Rare Bristol biplane to star at airshow

One of only three original Bristol fighter biplanes left in the world will be at the Trust House Wings Over Wairarapa air show this month in a coup for organisers that will see the aircraft fly New Zealand skies for the first time in about 70 years.
An original Bristol Fighter last flew in New Zealand during the 1930s when the predecessor of the RNZAF ? the New Zealand Permanent Air Force - used the D-8040 from 1919-1936, said air show event manager Liz Pollock yesterday.
"Having been recently purchased to be based in New Zealand this will be the first outing for D-8040 and the particular aircraft to feature in Masterton is a F2B in the markings of 139 Squadron that was involved in assisting the Italians in a successful defence against the Austro-German invasion at Villaverla in 1918," she said.
"Also of interest is that Edward, former Prince of Wales prior to his abdication in the 1930s for Wallace Simpson, also flew in this particular aircraft as an observer at one stage."
Mrs Pollock said that after World War I, a farmer in Britain purchased six F 2Bs to use the fuselages as roof trusses for a barn, which were rediscovered and recovered in the 1970s.
"The D-8040 was bought from the RAF Museum, and after its construction number was confirmed, further trading with the RAF Museum and the Shuttleworth Collection - famous for its rare World War I aircraft in flying condition - sufficient bits were accumulated to allow for restoration at Skysport engineering in the UK."
Restoration of the aircraft began in 1991 and the basic airframe was completed the following year, she said, with over 60 per cent of the original wooden components able to be used along with all steel framing.
New flying wires were constructed to original patterns and a Falcon engine acquired from the Prague Technical Museum, along with a wooden propeller from Christies Auction House, she said.
"The engine was overhauled by the Shuttleworth Collection, as they had rebuilt their own machine a few months earlier and the aircraft was finished by Skysport," she said.
The Shuttleworth Collection's chief pilot made the first successful flight, she said, in readiness for its transport to New Zealand.
The D-8040 will join other rare aircraft displaying in the World War I and World War II displays at Wings Over Wairarapa - including the Polikarpov I?153 Chaika for the first time in the North Island, and the Mustang, Corsair and Kittyhawk.
Trust House Wings Over Wairarapa 2007 will run over two days at Hood Aerodrome in Masterton on January 20 and 21.
Tickets are now on sale through Ticketmaster and are available from all Ticketmaster outlets (visit www.ticketmaster.co.nz for outlet details), online by phoning 0800 111999 or online at www.wings.org.nz.