Warbirds Over Wānaka returns after six years
An ex-RNZAF WWII Mosquito, US fighter jet displays and a fly-past tribute to founder Sir Tim Wallis, are included in the show this long weekend. By Debbie Jamieson.
The Warbirds Over Wānaka international airshow at Easter looks likely to be a sellout, following a six-year absence. The show has attracted tens of thousands of people to Wānaka every second year since Sir Tim Wallis organised the first event in 1988.
Since then it has grown to become the biggest air show in the southern hemisphere, pumping millions of dollars into the local economy over three days.
However, the 2020 and 2022 shows were cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Warbirds Over Wānaka general manager Ed Taylor said pent-up demand since the 2018 event and an exceptional international programme were behind the massive ticket sales. He had been in his role since 2012 and this was the first time he had seen entire days sell out. The total number of visitors over the weekend was expected to be about 65,000.
Retail spending was down, but people seemed to be keen to shout themselves to events of interest, he said.
“Maybe they’re not buying new undies but coming to an air show instead.”
The Saturday show sold out last week, and Sunday was expected to sell out this past weekend. There were still tickets available to the practice day on Good Friday when all children could enter for free.
Among the key attractions this year would be an ex-Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) WWII Mosquito NZ2308, which lifted off from Ardmore Airport for its first flight in nearly 70 years on Monday, after an 18-year restoration project.
For many Warbirds fans, having the chance to see the Mosquito fly was a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity, Taylor said.
Other highlights included the thrill of the mighty F-16 Fighting Falcon Jets, the skills of the American Eagles jet display team, and seeing see one of the world's great aerobatic pilots, Jurgis Kairys from Lithuania.
The RNZAF’s new Poseidon P-8K maritime surveillance aircraft, which had replaced the P-3K Orion, would debut at the show and there was expected to be an emotional farewell to the C-130H Hercules which was performing its last major air show display before being retired.
The air force was also bringing its Air Force Heritage Flight including the Spitfire, P-51 Mustang and Grumman Avenger.
They would be flying with the modern Texan T-6C trainers, which would also perform as the Black Falcons.
On Saturday and Sunday the shows would conclude with a stunning pyrotechnics display, and a massed fighter flypast paying tribute to Sir Tim Wallis, who died in October.