Photos from NZ and the Vintage Aviator Collection

Russell Smith · **Posted:** Sat Aug 01, 2009 6:16 pm

This is sort of old news, but since I just recently started posting here again I figured i share this with you guys:

My wife and i took a two week trip to NZ in April. The main purpose of our trip was to see airplanes, and see airplanes we did!

The fun started over Easter weekend with the Classic Fighters show.

The usuals were there - the Camel, the Nieuport 17, a few tripes, the Pfalz....

more coming...

Russell Smith · **Posted:** Sat Aug 01, 2009 6:16 pm

New to the show this year was the pristine looking Avro 504.

more coming...

Russell Smith · **Posted:** Sat Aug 01, 2009 6:17 pm

The Fokker DVII has had a serious overhaul since my last trip down. I was told that in the process of the overhaul, over 200 pounds were remove from the overall weight. Not only does it now look like a proper DVII, but obviously it handles much better now as well. Its such a photogenic airplane! My camera just seemed to want to follow it.

more coming...

Russell Smith · **Posted:** Sat Aug 01, 2009 6:18 pm

For the WW1 folks like me, the highlight of the Classic Fighters show was the debut of the BE2:

more coming...

Russell Smith · **Posted:** Sat Aug 01, 2009 6:18 pm

On Wednesday following the show I was treated to a special day at Hood Aerodrome in Masterton. I've got to say that this day now ranks as one the most memorable days of my life!

The photos say it all.....

First of all, we ran into the BE2 again at Hood.

more coming...

Russell Smith · **Posted:** Sat Aug 01, 2009 6:19 pm

The Bristol F2b was there and I was treated to a ride.

(conveniently enough, I'm currently working on an FB2 painting:
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... hp?t=31262 )

This is me (looking sorta like like Batman!)

more coming...

Russell Smith · **Posted:** Sat Aug 01, 2009 6:20 pm

The 3 SE5s together was magical. They took to the air in the late afternoon, and the sight of the 3 flying in formation against the backlit clouds, along with the singing of the bracing wires as they made low passes by us, was absolutely sublime!

more coming...

Russell Smith · **Posted:** Sat Aug 01, 2009 6:21 pm

My trip to NZ was topped off by an opportunity to get up close and personal with the brand new TVAL FE2! This is the same aircraft featured in the June (I think) issue of Air Classics.

more coming...

Russell Smith · **Posted:** Sat Aug 01, 2009 6:21 pm

Now, let's play a game! Who can guess where I was when I took these shots?:

The answer:

What an honor! WW1 historian Colin Owers (center), WW1 aircraft profile artist Ronny Bar (right) and myself (left) were all treated to rides in the FEE. We became part of a small but elite group that day as we are now among the first people to ride in an FE2 in 90 years! It was an experience I'll never forget!

The distinguished gentleman in the observer/gunner position is WW1 historian Colin Owers.

Look closely - he's actually standing up in the nacelle. I didn't try to stand up. It was too windy during my flight. Uh...yeah...that's why...

Here comes Ronny Bar in a VERY low photo pass!

as a final note, don't be surprised if you see some of these images turn up in paintings in the future!

Russ

Mark Nankivil · **Posted:** Thu Aug 06, 2009 4:27 pm

Fantastic - thanks for posting you lucky dog! Mark

Michel Lemieux · **Posted:** Thu Aug 06, 2009 9:34 pm

Wow....never realized how big the WW1 scene is down under.

Tks for sharing...seems to me you had a cracking time

Russell Smith · **Posted:** Fri Aug 07, 2009 7:07 am

Thanks guys. These aircraft are all part of the Vintage Aviator Collection. Many of the aircraft were built by out side sources and purchased by TVAL for the collection. However, TVAL now has its own facilities to build these beautiful birds from scratch, and the more recent additions to the collection - the SE5a's, the BE2 and the FE2 - were manufactured in-house. The folks at The Vintage Aviator Ltd. not only build WW1 aircraft, engines and propellers to the same exacting standards they were originally made over 90 years ago, but they endeavor to maintain absolute authenticity with the original designs. As a result, New Zealand has become a Mecca for the WW1 minded folks. Very few places in the world offer the opportunity to see these highly authentic types outside of static displays and in their natural environment, and without a doubt, no other place offers such a variety of WW1 aircraft.

Here's a link to their site:
http://thevintageaviator.co.nz/

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Photos from NZ and the Vintage Aviator Collection

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