Airworthy WWII aircraft fitted with their original, and functional, machine guns are indeed a rarity, with just a handful having this capability worldwide. While there are plenty of sensible reasons why it doesn’t happen too often, and even then, only at very select locations, once in a blue moon, the public has the opportunity to witness these aircraft flying, and operating their armament, at an air show. Such will be the case at Warbirds Over Wanaka in Wanaka, New Zealand next Easter, where Frank Parker will be flying his former Royal Australian Air Force Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk.IV A29-448 (ex-P-40N 42-104730) and performing a live-fire demonstration, albeit with blank ammunition, as part of his air show act. The latest Warbirds Over Wanaka press release gives further details…
Visitors to the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow next Easter are being offered a unique close-up opportunity to see a P-40 Kittyhawk firing its six .50 calibre machine guns.
Auckland-based pilot Frank Parker is returning to Wanaka to fly the P-40. Frank will be firing the guns as part of an aerial display but there will also be a test firing of the guns on the ground on the Friday of the Airshow.
Warbirds Over Wanaka General Manager, Ed Taylor, says Wanaka is the only Airshow in the world where you can see a P-40 firing its guns. “We are working up a great scenario for the Saturday and Sunday which will involve the P-40 hunting and shooting down a couple of enemy aircraft. But before that on the Friday we will be having a special one-off ‘firing of the guns’ on the ground to allow fans to get up close and personal for the experience of a lifetime.”
“The P-40 guns are something of an only-at-Wanaka thing. They were first used back in 2008 and then in 2012 and 2016. It’s great to have them back for 2020. We know they’re very popular especially with our international visitors who just can’t get enough of them,” says Ed.
Pilot Frank Parker says when the guns are fired it changes the P-40’s character from a quaint old aircraft to a ‘weapons system’. “The guns are a bit muted by the engine noise, however the whole airframe rattles – there is no doubt there is some serious action going on. They add a further dimension to the aircraft and the display routine. I’m very privileged to be in the seat and it does give you a very real feeling for how it must have been when P-40s were flying in combat back in the 1940s,” says Frank.
The spent shells will be recovered and signed by Frank and will then be offered for sale to air show visitors raising funds for the Warbirds Over Wanaka Community Trust Flying Scholarships.
Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow is being held at Easter 2020 (April 10th, 11th, 12th with Rides Day on April 13th). For more information and tickets go towww.warbirdsoverwanaka.com
Related Articles
Steadfast Reno Racer to Take Part in Warbirds Over Wanaka…
Warbirds Over Wanaka Air Show Announces Warbird Rides for 2020
First USAF Aircraft Confirmed for Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow
Jet Racing Returns to Warbirds Over Wanaka
Warbirds Over Wanaka 2020 Adds Formation Teams to Lineup
Warbirds Over Wanaka Announce First Major Aact For 2020 Show
Dunkirk Movie Bf-109 to Appear at Warbirds Over Wanaka
Warbirds Over Wanaka Announces Waterfront Event
Polikarpov I-16 Set For Return to Warbirds Over Wanaka 2018
“Warbirds Over Wanaka” ‘18 Shows Promise
Hispano Buchon/Bf-109 On Voyage to New Zealand
Four Air Forces to Attend Warbirds Over Wanaka
USAF to Support Warbirds Over Wanaka
Hollywood Star Bound for Warbirds
P- 40 Kittyhawk: Guns Armed!
Warbirds Over Wanaka – 2016
Warbirds Over Wanaka 2016 – Tickets on Sale
Warbirds Over Wanaka – Jet Race Report
A Lot of International Visitors Expected for The Upcoming Warbirds…
Lamborghini VS Sukhoi 29 at Warbirds Over Wanaka
Be the first to comment
Graphic Design, Branding and Aviation Art