Iconic Aircraft Aviation Forum

by **Baz62** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 12:37 pm

At the RNZAF 75th Anniversary Airshow at RNZAF Base Ohakea Brendon Deere's new TBM-3e Avenger did something that probably hasn't been seen since World War 2 or at least not long after!

And he got waved off too!

She will be paint stripped shortly and put into RNZAF marking as NZ2518 "Plonky" which is the scheme she wore when in New Zealand owned by Tim Wallis. She then went to Australia and everyone in the historic aviation world here in NZ is glad to see her back. Brendon commented that even though she is in a US scheme people are calling her Plonky.

A few other shots I took:
The lads throwing the 757 about

RNZAF Historic Flight Harvard NZ1015

Two of the Roaring Forties Harvard display team get airborne

RAAF Hornets of 77 Squadron supplied the nosie!

Apologies for all the sky but this guy was movin'!!!!!!!!!!

RAAF "Wedgetail" AEW & C

Slowly retiring the Iroquois but they are still cool along with a RNZN Seasprite. They were hovering and they were locked in space, none of them moved an inch!

by **Gaz** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 12:52 pm

Very Nice!!!

:ymapplause:

by **Jigsaw** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 4:17 pm

Great pics mate :ymapplause:

by **Mayfly** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 4:52 pm

The 757 display is awesome! I thought the Seasprite was out of service? and the Wedge tail is coming Waddington.

by **Xplumberlives** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 7:30 pm

Very nice! :ymapplause:

by **Baz62** » Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:30 am

Mayfly wrote:The 757 display is awesome! I thought the Seasprite was out of service? and the Wedge tail is coming Waddington.

Nope the Seasprite is alive and well although I think I read somewhere we are getting some Aussie ones and trading in ours or something?
NH 90 was cool though!

On the night before the airshow we (Wings over New Zealand Forum members.....and the wife....ok sh's on there too ha ha)got invited to Biggin Hill Hangar which is Brendon Deere's hangar actually on RNZAF Base Ohakea. Apart from his Harvard NZ1037 (ex Ray Hannah which is why it has the non RNZAF black and white checkered cowl) and his Grumman Cheetah and his MK IX Spitfire he now has the TBM Avenger within. Just as well you can fold the Avenger's wings eh?

Those with sharp eyes may notice another trainer in the Harvard shot, an ex RAAF Winjeel.
Interestingly this Harvard has not stopped flying since 1942 (apart from the occasional stint in storage as the RNZAF used to rotate the MKIIa and MK III batches around from storage to operational use. She was a FAC (Forward Air Control) aircraft and was based at......Ohakea! Sold in 78 after retirement flown for a while down in Otago beifre being bought by Ray Hannah then after his passing bought by Brendon although we all here (including Brendon) call this Ray's Harvard.