Grumman Avenger TBF-1C, NZ2518

Well at last I managed to get some decent shots of NZ2518, Grumman Avenger at Ohakea during the RNZAF Air Tattoo. Nice to have the blue sky background and fairly low sun in the sky at the time.

Last time I took shots of NZ2518 was at the Wings Over Wairarapa Air Show back in 2015.

Japanese Defence Force, B767 KC-767J

Some nice weather for the arrival of the Japanese Defence Force KC-767J Tanker 97-3603 into Ohakea for the Air Tattoo back in February.

The KC-767J was only on static display at the show on both the Saturday and Sunday.

Welcome to New Zealand Adele

It will be a big weekend in Auckland with singer songstress Adele performing concerts in the City of Sales. There are also plenty of extra flights from around New Zealand being added by airlines to get the out of towner's up for the concert.

Adele arrived early afternoon on the 21st March in this Global Express, VH-CCD.

Welcome to New Zealand Adele, hope you enjoy your stay in our awesome country.

VH-CCD 

VH-CCD

VH-CCD

Philippines Airlines A321, RP-C9912

Finally managed to catch up with a Philippines Airlines A321, which is currently the only airline that has serviced Auckland with the A321, a variant of the very popular A320 model.
Photos are of RP-C9912 arriving from Cairns, Australia

Sure is long and will be interesting to see how Air New Zealand's new livery will look on one, later on this year.

RP-C9912

RP-C9912

RP-C9912 

RP-C9912

RP-C9912

RNZAF C130H Hercules

The RNZAF put their old but trust worthy and well loved C130H Hercules to good use and maintained a busy weekend at the RNZAF's 80th Anniversary Air Tattoo.

The C130's were used for transport of the Air Cadets in and out of Ohakea and performed on many occasions in the flying display with formation fly pasts with the B757 & P3 Orion, as well as performing solo displays. More photos to come of the formation flying in a later post.

Ohakea USAF C17 Globemaster, 05-5146

An airshow there days almost isn't complete unless there is a C17 Globemaster on display.

The USAF sent their Hickam Air Force based C17, 05-5146 down to Ohakea to take part in the flying display at the show on both Saturday and Sunday. 05-5146 flew down from Auckland on the Friday before the show for a practice display and the first 5 photos I took from outside the Air Force based.
Weather sure was good on Friday.

I really love the C17 and there is just something about it. Always puts on a good display also.

Check out the 9th photo down.

BINGO......Two C17's in one photo.

A pretty rare sight and I'll never get a shot like this again.

Vapour trail is of a southtown C17 to Christchurch in the cruise as it passes to the east of Ohakea as the visiting C17, 05-5146 performs it's display at the show.

United States Air Force Fighting Falcon F-16 Demo Team

The USAF Fighting Falcon F-16 Demo team, who are based in Japan turned up at Ohakea as part of the 80th Anniversary Air Tattoo.

And boy were these guys awesome, in their F-16's. I could watch fast fighter jets do displays all day long. It was actually the first time I had seen an F-16 in action and the display that was performed was just outstanding and perfection. The noise sure was impressive and you just have to love the sound of that afterburner. Oh yeah baby.....

It sure was hard to get some good shots of these fast moving machines, and these shots was my take on the weekend for the F-16's.