Wings Over Wairarapa 2021 - first airshow of the Kiwi season

[KiwiZac]

I recently won a double pass to Sunday at the Wings Over Wairarapa airshow, which was my first airshow 20 years ago.
I asked the organisers and I was able to take my 12yo nephew with me for his first airshow.

Then they announced the USAF would send a B-52 from Guam for a flyover...on Saturday.
The organisers were kind enough to change our tickets to Saturday so we could witness the first ever BUFF visit to New Zealand.
And just before it arrived the commentators said the B-52 had enough gas for three passes.

We had a fantastic day and my nephew loved it, except it was HOT!
Unfortunately that evening new COVID cases were identified which meant changes to our alert level and cancellation of the Sunday airshow. Awful news as they'd put on an amazing display with record crowds and I've no doubt yesterday would have been as successful.

Here's some photos  Any questions feel free to ask!

DSC_1798c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1799c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1801c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1802c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1803c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1804c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1806c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1810c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1811c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1817c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1821c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1835c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1827c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1838c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1845c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1851c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1867c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1871c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1880c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1893c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1897c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1902c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1903c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1910c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1936c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1955c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1958c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1964c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1967c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1976c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1981c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1998c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1989c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_2016c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_2024c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_2031c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_2035c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_2047c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_2049c by Zac Yates, on Flickr

[Rheged]

A magnificent set of pictures. Thanks Zac!!

[PR19_Kit]

An 'airshow'............... Hmmmmm......

Pleas remind me what one of those is, I have a vague memory somewhere............

[Glenn Gilbertson]

Great pictures, Zac,
Thanks for sharing.

[Nick]

Superb shots, you lucky git! 

[Old Wombat]

Thanks for sharing, Zac!

As long as you & the lad had a good time, that's the important thing!

[Rick Lowe]

Yep, thanks for those, Zac.

And as said, you managed to get there on what turned out to be the only day it was on, so - 'Win!'

I hadn't realized there was a Blackhawk over here, but spotted it on the News one night. Interesting that it's a civilian one, too (or so we're led to believe - shh!)

[KiwiZac]

Thank you folks, we certainly enjoyed ourselves! And I'm pleased you like the photos: it's Dad's trusty Nikon D70 and unfortunately he only has one lens, hence the in-flight pics being cropped and grainy (he lent the big lens to someone in good faith but it has been a few years now  ).

An 'airshow'............... Hmmmmm......

Pleas remind me what one of those is, I have a vague memory somewhere............

I honestly was in two minds about posting photos because I didn't want it to come off as boasting! It's been heartbreaking to follow the fates of airshows over the last year and I didn't want to rub it in.

I hadn't realized there was a Blackhawk over here, but spotted it on the News one night. Interesting that it's a civilian one, too (or so we're led to believe - shh!)

Kahu NZ of Whakatane - formerly Frontier Helicopters - brought it into NZ in mid-2019. They've been working all over the country but never stop in my neck of the woods, so I was wondering when I'd get a chance to see her in person. It was a total surprise!

[Pellson]

F*ck me inverted on a trolley - a BUFF flyover! The closest I've been to one of those things is sitting a few landings out under the final to KI Sawyer AFB in Michigan, like thirty years ago. Unforgettable. 

[zenrat]

Great pics Zac.

Thanks for sharing.

[NARSES2]

Fantastic photos Zac, thank you 

Particularly love the WWI ones 

[dumaniac]

What a splendid set of the old and the more modern.

Thanks for sharing.

I was lucky enough to get to Darwin some years ago with work and there is a B52 there in a hanger with other aircraft. Big bird!

[kitbasher]

Excellent 

[Old Wombat]

What a splendid set of the old and the more modern.

Thanks for sharing.

I was lucky enough to get to Darwin some years ago with work and there is a B52 there in a hanger with other aircraft. Big bird!

When I was living in Darwin, in the mid-80's, I used to sit at the end of the Darwin Airport runway watching them land & take-off.

It was there I realised that B-52s don't use engine power to lift themselves into the air ... they flap their wings like birds!

[PR19_Kit]

It was there I realised that B-52s don't use engine power to lift themselves into the air ... they flap their wings like birds!

And somehow they climb out nose DOWN too!