I start watching the long range weather forecast 10 days out and it looks a bit dodgy. As the days pass leading up to the show I can think of nothing else. Will the new Hanriot HD1 be there? Will the wind be a problem? My two 14 year old twins Rosie & Mike decide they want to come, which is great (Linda my wife and Katie my oldest stay home, its not for them). Its an evening show which should mean some fantastic lighting effects as the sun sets, with flying set to start at 5pm.
On Saturday morning the weather is dismal in Wellington, low clouds, gusty nor-wester and it looks like rain
I check Facebook and it was uplifting to see the show is not cancelled and photos of the airfield indicate better weather over 'the hill'. We set off. Its a 1:30 hour drive over Rimutaka range and into the Wairarapa. At the top of the saddle visibility is down to less then 50m with heavy mist, strong gusts and rain. Surely it must be a wash out? We carry on but hope seems forlorn. As we get down to the plain the weather becomes sunny - yay! But the wind is blowing the trees around. We arrive at Hood Aerodrome and all the collection is lined up. The crowd is rather modest as many will have been put off by the weather in Wellington.
The commentator says yes there will be flying but the wind above 500ft is too much to risk any of the more flimsy types. I trot up the line hoping to see the new Hanriot, and there she is! Gene DeMarco is there alongside and he said he has had a couple of hours on the Hanriot already, and when he mentioned this to the RAF Museum they were horrified (too precious to fly?).
The programme was substantially revised because of the wind, which has to be respected.
The commentator is up in the Old Bill Bus which offers a nice grandstand view.
From 4-5 pm there is a great opportunity for a walk around the line up.
Here is the Hanriot, looking very tidy
I have lots more photos of the Hanriot and will start a new thread tomorrow.
The show opens with 'The Ribbon Cut'. That means Gene DeMarco flying his Stampe, chucking a toilet roll over side and then trying to fly through the ribbon as many times as he can before it reaches the ground. Next there is a display by one of the RNZAF pilots in a CT4 Airtrainer. Very nice. There is a Corsair based at at Hood and Keith Skilling takes it up. Always a crowd pleaser, that heavy metal isn't put off by wind gusts. Then the replica Pfalz DIII and Nieuport Bebe go up for a mock dogfight
It gets quite hot with sun beaming down on us. Some look for some easy seats
The collection looks brilliant in the late summer sun
Next the three SE5a go up to bomb the old WWI truck. I believe a direct hit was scored - not easy to do when concentrating hard on managing the wind gusts.
Here is the old truck coming back in
The Sopwith Triplane went up against one of the Fokker Triplanes - another "what if?" from history.
The BE2f was fuelled up but remained grounded
The fuselage is incredibly narrow
A flight of four Fokkers is always a treasured memory. I didn't get any worthwhile photos unfortunately. Fokker DVII, and was it three Fokker DR.I ?
Last up was my favourite, the Fee. Glorious in the setting sun
Show finished at 7pm. Thanks to the volunteers, the commentators, the ground crew, the pilots and The Vintage Aviator Ltd for all the special memories.
Is a visit to Hood Aerodrome on your bucket list yet?
Link to the album where are some more photos
http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/library/Airshow%20Feb%202014?sort=6&page=1
