Alexandra Wings And Wheels

[Dave Homewood]

Sunday 24th of September 2017
Alexandra Airfield, Otago
Wings & Wheels Flyover and Classic Car Show

This year have a new event happening on Sunday the 24th “Wings and Wheels” hosted by the Central Otago Flying Club, Alexandra Airport. A fly in of over 100 planes and a show and shine of over 500 classic cars, hot rods and motor cycles, trade displays, craft markets and food vendors.

Entry forms and further information for Wings and Wheels can be found here...

www.corcc.org.nz

www.blossom.co.nz/events/wings-and-wheels

[11SQNLDR]

A beautiful part of the world, I'm sure the locals will put on a great show

[craig]

If only the Cropmaster were ready......

[thebrads]

So this event was on Sunday, and fantastic it was.
The organisers expected 4000-4500 people through the gate ($10), and got 6000. And this is during the crap weather that was around the country at the time. While dry in Alex, the wind got up during the day and impacted the site locally, with the odd gazebo getting rekitted and dust clouds rolling through.
The weather elsewhere in the country prevented an estimated 30 aircraft from attending, some getting stuck at other airfields on the way.
(One very light aircraft came through from Taieri, then as soon as he got in to Alex, gassed up and left to go back otherwise he might not have got home again!)
However, the show went on.
Was very well supported by the car guys, both static display and viewing public, and the aircraft that were present and displayed were highly regarded.
Peter Meadows had L29 ZK-JET there, (and graciously allowed people all under and over the aircraft), Robert Borrius-Broek brought ZK-SAS in (and commented while he had considered selling it, he had decided to keep to for a some time yet). Harmon Rocket ZK-RMD was through from Dunedin way and impressed with speed and general shinyness, as did Furio ZK-NJS with it's very redness. Some RC models also demonstrated.
All in all a great event, and all the talk is of it becoming a regular event, and onwards and upwards next year.

[thebrads]

Wings ’n’ Wheels deemed success despite high winds


www.odt.co.nz/regions/central-otago/wings-%E2%80%99n%E2%80%99-wheels-deemed-success-despite-high-winds
(Link has a photo)

Strong winds prevented some aircraft from reaching the inaugural Wings ’n’ Wheels show in Alexandra yesterday, but it did not stop more than 6000 people enjoying the event.
Hundreds of vintage and high-performance cars were put on display at the Alexandra Airport, while a range of aircraft soared overhead.

Organiser Hunter Clarke said about 6500 people attended the show, which was a collaboration between the Central Otago Rod and Custom Club and the Central Otago Flying Club.

The committee expected about 4500 people, he said.

More than 100 planes were meant to fly over the event, but many were hindered by strong winds.

"They couldn’t fly in from a few of the airports. I hear it was pretty bad over in Roxburgh all day. We still got the main ones, though."

The P-51 Mustang was a crowd favourite.

Organisers expected to hold the event again next year, he said.

"We kind of have to, because there’s just been so much momentum."

They were yet to count the money raised, but funds would go to local St John ambulance services and to National Aviation Course cadet scholarships.

The event was one of many to pack the calendar of the Alexandra Blossom Festival weekend.

Festival event manager Martin McPherson said the garden tours yesterday were "as popular as ever", with many attending its trademark devonshire tea.

The Southern Pro Wrestling event on Saturday night was also a success, and organisers indicated it could return next year, he said.

"It was so professional. Anyone who didn’t go really missed out."

[e-mail]

(The locked image on the ODT website has my P-40E. I gave the reporter stick about fact checking, so he must have done some, as i told him it was a P-40 Kittyhawk. He then must have figured out that it was made by Curtiss, top marks there. Google probably told him it was a "P-40N". At least he tried!

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks for the report Dale. It's a shame to hear the weather impacted the aerial part of the show but just seeing the Mustang there would have been a thrill, and great news that Robert Borrius-Broek is planning to keep it. I saw that Peter Rowley was on the commentary team, that would have been fun, he's great.