• North American P-51-D Mustang - NZ Warbirds

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

Siemens-Schuckert D.IV

Fighter

Country of Origin: German Empire
Engine: Gnome Monosoupape 9 Type N, 160hp rotary piston engine
Top Speed:

 

Pacific Aerospace Corporation CT4

Trainer

Country of Origin: New Zealand
Engine: Continental IO-360-H-B9B, 210hp flat-six piston engine
Top Speed: 383 Km/h, 238 MPH, 207 Knots

 

Ryan STM S-2

Sport Aircraft & Trainer

Country of Origin: United States of America
Engine: LOM Prague M332A, 140 Hp straight 4 | Originals: Menasco C4 125 Hp inverted straight 4
Top Speed:

 

@nz_warbirds

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
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
#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
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JOIN US on Anzac Day - NZ Warbirds at Ardmore open Thursday 25th April 10:30am to 3:00pm.
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