Zero over the South Island...

Some of the South Island scenery.

'Smoke on'

Leaving Blenheim.



Photo opp.

Nearly ready.


The all important pilot briefing.

After a quick pit stop and refuel the Zero was ready to go again this time with Jason Somes flying for the second leg to Wanaka, with the obligatory low pass and smoke on! The scenery on the South Island is supposed to be even more spectacular than the North but unfortunately the first half of it was cloud covered!! ;(

On its way

The Malborough Sounds.


Across the water - nice and high!



Leaving the North Island.

Approach for low pass.

Coming in to Wellington

The dormant volcano!

Spectacular sites on the North Island.

Up and away.

Tauranga Docks

After a low pass over the airfield we were off! Leaving Tauranga behind us Steve Barber flew the first leg of the journey. We got to fly over a volcano (luckily dormant) and made some fly-bys on the way down, over other airstrips and events. The coolest of which was Wellington airport as it was in the middle of the bay surrounded by water.

The XL came in first, followed by the Zero with it's smoke on!

Then it was over the water to the South Island, passing by the Malborough Sounds to our landing/refuelling spot at Blenheim. The Zero landed on the active ('the seal' in New Zealand speak) and we came in for a grass landing in the XL (very nice).

Getting ready for departure.

Early morning shot of the Zero

Preparation and planning meeting!

More help from Mike and Marty.

Our ride, a New Zealand built XL, mainly used for 'top-dressing' and 'jumpers' (yikes!)



And finally off for some fuel!!

Behind the scenes...

A few pic's from the early morning unloading of the Zero at Tauranga - a big thanks to everyone that helped out!

Day 2: Tauranga - Wanaka

After a quick early morning walk on the beach (did I say it's beautiful here) it was off the airport for breakfast with the boys. Managed a quick tour of the museum which was amazing and very family friendly - it even had a couple of training wheels for Jason & Steve for practice!

Hangar Heaven and Hospitality Tauranga Style

These guys are the ones who had to get up at 3.30am to help unload the Zero from from Tauranga docks to the airport!! We couldn't have had a warmer welcome, better beer and we now all have major hangar envy!

Thanks to Mike, Marty, Will, Jeff, Frank and the rest of the boys...

First stop Ardmore Airport

First on our whistlestop tour of the North Island was a quick visit to see some of the warbird community at Ardmore Airport. There we met some of the guys, got to see a P40, a DeHaviland Mosquito and a fantastically restored Rapide which would also be making it's way down to Wanaka.

next stop Hobbiton!

and then a surprise visit to 'Hobbiton', courtesy of Ian Brody, who will be comparing the Wanaka Airshow (there had to be an aviation link somewhere). We got a special behind the scenes tour, which was cool and the scenery, our first glimpse of the New Zealand countryside, was just stunning.

and we're off....

Well, after months of behind the scenes preparation and planning by Warbirds over Wanaka and the Camarillo Wing of the CAF, 'Team Zero' Steve Barber and Jason Somes (+2) finally boarded the Qantas red-eye for Auckand, New Zealand.

After some great service at check-in and a comfortable flight we arrived in Auckland to be met by Ray Mulqueen who took multi-tasking to the next level as tour guide, host and most importantly organizer of the Zero's and our safe transit down to Wanaka in the South Island.

Zero to Warbirds over Wanaka