Whenuapai Open Day 09

By Rob Neil.

Each year the RNZAF holds what it calls an “Open Day” at either Ohakea or Whenuapai. This year, it was Whenuapai’s turn to host what—in the end—proved less of an “Open Day” and more of a spectacular international air show. Fine weather, numerous diverse aircraft on the ground and in the air, huge crowds and the presence of long-missed ANZUS allies performing in the air made for a truly memorable day.

With no bad weather alternative day set aside, Group Captain Poot, who did much of the planning for this year’s event, must have been sweating as the day approached. Auckland’s notoriously fickle weather even taunted him in the morning with heavy grey skies that threatened a show-stopping downpour. Thankfully, the swollen clouds dissipated in perfect time for the displays; the massive crowd baked in the heat while the displays took place in clear blue skies—and photographers got badly sunburned.

In addition to every one of the RNZAF’s aircraft types, notable participants at the show included a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III of the USAF, which flew all the way from Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska just to attend and display at the show. And what a display it was! The smooth but spirited display of this impossibly big cargo lifter suggested that the C-17’s pilots enjoyed the opportunity to fly their big bird empty and lightly fuelled.

Because it is so big, the C-17 didn’t need to fly ultra-low to impress and the Americans cleverly tailored their display to highlight the aircraft’s quite remarkable manoeuvrability at a height that still emphasised its size.

The Australian Air Force flew two of its F/A-18s across the Tasman just for the “Open Day” as well. While the F-111 has been an occasional visitor in recent years (its dump-and-burn routine is quite familiar to Kiwi air show spectators), it was wonderful to see (and hear) the agile F/A-18 in action again.

Both the Australians and the Americans supplied their own commentators for their respective displays. For most of the rest of the day, the RNZAF’s Flt Lt Kate Clark provided an excellent commentary.

Easily equalling the “spectacle” value of the C-17 was the RNZAF’s Boeing 757 display. Most people get used to seeing aircraft like this take off from airports and climb out at three or four degrees in a straight line until they disappear from view. Even such a routine sight draws crowds at airport fences and carparks around the country. However, to see a big airliner like the 757 leap off the ground and pitch straight up into what seems an impossibly steep banking turn, and then cavort around the sky like a seagull with a firecracker up its back passage provides a major thrill that never lessens, however often one sees it.

As is the case with the C-17 display, it is worth noting that the 757 display makes clever use of the aircraft’s size to give more of an impression of “extreme” flying than is actually the case. Undoubtedly, the Air Force pilots enjoy the opportunity to fly unladen and lightly-fuelled, which they would seldom do outside the parameters of an airshow. The RNZAF’s 757s usually have holds filled with cargo and/or people, and their departures and general flying otherwise mirror that of airliners’ standard flight profiles.

A low-level fast pass by any of the bigger aircraft—757, Orion, Hercules—is also a spectacle that never loses its appeal. The Orion, in particular, sends delightful shivers up one’s spine with the distinctive whistle that accompanies its roaring passage at high speed. When a high speed run past the crowd is followed by a steep pull-up and bank, it draws an unstoppable “Yes!” from almost anyone who has ever flown and can imagine the sensations of speed, power and “g” in the cockpit of this elegant large aircraft.

The King Airs that the RNZAF uses to teach its pilots multi-engine and navigation skills, seldom “perform” at air shows. This year, while one King Air was on static display, another made a welcome appearance in formation with three of the Red Checkers’ CT4E Air Trainers.

The Red Checkers put on another of their typically brilliant displays (their “regular” display is constantly evolving as new routines are added all the time). Always a pleasure to watch, the Red Checkers consistently manage to produce world-class displays in their tiny, underpowered piston-engined trainers. Anyone who has ever flown formation (even in straight-and-level flight—forget about the aerobatics) will understand the difficulties of coordinating a large formation of underpowered aircraft in complex aerobatic manoeuvres. The big names in military formation teams, like the Blue Angels or the Red Arrows, have massive surpluses of power in their jet aircraft that are simply not available to the Red Checkers. Well done, guys and girls!

Well-coordinated displays by 3 Sqn’s two workhorse types—the Sioux and Iroquois—were great to watch. The distinctive sound of the Iroquois’ big blades will be sorely missed when the type eventually goes…perhaps the Air Force can be persuaded to keep one or two to perform at air shows—please?

It was not only in the air that Whenuapai’s Open Day kept the crowd entertained. Numerous worthwhile events on the ground drew big crowds and kept interest up throughout the day. There was the (almost mandatory) race between a car and an aircraft (in this case, a V8 Supercar against Doug Brooker’s MX2), a display of the talents of the RNZAF Air Security Section’s dog handling skills, a ground display by the Army, and the RNZAF band quickly drew a huge crowd as soon as it started to play. From the way many people literally ran to see the band in action, I’m sure most people would agree that its performance wasn’t long enough.

As a public relations exercise, the Whenuapai Open Day 09 couldn’t possibly have done a better job for the RNZAF, with flying displays by every RNZAF type except the Seasprite, and hundreds of uniformed personnel acting as courteous and helpful ambassadors amongst the huge crowd.

The weather certainly cooperated and as a result, I suspect that the Air Force might have been (pleasantly) surprised at the size of the turnout, with roads around Whenuapai jammed with traffic all day, car parks full, and lines of people queuing for food at the numerous shops and stalls throughout the venue. While some people complained about the traffic and the queues for food and drink, these things were out of the Air Force’s hands and, certainly, air show regulars would have expected such things and come prepared.

The ranks of tomorrow’s Air Force will be the children and young people of today, and events such as this are certain to sow the right seeds in the minds of aviation or service-minded youngsters. Congratulations and thanks to the RNZAF, RAAF, USAF, Armée de l’Air and the numerous civil participants at Whenuapai’s Open Day 09.

Pacific Wings would like to offer particular thanks Flt Lt Phil Randerson who—in significant discomfort, having undergone major surgery only a week earlier, and still wearing a cast and sling—made himself available as an accommodating host for the whole day.