Thread: Tim Wallis

Originally Posted by 30.06king

Several years ago there was an airshow at some event up in Auckland city somewhere. Quite a few warbirds participated in the aerial acrobatics. Later in the afternoon I enjoyed the spectacle of several warbirds heading Southwards for home. Had my binos for great views. Just love the sound of the fighter engines from that era. A couple of the fighters heading south were a P51-D Mustang and a Spitfire ( looked like a Mk 1X but I'm not certain ) flying as a pair and when they were just about directly above me they started aerially cavorting like a couple of happy dogs playing together. Sweeping around , diving, climbing and any manner of manoeuvres. Almost like a real dogfight. It was thrilling to watch and listen to that. Then they parted, the Spitfire continuing South while the Mustang headed North, I think to it's base at Ardmore, South Auckland.
I learned later that it was Sir Tim flying the Spitfire that day. And, I'm less certain about this, but I think I heard it was during that same return flight that he crashed the Spitfire on the final landing down South.

That would have been quite a few severals I think, he pranged the XIV in 1996 & didn't fly again afaik. I don't think I'm being unfair to describe Sir Tim as a bit of a larrikin, it was the way he got things done, a bull at a gate at times but his results speak volumes for the success of his methods even if some toes got squashed occasionally. NZ & the warbirds movement has much to be grateful to him for. RIP Sir Tim.