Report on Omaka Classic Fighters Airshow 2009
Classic Fighters 2009 will be remembered as the best event ever held by this com
munity. So many aspects of this huge undertaking fell into place so, so well. Before considering anything else, the weather was an absolute highlight. Described by one Australian visitor who wrote a piece for the US newspaper Pacific Flyer, we enjoyed consecutive days of "pure cobalt skies"! Nice!
Our aircraft turnout was good, although we lost two WW-II fighters within a couple of days of the event, both suffering engine problems. Arthur Dovey had in fact already climbed to 10,000ft en route from Wanaka to Omaka when his propeller began to misbehave and he reluctantly turned back.
We also lost some of the expected WW-I machines, however the debuts of both the BE2f and the Avro 504K more than made up for this, these significant restorations delighting the crowds in attendance.
Star of the show was undoubtedly Brendon Deere's exquisite Spitfire. Beautifully displayed by both Keith Skilling and John Lanham, the Mk.IX was a delight to all in attendance, some having traveled a very long way to see it.
For many visitors it was not one of the fighters but the Freighter that was the draw card, a number of people having indicated that they'd come to Omaka just to see and hear ZK-CPT come to life and taxi before the visitors. In the weeks leading up to the event Al and Marty had put in endless hours to make the old B.170 as pristine as she could be and it showed.
Another recipient of amazing input was the Junkers Ju87 Stuka which had been nearly completed in time for the 2003 show and which was subsequently badly damaged in strong wings. Lester Hope led a very capable team to bring this machine up to display standard just in time for the show.
Another area that needs mention here is the military vehicle department. We always enjoy a healthy conting
ent of military vehicles coming to Omaka for the airshow, producing a nice mix of Bren carriers, Blitz wagons, jeeps etc. This year was a little different as we were fortunate to be offered a range of interesting items from our friends in Wellington. These included a German Hanomag half-track, a Kübelwagen, and amazingly, an 88mm Flak anti-aircraft gun. The downside was that these very heavy vehicles needed to be transported across Cooks Strait, but thanks to the generosity of Strait Shipping, that wasn't a problem. The other factor was that they all need to be in good working order, so a team led by Dave Lochead set about working wonders on these vehicles, repainting all of them in suitable authentic colours and markings as well as putting a significant amount of work into the 88mm gun to make it operational. This truly was an outstanding commitment, done well and in a short space of time. Well done to Dave, Tim, Craig and the rest of the crew.
New to Classic Fighters was the Friday night 'Twilight Extreme' sponsored by Marlborough LInes. The spectacle of aircraft flying in a magnificent sunset sky was breathtaking. As was the performance by the RNZAF Kiwi Blue parachute team and the Red Checkers formation aerobatics. Just brilliant! Top that off with a nightline battle reenactment, culmilating in a fireworks display and you really have something special.
There were so many high points associated with this year's show that it would be impossible to draw attention to all of them, bu
t there were several standouts apart from those already mentioned. The monastery, designed by Lester Hope and Andy Bibby, and built with the e
xtraordinary support of the folks from Scaffold Marlborough and Robinson Construction who truly out-did themselves with this fabulous effort. This remarkable edifice represented a monument to the two elements that made this year's event so very special, volunteers and sponsors. Whether the contribution was in time, energy, finance or whatever, the willingness of people and companies to give of themselves to make this event a success is precisely why it proved so positive this year. To all of you who gave so much to Classic Fighters 2009, we thank you most sincerely.
The one other element is the organization itself. For whatever reason, this year we enjoyed the smoothest running event we have ever known. Everyone worked well together, meeting attendance was very good, communications were very good, and every department worked in a thorough and professional manner, meshing well with all other departments. This served to keep alive the positive buzz that kept us all in step for the duration of the organizational period.
Once again, to all who took part in this process, thank you!
Photos: Gavin Conroy, Phil Teague, Paul Maggs, James Orphan and via Lester Hope.
Thank you to our generous Sponsors!
Classic Fighters Charitable Trust wishes to extend a HUGE THANK YOU to the many companies who supported the airshow. Our teams of volunteers had need of a wide variety of materials and services, and when the call went out, companies responded with generosity and a desire to join in the effort.
From building something as ambitious as the monastery, to fencing materials, offering free use of vehicles, supplying generators, paint for the props or sponsoring the awards trophies, each and every gesture of support went towards making Classic Fighters a greater success.
As a result, Classic Fighters 2009 is able to pass on a profit directly to the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre to help sustain and continue to develop this iconic attraction.
Classic Fighters does more than support the aviation museum. It provides a weekend of spectacular entertainment that attracts tens of thousands of visitors to our province, boosting the incomes of local retailers, hospitality and service industries.
We hope that all of Marlborough will join us in our appreciation of the companies listed below, whose support has made this possible.
We trust the list will be even longer in 2011!
Airspray Ardmore Air BP
Allan Scott Family Winemakers Apollo Project Management Ltd
Avspecs Ltd Bank of New Zealand
Bluebridge Blueprint Media
Boreham Wood Winery Boxman Container Services
Butt Drilling Carters Framing
Classic Aero Photography Classic Wings Magazine
Cougar Line Croads Motor & Mower Services
David James Tree Services Deans Lifting Services Ltd
Derek Hebberd Freighting Equus Industries
Fine Fotos Flight Timbers
Float Plane Services Friends of the Bristol
Fulton Hoga Furneaux Lodge
Glenroy Insulation Goldpine
Grigg Family JEM Aviation
Kalgin International Freight Marlborough Aero Club
Marlborough Civic Theatre Trust Marlborough District Council
Marlborough Express Marlborough Helicopters
Marlborough Lines McKendry Motors
Nelson Mail NZ Warbirds Association
Opus International Consultants Patchett Ag Air
Peter Grintner Motorcycles Prenzel Distilling
RAAF Radio Network
Rapaura Timbers Ltd Richard Nicholson
Ridge Air RNZAF
Roger Collett Safe Air Ltd
SBS Banking Scaffold Marlborough
Simcox Sounds Aero Maintenance
Talleys Group Ltd The Vines
The Vintage Aviator Ltd TNL
Toll Holdings Top Shots
Weirhouser Wild South Landscaping