Warbirds Over Wanaka – 2nd to 4th April 2010
“It’s probably the premier warbird air show, certainly in Australasia,” asserts Peter Pring-Shambler, who has attended almost all Wanaka Easter events since the event’s 1988 inception.
That description is generous because Peter’s Chief Engineer at Temora Aviation Museum, where he looks after a fleet of fourteen vintage aircraft from Tiger Moth to Spitfire, Vampire, Meteor and Sabre, as well as two bombers – a Lockheed Hudson and a Canberra.
Aviation enthusiasts from just about everywhere are drawn to Wanaka’s biennial show by the unforgettable crackling snarl of Roll-Royce Merlins echoing off the mountains, and the smooth baritone rumble of the big radial engines.
The show runs full-on for the Saturday and Sunday, but the “warm-up day” on Friday also draws a crowd, he says. “We always go on Friday because it’s good to see everybody practicing, and you get to walk around all the trade stands as well,” says Peter.
Each day the gates open at 0700. All trade stands, merchandise, children’s area and other displays are open from 8am to 4pm.
Peter gives the region top marks as a location:
“I think it’s the setting that makes Wanaka what it is. It’s surrounded by mountains, and by Easter there’s usually snow, so the scenic background is fantastic! The airport sits on a little plateau, and on the other side opposite the crowd, the plateau slopes off into quite a deep ravine. The aeroplanes can actually descend into the ravine and can’t be seen, so when they do mock dogfights you’ll have aircraft with smoke apparently pouring out of them disappearing into the ravine with lots of pyrotechnics; they make it very realistic and it’s a great display.”
Peter tells us the organisers have mastered the orchestration of the show so there’s rarely a flat spot: “There’s always something happening up in the air, and at the end of the show when they have just about everything airborne and it’s always spectacular.”
As usual with airshows, the complete flying program is still being finalised and there are usually last minute changes, but the show organisers have mastered the art of blending the flying performances into a scene of almost continuous activity:
“For the coming show the RAAF are taking Hornets over there, and they always put on a great show. They’ve had the F-111s there for the last two shows and they’re also pretty impressive. I think the French Navy are bringing some helicopters this time, and of course there’s plenty of local owner-pilot performers.”
Aircraft confirmations at the time of writing are the P-40 Kittyhawk, Corsair, Catalina, Spitfire, Harvards, de Havillands, Yaks, Mustang, some WW1 aircraft and more. But all subject to availability of course.
Adding a touch of intrigue, show organisers say they have “almost finalised an exciting overseas aircraft for the flying programme, one that has not been in the country before.”
They add that: “The show’s collector’s poster will be available for sale prior to the Airshow and depicts this as yet unidentified aircraft, which makes us wonder about a rumour that somebody from the USA will be turning up with a historically early model Mitsubishi – a Zero fighter!
It all started in 1988 when aviation entrepreneur Tim Wallis presented an airshow and country fair that attracted 14,000 visitors to Central Otago’s Wanaka Airport on one day. That number has now reached about 80,000 – a tribute to Sir Tim Wallis’s foresight.
New Zealand has always been adept at tourism, and Wanaka’s no exception. The air show web site (www.wingsoverwanaka.com) tells you everything you need to know about access, accommodation, pricing, and the non-aviation fringe attractions of the region, and Wanaka is also well located to be a jumping-off point for touring the South Island in Autumn when the weather’s at its best behaved. In fact most aero clubs also offer rental aircraft with or without an escorting instructor if you have your licence and log book with you.
The Airshow features all the facilities you’d expect of an international event including onsite parking, disabled facilities and children’s area, and tempting varieties of New Zealand food and wine.
Dates to remember are Friday 2, Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 April 2010.
