2020 Planes of the Airshow

WE have put together another interesting line up of aircraft, and vehicles for this years airshow. As with every airshow we try to ensure that all the items are actually exhibited on the day. But sometimes factors beyond our control can prevent this happening. Listed below are some of the aircraft or other activities that we hope to bring on the day.

Curtiss P-40D Kittyhawk First flight October 1938 Number built 13,738 Third most produced aircraft after P51 and P47 Initially the P40’s lack of a two stage supercharger made it inferior to both the German ME109 and the FW190 However in the North African and Pacific operations high altitude combat was not necessary and the P40 excelled as a ground attack fighter bomber Pilot will be Liz Needham a well respected display pilot
North American P-51D Mustang Highly Successful WW2 fighter bomber First flew October 1940 Number built over 15,000 Initially lacked power to operate successfully above 20,000ft However with the introduction of the merlin 6 engine (same as the spitfire) there was a big increase in speed from 390mph to 440mph (703 kph ) and almost doubling it’s service ceiling to 40,000 ft Range was such that the P51 could escort bombers to and from all targets in Germany Display pilot will be Frank Parker well known display pilot
North American Harvard (Roaring 40's Display Team Consists of up to 5 ex RNZAF North American Harvards There were at one time 202 Harvards in service in 1941 with about 40 still in NZ Based at Warbirds Ardmore Airfield Pilots mostly retired RNZAF Some civilians pilots as well both ladies and gentlemen This upcoming display will be spectactular
RNZAF Black Falcons T6A TEXAN II Display Team Single engine turboprop Trainer Based on the Pilatus PC-9 Primary trainer for the RNZAF Cruise speed 510 kph Service ceiling 31,000 ft Range 1700kms 11 are in service with the RNZAF
Aero L39 Albatross High performance 2 seater trainer Built in Czechoslovakia Developed in the 1960s to replace the L29 delfin Max speed 750kph Range 1100kms 5 x L39 aircraft in NZ with 2 at Tauranga Airport Flown today by Craig Mossman and John Matheson If you would like a ride in one of these Beauties look on their website www.fighterjets.nz
Hawker Hunter Ground Run Display Transonic jet powered swept wing British fighter First flight July 1954 Number built 1972 Powered by Rolls Royce Avon Max speed 1003 kph Service ceiling 50,000ft For the Engine start today, pilot is owner Dave Phillips another well respected display pilot
Air New Zealand ATR 72 29 operated by Air new Zealand on domestic routes Twin engine turbo prop short haul airliner 70 passengers and crew Cruise speed 510 kph Service ceiling 25,000 ft
Air New Zealand Q300 Air New Zealand operate 23 of these aircraft on domestic routes Carries max 56 passengers plus crew Cruise speed 532 kph Service ceiling 25,000 ft
de Havilland DH 115 Vampire FB5 Static Display Built in UK in 1951 Shipped to NZ in 1953 There were 11 T11 two seaters and 47 single seaters Airforce sold NZ5751 by tender in 1973 Has been in storage in Blenheim for 56 years Recovered from Blenheim in a dismantled state in Feb 2018 ,along with 11 goblin vampire engines by Classic flyers recovery team Has been under reassembly and restoration to taxi status by Restoration team Have achieved three engine starts Feel free to talk to members of the restoration team In fact if you are local and have an interest in anything mechanical ,come along to classic flyers on a Wednesday or Friday talk to the team and stay for a cup of tea
Aermacchi MB-339 Ground Run Display First flew in August 1970 Developed from the Aermacchi MB326 18 delivered to NZ in 1991 9 sold overseas in 2002 Remaining allocated to Military museums around NZ including Classic Flyers
RNZAF Augusta Westland AW109 Twin engine light helicopter Crew 1-2 Passengers 6-7 Max speed 311 kph 5 are currently operated by the RNZAF with another 3 on order
Boeing Stearman Primary trainer for the US Airforce and Navy Over 10,626 were built Went into production in 1934 Power plant Continental R-670 air cooled radial 7 cylinder engine Maximum speed 217kph 2 bladed fixed pitch Propellor Three are Tauranga based Demonstrating formation flying will be Marty Cantlin and Mike Dean If you would like to take a flight in one of these iconic aircraft, Scenic Flights are available in the Classic Flyers Stearman, inquire at the Classic Flyers shop
Yakovlev Yak-52 The Yak-52 is a Soviet primary trainer aircraft which first flew in 1976. Still being produced in Romania, the Yak-52 was designed originally as an aerobatic trainer for students in the Soviet training organisation which trained both civilian sport and military pilots. At 998 kg (2,200 lb) empty weight, the Yak-52 is responsive and very capable as an aerobatic aircraft. Yet it is also easy to fly and land. Since the early 1990s and the fall of the Soviet Union, many Yak 52s have been exported to the west. Of the approximately 1,800 produced to date, most now fly in western countries.
Cavalon Gyroplane The modern gyroplanes flown by Gyrate are manufactured by Autogyro Germany who have won Europe’s leading design award for the beautiful Cavalon. This aircraft provides a spacious side by side cabin with room for light luggage. With a range of over 400 miles at a speed of 85 knots this is truly a touring machine for the discerning pilot. Powered by a Rotax 115hp engine that uses less than 20 litres per hour and minimal maintenance, a Cavalon offers 90% of helicopter performance with a safe, simple design and no lifed components.
L39 Albatross The modern gyroplanes flow
DH-89 Dominie The modern gyroplanes flow
DH-104 Devon The modern gyroplanes flow
RNZAF T6 Texan The modern gyroplanes flow
RNZAF NH90 Helicopter The modern gyroplanes flow
RNZAF A109 Helicopter The modern gyroplanes flow
PBY Catalina The modern gyroplanes flow
Yak 55 The modern gyroplanes flow
MB339 Macchi (taxi only) The modern gyroplanes flow
Grumman Avenger (taxi only) The modern gyroplanes flow
P40 Kittyhawk (taxi only) The modern gyroplanes flow

MX2 Single seat Power Lycoming 430hp Seat inclined rearwards to aid Gforce tolerance All composite construction Max speed 230 knots Roll rate 420 deg /Sec MXS flown today by owner Doug Brooker who has won just about every Aerobatic Trophy over a number of years
Pitts Special The Pitts model 12 was designed by Curtis Pitts starting in 1993. Pitts presented his completed design on his 80th birthday in December 1995. This is a high performance aerobatic biplane designed around the Vedeneyev M14P/PF engine. It can be built from plans, kits, or can be bought factory completed. By December 2011, 59 examples had been completed and flown.
Gliders The Gliding club will display one of their two Polish Puchacz (eagle owl) 2 seat trainers, which is also fully aerobatic. The Puchacz is robust for training and is certified for all regular aerobatic manoeuvres, including inverted flying ,with VNE of 118 kt making for a tight envelope. They also hope to display a South African manufactured JS1 Revelation open class competition glider, which Club Member Brett Hunter will use to contest the World Gliding Championships in Poland in 2014. His JS1 is also fitted with a Jet sustainer engine (to help get home if the day deteriorates) which may be able to be demonstrated if CAA certification is complete by then. The Gliding Club’s tow plane is a rare 3 seat Piper Cub with a 180hp engine. Depending on conditions on the day, this Cub has the ability to double tow the gliders.

2020 Planes of the Airshow

Gliders

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