One for ttyymmnn

"Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen" (distraxi) 01/29/2016 at 02:05 • Filed to: planelopnik

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On this day in 1966 New Zealand’s Auckland International Airport opened.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! the program for the opening airshow. Considering how far away NZ was back then, its interesting who showed up.

The mid 60s were clearly a golden age for airshows - at what other period were planes as diverse as a Sunderland and a Phantom concurrently operational? Also, when else would organisers have aimed to “demonstrate a sonic boom”?

Also: THEY HAD A FREAKING VULCAN! Bastards. I’m still kicking myself for not flying to the UK to see one in the air while I still could.

Here’s a short highlights reel:

Iheartmy365kHonda - Car enthusiasts do like FWD > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen 01/29/2016 at 02:22

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This is great! Thanks for sharing this little piece of trivia!!

Leon711 > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen 01/29/2016 at 05:20

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I saw one of the last flights of the Vulcan. Sadly it was a sombre slow flypast in the immediate aftermath of the Shoreham Airshow Crash . I really wasn’t feeling it that day.

Svend > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen 01/29/2016 at 08:47

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You missed a real treat. The Vulcan was so majestic in flight and just seemed to hang in the air. The engine noise was thunderous and you really felt it when she went over head. XH558 did several flypasts as a thank you for parts donated from our airport ‘gate guard’ XJ823. Towards the end of her life the pilots got a bit more adventurous and pushed the envelope of what they are allowed to do as a sort of final hurrah for the old girl.

She may not be in our sky’s (like so many others before her), but she’ll be in our hearts.

Svend > Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen 01/29/2016 at 09:42

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The Vulcan present on that day 29th January 1966 was XM650.

Vulcan B2 probably either XM612 or XM650 of the Cottesmore Wing with a mainly 12 Squadron crew before departing on a round-the world flight in January 1966 that incorporated a display at the opening of the new airport at Auckland, New Zealand. From left to right: Ch Tech Brown, Flt Lt Dave Fynn (Nav Plot), Wg Cdr J Digman (OC Ops, Cottesmore), AVM Stapleton (AOC 1 Gp), Flt Lt Dick Kharegat (Captain), Flt Lt Roy Raymond (AEO) Flt Lt Lou Huddy (Nav Radar). On the crew entrance door are the RAF Cottesmore station badge, and the squadron badges of IX Squadron (bat), 12 Squadron (fox), and (hidden) 35 Squadron.

Delivered in May of 1964 and sadly dismantled in 1984

Avro Vulcan B2 XM650, formerly of No 50 Squadron. 650 was delivered to No 12 Squadron in May 1964 and merged into the Coningsby, later Cottesmore Wing (November 1964). Transferred to Waddington in December 1968, 650 was eventually allocated to No 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron in May 1975 and No 50 Squadron in January 1977. It was retired to St Athan in January 1882 and sold for scrap in 1984.

Goose Bay 1975