Fighter fever is now in full flight as eyes across the region gaze skyward to the Wings Over Wairarapa aerial extravaganza overhead this weekend. The rumble of tractors and traction steam engines down Masterton's Queen Street coupled with three planes flying in formation overhead yesterday heralded the start of this year'sevent at Hood Aerodrome. Organisers are expecting the number of people flooding through the aerodrome gates today and tomorrow to match that of the 2007 show, which attracted 15,000 on the Saturday and 10,000 on the Sunday. Hopes are also held that this year's event will inject more cash into the local economy than 2007's total of $7 million. Organiser Liz Pollock said hotels, motels and campgrounds across Masterton will tonight be "overflowing" with show-goers, with many more staying in Wellington. Among the aviation enthusiasts checking out the action today is Upper Hutt resident Paul Sowden, who was yesterday treated to a flight over Wellington in a P-51 Mustang after winning a Destination Wairarapa promotion. The father of two was still breathless when he phoned the Times-Age soon after touching down. "It was absolutely exhilarating. I've never experienced anything like it in my life." The Mustang spent the 40-minute flight alongside a P-40 Kittyhawk and tested Mr Sowden's mettle in stomach-churning barrel rolls and nose dives over Wellington. "The turbulence and G-forces were bloody intense. Peeling your eyes upward and seeing the ground above you was a pretty weird feeling. But it was all over far too quickly," he said. The week also proved a memorable one for budding air force pilot Josh Flynn, who suited-up for a shoot at the aerodrome with internationally renowned aviation photographer Philip Makanna on Wednesday. The 18-year-old posed in an original Bristol F.2B fighter, which will feature among a variety of WWI aircraft on display this weekend. Other fighters include a F4U Corsair, Tiger Moth, Percival "Piston" Provost, de Havilland DH-100 Vampire and L-39 Albatross adding to an impressive exhibition of more than 70 aircraft.
