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Feature -- 2008
Warbirds over Wanaka 2008
20 years in the making
It’s hard to believe, but the ‘Warbirds Over Wanaka’ airshow celebrates its 20 anniversary this year. From somewhat humble beginnings as a showcase for a few WW2-era aircraft back in 1988, it has grown into an internationally recognised event featuring a whole range of vintage, classic and modern aircraft, as well as an impressive action display of wartime military equipment at each alternate Easter.
What makes the Wanaka event unique is not any one thing, but a combination of the aircraft shown and the stunning Lakes District location. Where else would you see WW2 Russian Polikarpovs – both an I-16 monoplane and I-153 biplane - a Yak 3, an American Corsair and British Hawker Hurricane (a real life veteran of the Battle of Britain and the Eastern Front), plus P-51 Mustangs and P-40 Kittyhawks all in the air at the one time ? Add to that a world-first live firing from the Kittyhawks’ six 0.5 inch Browning machine guns, and the re-enactment on the ground using period military vehicles, equipment, actors and tactics, and you have all the ingredients for fast, furious and loud entertainment. In which case you would appreciate the low level arrival of the amazing F-111, followed by an air shredding display featuring the famous ‘dump and burn’, as well as the flypast of the RAAF’s new C-17 Globe Master.
On a quiter note, other rarely seen aircraft that take to the skies daily include a mass flypast of 1930’s DeHavilland biplanes and a pair of pre-war German Klemms, WW1-era Nieuport, Sopwith and Pfalz fighters, a pair of Vampires jets from the 1950’s, plus such Viet Nam veterans as the Bird Dog, Trojan, Strike Master and Hercules, as well as Iroquois and Bell 47 helicopters. If that is not enough, everybody’s favourite, the DC3 (WW2 C-47) and a rare PBY Catalina flying boat offer a sedate contrast to the wild antics of World Freestyle Aerobatic Champion Jugis Kairys and his Air Bandits display team.
Situated mid-South Island in the picturesque Lakes District, and amid stunning mountain and alpine lakes, the Wanaka event draws people from all around the world. Cool weather on the Friday may have kept some away, but Sunday was a magnificent day for an airshow, and the organisors report that over 86,000 people attended this years event. If you have been thinking of an excuse to visit NZ for a holiday - not that you should need one - then the biennial ‘Warbirds over Wanaka’ or the ‘Classic Fighters’ at Omaka on the alternate year is highly recommended.
Martin Hone
This Hurricane served in the Battle of Britain and on the Western Front in WWII.
C-17 Globemaster.
C-130 Hercules.
An F-111 does a dump and burn.
A PBY Catalina (lower aircraft) and a Nanchang at play.
Precision aerobatics.
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