed the Tasman over 3000 times including a trip in the A-37 Dragonfly to participate in the first jet aircraft pylon race. Flying both the A-37 Dragonfly and the De Havilland Dominie in the airshow.	Both Days
	A-37 Dragonfly Ground attack aircraft built solely for the Vietnam War, capable of carrying 5000 lbs of under wing armament at speeds of around 800kph. Now based in Tauranga. De Havilland Dominie Arrived in NZ around 1943 for the RNZAF, post war transferred to National Airways of NZ and subsequently to private owners, now owned and operated by the NZ Historic Aviation trust based in Tauranga. Took part in the London to Sydney Air race in 1969 flying the complete trip both ways.	Bruce Chapman
	PAC CT4/E The current CT4/E military pilot trainer is manufactured in NZ by the Pacific Aerospace Corporation. It had humble beginnings as the Victa Airtrainer after its designer, Australian Dr Henry Millicer won a 1952 UK design competition for a two seat light aircraft. The Airtrainer, then built by the Victa Aviation Division (Victa of lawnmower fame), became a popular aero club trainer in NZ from 1962. In 1966, production rights were transferred to Hamilton, NZ. The RNZAF purchased four T6/24 Airtourers in 1969, then following an extensive re-design, they purchased 15 CT4/B before moving on to the current CT4/E in 1998.	RNZAF Red Checker Display Team	Both Days
	DH82A Tiger Moth Developed from a long line of aircraft produced inter-war by the De Havilland Aircraft Company in UK, the DH82A first flew in 1931. It has always been a pretty bi-plane with its staggered, swept-back wings. Thousands of pilots have taken their first solo flights in the Moth, not least those New Zealanders who trained for war in the early '40s. Bay of Plenty's own Evan Mackie, who was to go on to become the top scoring RNZAF fighter ace of WW2, had his first air experience in a Moth in March 1941. He said of the Moth "...I wouldn't say it was hard to fly but to fly it accurately required all the skills one had." That is why the DH82 was such a great training aircraft.	David Phillips David is an Auckland based pilot flying for Cathay Pacific airlines. Ex RNZAF, he flew Skyhawks and went on to express his love for aviation in aircraft as diverse as his Tiger Moth and his Hawker Hunter jet that is a feature of the Classic Flyers hangar. His display in the Moth will be superb. David is also flying the Hunter at the Airshow
	Thunder Mustang The Thunder Mustang is a modern three quarter scale replica of the P-51D Mustang fighter. It was supplied in kit form, some 37 kits being sold before production ceased in 1999. The display aeroplane was purchased from South Africa in new condition, and is now owned by a syndicate including celebrity chef Simon Gault and his aviator father Bryan. The aircraft itself gives true high performance, paralleling that of its illustrious forebearer. Maximum sea-level speed is over 600km/hr, the same as the P-51D, while the 'never exceed' speed is a dramatic 813km/hr. A major performance difference is its fuel consumption, only half that of the larger plane.	Simon Gault Simon is well known as a celebrity chef, however he was born into aviation through his father Bryan, ex RNZAF top club instructor and airline pilot. Simon started in gliding, retaining enthusiasm for this discipline to this day. He shares a CT4, Harvard and regularly displays the Thunder Mustang.
	Many More! With over 60 aircraft displaying,you can expect the cream of New Zealand aircraft and their pilots at Classics of the Sky. Please listen carefully to our event commentary on the day for information and anecdotes.