Grand tour of New Zealand, South Island

[Warbirdnutta]

Yeah I know a Tomahawk is no warbird but perhaps a classic?
Flight over the famous Omaka airfield at Blenheim used as a training field
during WW II and also the sight of the world class biannual Omaka airshow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txKkU00zc0I&t=92s

Link to next Easter's show
https://www.classicfighters.co.nz

First up two old classics that are available to be viewed anytime, these Safe Air
heavies carried freight around New Zealand for many years.

Bristol Freighter




Armstrong Whitworth Agosy




Next up, bucket list visit to the Omaka Aviation Heritage Museum....

[Warbirdnutta]

Omaka, bit of a bucket list place to visit for many years while it is obvious it’s all
about the planes what really surprised me was the people, well the figurines!
Peter Jackson's team have done an amazing job bringing these displays to life!


































More soon..........

[old iron]

What is the little parasol airplane in original condition (above the Curtiss flying boat).

[ErrolC]

What is the little parasol airplane in original condition (above the Curtiss flying boat).

Caproni Ca.22, the oldest aircraft in the collection

Italian Pioneer by Errol Cavit, on Flickr

[wendovertom]

Wow - that is a pretty amazing display of aircraft!

Tom P.

[Warbirdnutta]

Yeah it is a wonderful collection and these pictures do not do it justice.

"Dangerous Skys" WW II displays, the Hurricane and Stuka are replicas, all
the rest are fliers except for the Nord which will be restored to airworthy
status in the future.
























The Lydia Litvyak figure was so life like, felt like she was watching me.


More on her here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydia_Litvyak

John Smith Mosquito and Kittyhawk to follow.......

[AG pilot]

Wow! A very nice collection! I am amazed at the work involved with the "dioramas".

[Warbirdnutta]

Yes the dioramas with the figures are so lifelike, hopefully this
little wander around will capture some of this, please feel free
to comment or correct my commentary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JrHyOvZ8Rc&t=627s

[Warbirdnutta]

Next stop south to Christchurch, the Ferrymead Aeronautical Society has been around
for many years, the site also houses a large train museum.


Sadly in 2011 the city of Christchurch suffered a large earthquake many buildings
and houses where destroyed, 185 people lost their lives. Evidence of this event are
still evident in the city to this day.

Check out the walls that cracked in the earthquake, injected epoxy the fix.


Harvard waiting her turn for restoration.


Hudson










Mosquito restoration.