Wings Over Wairarapa 2013: Piston Power to the Jet Age

The Kiwi’s really know how to put on an air show. The flying displays are relatively low and close to the crowd line with plenty of passes that show off the lines of all the classic aircraft that take to the sky. Wings Over Wairarapa 2013 at Hood Aerodrome in Masterton, New Zealand was no exception.

Supermarine Spitfire Tr.IX

Aircraft from World War One, World War Two through to the modern-day took part in the air show with some absolute stand out one of a kind flying displays. Imagine the worlds only flying de Havilland DH98 Mosquito, the worlds only flying military configuration Avro Anson Mk.I and a World War One original (!)  Royal Aircraft Factory Be.2F all taking flight along with Supermarine Spitfires, Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawks, a Vought F4U Corsair, a North American P-51D Mustang, de Havilland Vampire jets, Aero L-39 Albatros jets and so much more including Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft and civilian aircraft and helicopters. You start to get the idea and the good news is this goes on for 3 days every 2 years (a practice day and 2 official air show days)!

de Havilland Mosquito FB Mk.26

Avro Anson Mk.I

Royal Aircraft Factory Be.2F

Fokker Dr.I

Pacific Fighters – Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk & Vought F4U Corsair

North American Harvard

Curtiss P-40 & North American P-51D Mustang

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX

North American P-51D in post war NZ Territorial Air Force markings

Vought F4U Corsair – one of the primary fighters of the RNZAF in WW2

Supermarine Spitfire Tr.IX two seat trainer

Supermarine Spitfire Tr.IX and Mk.IX

BAC Strikemaster formerley of the RNZAF

Aero L-39 Albatros

de Havilland Vampire

de Havilland Vampires

de Havilland Venom

RNZAF Boeing 757

RNZAF Bell UH-1H Iriquois

 

Kaman SH-2 Seasprite of the Royal NZ Navy

RNZAF Augusta 109

RNZAF Lockheed P-3 Orion

Unique large formations of aircraft that you just wont see at your average airshow were a daily event at Wairarapa 2013. From piston power to the jet age there was something for everyone!

de Havilland Mosquito and Supermarine Spitfires – you can hear the Rolls Royce Merlin engines purr

A New Zealand first! A formation display by six jet fighter trainers featuring the Aero L39 Albatros, de Havilland Vampire and BAC Strikemaster

de Havilland fighters – Mosquito, Vampires and Venom

A fantastic fighter “Balbo” flypast

Aerobatics, precision flying, pylon racing and displays such as fire bombing were also part of the show along with a great collection of various de Havilland aircraft. The organizers try to make Wairarapa a show that offers something from all aspects of aviation with a strong focus on the history and evolution of aircraft.

Red Star Aerobatic Team flying the Yakovlev Yak-52

MX2

Harvard formation aerobatics

Yak racing!

Yak racing!

Air Tractor crop duster

PAC Cresco firebomber

de Havilland Dragon Rapide

de Havilland Fox Moth

de Havilland Canada Chipmunk

de Havilland Tiger Moth

There is a lot more going on at ground level too from static aircraft displays to historic military vehicles. If you ever get a chance to see one of the major air shows in New Zealand it is well worth the trip. Apart from Wairarapa these include Classic Fighters Omaka and Warbirds Over Wanaka which are all world renown.

Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk in RAAF markings

WW2 tanks and vehicles

RNZAF Lockheed C-130 Hercules open for inspection

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