Subdeacon Joe Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 P- 40 Kittyhawk: Guns Armed! PRESS RELEASE -Visitors to the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow next Easter will be treated to a display which has never been performed at any other airshow in the world.Auckland-based pilot Liz Needham will be at the controls of a P-40 Kittyhawk aircraft as she strafes the airfield with six x .50 caliber machine guns.The display was first performed at Warbirds Over Wanaka by Garth Hogan in 2008 followed by Frank Parker. Liz Needham, who is married to Frank, then performed the display in 2012.The P-40 aircraft was restored some years earlier by Garth Hogan and Charles Darby and the guns were later fitted by Paul McSweeny and his team from Pioneer Aero. Paul says all they had to do was fit the guns and connect them electrically and they worked, all of the cockpit detail and plumbing and wiring for them was already fitted. “This just shows the lengths that Garth and Charles had gone to, to have the aircraft restored as close as possible to original specification,” says Paul. Liz says the act is unique to Wanaka. “There is no other airshow in the world to have a P-40 firing guns. From the pilot’s point of view, firing the guns is a separate display to flying the aircraft. Gunner Ashford briefed me on how to fire the guns and the time to hold the trigger down for each burst. He also briefed me on the safety aspects of firing on the ground and in the air. We had a special ‘live firing’ of the guns on the ground for the Gold Pass stand for Sir Tim Wallis in 2012 which went down a treat,” says Liz. Liz says the first time she fired the guns was an experience she will never forget. “From the cockpit the sound of the guns going off is unexpectedly loud and harsh and the first time it actually gave me a fright. But you soon get stuck into the firing. It’s a powerful feeling to be the most heavily armed girl in a P-40 in the world.”Along with flying the P-40 Liz is one of only two female Spitfire pilots in the world. When she is not indulging her passion for all things Warbirds, Liz is a captain with Air New Zealand flying the B767-300W on the South Pacific routes. Warbirds Over Wanaka General Manager, Ed Taylor says they owe a debt of gratitude to the New Zealand Warbirds Association for making the P-40 guns a reality for the 2016 show.“There’s a lot of work and cost involved in organising and fitting the guns to the aircraft and sourcing the ammunition and the Warbirds Association has generously sponsored this for our airshow,” says Ed. The spent shells will be collected and signed by Liz and Frank and will then be offered for sale to airshow visitors raising funds for the Warbirds Association and the Warbirds Over Wanaka Community Trust.In another first at Warbirds Over Wanaka, Bill and Robyn Reid’s Avro Anson aircraft will perform a bomb drop as part of its display.Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow is being held at Easter 2016 (March 25th, 26th, 27th with Rides Day on March 28th).
Four-Eyed Buck,SASS #14795 Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 Didn't know they were allowed to make the guns functional when they restore the old girls.
Chili Ron Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 Howdy, Seems like that should come in under the second amendment. Where is this--New Zeeland? OK, they have info if you click on tht warbirds website. Wonder what that costs out of Ohare field? Best CR
Utah Bob #35998 Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 One question. Is this a true Live Fire or are they using blanks? I assume blanks. I notice there are no pics of impact on the ground. I also can't imagine anyone with ba--s big enough to be taking pics from in front of 6 .50 cals while firing. I can't imagine firing live rounds at an airshow. The "sourcing the amunition" comment makes me belive they are using blanks. I hope so anyway.
Dawg Hair, SASS #29557 Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 Whether blanks or not the sight of dozens of empty cases dropping from the wings of a WWII warbird is a sight that has not been seen in seventy years or so. What a heck of a rush!
Utah Bob #35998 Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 Whether blanks or not the sight of dozens of empty cases dropping from the wings of a WWII warbird is a sight that has not been seen in seventy years or so. What a heck of a rush! Yeah. it is very cool. I'd love to be hitting the fire button.
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 One question. Is this a true Live Fire or are they using blanks? I assume blanks. I notice there are no pics of impact on the ground. I also can't imagine anyone with ba--s big enough to be taking pics from in front of 6 .50 cals while firing. I can't imagine firing live rounds at an airshow. The "sourcing the amunition" comment makes me belive they are using blanks. I hope so anyway. Bob-Been to few military based air-shows that do life fire. Do think your 'rite' about that '40' using blanks, like used in the movies. OLG
Abilene Slim SASS 81783 Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 Liz says the first time she fired the guns was an experience she will never forget. “From the cockpit the sound of the guns going off is unexpectedly loud and harsh and the first time it actually gave me a fright. I can't imagine they'd be anything but blanks. I'm guessing if they had bullets, the added recoil would be substantial! I'm thinking these guns would have to be modified in some way (like those used in films) to eject the cases because there wouldn't be enough recoil to reset for the next round? What say you guys with .50 BMG experience?
Utah Bob #35998 Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 I can't imagine they'd be anything but blanks. I'm guessing if they had bullets, the added recoil would be substantial! I'm thinking these guns would have to be modified in some way (like those used in films) to eject the cases because there wouldn't be enough recoil to reset for the next round? What say you guys with .50 BMG experience? Blank adapter like they use in the movies. Reduces the barrel diameter to increase pressure. And high power blanks.
Abilene Slim SASS 81783 Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 Blank adapter like they use in the movies. Reduces the barrel diameter to increase pressure. And high power blanks. Interesting. Would that be something inserted in the chamber only, or the entire length of the barrel?
Utah Bob #35998 Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 Here's one version of an M2 blank adapter. Scews on.
Abilene Slim SASS 81783 Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 Cool! Didn't occur to me it would go on the front end. Yeah, that guy looks familiar. I think he'd look tough in cowboy duds too.
Four-Eyed Buck,SASS #14795 Posted October 15, 2015 Posted October 15, 2015 Yeah, the business end of that duece does look kinda small
Dubious Don #56333 Posted October 17, 2015 Posted October 17, 2015 Blank adapted guns are still machine guns under the NFA. (if the aircraft is US) The number of legally transferrable machine guns is limited, frozen in 1986. What is out there has steadily gone up in value. Back when Browning M2's were 3500-5000. Today multiply that by ten. They do have guns that hollowood uses that fire propane. Not real guns, no registration or paperwork because they're not firearms. The propane is fed into the barrel area and ignited at the muzzle making a realistic flash. Some go boom pretty good but the foley people always seem to use their own sound overs. Generally, to blank adapt a firearm (I used to do this) you need to restrict the barrel, normally at the muzzle. The 1919 featured in front of Clint Eastwood has a blank adapted booster. That's the round piece screwed on to the front of the barrel jacket. The hole is way smaller than .308 and traps enough gas to function the gun. It still lets enough 'fire' out to be realistic. The M-16 adapter (which is still in use I imagine) clamps on to the flash hider. You tighten the T handle which runs a plug with a tiny hole in it down into the muzzle. For movies (the military one is square and red and looks dorky) you unscrew the flash hider and put a specific size washer basically between the FH and barrel. (no, don't use hardware store washers. They blow out and injure people)
Trailrider #896 Posted October 17, 2015 Posted October 17, 2015 As I was outside my house today, getting the mail from the corner boxes, I heard the sound of aircraft motors. No sound quite like it...unless it would be "FIFI"...looked up just in time to see the "Aluminum Overcast" B-17G fly over!
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.