Planes converge on Whanganui for Flying New Zealand's Cook Strait Area Rally

Pilot Craig Mitchell-Anyon, flying the Wanganui Aero Club's Piper Tomahawk, competing in the senior circuit and landing competition.

Competitors from aero clubs around the lower North Island took to the skies around Whanganui for the Cook Strait Area Rally at the weekend.

Run by Flying New Zealand, the rally over November 2-4 involved clubs from Hastings, Wellington, Kapiti and Whanganui, Wanganui Aero Club president Darren Luff said.

"There were about 50 competitors and around 15 extra aircraft on the aerodrome," Luff said.

"We host it every four or five years. The weather wasn't great so we were lucky we got all the flying done on Friday and Saturday."

Competitions included spot landing, navigation, low flying in designated low-flying areas, instrument flying, life raft dropping and bombing. Wellington Aero Club won the main event.

"We had good co-operation from Whanganui District Council who allowed us to use the aerodrome and good support from other airport users," Luff said.