Thrilling Jetobatics

A great day of jetobatics and spectacular displays by New Zealand Air Force squadrons thrilled the crowd of more than 7000 at the Air Pageant organised by the Gisborne Aero Club in association with the R.N.Z.A.F. Parachute jumps, aerobatics, helicopter rescue demonstrations, and planes all going through their paces gave the people a day to remember.

Four Vampires, caught by the camera in an unusually low angle, make a dark and dramatic shot.

Four Canberras from No.14 Squadron display their skill be flying in very close formation

The surprising agility of the Hercules was amply demonstrated by their pilots

White jet trails left by Vampires

Another dramatic shot of four Vampires in a spectacular climb.

The Hauraki Skydivers dared the strong winds and landed accurately on the airfield.

Other exercises included a demonstration of rescue by helicopter after identification by smoke signal (centre above) and the actual rescue pickup (centre below).

One of the skydivers manoeuvres his 'chute as he comes closer to the ground.

Dave Semb and Bill Adams pack up their parachutes after completing their jumps.

A demonstration of Army rescue work by helicopter was also given.

Prior to the pageant the 75th Squadron held a week of exercises in the Gisborne area and these also included practice runs for the pageant.

The old and the new are sharply contrasted. Peter Nicholls (Tiger Moth) and F/O Vaughan Paul and P/O Ian Wood (Vampire jet) chat in front of their planes.

Public Relations Officer Chris Cole points to the injector nozzle where diesel fuel is vaporised in the jet exhaust to form trails.

Fuel tanks load Vampires in readiness for their next operational exercise

The five top Vampire pilots who were responsible for the astounding displays at the pageant are, from left, F/O Graeme Thomson, Lt/C Fred Meyers (U.S. Navy), Ft/Lt Ross Ewing, Ft/Lt Ken Gayfer, and Squadron Leader John Scrimshaw.

An impressive line-up of Vampires at the aerodrome

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 185 : November 5, 1969

Thrilling Jetobatics