Yakevlov Yak-52
Primary Trainer
Country of Origin: Soviet Russia
Engine: Ivchenko Vedeneyev M-14P, 360hp 9-cylinder radial engine
Top Speed: 285 Km/h, 177 MPH, 154 Knots
Supermarine Spitfire Tr.9
Fighter
A symbol of British defiance against Nazi Germany, the Spitfire was designed as a high performance, short-range interceptor combining superb aerodynamics with one of the best aero-engine motors of the time, the Rolls Royce Merlin. It was highly regarded by its pilots, who praised it for its flying characteristics and its ability to outturn its nemesis, the Messerschmitt Bf 109.
Since 1941, Supermarine had planned to produce a two-seat Spitfire conversion trainer to fast track pilot training but the idea was rejected by the British War Ministry. It wasn’t until early 1945 that Vickers Supermarine (as a private venture) started the construction of a prototype/demonstration aircraft in early 1945 which lead to 20 Mk IX airframes being converted to trainer spec.
MH367 served in Europe, taking part in Operations Market Garden and Varsity. In 1948 it suffered a serious landing accident and was scrapped as it was deemed surplus to supply. Its remains were discovered 40 years later and was incorporated into a Spitfire two-seat project that was underway at the time in the USA. MH367’s first post restoration flight was in November 2006 and was painted in the colours of a Mk. V Spitfire (ER570) flown by Major Robert Levine of the 4th Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group, United States Army Air Force in Tunisia 1943.
It was then sold to current owner Doug Brooker and arrived in New Zealand early May 2008 and registered as ZK-WDQ (WD-Q was ER570’s squadron code). Since then MH367 has displayed at all major NZ air shows and is a frequent flier at Ardmore Airport (mostly adventure flights). She is currently painted in the colours of EN520, an 81 Squadron RAF Spitfire that was flown by New Zealand’s highest scoring Ace, Colin Gray.
MH367 is the only two-seat dual control Spitfire in the southern hemisphere and as such allows members of the public the opportunity of flying in Supermarine’s beloved fighter for themselves.
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Engine: Packard Merlin 266, 1710 Hp V12, 2 stage-2 speed supercharger
Length: 9.52m (31ft 4.5in)
Height: 3.58m (12ft 7.75in)
Wing Span: 11.23m (35ft 10in)
Maximum Speed: 408 mph (657 kmh or 354 knots)
Service Ceiling: 43,000ft (13,106m)
Armament: 2 × 20 mm Hispano Mk II cannons & 2 × .50 in M2 Browning machine guns
Ryan Pt-22 Recruit
Primary Trainer
Country of Origin: United States of America
Engine: Kinner R-540-1 , 160hp 5-cylinder radial engine
Top Speed:
Alvis Leonides
Radial Engine
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Engine: 520 hp air-cooled, 11.8 L, 9-cylinder, radial piston engine
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
