@linuxfiend here are some more photos of ZK-TAF from #Omaka #ClassicFighters2023 for you! #avgeek #warbrids

I may share some more #ClassicFighters2023 pics from my beloved Omaka soon, but I think I’ve filled your feeds enough for one night! All my photos can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/gp/zacyates/82z25M70DY #avgeek #warbirds

Full Noise was to campaign at the #AirRaces in 2024 however she will likely not see #Reno again after the announcement this year’s event will be the last here. A lot of race fans would dearly love to see the Kiwi “Yak in a box” return to the pylons. I know I would. #Omaka #ClassicFighters2023 #avgeek #warbirds #airshow

An aircraft I always enjoy seeing is Graeme Frew’s Yak-3 “Full Noise”, a two-time veteran of the National Championship #AirRaces at #Reno. She was up and down a lot over the weekend, flying rides as well as displays. #Omaka #ClassicFighters2023 #avgeek #warbirds #airshow

NZ Warbirds Association president Frank Parker is the only pilot to have flown the FW-190 in New Zealand and had not done so in four years. It was a treat to witness this machine in action after such a long wait - it is a real beast. At idle it reminds me of an animal straining at its leash. #Omaka #ClassicFighters2023 #avgeek #warbirds #airshow

An aircraft I was especially keen to see was the FW-190, first of the Flug Werk reproductions built in the late 1990s-early 2000s. I had never seen this aircraft run, let alone fly, and that changed on the Thursday! #Omaka #ClassicFighters2023 #avgeek #warbirds #airshow

Bevan Dewes’ Harvard NZ1044 made its airshow debut at #Omaka #ClassicFighters2023. This RNZAF veteran served as an instructional airframe with both the New Zealand National Airways Corporation and Air New Zealand…she’s in rather nicer condition now! #avgeek #warbirds #airshow

Two Gippsland Fatman agricultural aircraft of local firm Patchett Ag-Air performed a very smart display on Easter Sunday. Although they could not demonstrate lime sowing due to wind, they flew formation and showed the type of flying rarely seen away from the farms they work over. #Omaka #ClassicFighters2023 #avgeek #warbirds #airshow

This was a truly surreal experience. I’d first read of John Smith’s legendary collection when I was seven or so, and now I was sitting in his Mosquito. I was still shaking two hours later. Thank you Al, this meant more to me than words can describe. Thanks too to Daniel Rarity for getting the two photos of me! #Omaka #ClassicFighters2023 #avgeek #warbirds #airshow

The third John Smith aircraft was the aforementioned De Havilland Mosquito. Very successful raffles were run over the weekend where the prize was to sit in the cockpit during an engine run. While I was buying tickets for one of these raffles Al Marshall, the head of the restoration project, happened to walk in and see me - that night he took me aside and invited me for a closer look on Sunday... #Omaka #ClassicFighters2023 #avgeek #warbirds #airshow

On Easter Sunday I got to help push Gloria into her parking spot on the flightline…as I’d read about this aircraft since childhood it was a real “pinch yourself” moment. #Omaka #ClassicFighters2023 #avgeek #warbirds #airshow

Another of the John Smith aircraft is the legendary “Gloria Lyons”, a Curtiss P-40N Kittyhawk named for a young Christchurch TB patient adopted as a mascot by an RNZAF unit. #Omaka #ClassicFighters2023 #avgeek #warbirds #airshow

A huge personal highlight was the trio of John Smith’s aircraft, including his Tiger Moth…which was once owned by my local aero club. A priceless time capsule that taxied into its parking spot under its own power each day! #Omaka #ClassicFighters2023 #avgeek #warbirds #airshow

This P-51D has been flying in New Zealand since 1984 - we’ve had a good run and should she leave I sincerely hope it’s back to Canada. Graham displayed her in trademark effortless style for perhaps the last time. #Omaka #ClassicFighters2023 #avgeek #warbirds #airshow

Another icon of the Kiwi #warbird scene is Graham Bethell’s P-51D Mustang, a former Royal Canadian Air Force example. #Omaka #ClassicFighters2023 #avgeek #warbirds #airshow

A popular static display was NMIT’s Bell UH-1H instructional airframe. In July I start their aircraft engineering course so I expect I’ll get sick of this Huey! #Omaka #ClassicFighters2023 #avgeek #warbirds #airshow

A few more photos of the Mosquito from Thursday before the show. #Omaka #ClassicFighters2023 #avgeek #warbirds #airshow

Another highlight was believed to be a first for the Southern Hemisphere: five WACO biplanes displaying together. #Omaka #ClassicFighters2023 #avgeek #warbirds #airshow

The syndicate-owned Airdrome Aeroplanes Bleriot XI flew at the show in the hands of my mate Dan Coleman. This modern kit-built replica is powered by a 1928 Velie 5-cylinder radial engine. #Omaka #ClassicFighters2023 #avgeek #warbirds #airshow

One of my highlights at the show was the Trojan Pair, flown by Brett Emeny and Peter Vause. These charismatic machines were flown with great panache and I was excited to see them fly at future shows…sadly Brett died this week, so my memories have become even more special. #Omaka #ClassicFighters2023 #avgeek #warbirds #airshow