History comes alive in the sky

The show recognises our war efforts. Picture / Paul Estcourt

In 1988, a group of aviation enthusiasts organised a display of vintage aircraft in a paddock at Wanaka Airport, held their collective breath and waited.

That first show - called Warbirds On Parade - was a one-day event and attracted 14,000 people, far exceeding expectations.

This year, crowds of 100,000 are expected to attend at Easter and organisers are breathing a bit easier.

The Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow has evolved into a biennial event with three days of non-stop aerial action - as well as military vehicles, vintage machinery and ground displays.

The event is the brainchild of Wanaka resident and aviation enthusiast Sir Tim Wallis, who said the airshow was originally envisioned as a display event but has since become an international fixture.

"This is something special. We don't see it every day," Sir Tim said.

As the show continues to cement its reputation and popularity with its crowd-pleasing, noisy boy-racers of the sky, Sir Tim believed its success came down to a simple formula.

With all-day entertainment, world-class display pilots and aircraft, the airshow has captured people's attention, he said.

The show has evolved dramatically from its "country fair" origin, organised in conjunction with the Wanaka Lions - complete with community stalls raising funds for schools and clubs in Central Otago.

The success and wide appeal of the show initially caught organisers off guard but once they saw the potential they ran with it.

A name change, an increase in the number of performing days in 1994 and an emphasis on fighter aircraft were just the beginning.

Sir Tim also makes no secret of the pride and admiration he has for New Zealand's armed forces.

The airshow has been a way for him to pay personal tribute to them.

"It recognises World War I and World War II, where New Zealand was part of the Commonwealth which fought for our freedom.

"In my lifetime I have known New Zealand to be a free country, thanks to those men and women."

He is also pleased at the spin-off success for the town of Wanaka.

The Central Otago alpine and lake resort is often overshadowed by Queenstown, but the airshow has helped put it on the international map.

"The area has been well promoted and people have discovered the beauty of Wanaka because of the show," Sir Tim said.

Airshow general manager Gavin Johnston said plans for an annual show changed after the first event and instead small displays were held every other year until 1996. Since then the smaller shows have stopped and all resources and planning have gone into the biennial airshow.

According to Mr Johnston, the result is "the most spectacular warbird airshow ever held in the Southern Hemisphere".

Being located on the outskirts of Wanaka with the surrounding peaks of the Southern Alps as a backdrop, has not been a bad thing either, he said.

Crowds enjoyed the show without having to be aviation experts - although there was no shortage of them in attendance, Mr Johnston said.

The biggest crowd yet was in 2000, when 108,000 people attended.

He said that despite the vastness of the rural setting, the organisers "can't take many more".

While growth has brought rewards, it has also brought headaches but the problems are more embarrassments of riches.

Organising the show - which now starts almost immediately after the previous one finishes - has become difficult because of the increasing number of people who want to take part.

"It's difficult to satisfy all the people who have aircraft here and overseas who want to appear."

The show's stalls are now largely commercial.

Local groups found it easier to apply for grants than slave away at a stall for three days trying to raise money, Mr Johnston said.

While "everything has got bigger", the success of the show has depended on ensuring it was not a generic event , he said.

It is both the novelty of the air displays and the history behind many of the aircraft and machinery that seem to give the show its appeal.

Among more than 50 aircraft at the airshow are some famous warbirds which were instrumental in four major conflicts.

Mr Johnston said it made the crowd feel as though history was being re-created before their eyes.

As well as participation by aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force and pyrotechnics from the display of military vehicles and tanks, agricultural heritage is also on display on the ground.


Flights of fancy

Wanaka
Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday.

On show
* 50 aircraft, including flimsy biplanes of World War I, Spitfires from World War II, fighter jets from the Korean conflict and Vietnam War strike planes.
* Plus a display of private collectors' classic fire engines, including models by Dennis, Leyland, Seagrave, Commer and Ford.

- NZPA