forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Airshows and Model Shows => WW1 Aircraft Airshows => Topic started by: KiwiZac on April 21, 2017, 01:26:25 PM
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Hi all,
Last weekend was the big biennial show at Blenheim in NZ's South Island, home to the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre. I won't bore with photos of the Yaks, Spitfires and P-40s, instead I'll stick with this forum's bread and butter. ;D
Cyclonic weather had dumped huge amounts of rain on the region over the prior fortnight so there was a lot of mud underfoot on the all-grass field - one of the commentators said it was their Somme re-enactment! This meant "gates open" was delayed by an hour, so I took that time to visit the AHC for the umpteenth time, this time wanting to take a closer look at some of the memorabilia (as well as newer aircraft I'd not seen).
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/CF17/D79E9574-0FC8-4923-AFF8-CD826171DF21_zpsb0p0ojso.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/CF17/D79E9574-0FC8-4923-AFF8-CD826171DF21_zpsb0p0ojso.jpg.html)
Eddie Rickenbacker's "teddy bear suit" and, at bottom right, uniform tunic.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/CF17/14AC31E0-A17F-4495-AF48-F288C179B4FE_zps8gyh2hue.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/CF17/14AC31E0-A17F-4495-AF48-F288C179B4FE_zps8gyh2hue.jpg.html)
One of four Curtiss MFs still in existence, a fairly recent addition to the display. What a pretty aircraft! Paging WNW...you have one to use as a pattern, after all!
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/CF17/4A0EFD69-5E02-4F6D-83FC-3A971D6E0718_zpsj2map5jc.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/CF17/4A0EFD69-5E02-4F6D-83FC-3A971D6E0718_zpsj2map5jc.jpg.html)
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/CF17/40808F87-9C34-4936-935A-06797667F6F4_zpswxf0lnf3.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/CF17/40808F87-9C34-4936-935A-06797667F6F4_zpswxf0lnf3.jpg.html)
Crockery from the Dornier Do.X and, at lower left, items belonging to Ferdinand von Zeppelin. In the same cabinet were airframe parts from one or two Zeppelins.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/CF17/4B5A267D-8B94-4ADE-BE7C-65E5BFD053CB_zpsspdbeqyh.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/CF17/4B5A267D-8B94-4ADE-BE7C-65E5BFD053CB_zpsspdbeqyh.jpg.html)
Items belonging to Ernst Udet including, at centre, his replacement Blue Max. My jaw literally dropped when I saw it!
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/CF17/0524CC01-D23C-4057-8982-E593868263C0_zpsjldvwavt.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/CF17/0524CC01-D23C-4057-8982-E593868263C0_zpsjldvwavt.jpg.html)
One of Hermann Goering's WW2 jackets and hats.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/CF17/77BBE88B-B394-4AB6-89A3-C95F36317906_zpsxmxrwswc.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/CF17/77BBE88B-B394-4AB6-89A3-C95F36317906_zpsxmxrwswc.jpg.html)
Appropriate given today's date: items belonging to Manfred von Richtofen, including a goblet given to him on the occasion of his being awarded the Pour le Merite.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/CF17/F46A9265-D3E9-4CC1-B01B-280D7101CADD_zpstvpucykm.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/CF17/F46A9265-D3E9-4CC1-B01B-280D7101CADD_zpstvpucykm.jpg.html)
I always enjoy seeing the Bellamy Pfalz. Trust me - there's a big smile on my face! They have a cinema screen above and behind, on which is projected the first dogfight scene from The Blue Max.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/CF17/CC7F683C-CE59-4718-9354-5A0F9D2C2023_zps2jtrdam3.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/CF17/CC7F683C-CE59-4718-9354-5A0F9D2C2023_zps2jtrdam3.jpg.html)
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/CF17/5093E270-D4B1-4A62-B527-4A931498E94E_zpsn5k7suqq.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/CF17/5093E270-D4B1-4A62-B527-4A931498E94E_zpsn5k7suqq.jpg.html)
The original DH.4.
Next, the flyers on the field. Well...some of them!
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I'll be honest: I've been to so many shows here that I don't take pictures of many regulars unless I have a particular soft spot. Hopefully Jamo was there and can share pics of the rest!
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/CF17/CA3E95EA-BC01-4A04-B237-0B5C7F7B4E8B_zpsae4qyjqs.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/CF17/CA3E95EA-BC01-4A04-B237-0B5C7F7B4E8B_zpsae4qyjqs.jpg.html)
Two of the seven Dr.Is which flew over the weekend. An eighth is based onsite but had some technical issues which prevented it flying.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/CF17/70B98C55-A437-4718-9AFE-B90D430D7873_zpskryh1bal.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/CF17/70B98C55-A437-4718-9AFE-B90D430D7873_zpskryh1bal.jpg.html)
Whoops, these aren't Great War types! Although I guess the Bucker Jungmann fuse is at least in the spirit of the era...
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/CF17/05A96EC6-6F3E-416A-BA63-E6343CC6553A_zps8mswxmmx.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/CF17/05A96EC6-6F3E-416A-BA63-E6343CC6553A_zps8mswxmmx.jpg.html)
A feature of the last two shows has been the pioneer race: a relay of three teams from running, to pennyfarthings, to very veteran cars, to Edwardian-era aircraft. This year the aircraft were an Airdrome Aeroplanes Bleriot XI replica (left), the Malborough Aero Club's 1960s taxiable Bleriot XI-2, and the Bicyclette de Pischoff-inspired McNair Mynah.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/CF17/2D68CFDF-30A9-4611-9DED-37007760DCEC_zpspjyxi7r0.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/CF17/2D68CFDF-30A9-4611-9DED-37007760DCEC_zpspjyxi7r0.jpg.html)
Ground theatre, as always, featured the two Weta-built British tanks.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/CF17/5772741F-1C88-4BBA-B215-0F8DE9ECC7D4_zps8frprkgq.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/CF17/5772741F-1C88-4BBA-B215-0F8DE9ECC7D4_zps8frprkgq.jpg.html)
Kermit Weeks came over to fly the TVAL-built Snipe with TVAL-built Bentley.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/CF17/39EBB109-E6DE-4AD4-AF26-DB546D9C2009_zpsqkubako2.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/CF17/39EBB109-E6DE-4AD4-AF26-DB546D9C2009_zpsqkubako2.jpg.html)
The Rousseau-build D.VII replica, one of three built for The Blue Max, which was recently restored and lightened by TVAL.
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/CF17/0A7CEFC5-70E1-4008-9CD7-041F4FBA893B_zpsasl5mevi.jpg) (http://s15.photobucket.com/user/ZacYates/media/CF17/0A7CEFC5-70E1-4008-9CD7-041F4FBA893B_zpsasl5mevi.jpg.html)
The PPS Pfalz, a third Blue Max machine, leads the Jasta 11 lineup of triplanes.
Apologies for the lack of photos but the other WW1 types which flew were:
Nieuport XI (Le Rhone)
Airco DH.5 replica (Lycoming flat)
Sopwith Camel replica (rotary)
Also on the field was a Nieuport 16/17 replica with Le Prieurs. There's another Nieuport based on the field but I don't know if it came out at all (it's owned by the same guy as the sadly-absent black Dr.I).
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I have watched a lot of videos coming out of NZ about WW1 planes. Sure would be nice to see them in person! Thanks for posting these pics. :)
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Thank you for posting, looks like a great event. Will have to add to bucket list. ;)
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Looks like a great museum, an excellent show and beautiful surroundings. Thanks for posting.