Brendon Deere's restored World War 2 Spitfire will fly over the region on Anzac Day. Photo / Supplied
Brendon Deere's restored World War 2 Spitfire will fly over the region on Anzac Day. Photo / Supplied
Three aircraft flying in precise formation will pass over Whanganui on Anzac Day morning, thrilling viewers on the ground.
A 1944 Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX will be in the lead, followed by two Texan T-6C air training planes. The pilots will be members of Ohakea's five-member Black Falcon precision aerobaticflying team.
The formation leaves Ohakea air base for the Manawatu at 9.40am. It reaches Hunterville at 10.18, the Aramoho Cemetery at 10.26, Whanganui at 10.30, Whanganui Airport at 10.32, Marton at 10.38 and Bulls at 10.50.
It will be the 10th year that Spitfire owner Brendon Deere has lent his plane for the display, and the second in which the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) has joined in.
It's an expensive exercise for Spitfire owner Deere and his wife, but they're committed to continuing it.
Both their fathers served in World War II, and Brendon Deere's uncle Alan Deere was New Zealand's most famous World War II fighter pilot. He flew in the Battle of Britain.
"We do it because we want to do it. It's something that people seem to enjoy seeing every year. We get very good feedback from it," Brendon Deere said.
This year's flypast will be a proper ANZAC event. One of the pilots is Australian Alex Joel, a qualified flying instructor on exchange from the Royal Australian Air Force.
Squadron leader Sean Perrett will fly the Spitfire. It was restored nine years ago, after being used by Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War II, then the Italian, Israeli and Burmese air forces.
The other Texan air trainer will be flown by Flight Lieutenant Dan Pezaro.
The Spitfire is one of several old aircraft at the Biggin Hill Historic Aircraft Centre, on the Ohakea base. The centre is named after a RAF base Alan Deere flew out of during World War II.
