Air...

Welcome to the 5th post in the Manly March pictorial series: Wings fixed and rotary...

Private Jets

Forget all that queueing at the LHR or LAX; all that personal intrusion by the polyester-clad guards as One is forced to strip down almost to One's under garments, empty out One's neatly packed luggage, and be irradiated from head to toe in a scanner. Just simply step out of your limo and alight the steps of your private jet...

Arrived refreshed and ready...

for business...

or pleasure....

Private Choppers

If landing strips seem a waste of good space, why not invest in a chopper.

Excellent for reaching those hard to reach places, and those places without a landing strip...

Good enough for a Diamond Queen

NB: Willowbrook Park does not condone the use of environmentally unfriendly modes of transport. These posts are all in the name of fun, marvel and wonder! Incidentally, one of my colleagues owns a plane in which he often flies away for the weekend and sometimes to work. His plane costs about $150 per flying hour to run, whereas a helicopter costs about $500 per flying hour to run. So for style and economy the fixed wings have it.

Deco Debriefing...

Well, it was a great weekend. Well organised and well attended - as you can see, heaps (well over half of the people there) were in 1930-40s attire. Two Cruise ships had come in that day, bringing with them over 4000 tourists as well. Here is a pictorial synopsis of the weekend...

The day kick started at noon with the annual parade of vintage cars...

The motors provided a stunning backdrop for fashionable flappers and the dashingly dapper alike...

There were some traditional takes on Deco fashions...

and some not so traditional ones...

During the festivities, the armed forces put on several displays and performed ceremonial duties...

and military outfits were de rigeur for some...

Then the Red Checkers put on an amazing display of Aerobatics during their airshow...

They were flying mainly over the bay, I guess for safety.

The beach itself was lovely, with a clean blue sea and a display of yet more vintage automobiles...

And the amateur photographers were out in force (myself included)...

There was a swing band, called Brett's New Internationals. They were really good. Unfortunately they don't have an albumn out, but I really think they should...

During the day I became fascinated with the vintage hood ornaments / car mascots..

I can remember seeing Lalique car mascots years ago on the BBC Antiques road show and being wowed at the time. So in the afternoon I decided to make a study of some of the 200 bonnets on show. Here is a selection of my efforts...

There were also quite a few vitage motorcycles on display...

and even some traction engines...

We stayed with friends who offer boutique accomodation on the bluff hill overlooking Napier. They also run a great wine tour company called Vines and Views. Definitely the friendliest and best value tour of the Hawkes Bay Viticulture tours, run by Ross, who has worked in the viticulture industry for years.