NZ5911

ZK-BEZ

ZK-BFD

ZK-BSP

ZK-BUS

ZK-BVQ

ZK-ANQ

ZK-ASG

ZK-ASQ

ZK-AVK

ZK-BAD

ZK-BAV

ZK-BBK

ZK-BCB

ZK-BCC

ZK-BCZ

ZK-BEF

ZK-BFA

ZK-BFB

ZK-BFG

ZK-BGX

ZK-BVN

ZK-BQK

ZK-

ZK-

ZK-BLB

ZK-BLC

ZK-BLE

ZK-BLF

ZK-BDC

ZK-BSF

 

Notes:

A planned display by Tiger Moth ZK-BAD towing glider Tutor ZK-GAI was cancelled.

The information for this event come from an AHSNZ Journal report, kindly supplied by Peter Layne.

 

NZ

NZ

NZ

 

More then 2000 people attended

 

 

More then 5000 people and 38 aircraft attended

 

ZK-AIA

ZK-AUT

ZK-AYA

ZK-BAN

ZK-BCD

ZK-BCO

ZK-BDG

ZK-BFH

ZK-BGK

ZK-BJS

ZK-BJX

ZK-BUF

ZK-BUW

ZK-BYI

ZK-BHB

ZK-BHD

ZK-BHF

ZKBXS

ZK-BKV

ZK-BKW*

ZK-BPK

ZK-BQP

ZK-BQQ

ZK-BRN

ZK-BTC

ZK-BLB

ZK-BSE

ZK-BSF

 

Notes:
This was the final Air Pageant held by the Auckland Aero Club at Mangere before the club moved to Ardmore.

The aircraft listed here were all present but only the ones with asterisks after their name are known by me to have definitely flown displays during the event. Others may have too but I have not seen evidence yet.

Additional information for this event come from an AHSNZ Journal report, kindly supplied by Peter Layne.

 

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

 

Glider pilot Richard Patston suffered a crash during his display. The New Zealand Press Association report filed on the 5th of March 1961 stated:

"A glider pilot made a desperate and successful attempt to keep his aircraft away from the crowds at the Royal New Zealand Aero Club’s pageant at Paraparaumu aerodrome yesterday afternoon. Seconds later a wingtip hit the grass and the glider crashed.

The pilot, Mr R. A. Patston, of Heretaunga, suffered shock and bruising. The glider was extensively damaged.

Twenty minutes earlier the glider had been towed into the air by a Tiger Moth and released at. 3000 ft. For more than 10 minutes Mr Patston gave an exhibition of glider flying in the turbulent air above the airfield.

When the accident occurred, he was making a fast run down-wind and intended to complete a stall turn before landing on a slow up-wind run.

“I was half-way through the turn when I realised I did not have enough airspeed. The indicator was not working as the intake was full of rain,” he said later. The glider hit with a wingtip and somersaulted on to its nose. The pilot was attended by a doctor and was taken home after a rest

R.N.Z.A.F. jets stole the show at the pageant. Only two of these, a Canberra and a Vampire from Ohakea, participated because of the weather. This had caused the flying programme to be amended several times throughout the day. At times it was doubtful whether the show would go on. Early in the afternoon it was announced that an amended flying programme would be held.

The crowd took little notice of the aero club aircraft but interest in the display was suddenly enlivened when a Vampire screamed overhead. The Canberra also attracted a lot of interest as it completed tight turns within the circuit of the airfield and did minor aerobatics before returning to Ohakea. The jets were followed by a display of formation aerobatics by three Harvardsfrom the Central Flying School, Wigram. A Sunderland flying-boat from Hobsonville also participated with low-level runs over the runway."

 

The RNZAF held a tour of the North Island between the 18th and 29th of March 1961 with the Central Flying School Harvards, a solo Canberra and a solo Bristol Freighter visiting sixteen cities and towns. This is the line up of events per aircraft type

NZ1015

NZ1046

NZ1050

 

Former RNZAF Navigator Peter Pennell has sent this memory of his role in a solo Canberra act in 1961.

"In 1961 while at Ohakea I was teamed up with Barry Gordon in a B.12 for a recruitment tour of NZ.   The Red Checkers, accompanied by a Bristol Freighter, toured NZ cities and towns, while we flew in from Ohakea each day 'beating up' two designated towns on the way and putting on quite a display at the airfield where the others were..."  

The towns mentioned above are only thoise where the Red Checkers displayed and stayed on their tour. The list does not include the two other towns per display that Barry Gordon and Peter Pennell 'beat up'. Sadly Peter lost his logbook in a fire so this list is all I have at this stage.

Thanks to Peter Pennell for his memories of these displays.

Gavin Trethewey recalls the following about his solo Canberra display days:

"It was a lovely aeroplane and with a minimal fuel load and no weapons it had a good surplus of power.  It was theoretically not aerobatic, but if you were careful it could do an impressive display of noise with limited aerobatics. 

My standard displays included rolls, an inverted run, a power off loop (pulling up at 400kts with the engines at idle right round the loop). 

If the display commenced from take off, I would start with a roll off the top.  To achieve that we would get airborne, get the gear up but hold the aeroplane right down just above the ground till 190 kts, then a 3 'G' pull up and over. 

Because we had a 4 'G' limit and it was easy to overstress, the gunsight was removed for displays and an accelerometer was fitted in its place so I could monitor the 'G' loading carefully.   Lots of fun.  We always carried a navigator and they were very brave guys to ride through it all."

Thanks to Gavin Trethewey for his memories of displaying the English Electirc Canberra.

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

ZK-

ZK-

ZK-

ZK-G__

ZK-G__

ZK-G__

ZK-G__

ZK-G__

ZK-G__

 

A gliding pageant run by the combined clubs of Wigram Gliding Club and the Canterbury Gliding Club.

Six Gliders, three Tiger Moths, four Harvards from the Central Flying School,and a Piper Tripacer took part.

 

RNZAF Bristol Freighter

RNZAF Bristol Freighter

NZ5907

NZ5909

ZK-BBZ

ZK-BCQ

ZK-BRA

ZK-BQL

ZK-AVU

ZK-AWZ

ZK-AXF

ZK-AYU

ZK-AZT

ZK-AWU

ZK-APO

ZK-AWH

ZK-BPS

ZK-BPT

ZK-BQG

ZK-BVP

ZK-BWW

ZK-BWZ

ZK-BZT

ZK-BWL

ZK-BWN

ZK-BYH

 

Notes

The information for this event come from an AHSNZ Journal report, kindly supplied by Peter Layne.

 

 

Apparently displays were made to mark the RNZAF's 25th birthday throughout the country. Does anyone have more details?

 

 

An air pageant marking the opening of Gisborne's new terminal building

 

 

Notes:

This was the annual Deep Freeze Open Day at the US Navy's Antarctic base at Christchurch International Airport, Harewood, Christchurch.

According to the Aviation Historical Society of New Zealand's Journal for November 1962, over 30,000 members of the public attended this event

The AHSNZ Journal also recorded that the Neptune had "numerous kangaroos in unlikely places and a set of miniature footprints leading from access ports and events all round the rear fuselage."

 

 

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

 

This was the first public South Island demonstration of a hovercraft. It was described in the Press as, "somewhat disappointing. Resembling a slow tinbath, it threw up clouds of dust which at times completely obscured it. After driving slowly once down the runway, it was picked up by two men and put under cover on a trailer where it attracted little interest."

A novelty medley race including bicycles, wheelbarrows, go-karts, and aeroplanes was won by Mr D. Atkinson, a Rangiora pilot. Although a little slow on his bicycle, he cauaght up lost time in the go-kart and completed his circuit of the field well ahead of the others. Mr C. White and Mr J. Olds, of Christchurch, came second and third.

The organisers took £180 at the gate, with the funds intended to be used for further development at the airfield. They also planned to sell the hovercraft which they'd bought for the pageant.

 

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

 

This weeklong celebration saw RNZAF aircraft make flypasts of most New Zealand towns, marking 25 years since the Air Force Bill and Air Department Bill were signed by the Governor General on the 6th of November 1937

Week of 6th to 10th of November 1962

 

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

 

In his final jump the parachutist. Mr P. Wylie, made a 17 second free drop from about 7000 feet before opening his parachute. Mr Wylie judged his jump nicely and landed within a matter of yards of his target.

Aerobatics were performed by a radio controlled model, operated by Mr D. Hamilton, who earlier in the year won the South Island championship with the same model.

 

 

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

ZK-

ZK-

 

Notes:
The US Navy 'Operation Deep Freeze" Douglas C-54Q Rescuemaster did a JATO take off. This was a militarised version of the Douglas DC-4 four-engined airliner

 

 

Notes:

 

NZ1804

NZ1812

NZ1813

NZ1816

NZ1817

NZ1819

NZ1821

NZ1827

NZ3546

NZ3551

NZ3553

NZ1065

NZ1066

NZ1075

NZ1085

NZ1060

NZ1058

NZ1076

NZ1078

NZ1079

NZ1080

NZ1083

NZ1091

NZ1098

NZ5902

NZ5904

NZ5802

NZ5803

XM715

XM716

XM715

61-171

61-212

61-215

62-4224

62-4247

62-4269

 

Notes:
The flying display began at 2.30pm

Vampire NZ5770 was set up in No. 4 Hangar and had remote control cables set up so people could move the ailerons, flaps, elevator, dive brakes, rudder and undercarriage.

Devon NZ1817 arrived with the Chief of Air Staff, AVM Ian Morrison

Dakota NZ3551 arrived with the Governor General of New Zealand, Sir Bernard Ferguson, and his wife Lady Ferguson

The six F-105D Thunderchiefs were with the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing in Guam

An F-105D did a high speed run above the cloud breaking the sound barrier with a sonic boom over the base

Supported by Canberras, Vampires and Thunderchiefs, soldiers from the Army parachuted onto the base and attacked a mock fort set up on the airfield which was described in the AHSNZ journal as resembling a Maori pa. Reinforcements then landed in a USAF C-130B.

The RAAF C-130 Hercules A97-216 was withdrawn from the display after suffering engine issues.

It was reported that nearly 10,000 people turned out two days before the airshow simply to watch the practice day!

 

ZK-G

ZK-G

ZK-G

ZK-G

ZK-G

 

This event commemorated 50 years since the 6th of March 1914 flight between Christchurch and Timaru by Will Scotland in his Caudron. It also celebrated significant developments at Christchurch Airport with the opening of the new runway extensions, the opening of the new restaurant at the terminal building, the opening of the National Airways Corporation’s training centre, and the opening of the Canterbury Brevet Club’s new headquarters.

This event was the beginning of a Christchurch to Masterton Air Race that was expected to have 50 aircraft take part.

 

 

Notes:

 

ZK-

ZK-

 

This event celebrated the opening of the newly sealed runway

 

NZ1060

NZ1066

NZ1075

NZ1078

NZ1080

NZ1096

NZ10__

NZ10__

NZ10__

NZ1058

NZ57__

NZ57__

NZ57__

NZ57__

 

According to a report by Ray Deerness in the AHNZS Journal dated 7th of February 1966, a total of 49 aircraft attended this event, those listed above were those seen flying during the day, including the scheduled DC-3 airliners

 

Flt Lt Larry Olsen

Fg Off Angus Kingsmill

Fg Off Ross Ewing

Fg Off Barry Mitchell

 

Around 300 aircraft from across the world, then valued in total around NZ₤60 million, were on display at Mangere over the three opening days.

The Transport Department expected 16,000 vehicles during the main air pageant day. To cope with traffic they made use of a helicopter, 115 traffic officers, closed-circuit television, traffic engineers, Army provosts, and Signal Corps members.

More people visited Auckland international Airport on the 31st to look at aircraft and see the static exhibition than on the Saturday for the air pageant and official opening. More than 20,000 cars passed through the airport main gates. There was a constant stream in both directions for most of the day, and traffic as a result flowed smoothly.

During the main air display day, more than 100 lost children ended up in the red cross tent hoping to be reunited with their parents. Some waited many hours. Ten kids still there when the airshow closed its gates at 6.30pm, but all were claimed from the site's central police station by 8.30pm.

If you can add any details of pilots, aircrew members, aircraft serial numbers and civil registrations or any memories from this airshow, please email me

 

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

 

The Minister of Civil Aviation (Mr McAlpine) opened the pageant and unveiled a memorial to Richard Pearse who made the first powered flight in New Zealand in 1904.

 

 

Notes:

This airshow was to mark the opening of the new runway and newly built air terminal at Rukuhia, becoming Hamilton Airport

Frank Bish was meant to do a high speed taxi demo of the newly restored Corsair but actually got airborne accidentally before managing to put it back down on the ground

 

 

Notes:

In all some fifty aircraft were present, the above mentioned being those in the display. The RNZAF did not take part in this airshow and P-51D Mustang ZK-CCG which was scheduled to perform failed to show due to a faulty battery

 

 

Notes:

This was a public demonstration at Wigram to show off the new helicopters. Following this display the two helicopters flew to Burnham Military Camp and did the same for the soldiers there

 

 

Notes:

Rural Aviation'S Cessna Agwagon ZK-CQL was actually on loan to Cooksons Airspread at the time so did not wear Rural livert, whilst ZK-CQK did

 

NZ1060

NZ1065

NZ1066

NZ1085

NZ1087

ZK-CNV

ZK-CHI

ZK-CEH

ZK-BOV

ZK-CIM

 

Notes:

This pageant was held to raise financial assistance for widow Helen Dunn and the two children of the late Frederick Murray Dunn who had been killed in a gliding accident at the Eyrewell State Forest near Christchurch on the 4th of May 1966 on a test fllight of Slingsby 17R Dart ZK-GEN. It was reported that around £1400 was raised at the event and through donations for the family.

It was decided that this would be the last airshow or pageant to be held at Christchurch International Airport, due to increased airline and civil traffic. However they did have a large airshow there later in 1987.

It was said that 20 skydivers from various parts of New Zealand gave demonstrations of smoke tracing using candle flares and baton passing during free falls. The New Zealanders were joined in the parachuting events by members of the United States Navy’s pararescue team at Christchurch.

 

 

Notes:

 

 

NZ1060

NZ1065

NZ1066

NZ1085

NZ1087

 

Notes:

This pageant marked the official opening of the new Browns Road Airport at New Plymouth which superceded the Bell Block Aerodrome

20,000 people and 187 aircraft attended this two day air event

This was the last public air display by an RNZAF Short Sunderland and following an earlier demonstration in the day the type also closed the show as a final farewell

 

 

Notes:

This air display was put of for the Rotorua Public while No. 75 Squadron were on a one-week long exercise to test its mobility, camping at the Rotorua Airport with Vampires, Canberras and an Iroquois

 

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

NZ

 

Notes:

This special open day at Wigram marked 50 years of flying on the airfield.

This was the first airshow where the Central Flying School of the RNZAF's Harvard aerobatic team displayed under their new name as The Red Checkers, and with their new red and white checked cowls, and red flying overalls.

There were also demos by the Canterbury Skydivers’ Club, the Canterbury and Wigram Gliding Clubs, a demonstration of parasailing and the Rothman’s vintage air race.

The static displays included armaments, airframes, communications, and safety equipment from the RNZAF sections. Displays were also provided by the the Aviation Historical Society, Air New Zealand, the National Airways Corporation, Mount Cook Airlines, and the United States Navy.

A 1929 Spartan from Temuka was also on display.

 

ZK-BVY

ZK-BYM

ZK-CKW

ZK-CSW

ZK-CKS

 

Notes:

The Governor General, Sir Arthur Porritt, and Lady Porritt, were present.

Captain Fred Ladd arrived dangling from a rope beneath a helicopter, dressed as Steve Tracey of Thunderbirds!

This fundraiser for the Outward Bound organisation brought in around $10,000 from the gate takings - a very good sum back then

The Airtruks, Dakota and Fu-1060 all gave handling demos and topdressing displays. One of the Airtruks took off and spiralled upwards to about 2000 feet and levelled off right above where it had taken off from. The six Airtruks also flew in close formation together.

 

 

Notes:

A display practice over the base for the opening of the North Shore Aero Club's new airfield the following day

 

ZK-CGT

ZK-CQC

ZK-

ZK-

 

Notes:

Marking the opening of the North Shore Aero Club's new airfield. A total of 56 aircraft attended, and they had a mass flypast of 22 aeroplanes

 

 

Notes:

On the final run of the railway service known as the Fairlie Flyer, on the line between Timaru and Fairlie, the passengers on this special farewell excursion were treated to aerobatics from first the Airtourer as they moved through Levels station. A little further along they got another aerobatic display from the Super Cub. All the way along the track to Fairlie the Cessna was circling above. And at Fairlie Station where a ceremony was held, just after the "Ballad of the Fairlie Flyer" music died away the Tiger Moth appeared and gave an aerobatic demo too. As the train left Fairlie for the return trip to Timaru, the Cessna made repeated low runs from back to front over the train.

The Timaru-Fairlie line closed the next day, on the 3rd of March 1968.

 

 

 

Notes:

A display practice over the base

 

 

Notes:

A display practice over the base

 

ZK-CKF

ZK-CLB

 

Notes:

This Pageant was sadly marred by heavy rain brought in from a tropical storm. The aero club competitions held on Friday the 8th were restricted due to weather. There was heavy rain overnight and on the morning of Saturday the 9th, so only a limited air display was held on Saturday afternoon.

One of the Canberras took off, performed a flypast and then went directly back to Ohakea as the runway was too wet to land safely. It's not clear which flew and which remained static.

The six Harvards mentioned were all there but the column of serials may not necessarily equte directly with each pilot beside that number. The spare aircraft pilot's name is also unknown.

A Lockheed orion was scheduled to turn up and display but the attrocious weather prevented this happening

 

ZK-CFJ

ZK-CLE

ZK-CMC

ZK-CME

ZK-CPQ

ZK-CPK

NZ57

NZ57

NZ5708

NZ5771

 

Notes:

The National Airways Corporation gave rides to Intellectually Handicapped and Crippled Children

 

 

ZK-AKM

ZK-BFP

ZK-CUD

ZK-CUE

ZK-AQJ

ZK-AQZ

ZK-ARP

ZK-AZU

ZK-BMD

ZK-BVT

ZK-CAC

ZK-CAH

ZK-CEI

ZK-CNA

ZK-BJZ

 

Notes:

The Marlborough Aero Club was formally constituted on the 4th of July 1928, but this event was arranged to fall on Easter Weekend

The Tiger Moth wing stand (wing walker) act where R. Handley stood strapped to a stand on top of the Tiger Moth's fuel tank was said to be a first for New Zealand

A replica of the Bleriot XI Monoplane 'Britannia' was constructed, fitted with a Gipsy Major engine, and was planned simulate a take off and suddenly break in half, as a joke to amuse the crowd. However this was to be later in the programme and while it was merely being towed around (accompanied by the theme to Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines) the wind caught it and it actually began to take off. The aircraft's undercarriage was damaged and so the planned take off and break apart never happened.

 

 

 

Notes:

 

 

 

NZ5707

NZ5709

NZ5710

NZ5711

NZ5753

NZ5755

NZ5765

NZ5767

NZ5774

NZ5776

 

Notes:

This display marked Battle of Britain Day, and was incorporated into No. 75 Squadron's Exercise Red Robin.

Six local civilian aero club aircraft started the display, which ones is not known.

Then the RNZAF Auster, sporting a new green/brown camouflage was put through its paces doing very low flying, demonstrating the effectiveness of the camo against trees, etc.

Harvard NZ1079 then did an aerobatic display.

Then the Vampires took to the air, except for NZ5711 and NZ5755 which were both on static display duties for the crowd. The eight flying Vampires flew a line abreast display, then two of them broke from the formation and performed a mock dogfight, with NZ5765 pretending to have been shot down, trailing smoke as it disappeared behind trees. The other six then flew over in two vee formations, before the dogfighters rejoined them and the eight came over again in an arrow formation.

The display was concluded when an Air Force officer parachuted from the Piper Tripacer ZK-BLE.

 

 

 

Notes:

A two-hour display conducted by the armed services, several Christchurch sporting clubs and the search and rescue organisation produced a comprehensive and exciting display of land, air and sea rescue techniques at Sumner.

4000 onlookers streamed into Sumner, raising $450 towards the $15,000 needed by the Sumner Lifeboat Institution to purchase a new boat from England.

A display began with a simulated rescue by the Sumner lifeboat Rescue II of three men who parachuted into the sea about half a mile off Scarborough.
The lifeboat —which is the one for replacement —plucked the men out of the water almost as soon as they had plunged into it. Later in the day three other parachutists singly demonstrated the art of guiding themselves on to a target from heights of 3000 and 4000 feet. In each case the demonstration involved dropping into the chilly sea. The parachutists were all members of the Christchurch Skidivers’ Club. As they descended they had to unfasten their harness and inflate “Mae Wests” to be ready to drop into the water. Jet boats were waiting, and picked them and their parachutes from the water.

Aircraft of the R.N.Z.A.F. joined in the air display with a Devon making low sweeps between Scarborough and Cave Rock. On the third sweep the aircraft ejected a liferaft which inflated as it descended. A Harvard trainer aircraft performed a series of aerobatics. At the controls was a pilot who the commentator described as being younger than the aircraft.

The R.N.Z.A.F. also provided a static display of rescue equipment.