Host: Dave Homewood

Recorded: 2nd of March 2025

Published: 28th of March 2025

Duration: 40 minutes, 42 seconds

In this episode NZ Warbirds president Frank Parker is heard talking about flying the various WWII fighters he’s flown during his career. Frank was the first speaker at the WONZ 20th Anniversary Forum Meet at Ardmore on the 2nd of March 2025.

Frank talks about how he first got into aviation, and a little on his RNZAF career, before talking about how he got into flying and owning warbirds.

He then starts talking about getting a rating in Garth Hogan’s P-40N, which he and his wife Liz Needham ended up owning. Then he talks about flying the Supermarine Spitfire, the Yakovlev Yak 3, the Flug Werk Fw190 Focke-Wulf replica, the North American P-51D Mustang, the Bell P-39 Airacobra, and the Goodyear FG-1D Corsair. He also gives a mention to the L-39 jet, too.

Quick Links:

• NZ Warbirds Association Inc.

• NZ Warbirds Association Inc. on Facebook

Thanks to Stuart Russell for his assistance in recording and editing this episode.

Thanks to Phil Treweek for the photos.

Video: You can also watch a video version of this episode, filmed by Stuart Russell for the WONZ Show, here: