Yes, I finally managed to get my pics processed and uploaded. I’ve been busy! The only reason I got them done today was because an appointment was cancelled.
Anyway, here are 10 photos that give a flavour of the day, including the typical (i.e. variable) Auckland weather. The photography was challenging in that many photos have very deep shadows and blown highlights. In some, the entire sky was blown. I shot 799 photos on the day and have uploaded 146 for you to view.
First of all, yes, a 757 showed up. Two of them! (Yes, the entire fleet.)
The day’s programme was somewhat odd in that the RNZAF displayed both in the morning and afternoon. The morning displays were reasonably short, (especially the 757′s!) and were followed by a selection of warbirds.
I’d not previously seen ZK-AKU in this scheme. Very nice!
The usual Corsair and Mustang were present and as brilliant as ever. Check out that low pass from the Mustang!
The 757′s morning display was curtailed due to a technical fault, but in the afternoon it was put through its paces.
One of the main aircraft I was hoping to see was the USAF C-17 Globemaster III. What an aircraft! This somewhat distant shot shows you the sort of display we were treated to.
The day was also livened up by three interesting formations, two of which I had never seen or even heard of before.
The “Thunder formation” of the heavies I had seen.
Completely new to me were a combined ‘trainer’ formation of a King Air and some Airtrainers, and the most surprising civil/military formation of Roaring Forties Harvards with Airtrainers.
The final display of the day was the most spectacular. An RAAF F/A-18 Hornet is seen here ‘pulling g’ with vapour streaming off the airframe. A very tight display and rather ear-splitting. Perfect!
Check out the rest of the shots in the set on Flickr.
