Deco festival set to spread its wings

The Venom jet in its smokey start-up mode.

A fine and historic slice of this country's aviation history is set to once again be a spectacular part of the Art Deco Festival which sparks into life next Wednesday.

The line-up will effectively celebrate many months of planning and arranging by the Napier Aero Club, and spokesman David Nash said there was plenty of colourful variety set to take to the air.

As has become a festival tradition, the New Zealand Warbirds Roaring 40s Harvards team will be putting on a series of displays, starting on the Friday evening of February 15 over the seafront of the city from 7pm.

They will also be joined by an RNZAF Texan aircraft.

On Saturday the Harvards will put on a display over the Marine Parade from 12.15pm and on Sunday they will again put on a show from 2pm to coincide with the Gatsby Picnic.

Also set to fly in are a squadron of six or more Tiger Moths, a Miles Messenger, a De Havilland Chipmunk, a Ryan and an American Boeing Stearman World War II trainer.

Nash said the Stearman and one of the Tiger Moths will be offering rides.

As will Graham Bethel's iconic P51 Mustang World War II fighter, and Nash said it may be the last time this aircraft will be part of the great festival fly-overs.

"If you have deep pockets and want the thrill of a flight in the Mustang phone me on 027 351 1314," Nash said.

There is also set to be a jet component with the club having arranged for a visit from a de Havilland Venom jet fighter.

It will fly in and go on static display at the Hawke's Bay Airport along with the other aircraft during the festivities.

People wanting to get a close look at the planes can enter from the main Watchman Rd entrance and the parking areas will be signposted.

There will be an entrance fee of $10 a car with the proceeds going to the Napier Air Training Corps as well as help offset the cost of getting the aircraft to Napier.

"As always the event will be subject to weather conditions to allow these planes to fly in," Nash said.

Club president Graham Duley said the club was grateful to the Art Deco Trust, Hawke's Bay Airport, Airways Corporation, Warbirds and Fulton Hogan for their annual support and assistance of the fly-in.