DH Venom air-to-air...from a Tiger Moth?!

On April 25 I turned up at the Wanganui Aero Club to see the Air Force Heritage Flight of New Zealand's Anzac Day flypast, consisting of a Spitfire Mk.IX, Grumman TBM Avenger and two RNZAF T-6C Texan trainers. Darren Luff, club president and owner of Tiger Moth ZK-BEF, saw me and asked “what are you and your camera up to later?” and I was honest in saying “nothing really!”. After the flypast I found Darren and his dad John, who owns the only flying de Havilland DH-112 Venom Cold War jet fighter, chatting and so sat with them. They were discussing comparative speeds and flypast - due to speed not so much formation - positioning and it was when John asked me “where would be best for you?” that I realised I was to take photos of the Venom from the Tiger Moth.

I’m not sure anyone else has ever done this. Let’s just say 1) a bigger lens would have helped and b) those shoulder straps really make it tricky to shoot very far behind! I’m still kinda stunned (and humbled beyond words) I was asked to do this and, despite experience and equipment limitations, that I was able to get anything at all! Considering it was the first time they’d flown these two aircraft together John did a terrific job slowing down to allow for photos, no mean feat given the difference in performance! And yes: Darren had the Tiger going full throttle!

We had three photo runs. John flew the Venom past us a little too far for me first time, swung round and came in closer for the second attempt which made for some good front-3/4 shots, then we turned back to Whanganui and he came past even closer with everything hanging out - a surreal sight while sitting up front in a Tiger - before we parted ways: John back to do a circuit or two, us to drop in to local aviation identity Richmond Harding’s place for a catch-up and then home.

Processing the photos confirmed what I thought midflight: the same lens I complain is no good for airshow photos isn’t particularly suited for air-to-air either! However I’m pleased with what I got. Here’s hoping I can track down a bigger lens to get the photos John and Darren were looking for.

As we were getting ready to go, and when we arrived back at the clubrooms, I kept telling people “I just came here to see the flypast!!”