North American P-51-D Mustang
Fighter
Designed in 1940 as a replacement to the P40 Kittyhawk, the P-51 Mustang was originally powered by an Allison V-1710 V12 but when the RAF swapped the Alison to the much more powerful Rolls Royce Merlin, the Mustang was found to be an excellent high altitude fighter and along with its speed, manoeuvrability and (most importantly) range, made it the only fighter at the time with the ability to escort the Allied bombers over occupied Europe (a role which it excelled at).
The Mustang also proved to be an excellent ground attack fighter bomber and high altitude fighter making it the most sought after aircraft by fighter units for the Allies during the war. Thirty Mustangs were operated by the RNZAF Territorial Squadrons during the 1950s.
Our aircraft is painted in the colour scheme of NZ2415 from No. 3 Squadron (Canterbury) of the Territorial Air Force (TAF), flown in the early 1950’s by Squadron Leader Ray Archibald. It passed through a number of owners before it was imported into New Zealand in 1984 by Sir Tim Wallis and first flew here in January, 1985.
Country of Origin: United States of America
Engine: Packard Merlin V-1650, 1450 Hp, V12 Supercharged Piston Engine
Length: 9.83m (32ft 3in)
Height: 4.08m (13ft 4.5in)
Wing Span: 11.28m (37ft 0in)
Cruise Speed: 362mph (582kmh or 315 knots)
Maximum Speed: 437mph (703kmh or 380knots)
Range: 1105 miles (1777 kms) on internal tanks
Service Ceiling: 41,900ft (12,800m)
Armament: 6 x M2 Brownings (0.5 calibre) machine guns, up to 1000Ib of bombs, 6 or 10 × 5.0 in (127 mm) T64 HVAR rockets
BAC 167 Strikemaster Mk.88
Jet Trainer/Light Attack
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Engine: Rolls-Royce Viper Mk.535 turbojet, 3,140 lbf
Top Speed:
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
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
Another photo from Warbirds on Parade 2023. Strikemaster 72 in the hands of pilot and owner Charles Davies showing off those classic Blunty lines. 😍
It has been awesome having this machine on display at NZ Warbirds at Ardmore while it has received some maintenance from the team at Pioneer Aero.
📷 @bertscoolpics
📍Ardmore Airport
#keepemflying #warbird #avgeek #aviation #aviator #aviationlovers #bac #strikemaster #jetprovost #aerobatics#aviationphotography #pilot #flying #flight #photographer #instagood #airshow #show #onlyinnz #nz #newzealand #aotearoa ##pioneer #purenz #IfYouSeekNZ #viper
It wasn’t all about the action in the air at Warbirds in Parade 2023. A big thank you to the @militaryaviationmuseum who allowed us to show the preserved fuselage of their upcoming Douglas SBD Dauntless project which is being restored by a joint team effort involving Pioneer Aero at Ardmore and Aero Trader at Chino back in California.
📷 @sierra_tango_uniform
📍 @nz_warbirds
#keepemflying #warbird #avgeek #aviation #aviator #aviationlovers #douglas #dauntless #sbddauntless #aviationphotography #pilot #flying #flight #photographer #instagood #airshow #show #onlyinnz #nz #newzealand #aotearoa ##pioneer #purenz #ifyouseeknz
#epic “Because I was inverted” 😎
Top side of P-51D Mustang ZK-TAF flown by Graham Bethell from our big Kings Birthday show as captured by Neville Bailey.
📷 Neville Bailey
📍 Ardmore Airport
#keepemflying #warbird #avgeek #aviation #aviator #aviationlovers #northamerican #p51 #p51mustang #mustang #p51dmustang #aerobatics #aviationphotography #pilot #flying #flight #photographer #instagood #airshow #show #onlyinnz #nz #newzealand #aotearoa ##pioneer #purenz #ifyouseeknz
Mellow Yellow?
Harvard 78 flown by Jeff Hunter at last Sunday’s Warbirds on Parade.
📷@sierra_tango_uniform @stu_65
#keepemflying #warbird #avgeek #aviation #aviator #aviationlovers #aerobatics #harvard #t6 #aviationphotography #pilot #flying #flight #photographer #instagood #airshow #show #onlyinnz #nz #newzealand #aotearoa ##pioneer #purenz #IfYouSeekNZ
Achtung! Spitfire!🔥
MH367 banking tight at Warbirds on Parade 2023.
📷 @sierra_tango_uniform @stu_65
📍 Ardmore Airport
#keepemflying #warbird #avgeek #aviation #aviator #aviationlovers #supermarinespitfire #supermarine #spitfire #aerobatics #aviationphotography #pilot #flying #flight #photographer #instagood #airshow #show #onlyinnz #nz #newzealand #aotearoa ##pioneer #purenz #IfYouSeekNZ
#merlin
It almost doesn’t look real 👀
But it is!
Albatros DVa replica ZK-ARS captured by Paul at our recent Warbirds on Parade airshow.
What a great show!
📷Paul Johnston
📍Ardmore Airport
#keepemflying #warbird #avgeek #aviation #aviator #aviationlovers #ww1 #albatros #aerobatics#aviationphotography #pilot #flying #flight #photographer #instagood #airshow #show #onlyinnz #nz #newzealand #aotearoa #pioneer #purenz #IfYouSeekNZ
We are go for Sunday!😁
We have been busy setting up for our big show tomorrow and the weather looks to be okay at this stage.
There was plenty of flying activity at Ardmore with various aircraft getting up to practice their routines. Also a few aircraft have flown in who are visiting for tomorrow including Strikemaster 72 from Wellington.
A few things to keep in mind:
🔘Gates open at 9am and displays start at 10:30am. Tentative display program is now up on our website as well as our airshow display map.
🔘Directions to get to Ardmore can be found here👇
https://nzwarbirds.org.nz/contact/travelling_to_warbirds_on_parade/
🔘Remember access to the show and parking is via the Hamlin Road entrance ONLY!
🔘Unfortunately NO dogs are allowed at the show except for registered service dogs.
🔘Tickets are still available via iTICKET and Yes tickets can be purchased at the gate👇.
https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2023/jun/warbirds-on-parade
We look forward to seeing you all tomorrow.
Spread the word!
#keepemflying
#flashbackfriday Over the top we go😁➰
Flash back to February 2022 when we had two P-40s at Ardmore and were privileged enough to see both displayed together.
Warbirds on Parade is only just around the corner and we are excited to see Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk ZK-CAG displayed!
#keepemflying #warbird #avgeek #aviation #aviator #aviationlovers #mosquito #curtiss#kittyhawk #p40 #aerobatics #harvard #aviationphotography #pilot #flying #flight #photographer #instagood #airshow #show #onlyinnz #nz #newzealand #aotearoa ##pioneer #purenz #IfYouSeekNZ
MH367 Sun Dancing ☀️
All 3 fighters were out this past weekend after a couple of weeks of unusually wet weather in Auckland.
Amazing how effective the Spitfire’s desert camouflage is for New Zealand’s green landscape. ⛰️🏔️
#keepemflying #warbird #avgeek #aviation #aviator #aviationlovers #spitfire #merlin #kittyhawk #p40 #mustang #p51 #aerobatics #aviationphotography #pilot #flying #flight #photographer #instagood #airshow #show #onlyinnz #nz #newzealand #aotearoa #visitauckland #pioneer #purenz #IfYouSeekNZ
#lestweforget
We were sent this in by Ben who took part in the Anzac Day flypast over Blenheim and Renwick. Aircraft used were the T6 Harvard, Nanchang and Avro Anson. A unique formation for sure!
📷 @seivad555
📍Blenheim/Renwick
#keepemflying #warbird #anzacday #anzac #avgeek #aviation #aviator #aviationlovers #aviationphotography #pilot #flying #flight #photographer #instagood #airshow #show #onlyinnz #nz #newzealand #aotearoa #avro #pioneer #purenz #IfYouSeekNZ #auckland #harvard #t6 #anson
