All eyes to the skies over Mangawhai
A pilot’s vision to host a DIY aircraft display has taken flight in Mangawhai.
The town’s first ever Wings and Wheels fly-in took over the domain on January 18, delighting residents and plane-enthusiasts alike.
Fine weather saw 16 aircraft, from trikes to gyrocopters, fly in from as far as Stratford and Whitianga to spend the day on display in the public space.
Auckland pilot Steve Williams - who owns a bach in Mangawhai and plans to retire there - first had the idea when visiting the domain with his grandchildren.
‘‘I looked at [the domain] and said … ‘I’m sure we could get an aeroplane in here,’’’ he said.
And that’s exactly what he did. ‘‘I put the idea to the Mangawhai Domain committee about eight months ago, and they thought it was a great idea,’’ he said.
Williams then enlisted the help of Northland Microlight Club captain Brian Millet, who has experience hosting a similar event in Parakai.
The pair worked together to plan and expand the event, inviting the Wellsford and Warkworth Vintage Car Club to display alongside the aircraft.
‘‘By the time we invited the cars as well, it started growing way beyond what we envisioned,’’ Millett said.
The day before the event, a runway was measured on to the grass and mown in, complete with shopping bags for markers.
‘‘We've already got people asking if we're going to do another next year’’ Steve Williams
And then, one by one, the planes descended, with Williams’ microlight the first to touch down.
‘‘I think I’m the first aircraft to officially land here in history - we have no record of any other,’’ he said.
Hundreds visited throughout the day, with some children taking a seat in the cockpits for a hands on experience.
A remote control witch on broomstick captured the imagination of all as it zoomed in the skies above.
As the afternoon wore on, the aircraft departed one by one, with some giving the crowd a show of speed and manoeuvreability before disappearing over the hills and out of sight.
Williams says he was thrilled with the turnout, and future events may be in the works.
‘‘I’m blown away, really. This is first one, and we’ve already got people asking if we’re going to do another next year,’’ he said.