Warbirds Over Wanaka 2014

[skyhawkdon]

WOW was discussed at length at our Chch forum meet on Saturday. We all noted the apparent lack of any major overseas or "new" drawcards for the 2014 show. It would also seem the NZ warbird community is far from happy with what they are being offered to cover their costs to participate. Some of the NZ based aircraft on the WOW website as "confirmed attendees" we were told have in fact not confirmed their attendance at all! This is a little concerning less than 6 months out from the show. Perhaps the WOW organisers, who are no doubt following this thread, may like to comment?

[Dave Homewood]

I have heard similar rumblings from various quarters including previously-regular participants who won't be there; and I have also heard a lot of long time supporters and fans of the airshow who have been to almost every show say this time they simply won't bother, citing the huge expense of accommodation and tickets and the extensive travel involved, and the overall hassle to get to the place compared with other big airshow venues which are much more user friendly. Plus as you say the fact there's nothing (yet) advertised as an actual draw-card has cheesed a lot of people off.

[hardyakka]

Look for pylon racing in jets at WoW 2014

Jet Racing at Wanaka

Based on the jet population in NZ I know about, I would have thought that it would be 3 x L39 and 1 x L29, not the other way around...

[vs]

If the last Tauranga Air Show was anything to go by….similar line up….cheap entry and much cheaper accommodation….Not worth the effort or the time.

They certainly don't have the pulling power that they did in the 90's and early 2000's

[mumbles]

Dec 6, 2013 14:45:42 GMT 12 vs said:

If the last Tauranga Air Show was anything to go by….similar line up….cheap entry and much cheaper accommodation….Not worth the effort or the time.

They certainly don't have the pulling power that they did in the 90's and early 2000's

Said it before, but since the late 90's WOW seems to have been marketing itself more at the overseas enthusiast than the locals, and doesn't seem to have acknowledged that the scene and options for the locals are somewhat different now than they were then.

Ironically, I have a good chance of getting to 2014's event, for the first time in a decade I'm I'm honest though the attraction would be more the venue and the company than the show itself - I haven't seen much to get excited about in the media releases so far.

[ErrolC]

Dec 8, 2013 18:09:55 GMT 12 mumbles said:

Said it before, but since the late 90's WOW seems to have been marketing itself more at the overseas enthusiast than the locals, and doesn't seem to have acknowledged that the scene and options for the locals are somewhat different now than they were then.

Ironically, I have a good chance of getting to 2014's event, for the first time in a decade I'm I'm honest though the attraction would be more the venue and the company than the show itself - I haven't seen much to get excited about in the media releases so far.

A talked with a small sample of random Gold Stand attendees at Temora. One I'd met at Omaka, I can't remember if we discussed Wanaka at all. Others either hoped to get to Wanaka, or had a history and plan to go. The regulars said that meeting with other regulars was a big part of why they went, and gave the impression that they would have to be very disappointed with the show to consider going to alternative NZ shows (most of which they weren't specifically aware of).

I can understand Wanaka aiming more for overseas attendees and more casual show-goers, rather than more serious NZ enthusiasts. The later are much more expensive to regularly encourage back, and their location has some definite disadvantages in comparison with the alternatives. They also have advantages, of course.

Like most of the NZ population, travel and accommodation costs in comparison to e.g Tauranga are very noticeable, and there is little that the show organisers can do about that.

[beagle]

There was a short segment on the news tonight showing the L39 and talking about the pylon racing. They mentioned as far as I got it that they were flying in pilots from Reno to do the racing.

[JamesStokes]

I could have sworn I read about the jet racing that the pilots were NZ based... could be wrong though. I have to be honest, I haven't been to Wanaka since 2000, and only vaguely remember that show as I was only about 6. So I am pretty excited to go this time around. And yes, it is a very different and expensive option in comparison with Tauranga and even Classic Fighters, but all the same the scenery is something you just don't see anywhere else... and apart from all this, I have to test out the new lens somewhere!!

[phil82]

Dec 2, 2013 15:40:09 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I have heard similar rumblings from various quarters including previously-regular participants who won't be there; and I have also heard a lot of long time supporters and fans of the airshow who have been to almost every show say this time they simply won't bother, citing the huge expense of accommodation and tickets and the extensive travel involved, and the overall hassle to get to the place compared with other big airshow venues which are much more user friendly. Plus as you say the fact there's nothing (yet) advertised as an actual draw-card has cheesed a lot of people off.

I'm quite prepared to discount the cost of getting to a show [Sam and I went to Avalon this year] when the event is worth it, and quite frankly Wanaka isn't anymore. Even from Wellington it has become a very expensive exercise to get to Wanaka! Avalon this year was brilliantly organised and a great show!

[Dave Homewood]

It's really sad to see so many people feel the same way, that the once iconic airshow that attracted people by bringing in exotic warbirds like Bf109's, Wildcats, etc from overseas as well as showcasing their own local once-ever-growing collection, has now become just another event that's far too expensive compared to other NZ shows. Wanaka set the benchmark that others have followed, but as the others have grown and established themselves, Wanaka seems to have withered and now pales by comparison. It's really sad.

[Dave Homewood]

"Perhaps the WOW organisers, who are no doubt following this thread, may like to comment?"

From what I have been told from a couple of quarters, there are no longer any aviation minded people running the show, Don, so they probably are not even aware of the forum? By the sounds of it, it's just a local town event now, not an aviation event. Hence the reason it's lacking in aviation interest.

[dodgy]

I was surprised at the news article. It went on about a Russian fighter and I was excited thinking something like a Mig-29. Nope. L39 - nothing special there, hell even I have flown one! (It was a great experience though).

Pylon racing is nothing new either. Seen that at Omaka between the Yaks and CJ6s.

I was keen to get to Wanaka as there is a child on the way and no chance for a couple of years after that, but I will be buggered if I am going to see a truckload of money to see the same old stuff again.

And what with the comment about six WWI aircraft? That is about a 1/2 to a 1/3 of what is available at the TVAL airshows I guess..

It is a pity. Wanaka is the first airshow that I ever went to. I flew an Arrow down there and it was a magical experience. I would not bother unless they came with with a unique drawcard.

[Dave Homewood]

Since when were Aerostar L39's Russian? I thought they were Czech.

Wanaka had a pylon race with the Harvards in 1992, I seem to recall. Or was that 1993?

And it was a regular feature of most air pageants in the 1930's across NZ.

[dodgy]

Dec 9, 2013 12:49:26 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Since when were Aerostar L39's Russian? I thought they were Czech.

Yes, exactly. One could refer to them as 'Soviet era' at a stretch I guess. It was quite misleading.

[hardyakka]

I saw two L29s parked outside Canterbury Aero Club this morning when my flight landed at Christchurch. Perhaps the numbers of participating jets quoted are going to be correct.

[mumbles]

Dec 9, 2013 12:49:26 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Since when were Aerostar L39's Russian? I thought they were Czech.

Wanaka had a pylon race with the Harvards in 1992, I seem to recall. Or was that 1993?

And it was a regular feature of most air pageants in the 1930's across NZ.

Seems to be the thing for one or two of the commercial joy-riding operators to refer to them as soviet fighters in their promotional material, when they aren't russian or fighters. The average joe doesn't know the difference anyway. TV3 referred to the L-39 as an "Advanced Fighter" in it's piece yesterday

[ErrolC]

Dec 9, 2013 13:50:21 GMT 12 hardyakka said:

I saw two L29s parked outside Canterbury Aero Club this morning when my flight landed at Christchurch. Perhaps the numbers of participating jets quoted are going to be correct.

Photo of one of the L-29s at Heli Maintenance.

nzcivair.blogspot.co.nz/2013/12/soviet-connection.html

I note that there are 4 L-29s on the ZK register.

[Dave Homewood]

Among the RNZAF aircraft on their list of aircraft attending I note the absence of Airtrainers (The Red Checkers). Is this going to be the first Wanaka show without the Roaring Forties and the Red Checkers?

[Dave Homewood]

I note their webpage does say this though:

"We will soon be announcing our key aircraft act, just tidying up a few last minute details"

Perhaps there will be a decent overseas warbird coming?

[suthg]

I saw an advert somewhere showing two Vampires flying as if in a race - was that on Facebook?

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Six high-powered jet aircraft - some piloted by Reno Air Race and World Champs – will be racing around a course marked by giant inflatable pylons at Wanaka Airport next Easter.

Believed to be a first time outside the USA, the high-speed racing will be part of the entertainment at the Warbirds Over Wanaka International 2014 Airshow.

The ‘#GigatownWanaka Jets’ will feature three Reno pilots challenging three from New Zealand in the world’s fastest motorsport. The final selection of pilots will be released soon, airshow general manager, Ed Taylor, said.

The home of jet racing is the Reno Air Race Championships in the United States. Three of Reno’s most successful pilots will be part of the international team, including multiple Reno champions and a three-times Red Bull World Champion.

The New Zealand team has all but been confirmed and features three of this country’s most experienced aviators, led by Taranaki-based warbird, helicopter and aerobatic pilot Brett Emeny.

For maximum spectator enjoyment, the racing had been based on the Reno format where aircraft race around pylons, rather than the Red Bull Air Races which are based on timed runs, Mr Taylor said.

The #GigatownWanaka Jets will see the six pilots race side-by-side over an aerial ‘race track’. On the home straight the aircraft would pass in front of the crowd at speeds of around 640kmph.

The aircraft being used are three Aero L-29s, two De Havilland Vampires and an Aero L-39. Practise runs would be held during the week preceding the airshow, which begins on April 18th

link

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