Going to Wings Over Wairarapa 2013 and We are Back and Blogging

Wings Over Wairarapa 2013 was held over the Wellington Anniversary Weekend ( January 18th - 20th) at Hood Airport in Masterton.

We had to get up very early and catch the train into Wellington and then caught the specially put on train to Masterton.  It was the train that is used for the Capital Connection from Wellington to Palmerston North.  Much more comfortable than the usual Trans Metro train.

On the train.

It was a very nice trip, Salem has only been out this way once before and that was in 2007 which he doesn't really remember too much.

I prefer the train as the car ride over the Rimutaka's to get there is very winding I always get car-sick.
Salem was very excited about the train ride and getting to see all the planes.

Making tiny paper planes.

He spent a lot of time looking at the scenery and making minature paper planes.

Over the next few posts, I will be posting some of our photos that we took at Wings Over Wairarapa.
I used up nearly all my SD card and Salem who was using a proper film camera, used up many rolls of film.

It was very mild when we arrived in the morning but turned out to be a hot scorcher of a day.
Even though we both put on sunscreen, be both got very, very sun-burnt.

When we first arrived we were greeted to planes flying above us in formation.
The joy and excitement was written all over Salem's face.
We found a good spot to watch quite a few flyovers before we went off exploring.

So the photos on this post are of the sight that greeted us as we arrived.
There were so many people there, and more and more arrived as the day went on.

Luckily I had made us a picnic lunch and plenty of snacks, a flask of tea and plenty of water.
There were long lines of people at the food and coffee venders.  I was dying for a coffee later in the day but I couldn't be bothered waiting in line for half an hour or so.  Though it would be something I would have had to do during wartime for everyday items.

It was a fantastic day out and we would have loved to go back the next day.
Can't wait until next year!!!!!!

We have been very slack with our blogging lately, life has been very busy but we are back into blog-mode
so watch this space..............

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Short Sunderland

The Short Sunderland

The Short Sunderland - Britain
By Salem

The Short Sunderland was one of the Royal Air Force's biggest seaplane.
It was often called the "Flying Porcupine".
The Short Sunderland was used for long distance transport, search and rescue and patrolling for U-boats.
It was even used for reconnaissance work.
Even tough the Short Sunderland was big, it wasn't the most manouverable and was no match for the deadly Messerschmitts.

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Tupolev TB-3

The Tupolev TB-3

The Tupolev TB-3  -Russia
By Salem

The Tupolev TB-3 was a massive areoplane, with a wingspan of 40 metres, this inter-war bomber could carry more bombs than any other bomber in the inter-war period.
The Tupolev TB-3 also served in WWII but was no match for the German fighters and were relegated to a transport role.

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Polikarpov R-Z

The Polikarpov R-Z

The Polikarpov R-Z  - Russia

By Salem

The Polikarpov R-Z first served in the Spanish Civil War and also used against Finland.

The Polikarpov R-Z was armed with eight under-wing bombs.

It's engines made a rather curious noise which led them to be called "sewing machines" by the Germans.

This reconnaissance bomber which was in service since the 1930's was relegated to night operations in 1941.

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Mitsubishi Ki-46

The Mitsubishi Ki-46

The Mitsubishi Ki-46
Japan
By Salem

The Japanese possessed one of the best photo-reconaissance aircraft of WWII, the Mitsubishi Ki-46.
It was code-named "Dinah" by the Allies.
The Mitsubishi Ki-46 was powered by two 1050 hp engines and it was so fast that in 1942, the Japanese could take photos of almost anything they wanted.

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The AT-6 Texan

The AT-6 Texan

The AT-6 Texan
The United States of America
By Salem

The AT-6 Texan had virtually provided nearly every Allied pilot with their advanced training in WWII.
It was known in the Commonwealth as the Harvard.
The AT-6 Texan training aircraft was built entirely out of metal.
Since the end of WWII, the AT-6 Texan has been very popular at air shows.

Wings Over Wairarapa 2013

The de Havilland Mosquito was built in 1945 and is the only
one of its kind still flying.

Rare Mosquito confirmed for airshow

Mosquito confirmed for Wings Over Wairarapa

A one-of-a-kind Mosquito fighter bomber will take to the skies next year to headline the Wings Over Wairarapa airshow.

The de Havilland Mosquito has been confirmed for the January show, where it will take pride of place as the feature display aircraft.

Originally built in Canada in 1945, the aircraft is the only one of its kind currently flying.

Airshow director Tom Williams said securing the Mosquito was a major coup for the event.

"The Mosquito was one of the fastest operational aircraft in World War II and the only one to be constructed almost entirely of wood.

''Its significance to World War II history is not to be underestimated.''

The Mosquito - nicknamed ''The Wooden Wonder'' - first flew in November 1940, and was faster than the Spitfire with a top speed faster than 600kmh.

Its versatility meant it was used in daytime tactical bombing, high-altitude night bombing, and photo reconnaissance.

''The legendary Mosquito has a fond place in the hearts of Australian and New Zealand airmen, with about 250 aircraft being built in Australia during the war,'' Mr Williams said.

The Mosquito is owned by American Jerry Yagen, and took seven years to rebuild at Ardmore Aerodrome.

It will line up alongside 12 other de Havilland aircraft at the event, including an early World War II biplane, a DH5, and a Vampire Jet.

More than 70 aircraft in total will be shown.

The biennial airshow will be held at Masterton's Hood Aerodrome at Wellington Anniversary Weekend, January 18 to 20, 2013.

Tickets are available through Ticketek :  www.ticketek.co.nz .

- © Fairfax NZ News

Salem and I are very excited about going to Wings Over Wairarapa.

We have been getting the prices of the tickets and will be getting the train there from Wellington.

Check out their website : www.wings.org.nz

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Vickers Type 264 Valentia

The Vickers Type 264 Valentia

The Vickers Type 264 Valentia
Britian
By Salem

The Vickers Type 264 Valentia biplane first flew in 1935 as a replacement for the Vickers Victoria.
The Valentia was the mainstay of the Middle Eastern transport force.
It was characterized by it's tail-wheel rather than a tail-skid which made it ideal for landing on rough airstrips.

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Ilyushin IL-4

The Ilyushin IL-4

The Ilyushin IL-4 - Russia
By Salem

The Ilyushin IL-4 bomber first saw service against Finland in the Winter War during 1939 - 1940.
It was then used by the USSR in bombing raids on Berlin as early as 1941.

The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver

The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver

The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
United Sates of America
By Salem

The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was best known for the part it played in naval actions against Japanese land forces.
The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was a carrier-based dive bomber and was nicknamed the Big-tailed Beast.
It was used in both anti-shipping strikes and for attacking ground targets.
It could be loaded with rockets or 450kgs of bombs.

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Bristol Beaufighter

The Bristol Beaufighter

The Bristol Beaufighter
Britain
By Salem

One of the aircraft that helped the Allies war effort was the Bristol Beaufighter.
This twin seated fighter was also used as a torpedo bomber, an attack aircraft and a night fighter.
The Bristol Beaufighter was well armed and when attacking the Japanese in Burma, it got the nickname "Whispering Death".

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant

The Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant

The Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant - Germany
By Salem

The Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant (Giant) was one of the biggest aircraft in WWII.
It was also the first to have clamshell doors.
This German military transport aircraft could carry 150 fully armed troops or a light tank.
The only downside of the Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant was that it couldn't unload it's cargo in the air.
But having four machine guns, the ability to land on rough airstrips and a massive cargo hold more than made up for this.

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Tachikawa KI-54

The Tachikawa KI-54

The Tachikawa KI-54
Japan
By Salem

The Tachikawa KI-54 was the standard Japanese training aircraft for the future crews on multi-engined aircraft.
Piolets, navigators, bomb-aimers, radio operators and even air-gunners all trained on the Tachikawa KI-54.
It was named "Hickory" by the Allies.

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Fieseler Fi 156 Storch

The Fieseler Fi 156 Storch

The Fieseler Fi 156 Storch
Germany
By Salem

The tiny Fieseler Fi 156 Storch spotter plane was designed for operation in extremely restricted spaces.
The Fieseler Fi 156 Storch was often used for staff transport but also worked closely with ground troops.
Despite it's frail appearance, it was a great scout aircraft and saw service in the Desert Campaign in North Africa.
Nearly 3,000 Fieseler Fi 156 Storchs were produced between 1937 and 1945 at the Fieseler Factory.

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Petlyakov PE 2

The Petlyakov PE 2

The Petlyakov PE 2 - Russia
By Salem

The Petlyakov PE 2, a twin engine bomber and was a very successful air craft.
It was intended as a high-altitude fighter but it was discovered to be an effective bomber with a maximum bomb-load of 1,600kg.
The Petlyakov PE 2 was also faster than the standard German fighters in Russia in 1941.

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Cant Z 506 Arione

The Cant Z 506 Arione

The Cant Z 506 Arione -Italy
By Salem

The Cant Z 506 Arione was a winner in bad weather.
This seaplane could take-off and land in the strongest winds and had served alongside the German's.
The Cant Z 506 Arione was originally intended to be used as a civilian airliner, but by the end of WWII, they were being used as air-sea rescue planes.

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The de Havilland Mosquito

The de Havilland Mosquito

The de Havilland Mosquito
Britain
By Salem

The de Havilland Mosquito was one of the true greats of air warfare.
The Mk. VI fighter bomber version was the most widely used of the de Havilland Mosquitos and was capable of carrying a pair of highly explosive bombs under-wing.
The de Havilland Mosquito was even converted for reconnaissance duties.
It also helped to defend London during the V1 Doodlebug attacks.

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Fiat CR 42 Falco

The Fiat CR 42 Falco

The Fiat CR 42 Falco - Italy
By Salem

The Fiat CR 42 Falco served as an escort aircraft and as a night fighter.
It was a  sleek looking bi-plane and had a strong steel and alloy frame.
It had a low wing loading which made it very agile and easy to maneuver.
Over 1,800 Fiat CR 42 Falco's were built and it was the most widely produced Italian aircraft in World War II.
It was also used by the air forces of Belgium, Sweden and Hungary.
Even though bi-planes were becoming obsolete,  the Fiat CR 42 Falco served alongside mono-plane aircraft.
Along with the Fiat CR 32's, the Fiat CR 42 Falco's made up about two-thirds of the Italian Air Force's single-seat fighter strength.

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The JU 52/3M

The JU 52/3M

The JU 52/3M - Germany
By Salem

The JU 52/3M was Germany's main military transport aircraft.
It was first developed in the early 1930's and was first used as a commercial transport aircraft before being used in the Spanish Civil War.
They were later used in bombing missions before being used in WWII as the Luftwaffe's main troop transporter.
The JU 52/3M was also used as an ambulance aircraft, glider tugs and even as seaplanes.

WWII Aircraft of the Day - The Mitsubishi A6M Zero

The Mitsubishi A6M Zero

The Mitsubishi A6M Zero - Japan
By Salem

The finest Japanese fighter of WWII was the Mitsubishi A6M Zero.
This tough little aircraft had superb handling characteristics, it was light, powerful and was a long range flyer.
Some of the Mitsubishi A6M Zeros were even converted into float-planes.
But nearing the defeat of the Japanese, they were used for Kamikaze missions.