Military Jets »

Just Like The Original 'Top Gun'

Six Warbird Jet Fighter/Trainers On A Hot Tarmac

If you like the intense opening scenes of the original Top Gun, then you'll love this video of six vintage warbird jet fighter trainers taxiing and then taking off on a stinking hot New Zealand day...


Click to view video

Three Aero Albatros L-39s, a BAC Strikemaster, and two de Havilalnd T-115 Vampire jets taxi on the tarmac at Hood Aerodrome in Masterton, New Zealand, in prepartion for a massed streaming jet takeoff...  
Photo: Historical Aviation Film Unit

Click To View: Reminiscent of the original Top Gun, you need to crank up the volume of your sound system while you're watching this video...

It's a hot summer day and the air above the tarmac is shimmering and dancing as the high pitched whine of six jet engines draws ever closer and closer. First up three Aero Albatros L-39 jet trainers pull around at the end of the runway and line-up for take-off. These are followed by an ex-Royal New Zealand Air Force BAC Strikemaster, and then by a pair of vintage de Havilland Vampire jets -- examples of the some of first jet aircraft operated by the RNZAF in the 1950's.

Once the all clear is given by Air Traffic Control, the pilots of each of these magnificent machines thrust the throttle toward its maximum reach and the aircraft thunder down the runway one after the other in a scene reminiscent of a streaming takeoff from an aircraft carrier...

These jet aircraft are all owned and operated by members of the New Zealand Warbirds Association, and they're regularly displays at events and airshows around New Zealand. This video was shot during one of the biennial Wings Over Wairarapa airshows held in Masteron, New Zealand.


Share This Story :

Other Stories and Videos:

Exclusive Members-Only Content On Our YouTube Channel

If you sign up to be a Member on our Historical Aviation Film Unit channel then you'll have immediate access to this extra material. Click the button at right, then on our channel page click the 'Join' button - it'll help us immensely.

HAFU Channel Member  

Please consider subscribing to HMTV, or buy us a drink to support our historical (story and film) preservation endeavours.

Comment Form is loading comments...