Knights Of The Sky

Located at Marlborough's historically significant Omaka Aerodrome, the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre was established to provide a world-class destination for the appreciation of historic aircraft.

For the opening exhibition in Stage One of Omaka, New Zealand's most respected cinematic and special effects craftsmen have created a dramatic aviation theatre in which original and full-scale replica WW1 aircraft - both static and flyable - are presented in all their glory.

Omaka's first exhibition, “Knights of the Sky”, occupies some 3,000 sqm of purpose-built display area. It comprises one of the world's largest collections of World War 1 aircraft and rare memorabilia, including a mix of dramatically staged static displays along with flyable planes.

The collection is managed by the 14-18 Aviation Heritage Trust, which is chaired by film director Peter Jackson, and has been brought to life in a series of theatrical dioramas constructed with the artistic talent and technical expertise of some of New Zealand's most talented storytellers.

The extensive dioramas take you back to a time long gone and almost forgotten when the harshness and cruelty of the war in the trenches contrasted with the chivalry and bravado of the war in the air. When SE5as and Fokker Triplanes went head to head; the steeds of these latter day knights of the air jousting for survival.

This spectacular multi-sensory experience, enhanced with special effects lighting is designed to be both educational and entertaining for all ages.

Sunshine, Vineyards and Classic Fighters

Omaka Aerodrome
Blenheim
New Zealand
Oct 08 – Oct 09


Blenheim, in Marlborough Province, is not only one of New Zealand’s sunniest places, and a major wine-producing centre; it is also a significant centre of NZ Aviation history.

We were there to pay a visit to Graham Orphan the editor of Classic Wings, (http://www.classicwings.com)
a founding member of The Aviation Heritage Centre (http://www.aviationmarlborough.com/ahc/index.shtml) and the owner of Classic Aircraft Sales Ltd (http://www.classicwings.com/sales.htm)

We were also there to confirm our attendance at Classic Fighters Marlborough 2007. (http://www.classicfighters.co.nz)

We’d hoped for maybe half an hour of Graham’s time, a look around the airfield and maybe a glimpse of some of the extensive WW1 aircraft collection that makes its home here.

What we got was so much more …

The Sunday we arrived turned out to be a practice day for those same WW1 fighters that we hoped to get a look at. Furthermore, at the airfield, we ran into Allan Udy one of the main AirShow organisers, and Alex Mitchell, a noted NZ aviation photographer (http://www.warbirdsovernewzealand.com/who.asp). Between the two of them they were able to arrange airfield access which let us get up close and personal with several of the aircraft operating that day. What a treat! Later, we met an RNZAF pilot who we had earlier seen doing his conversion and first flight in one of the Fokker Triplanes - his smile was worth a thousand words.

Allan, by the way, is also the Webmaster of the Classic Fighters website which contains much more than just event information. The annual Classic Fighters event is pretty much a ‘Must See’, but even if you can’t get there you should visit the website and sign up for Allan’s Newsletter. The enthusiasm is contagious, the photos are great and the history is fascinating. The address again is http://wwww.classicfighters.co.nz

That was the early part of our day. Later in the afternoon we had our appointment with Graham at the Aviation Heritage Centre The half hour we hoped for, stretched out to over 2 hours as we were given a preview of the Centre, a tour of some of the aircraft restoration work going on around the airfield, and a close look at Graham’s own projects both flying and on the workshop floor.

The Heritage Centre is scheduled to open on Dec 09 and it will be a very special addition to NZ’s aviation landscape. The first stage will feature the many WWI aircraft located at Omaka and with Peter Jackson involved somewhere in the background the exhibits are bound to be presented in an exciting and ‘illuminating’ way. Of interest to those who have seen the movie The Blue Max, will be the replica Pfalz flown in the movie by George Peppard. A replica that’s already historic!

Our tour continued with a visit to Graham’s personal collection of an Aeronca Champ and a Fleet Finch 16b, (both in flying order), a historic Aeronca K in the restoration process (http://www.classicfighters.co.nz/ac/aeroncak/index.shtml ) and pieces of a P40 Kittyhawk which (unbelievably to the uninitiated such as myself!) will one day take to the air again. Graham is also a part owner of a Nanchang CJ6 and a leading proponent of seeing more of these aircraft in NZ through syndicated ownership.

From there we visited several other impressive projects finishing with a visit to Mike Nichols and his Yak 3 and Curtiss Hawk 75 projects. This Hawk is one of only four surviving examples of its type and has a unique history which you can learn about at http://www.classicfighters.co.nz/ac/hawk75/index.shtml
Coincidently I had only just seen the only currently flying Hawk at the Lodrino Air Show. ( T link back to Lodrino Blog here )

As the afternoon wound to a close, Graham’s encyclopedic knowledge of the aviation world had filled our heads to overflow – which probably explains why his Classic Wings (one more link to Classic Wings here) magazine achieves the quality heights that it does – and it was time to head for a beer at the nearby and also historic Marlborough Aero Club (http://www.marlboroughaeroclub.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6&Itemid=47 )

It was here that aero club flying operations began in NZ and it was here that A.E Clouston and Victor Ricketts established aviation history with their England to NZ flight record.

What a great way to end a great day.

I’ll sign off with the reflection that this visit marked the closest we’ve been to so many restoration projects – the painstaking skills involved are very apparent and the rest of us less skilled enthusiasts are very lucky indeed that these individuals are doing what they do and that they provide or can find the necessary finance. We need to find ways to support their activities at every opportunity.

See you there next Easter.

Book Briefing - ‘The Dangerous Skies’

The Dangerous Skies – Air Commodore A.E. Clouston

This is a remarkable book by a remarkable man.

Clouston was a New Zealander who was, in turn, Test Pilot, Racing Pilot, Coastal Command Liberator Pilot, Air Commodore and just about everything else in between.

His book of high aviation adventure is written in four parts:

Test Pilot

Records And Races

Interlude For War

Graduation

Each part could be a book in its own right so varied were his experiences.

A highlight dear to New Zealanders (at least those who remember or have heard of the man) is the England – New Zealand – England record flight that he made in 1938. This flight was made with Victor Ricketts and in a DH 88 De Havilland Comet G-ACSS. (T – link ACSS to http://www.xs4all.nl/~tozu/dh88/Comets/GACSS.htm)
Some of the records made on this and a previous England – Cape Town flight still stand today. (T link here to http://records.fai.org/pilot.asp?from=ga&id=5932)

Interestingly, while there are several web sites that feature the Comet Racer, few mention Clouston's achievements with the Comet other than in passing. Perhaps those authors should read this book – it’s certainly a story worth the telling.

Other parts of the book include hair raising flight testing in the then little understood condition of ‘icing’, flying into wires to determine the effect of an aircraft flying into a barrage balloon and racing a Flying Flea.

What’s more the author’s writing style is very down to earth with more than a
touch of humour.

I could go on but I think you’ll get the picture – this is a must read for any aviation enthusiast.

First published in 1954 it is now out of print but fortunately second hand copies can still be had. The amazon.co.uk listings can be found here.

Aviodrome

National Aviation Theme Park
Lelystad Airport
The Netherlands
August 2006


Billed as a theme park, and listed as a tourist attraction, I found the Aviodrome a somewhat frustrating experience. But more on that later – for all my frustrations this museum has some fascinating stuff.

The B.A.T. FK 23 heads my list. The Netherlands was neutral in WWI – a lesser-known fact is that from that position they had two leading aircraft designers working for the opposing sides: Fokker for Germany, and Koolhoven for the British Aerial Transport Co. During his time there he designed the lovely to look at B.A.T FK 23. With a top speed of 142 mph and with the pilot uniquely located above the top wing of its biplane configuration this was an aircraft ahead of its time. By way of comparison the top speed of most of its contemporaries was a slow 116 – 119 mph (Camel and Fokker DVII respectively) with the Bristol Monoplane coming closest at 130 mph.

However a late introduction and an unreliable A.B.C. 1 Wasp power plant meant the FK23 was never to realize its potential.

More information on Koolhoven can be found at the excellent Koolhoven Foundation website http://www.koolhoven.com/

One of my small frustrations with the Aviodrome was that it seemed a little disjointed – a little of everything but no authoritative theme. I understand this is now being addressed with a focus being put on Dutch commercial aviation history – building on their already substantial collection this promises to be a treat.

You will already find: -

- The last flying DC 2 presented in scheme of ‘De Uiver’ the KLM winner of the Handicap Division of the 1934 London –Melbourne MacRobertson Air Race. See
http://www.dc3airways.com/1934-1.html

- A Lockheed Constellation that has just had all its engines started after some 3 yrs and all going well should be back in the air next year as the oldest flying example of its type.

- Several DC 3’s

- A brick by brick rebuild of the 1928 Schipol Terminal (worth a visit in its own right)

- A compulsory Fokker F27 Friendship

- A Fokker F2 and a very impressive Fokker F7A done up as KLM’s H-NADP which completed the world’s first Intercontinental Charter Flight in 1928 – Amsterdam to Batavia (now Djakarta)

A final fitting bit of airline trivia; KLM is world’s oldest airline still operating under its original name.

The Aviodrome has more aircraft – of interest to me there is or was, one lonely Spitfire parked outside which I think maybe the Spitfire that was recently swapped for a Firefly. (I’m not sure about this so if anyone can put me right please do) – and there is a newly acquired Catalina.


A full list of aircraft including those not on display can be found at http://www.aviodrome.nl/

Which brings me to my other frustration – admitting that my language skills are well below that of most Europeans – I was surprised that a Dutch attraction didn’t have more English interpretive material both at the museum and in its media offerings.

How to get there? Lelystad is about a 45 min train journey NNE of Amsterdam. There is then a wait for a bus to the airfield. A car would be preferable. Detailed directions – in English - will be found on their website.

Last but not least, the author of the Aviodrome and Koolhoven websites also has his own very fascinating website; Henri’s Aircraft You can spend many happy hours exploring both his site and the links he provides.

Enjoy!

Book Briefing - ‘A Gift Of Wings’

A Gift of Wings - Richard Bach

This collection of short stories is a book of aviation or rather flying philosophy. It’s to be read and reread by all who fly or aspire to fly. And some of the thoughts and views apply equally well to other endeavours. The book has many fans – here’s a French perspective - http://fafagege.free.fr/html/eng/index1.htm

~ Brian Sharpe

Book Briefing - ‘Enemy Coast Ahead’

Enemy Coast Ahead - Guy Gibson VC

I first read this classic some years ago but I recently spotted a copy in a second hand book store and with a Peter Jackson remake of The Dambusters in the pipeline I thought a refresher would be useful. Guy Gibson’s first hand and well written account of life in RAF Bomber Squadrons ( and a Night Fighter Squadron !) makes a riveting read as does his description of the Dam raids. What makes it especially fascinating is that it was written before many of the details were in the public domain. I’ve since seen that an Uncensored Edition has just been published. It always surprises me that just when you think you understand a certain subject along comes a new perspective that makes you think again. I’ll probably buy that new edition.

~ Brian Sharpe

Aviation Posters

We like Posters.

At their simplest they are an inexpensive, visually attractive and interesting way to decorate studies, offices , spare rooms and working rooms.

Some are substantial works of art in their own right – have them framed and they will grace any wall.

Still others are collectors items.

We have some of our own on our site already and we will be adding to this range.

But there are a lot more good Posters out there and to give you access to a more complete range we have joined the AllPosters.Com Affiliate Program.

The theme is aviation and we’ll be adding to our gallery of recommendations as time goes on.

Why not start here.

MOG Book Briefings

In the beginning, the Merchant Of Glenorchy was going to be the name for a small ‘new and second book’ shed in Glenorchy selling books that I thought were particularly good and including some of my own collection.

As you can probably guess this really wasn’t a very practical idea – even assuming prospective customers were able to find the place. Firstly what would I do when I ran out of books and secondly when it got right down to it I don’t think I could have parted with any books that I owned – not a sound basis for a bookshop!

But now we have a solution that allows us to have our cake and eat it! – we have joined the Amazon.co.uk affiliate program which enables us to recommend books that we particularly like and if others think they may share these likes, then this is an easy way to buy them. (I’ve literally spent years looking for some of the titles that we’ll be featuring.)

The book list will be small to begin with. New additions will be announced on the web log where I will give a brief review or ‘Briefing’ if you like, outlining why the book makes it on to my list.

The theme will be aviation with maybe the odd diversion if it seems appropriate.

We hope you will find this useful and, as always, comments and suggestions are welcomed.

Lodrino Sub Alpine Airshow

Switzerland
Sept 1 & 2, 2006


At Tannkosh we were located opposite to the friendly folk of the
Swiss P3 aerobatic display Team.

After one of their performances they dropped by our stand with a brochure for an Air Show in Lodrino and the suggestion that we might like to attend.

After much searching of our maps we finally located Lodrino in the far south of Switzerland, not that far from Milan. And I guess that’s pretty much where our Lodrino adventure began. We soon discovered that with Lodrino being very much in the Italian part of Switzerland neither Lillian’s German nor my English were going to be that helpful! But thanks to the patience of the organisers and the local tourist office we eventually got ourselves sorted and headed south, through Germany, Austria, Switzerland and eventually over the San Bernardino Pass to the small hillside village of Claro where we had arranged farmhouse accommodation.

The airfield was just up the road beside the Ticino River and set amidst some pretty impressive mountain scenery. ‘Eddy’ Reinhart, the communications man helped get us set up and the stage was set for a special experience.

On the Friday afternoon the flying participants began to arrive, many with an impromptu show. The UK Fighter Collection’s Griffon powered Spitfire Mark XIV, Mustang P51C and the rare Curtiss Hawk 75 were amongst those arrivals and with virtually no crowds around there was a great opportunity to see these wonderful aircraft at close quarters.

We also got a preview of Christian Moullec with his powered ultralight and formatting geese! This is only incidentally an Air Show performance – the driving force is a desire to save a rare species of a wild goose and Christain has undertaken this endeavour to help the geese with their migrations. You are encouraged to read more of this fascinating enterprise at www.vol-avec-les-oies.com.

So on to the Air Show itself. The weather forecast wasn’t the best but the worst never eventuated and we were blessed with two days of good flying weather. The Fighter Collections’ Warbirds were supplemented with a rare Morane D-3801, a beautifully restored Mitchell B 25 of the Swiss JAF http://www.jaf.ch and an ex Swiss Air Force Hawker Hunter.

Lots of aerobatics – from a Pitts right up to La Patrouille Suisse and the Breitling Jet Team. The latter two gave magnificent performances – how they manage to hold their formations so tight is a source of wonder. I’m not a great jet fan but I have to say these displays were something special.
Now, what I didn’t know as a new ‘kiwi’ spectator to the European Air Show circuit is that the crack display teams, or many of them at least, have their own fan clubs with all the supporting regalia! Creates a rugby game sort of an atmosphere.

You can get more info on these two teams at:
http://www.breitling-jet-team.com

http://www.armee.vbs.admin.ch/internet/armee/de/home/lvbfl/links/ps.html

Finally mention must be made of the P3 Flyers. These guys (and I think some gals) are the only civil P3 Team around and their enthusiasm is infectious. At Lodrino, they managed the flight line, did their displays and could be found every evening in front of the video / TV reviewing their performance.

And that exemplifies one of the things that’s so great about Air Shows - its obvious enjoyment for participants and spectators alike.

The Lodrino show is a direct descendent of a regular nineties Air Show that was held further up the same valley. It was very popular but needed to be moved due to lack of local support.

Let’s hope Lodrino doesn’t suffer a similar fate.

And if you are able to attend in future, leave yourself lots of time to explore the surroundings. The countryside, the history, the food and the wine - you won’t be disappointed.