Snoopy and The Red Baron knew the joys of taking to the air in their biplanes – and so can you, from a comfortable spot safely on the ground!
Airshows have been popular in New Zealand since the 1930s and there are a number of them held annually throughout the country.
Three of the best known are Wings Over Wairarapa Air Show, Warbirds Over Wanaka International Air Show, and Classic Fighters Air Show.
Wings Over Wairarapa Air Show
Wings Over Wairarapa is held at Hood Aerodrome near Masterton, in the Martinborough wine region. Every second January over the Wellington Anniversary Weekend, some of the country’s top flyers take to the skies in their magnificent machines for your pleasure. As well as stunt flying with WWI and WWII warbirds, there is a range of aircraft including gliders, helicopters, homebuilts, microlights, and gyrocopters on display.
Wings Over Wairarapa Air Show
Classic Fighters Air Show
The Classic Fighters Air Show is held in Omaka, Marlborough, every two years.New Zealand’s first air show was held in the 1930s in Omaka, one of New Zealand’s first airfields.
The family event runs alongside the Knights of the Sky Exhibition, and the Omaka Classic Car Festival. Battle re-enactments, both air and earth based, are integrated into the shows annual theme (in 2013, this will be ‘The Yanks are coming!’) Be prepared for some extreme pyrotechnics and some amazing aerobatics!
You can visit the event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/classic.fighters?ref=ts
Omaka Airpark is in Aerodrome Road, 5km out of Blenheim and central to the Marlborough wine district. While in the area, Taste Marlborough provides an excellent visitor guide to help you get around.
Classic Fighters Air Show
Warbirds Over Wanaka
Since its debut to an audience of 14,000 in 1988, Warbirds Over Wanaka in Otago has become a major attraction and is associated with theNew Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum.
Held every two years alternating with the Classic Fighters Air Show, the air extravaganza now attracts around 80,000 people from around the world to Wanaka Airport for the three-day events.
Wanaka Airport is situated near Lake Wanaka township on State Highway 6. Wanaka is easy to reach by road, by coach or by air charter. Wanaka is a popular scenic resort area at the foot of the beautiful Mount Aspiring. There is plenty to do and see while you are there, including helicopter flights, Stuart Landborough’s Puzzling World and hiking in the breathtaking National Park.
Warbirds Over Wanaka
While the restored warbirds perform world class aerobatic stunts, you can learn about military history and view the vintage vehicles and machinery on show. Merchandise from keyrings to aircraft can be purchased, and refreshments are available.
The next Warbirds Over Wanaka Show is on 18 to 20 April 2014. Reservations can be made from February 2013. Tour and accommodation information is available online at www.warbirdsoverwanaka.com.
Whichever show you choose, sit back and let those magnificent men in their flying machines turn on an unforgettable show for you.
Yours truly,
Daniel Ung
