Warbirds over Wanaka facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Warbirds over Wanaka |
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Lavochkin La-9 at the 2006 Warbirds Over Wanaka
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| Date(s) | Easter weekend |
| Frequency | Biennial: Even years |
| Venue | Wānaka Airport |
| Location(s) | Wānaka |
| Coordinates | 44°43′21″S 169°14′45″E / 44.72250°S 169.24583°E |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Inaugurated | 1988 |
| Founder | Sir Tim Wallis |
| Most recent | 2024 |
| Next event | 2026 |
| Participants | Royal New Zealand Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, United States Air Force, Air National Guard, French Air Force of New Caledonia, Alpine Fighter Collection |
| Area | Wānaka Airport |
Warbirds over Wanaka is a huge air show held in Wānaka, New Zealand. It happens every two years (biennial) during the Easter weekend. The show takes place at Wānaka Airport, which is about 10 kilometers south-east of Wānaka.
The airshow started in 1988. It was first thought up by Sir Tim Wallis, who wanted to show off his amazing collection of World War II aircraft. Since then, it has grown into a very popular event. Many roads close, and traffic is rerouted during the weekend. Hotels and motels in Wānaka get booked up very early, sometimes two years in advance!
Many old and new aircraft from all over New Zealand and the world come to Wānaka for the show. Famous people from the world of aviation also attend, like Gen Chuck Yeager and Buzz Aldrin. The main planes often come from Sir Tim's Alpine Fighter Collection.
On the years when Warbirds over Wanaka isn't on (the odd years), two other airshows take place. One is Classic Fighters in Blenheim, which focuses on World War I aircraft. The other is Wings over Wairarapa in Masterton, in the North Island.
Before the Warbirds over Wanaka show, planes from the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) often fly over Christchurch and Dunedin. This is part of their journey to the airshow.
Contents
- Exciting Moments at Warbirds Over Wanaka
- 1988: The First Show
- 1990: Growing Bigger
- 1992: New Stars in the Sky
- 1994: A Sad Moment
- 2000: Farewell to Jets
- 2002: Polikarpov Power
- 2004: Famous Guests and Planes
- 2006: The Mighty F-111
- 2008: New and Old Favorites
- 2010: International Stars
- 2012: Modern Aircraft Debut
- 2014: Saying Goodbye to a Classic
- 2016: Restored Beauty Flies Again
- 2018: A Huge Lineup and an Incident
- 2020: Cancelled Due to Pandemic
- 2022: Another Cancellation
- 2024: Back in the Skies!
- See also
Exciting Moments at Warbirds Over Wanaka
1988: The First Show
The very first Warbirds over Wanaka show happened in 1988. Besides aircraft, there were also displays of old cars and farm machines. About 14,000 people came to see it. Some of the planes included Tim Wallis's Mustang, a Hawker Sea Fury, and a DC3. The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) also showed off their Red Checkers aerobatic team. The show made a good profit, which helped fund the next event and the local swimming pool.
1990: Growing Bigger
With better planning and more advertising, the number of visitors doubled to 28,000 in 1990. A special highlight was Tim Wallis's Supermarine Spitfire XVI, which had been repaired.
1992: New Stars in the Sky
The main attraction in 1992 was a Messerschmitt Bf 109. This plane was owned by the Old Flying Machine Company. Also, the Alpine Fighter Collection's Curtiss P-40K Kittyhawk flew for the first time after being restored.
1994: A Sad Moment
The 1994 show featured a replica Mitsubishi Zero and a Corsair. These were among 11 new types of aircraft at the event. The Saturday show had a sad moment when a pilot had an accident with his de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk.
2000: Farewell to Jets
The year 2000 saw the first public flight of the Alpine Fighter Collection's Hawker Hurricane P3351. Three Polikarpov I-153s also flew. This was the last time the RNZAF A-4 Skyhawk fighter jets and the Aermacchi MB-339CB Black Falcons display team performed. Their squadrons were later closed down.
2002: Polikarpov Power
In 2002, four Polikarpov aircraft took part in the flying display. Three of them were Polikarpov I-16 monoplanes. The fourth was a Polikarpov I-153 Chaika.
2004: Famous Guests and Planes
The 2004 airshow attracted about 99,000 people. Planes like an ex-RNZAF P-40E Kittyhawk and an FG-1D Corsair were displayed. They flew alongside the local Spitfire Mk.XVI and P-51D. Jurgis Kairys performed at Wanaka for the first time. The only flying Lavochkin La-9 also flew at the show. Buzz Aldrin, a famous astronaut, was a special guest.
2006: The Mighty F-111
The 2006 airshow was held in April. For the first time, a F-111 from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) took part. A record 111,000 people were estimated to have attended this show.
2008: New and Old Favorites
The 2008 air show saw about 86,000 visitors. The F-111 returned, and it was the last year for the Polikarpov planes. The RAAF also brought their new C-17 Globemaster, which was a first for Wanaka.
2010: International Stars
The 2010 show featured the first display of the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets from the RAAF. Another special guest was a Mitsubishi A6M Zero from the Commemorative Air Force, which was brought in just for the show.
2012: Modern Aircraft Debut
The 2012 airshow introduced some new aircraft. These included a T-6C Texan II, which is the RNZAF's main trainer. The Agusta A109 helicopter also made its first appearance. Two Spitfires and a recently imported Grumman Avenger also flew. Even an Air New Zealand Boeing 777 performed a display!
2014: Saying Goodbye to a Classic
The 2014 airshow was the last time the RNZAF Bell UH-1H Iroquois helicopter performed. This helicopter had been a regular part of the show since 1988. It was replaced by the NH-90.
2016: Restored Beauty Flies Again
In 2016, a Hispano Aviación HA-1112 was flown across for the show. The local PBY Catalina also made its first airshow appearance after a long restoration.
2018: A Huge Lineup and an Incident
The 2018 show had many exciting displays. These included U.S. Air Force (USAF) F-16s, the Kiwi Blue RNZAF Parachute team, and the RAAF Hawk 127 jet trainer. There was also a re-enacted WWII dogfight with planes like the Spanish-built Bf 109 and the Spitfire.
Other events included skydivers, model aircraft, and a military re-enactment. The opening of the show had an incident. A Yak-3 aircraft hit a parked lift while landing. No one was hurt, but the plane was badly damaged. An investigation found that the show organizers were partly responsible for not warning the pilot about the obstacle.
2020: Cancelled Due to Pandemic
The 2020 airshow was planned for April. A Boeing B-52 Stratofortress was scheduled to fly over Wanaka, which would have been its first time at a New Zealand airshow. However, on March 15, the show was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the first time in the event's history that it had to be cancelled.
2022: Another Cancellation
The 2022 airshow was also planned for April. A big highlight was supposed to be the first New Zealand airshow display of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II from the RAAF. The Polikarpov I-16, which stayed in the country after the 2020 cancellation, was also set to appear. But because of changes to COVID alert levels, the show was cancelled again.
2024: Back in the Skies!
The 2024 airshow took place in March. It featured the RNZAF Black Falcons aerobatic team and the USAF's American Eagles Jet Display Team. Notable aircraft included an RNZAF de Havilland Mosquito, a restored RNZAF P-51 Mustang, and a new RNZAF P-8A Poseidon. Between 60,000 and 70,000 people attended the 2024 show.
See also
In Spanish: Warbirds over Wanaka para niños
