Programme change focus of investigation
THE Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow has concluded for another two years, with a few more tales added to its colourful 30year history.
Yesterday’s show progressed smoothly — from elegant biplane formation flying to highspeed F16 jet passes.
Not so Saturday’s show. It began well enough with show founder Sir Tim Wallis (now in his 80th year) completing a run past the main stand aboard a New Zealand Air Force helicopter.
But, weather issues put paid to plans for a ‘‘surprise’’ showopening appearance by a United States Air Force F16.
And then, just 10 minutes into the show, a 1940s Yak 3, in the hands of veteran pilot Arthur Dovey, of Wanaka, crashed into a cherrypicker on landing on the grass runway in front of the stand.
Mr Dovey emerged uninjured and was able to wave to the crowd, but a wing and the undercarriage of his plane were badly damaged.
An eyewitness said the plane hit with a ‘‘hell of a bang’’.
Show general manager Ed Taylor said the ‘‘incident’’ was being investigated.
‘‘Our main concern has been the welfare of the pilot and we have offered him our full support.
‘‘CAA officials were in attendance at the airshow and continue to be involved.’’
There would be no further comment from airshow organisers until the investigation had been completed, Mr Taylor said.
Mr Dovey, who is believed to be in his 80s and was taking part in his final show as a pilot, declined to talk to the media.
The Otago Daily Times understands the weather issue that prevented the F16 from starting the show led to an unrehearsed change in the programme, and a focus of the investigation is likely to be around the briefing given to the pilots before the start of the show.
The cherrypicker was one of two put in place for the pyrotechnic show.
Mr Dovey, who has piloted fighter planes and has been flying for more than 50 years, has owned the Yak 3 for about 13 years.
Yaks are ‘‘taildraggers’’, leaving the pilot with no view out the front windscreen while the plane is taxiing on the ground.
Yaks date back to 1943 and fewer than 10 in the world are still flying.
The only serious accident in the show’s history was in 1994, when the pilot of a de Havilland Chipmunk, Ian Reynolds, of Auckland, died when his plane crashed in front of the main grandstand.
Mr Taylor said the show had been a success, lifted by the presence of the F16s yesterday.
Although they were unable to land on the Wanaka runway, they flew down from Christchurch to put on a loud, spectacular performance over Wanaka Airport.
Mr Taylor said show organisers were already thinking ahead to the next show in 2020 but he declined to say what was being considered. Not in the script . . . Clockwise from above: A World War 2 Yak 3 fighter plane slides to a halt after hitting a cherry picker on the grass runway at Warbirds over Wanaka on Saturday; pilot Arthur Dovey signals he is unscathed; the damaged cherrypicker; part of the crowd at the weekend show.