D-Day Commemorations

Ardmore airport with the NZ Warbirds Association put on one of their annual open days yesterday. The show was to commemorate D-Day, but it is also a practice day for the warbirds pilots.

Bit of a mixed bag on weather with clear blue skies to start with. Only downside is the low winters sun was in front of us. It wasn't long before the wind changed and it brought in a lot of cloud. So, no sun, but hardly any light either. The changing light is always a good challenge for photography....

I tried a few different things in Lightroom to process the photos. Setting presets makes things much easier! Was much quicker to work through the photos. I was also keen to try and play around with darkening the clouds/smoke trials to see if I could get some nice effects.

Anyway, on to the show and in no particular order.... (just a note... as always, I'm posting heaps of pics 'cause I can't decide which ones I like best - enjoy!).

STATICS

A couple of the planes on display. I didn't realise that there were 3 Strikemasters here (2 are airworthy). I decided to have a play around with the morning light and some lens flare.

NAVY

(T-28 Trojan & Harvard '92)

Great to see the T-28 back in the air.

BEAVER / CT-4

RYAN & CHIPMUNK

The Ryan is a nice looking aircraft. Was good to see it displaying again.

HARVARD'S

Always fantastic to watch. Great display as always.

L-39

THE FIGHTERS!

Yak 3 / P-40 / Spitfire

I never tire of seeing these guys. Just wish the P-51 could also have flown.

And my favourite.... 

YAK-52

SPORTS AIRCRAFT

These guys just seem to like doing burn outs... :)

VENOM

A surprise visitor who just popped in for a quick hello. Was going at some speed when going past for the first fly-by.... too quick for me! Got a couple of good ones as he left for Ohakea. Had to do a bit of work on them though due to the low light.

DOMINIE

TIGER MOTH

Fantastic display. Amazing what can be done with this old bird.

MX-2

Great to watch as always. Just glad I'm not up in the cockpit with all those stomach churning maneuvers! Played around a little with shooting the MX-2. Tried landscape and to create some interesting silhouettes with the clouds/smoke.

RE-ENACTORS & THE BATTLE

Someone has got/restored a Daimler Dingo! Thats awesome :) And... War Correspondents seem to have gotten much younger... Didn't take many shots as I had the 150 - 500mm lens on. Also decided it wasn't worth turning any into black & white.

At the end of the day there were very long and very slow moving queues to get out of Ardmore. So, Lee & I decided to hang around to let it clear (Rob had joined the queue in his car... :) ). Just as well that we did. We got quite lucky and photographed a few of the aircraft as the sun set. Got some pretty interesting shots with the fading light (under the wise tutelage of Lee - thanks Lee! :) ).

And just for Rob... Honestly Rob, the phone call was just to see if you were still in the car park so you could come and join us :)