2011 Classic Fighters Airshow

Every second year, the Classic Fighters team prides itself on going out of its way to show visitors things they have not seen before. Not just one or two unexpected aircraft or displays, but we strive to give you at least a dozen or more reasons to raise your camera to capture something you've not seen before and that you will want to show to those unfortunate friends who have not been able to make it this year!

This year's show is no different. Whilst we started out with a stunning line-up of potential 'debutants', we know that one or two of those won't make it (despite the very best of efforts) however others will, including some additional 'first-timers' that we would not have been able to predict when we started promoting this year's show at the beginning of 2010.

If you haven’t experienced a Classic Fighters show before, feel free to have a look at our Photo Gallery.

WW-II DEBUTANTS

Amongst those machines 'first-footing' this year are several Classic Fighters from both world wars, although the exact make-up of the 'newbie' line-up won't be announced until much closer to the event. On the WW-II fighter front, we're pleased to advise that the first Focke-Wulf Fw190 to fly anywhere since WW-II, the first of the Flug-Werk GmbH late production model 'Butcher Birds' arrived in country on schedule on 23rd March. The team at JEM Aviation will now be racing against the clock to see this flying in time for the show. Also at JEM Aviation is the fabulous Yakovlev Yak-3 owned by the syndicate led by Graeme Frew and which is rapidly nearing completion after a major restoration and modification program. As we lodge this news update a month out from the show, we are not expecting this stunning restoration to be flying in time for the show, but like the Fw190, it will be on hand for inspection by visitors.

Out of left field comes yet another Classic Fighter from the WW-II era, the Curtiss P-40C Tomahawk, now nearing completion with AVSpecs Ltd at Ardmore, Auckland, for owner Rod Lewis from Texas. Only two other complete examples of this rare, pre-war fighter remain in flyable anywhere in the world and this example will likely be the first ever to show its colours in the skies of a major international airshow, before being shipped to Texas soon after. What a great tribute to owner Rod Lewis and Wal Denholm & his eager team of restorers who have toiled for many months to try to get this machine ready in time for the show.

Also hoped for this year will be the long-awaited debut at a major public show of Doug Brooker's rare Supermarine Spitfire Tr.IX. This variant was developed post-war for the Irish Air Corps and the handful of survivors still flying have proved to be the only vehicle by which enthusiasts might experience the thrill of flying in a WW-II Spitfire fighter.

There is another significant debut looming, involving a major German WW-II weapon, but it is still a work in progress, so we can't talk about it just yet! You really should 'watch this space' and whatever you do, DON'T MISS THE SUNDAY SHOW!

Of course there will be many WW-II era aircraft participating in the display including the NZ Warbirds Harvard display team, the DC-3s and the ever popular Catalina.

WW-I DEBUTANTS

On the WW-I front, we are expecting some debut action but are not ready to discuss this just yet. You shall have to wait and see. The greatest news though is that the crew from TVAL are planning to bring back the 'Magnificent Seven' line-up of Fokker Dr.1 Triplanes, never seen since 1918 until they 'wowed' the crowd at Omaka over Easter 2007. Now they are back again to thrill the crowds as part of a dozen++ Great War aircraft line-up. There will of course be amazing sets and support vehicles and equipment, plus the re-enacting teams and of course the world famous (and newly re-developed) WW-I aviation display at the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, just to make this the most memorable occasion yet for fans of WW-I aviation.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE.....

A decade after the last air display by an aircraft of the RNZAF Strike-Wing, we are expecting to host what is, for New Zealand, an extremely significant display as the former RNZAF Strikemaster NZ6270 makes its triumphant return to NZ after nearly 20 years of skies completely bereft of the BAE 167 Strikemaster.

Set to make its first appearance at a major New Zealand airshow next month is this stunning specialist aerobatic aircraft, the Pitts Model 12. The distinctive rakish biplane is the latest in a long line of purpose built stunt planes that date back to the first flight of a ‘Pitts Special’ in 1944. This new aircraft continues the evolution of that first little stunt biplane and the many upgrades that followed, but the 65 hp engine of the first Pitts has given way to a massive 400 hp Russian built M.14 radial engine which gives this new machine a throaty roar and performance to ‘go up like a skyrocket’!

This striking biplane is the first Pitts Model 12 to appear in New Zealand and it is a great privilege for the airshow organizers to be able to host its public debut at a major event – only at Omaka!

GROUNDTHEATRE

Over the past decade, visitors to Classic Fighters have drawn broad smiles when confronted with unexpected sights produced by our creative, capable and at times crazy props builders. In 2001 there was the lovely two-story French Chateau complete with neighbouring vineyards for that authentic feel (we liked these so much we kept them!). This supported New Zealand's first dedicated WW-I display involving four aircraft (including a Fokker D.VIII built by the props team), two tanks and buildings. For WW-II, a full-size German Panther tank appeared to the surprise of all! In 2003 the theme was 'North Africa' and this saw a range of appropriate structures including a very large pyramid, sphinxs guarding the Gold Pass entrance and there was even a full scale Ju87 Stuka wearing desert camouflage! Continuing the geographical themeing, 2005 welcomed visitors to France and the remarkable spectre of a huge Eiffel Tower, over 20 meters high, so tall in fact that the CAA required a warning beacon on the top. Then there was the very realistic Arc de Triomphe, the Moulen Rouge windmill etc ensuring there was no doubt as to where the show was set for Easter! For a change, 2007 saw the 'Aviation in the Movies' theme in which famous motion pictures inspired the scenarios. For 'A Bridge too Far', a nearly full-size Waco CG-4A glider was built, from which a WW-II jeep emerged as another glider, a British Horsa, appeared, trundling across the field in the distance. An army field hospital or M.A.S.H. unit also appeared complete with Bell 47 helicopter and that famous 'sign-post to everywhere'. Fast forward to 2009 and the locality was Italy and the unusual spectacle of a ship under attack during the daring night raid on Taranto harbour. The next day there was a race between three gondolas across the paddock, chased on this occasion by a shark, its distinctive and sinister fin making clear its interest! Looming high above the stage within the food court were the columns of the Forum, with its cracked stone work revealing ancient writings high above the crowd. The biggest and most ambitious structure yet built for a Classic Fighters airshow, and we suspect, for any airshow, ever, was the four-story tall 50m long monastery building produced for the attack on Monte Cassino - Awesome! Now for the 2011 show, the props and ground theatre teams have a number of exciting developments underway, including buildings, interesting historic military vehicles and weapons, along with one specific item which will be sure to get everyone's attention! You will however need to be on site at least two of the three days to see everything! The teams are a little bit tight-lipped about some of the details but we can certainly guarantee that creative spectacle that the Classic Fighters airshow has become world famous for.

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