Eyes to the sky in Central for festival
All eyes will be to the sky in Central Otago with up to 100 planes touching down at the rural airport for the annual Alexandra Blossom Festival.
New events feature strongly on the 61st festival’s calendar this weekend, including the Wings ‘n Wheels, a freestyle motocross demonstration and a wrestling show.
Wings ‘n Wheels co-organiser and Central Otago Rod and Custom Club president Alistair Ross said planes would do a fly-by down Alexandra’s main street about 10am today.
About 80 to 100 planes would be touching down at Alexandra Airport from 7.30am, keeping the Central Otago Flying Club busy, he said.
Pilot Neil Sutherland, who lives at the Alexandra Airport in an apartment off his hanger, will be part of the aviation fraternity displaying and flying his plane at the event.
He built his Falcomposite Furio kit-set plane, designed in Auckland, five year’s ago.
‘‘I built the first one, apart from the prototype. There is 3500 hours in this little aeroplane here and it is all made out of carbon fibre.’’
The design stemmed from the America’s Cup when they developed carbon fibre technology, he said.
The two-seater was a ‘‘strong little aeroplane’’.
‘‘It’s fast. It’s probably the equivalent of a fast jetboat or a little sports car.’’
Building the plane had been a challenge, Sutherland said.
‘‘There is a wide spectrum of technical knowledge ... you’ve got an engine, you’ve got fuel systems, you’ve got electrical systems, undercarriage and hydraulic systems and you’ve got aeroplane structure itself.’’
Event co-organiser Hunter Clarke said they were expecting about 4000 people through the gates.
Invercargill couple Helen and Alex Ridd arrived yesterday to secure a spot for the festival events.
‘‘There is a 360-degree vista up here.
‘‘You would pay millions for this in Queenstown.’’