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Post by craig on Mar 19, 2014 6:00:16 GMT 12
Unfortunately the organisers are not very helpful. My darling wife bought me a family pass to the airshow. But unfortunately for the Friday. I tried to get it changed and the best they would do was suggest I sell the Friday pass (online)and buy another for Sat or Sun. Really......! How hard would it be to charge the difference in price and change the day?
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Post by ErrolC on Mar 19, 2014 7:27:42 GMT 12
When you are using a ticketing agency? Quite hard - or at least expensive, unless you have allowed for it in your deal with the agency (if they even have it as an option).
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mgmike
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 78
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Post by mgmike on Mar 19, 2014 13:20:43 GMT 12
Comparing Wanaka to the Warbirds Open Days at Ardmore is maybe a little unfair on both organisations. The Open Days have more limited flying, less aircraft, and in addition the pilots are giving their time for free and not making any charge for the aircraft use, whereas at Wanaka there is a fee and most aircraft have a reasonable travel time, and therefore cost, to get there. The running costs of the Open Days are also a lot less as they are not a formal airshow as such. I've been on the gate at Ardmore for the Open Days many times and have been a Warbirds volunteer in the grounds, and there are always a few people moaning how they expected more flying! When I gently point out to them that they are paying $15 and not the $59-$85 they would pay at one of the big airshows, there is generally a stunned silence.....
I agree Wanaka has changed a lot since the days that Tim ran it, but I am sure that organising an event that large is a massive task, and balancing the $ cannot be easy. From my perspective I love it simply because of the setting. Omaka is running it a very very close second, and gets better every time. Despite all that and the cost of getting to Wanaka, I really hope it continues.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 19, 2014 13:45:32 GMT 12
I think you'll find that most of the pilots don't get paid at Wanaka either and never have done, and this year the organisation is apparently not even dipping into their pockets for display practice fuel bills either, I'm told. If the information I have been told is correct, this year the pilots and owners also have to pay for their own travel there or transit fuel to/from Wanaka and their accommodation, just as they would if they were heading to Ardmore.
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Post by ErrolC on Mar 19, 2014 13:59:45 GMT 12
But they aren't being compared with the expectation that they are the same thing.
If you can see 80% of the aircraft that you want to see (that will be at Wanaka) at a show that is local to you, why would you spend hundreds of dollars (or more) per person to travel and stay somewhere that is particularly expensive?
I doubt anyone thinks that Wanaka would have an easy time as the warbirds departed the airfield. That doesn't mean that anyone has an obligation to continue attending if the organisers are unable to provide perceived value for money (including costs outside the show proper).
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 19, 2014 14:47:59 GMT 12
Something interesting is we're only a matter of just over 4 weeks out from the airshow and there seems to be loads of accommodation still available in Wanaka/Queenstown, bookable online. I did a scenario where you might stay there for the Friday and Saturday night, as one adult in a single room, and the prices range from $50 for two nights at a backpackers through to $1,490!
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Post by flyinkiwi on Mar 19, 2014 15:49:05 GMT 12
So the consensus is, I picked the wrong year to go to my first Wanaka Airshow?
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Post by corsairarm on Mar 19, 2014 16:19:24 GMT 12
So the consensus is, I picked the wrong year to go to my first Wanaka Airshow? No. You will enjoy it as it is your first. For those of us that have been before it is not what it use to be. There IS more there than going to Ardmore BUT they are not the same. It is just Ardmore is a lot closer for us and cheaper. For me I get just as much pleasure going around the trade stands and buying things. Certainly can't do that at Ardmore to the same extent but then we don't expect to. Enjoy your first Wanaka. |
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Post by rbwannabe on Mar 19, 2014 16:31:29 GMT 12
What mgmike says, there is no way you can compare a full on two day airshow with the Ardmore open days. At ardmore the pilot/owners are asked if they want to fill a slot, and use it as an opportunity to practice their displays. If you are lucky you will get a bit of gas thanks to z energy.
And Dave you are wrong re the pilots getting paid at Wanaka. You put in a quote to do the job based on all the costs involved (ferry,practice,fuel, oil smoke oil accommodation etc) and if it is accepted by the organisers you get a slot. That is not to say that some will do it for the experience.
And of course there is always the chance that the airshow will fail financially (weather etc) and guess who gets stuck with the costs?
It will still be a great airshow at a great venue.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 19, 2014 16:56:52 GMT 12
I am happy to be corrected Richard, thanks, it seems I have been misinformed about the way it is happening this year - by several people. I was told that such things as practice fuel and oil and accommodation and transit costs were not to be in the quotes as they don't intend to pay for it. Hopefully it's scuttlebutt.
I think however that I am right that pilots do not get a nice big personal appearance fee payment at any NZ airshow as happens in some of the overseas circuits. That despite the fact we have some of the best in the world at what they do.
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Post by rbwannabe on Mar 19, 2014 17:14:23 GMT 12
I wish!
There may well be different arrangements, I can't comment on that.
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Post by efliernz on Mar 19, 2014 19:21:27 GMT 12
I last went in 1990! Four of us took a PA28-161 from Stratford... Apparently the show is bigger these days  I got an offer last week for CH-WNK-CH transport + WNK bed. Time for a blokes weekend away  I have loved Masterton, Tauranga and especially Omaka but I'm looking forward to a trip away and frankly, as long as I see something fly, I'll be happy!!! Pete |
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mgmike
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 78
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Post by mgmike on Mar 19, 2014 20:20:07 GMT 12
Sorry Dave I probably worded it badly - main point was that at the Open Days the owners are basically flying for nothing so that the entry fee can stay low, whereas for Wanaka there is an appearance fee, even if its been reduced!
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Post by Peter Lewis on Mar 20, 2014 8:53:32 GMT 12
I am going.
We are flying ANZ down to Queenstown on the Thursday,picking up a hire car and staying until Monday at the YHA Wanaka.
Then driving (fairly rapidly, I hope) up the West Coast to the Nelson/Marlborough region.
We did not get into that area during the Milford Sound trip last year, so intend to spend some days there until we fly back to Auckland the following Tuesday.
Really, to make it worth while from Auckland you need to spend at least 10 days down South.
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Mar 20, 2014 10:13:01 GMT 12
I am going. We are flying ANZ down to Queenstown on the Thursday,picking up a hire car and staying until Monday at the YHA Wanaka. Then driving (fairly rapidly, I hope) up the West Coast to the Nelson/Marlborough region. We did not get into that area during the Milford Sound trip last year, so intend to spend some days there until we fly back to Auckland the following Tuesday. Really, to make it worth while from Auckland you need to spend at least 10 days down South. I'm doing it the other way around. I'm flying from Wellington to Nelson on the Saturday before Easter weekend, picking up a rental car, then driving to Westport for two nights, down to Fox Glacier for three nights, then on to Wanaka for five nights at Lake Wanaka Lodge from the Thursday night. On the Tuesday following Easter Monday, I'll be driving over to Queenstown Airport, ditching the rental car, and catching the daily direct Queenstown-Wellington flight, then jumping on a train back to Masterton. I'll be meeting up with the usual mob in Wanaka. It is always a great social occasion and we'll no doubt drink way more alcohol than is good for us. However, it will possibly be my last Warbirds Over Wanaka. I first attended WOW in 1990 and have been to every one since, always in the Gold Pass grandstand since 1992 except for one year when we tried out the Silver Pass grandstand before moving back to Gold. Last Easter at Omaka, I told the people I always meet up with at Warbirds Over Wanaka that 2014 will probably be the last one I will attend, although I reserve the right to change my mind at any time in the future. It has been a really great 24 years doing a biannual trip to Wanaka (during the earlier years of WOW, a group of us from Gisborne used to spend several weeks down there and tie it in with a few climbing trips in Fiordland or Mount Aspiring or Westland or Aoraki-Mount Cook national parks), but the best airshows are now at Hood and Omaka aerodromes, both a lot closer to home. |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Mar 20, 2014 11:42:47 GMT 12
... the best airshows are now at Hood and Omaka aerodromes, both a lot closer to home. Agreed. |
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Mar 20, 2014 14:14:26 GMT 12
I see that after being missing in action last time, Jurgis Kairy is back at Wanaka again this year.
I was starting to wonder if he had retired when he didn't appear in 2012.
That bugger is MAD, but definitely a drawcard.
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Post by efliernz on Mar 20, 2014 16:34:16 GMT 12
I see that after being missing in action last time, Jurgis Kairy is back at Wanaka again this year. I was starting to wonder if he had retired when he didn't appear in 2012. That bugger is MAD, but definitely a drawcard. I haven't seen him yet and is definitely on the top of my "must see" list. Pete |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 20, 2014 22:55:06 GMT 12
Jurgis is a superb, amazing pilot. He also lives at Wanaka I believe so not really a surprise he'll be involved.
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dodgy
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 90
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Post by dodgy on Mar 21, 2014 13:19:03 GMT 12
but the best airshows are now at Hood and Omaka aerodromes, both a lot closer to home. My sentiments as well. WOW (I think 2004) was the first that I attended, at the conclusion of the air race. It had the Breitling Fighters, Ray Hannah, etc. Perhaps the most memorable (if not the best) airshow is your first one (like sex perhaps??!!) I usually fly down there in a 4 seater from Wgtn. Contemplated taking the tiger, which would make the trip the highlight rather than the show, but cannot justify the time off. In my opinion, Oamaka gets the nod for the greatest innovation and sheer crowd buy in as well as quality and variety of display. Will be a challenge to trump the Mozzie though (but of course, it can be done!). Mr Orphan, et all organise a wonderful weekend and the weather always seems to behave herself (unlike MS which can be hit and miss). |
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