• Bristol Fighter F.2B - NZWarbirds

Bristol Fighter F.2B

Fighter & Light Bomber

The Bristol Fighter F.2B, affectionately known as the “Brisfit”, is a British 2 seat aircraft that was used during the later stages of World War One.  Designed by Frank Barnwell, it was intended to replace the Royal Aircraft Factory’s B.E.2. fulfilling a variety of roles including a fighter, light bomber and reconnaissance platform.  It was fast, manoeuvrable and could dive faster than any other aircraft at the time.

The type saw service in many air forces after the War including here in NZ where 7 saw service with the New Zealand Permanent Air Force and later the Royal New Zealand Air Force until 1936.  They were used for flight training, aerial photography & surveying, metrological flights and army cooperation (ground support).

Our machine is one of six replicas built for the film adaptation of “High Road to China” written by Jon Cleary in the 1970’s.   It has recently been restored here in NZ and wears the livery of  C814 ‘12’, a Brisfit flown by New Zealander Sir Keith Park during his time with 48 Squadron RFC in 1918.

Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Engine: Fairchild Ranger 6-440-C, 200hp straight 6 piston engine
Original Engine: Rolls Royce Falcon III, 275hp V12 piston engine
Length: 7.87m (25ft 10in)
Height: 2.97m (9ft 9in)
Wing Span: 11.96m (39ft 3in)
Cruise Speed: 123mph (198kmh or 106 knots)
Maximum Speed: 123mph (198kmh or 107 knots)
Range: 593 km (180 mins)
Service Ceiling: 18,000ft (5,485m)
Armament: 1× 0.303 in (7.7 mm) forward-firing Vickers machine gun, 1 or 2×0.303 in observer's cockpit, 240 lb of Bombs (100 kg)

Goodyear FG-1D Corsair

Fighter

Country of Origin: United States of America
Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-2800-8 Double Wasp, 2000 Hp 18 cylinder radial piston engine
Top Speed:

 

Model T Ford

WW1 Ambulance

Country of Origin: United States of America

 

Rolls Royce Avon

Turbo Jet

Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Engine: Two-stage Axial flow turbo jet. Thrust range: 12,690 lbf (56.4 kN) dry, 16,360 lbf (72.8 kN) with reheat.
Top Speed:

 

@nz_warbirds

Clear skys at Ardmore this evening. Harvard 78 out on the apron after a successful fundraising event for the Totara Hospice. #keepemflying #northamericant6 #harvard #texan #t6 #newzealand #nzwarbirdsatardmore
ZK-TGN ‘rolling 21’ back in December 2020 during its first public display at Warbirds on Parade. 
This aircraft now resides at the Ashburton Aviation Museum but for a number of years resided at NZ Warbirds at Ardmore. It has been modified to have a 14-cylinder Pratt & Whitney R2000 rated at 1450 HP (not the 9-cylinder Wright R-1820 Cyclone typical for the type). 📸 Stuart Russell #keepemflying #warbird #avgeek #aviation #aviator #aviationlover #northamerican #trojan #aviationphotography #pilot #flying #flight #photographer #yak#instagood #onlyinnz #nz #newzealand #aotearoa #pioneer #purenz #IfYouSeekNZ
An image taken yesterday of the Harvard flypast over Auckland City to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings. 📸Rob New #DDay80 #keepemflying #warbird #avgeek #aviation #aviator #aviationlovers #harvard #northamerican #harvard #aviationphotography #pilot #flying #flight #photographer #yak#instagood #onlyinnz #nz #newzealand #aotearoa #pioneer #purenz #ifyouseeknz
We are super excited to share the ninth annual Tōtara Hospice Long Lunch Charity Gala event that is being hosted in The Warbirds Hangar 2. You will be indulged in a culinary journey showcasing flavours from Around the World. Your menu has been crafted with love and care by talented New Zealand chefs, including a stunning seafood dish from Executive Chef Nancye from Te Kaahu, a truly authentic taco from Chef Jean of Tacoteca and Michael Dearth from Baduzzi will be tantalising your tastebuds with dessert. Ganesh Raj is the MC, amongst other accolades he has been the recipient (for two years running) of Metro Magazine’s Restaurant Personality of the Year, as well as co-hosting the TV series Eat Well For Less and Cooks on Fire. They would love you to join them for a spectacular day of eating, drinking, dancing and philanthropy to make a difference in the lives of terminally ill patients and their whānau in our community. Sunday 23rd June 2024 11.30am till 5.00pm Warbirds Hangar Ardmore Airport Tickets are on sale now and include your coach transfers with Pavlovich Coachlines to and from the airport. We have several easy-to-reach collection points around Auckland in the CBD, Greenlane, Whitford (with a stop in Clevedon) and Manukau.
The calm before the show. Corsair 48 on the flight line of our recent Warbirds on Parade airshow on March 10th. It was a stunning sunrise 🌅 👍 📸 Brian Amerasinghe 📍Ardmore Airport #keepemflying #warbird #avgeek #aviation #aviator #aviationlovers #corsair #fg1d #voughtchance #aviationphotography #pilot #flying #flight #photographer #yak#instagood #onlyinnz #nz #newzealand #aotearoa #pioneer #purenz #IfYouSeekNZ
The Roaring Forties returning from the recent Classic Flyers Aero Day 2024 with Ardmore Airport in the distance. 📸 Paul Johnston #keepemflying #warbird #avgeek #aviation #aviator #aviationlovers #harvard #northamerican#aviationphotography #pilot #flying #flight #photographer #instagood #onlyinnz #nz #newzealand #aotearoa #pioneer #purenz #IfYouSeekNZ
CORSAIR FLYING TODAY! Corsair NZ5648 will be flying today (Sunday 14th) with takeoff at 1100am. Come down to NZ Warbirds at Ardmore and check it out. #keepemflying #warbird #avgeek #aviation #aviator #aviationlovers #corsair #fg1d #voughtchance #aviationphotography #pilot #flying #flight #photographer #instagood #onlyinnz #nz #newzealand #aotearoa #pioneer #purenz #ifyouseeknz
Battle of Britain Flypast✅. It’s always privilege to commemorate such an historic day in aircraft of the same era. Did you see us? 📷Rob New #keepemflying #warbird #avgeek #aviation #aviator #aviationlovers #lestweforget #battleofbritain #harvard #northamerican#aviationphotography #pilot #flying #flight #photographer #instagood #onlyinnz #nz #newzealand #aotearoa #pioneer #purenz #IfYouSeekNZ
Good news for NZ warbird enthusiasts with the confirmation that the FG-1D Corsair ZK-COR took to the skies yesterday after a 6 year hiatus in storage. Newly rated Corsair pilot Frank Parker took this picture yesterday of his view flying the historic fighter to Omaka from Hood Aerodrome. We can’t wait to see this aircraft performing at airshows again! It’s been long over due. #keepemflying #warbird #avgeek #aviation #aviator #aviationlovers #corsair #fg1d #vought #voughtf4ucorsair #harvard #northamerican#aviationphotography #pilot #flying #flight #photographer #instagood #onlyinnz #nz #newzealand #aotearoa #pioneer #purenz #ifyouseeknz
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