WARBIRDS OVER WANAKA 2022 TICKETS SALESTickets for the 2022 Airshow are on sale! Ticket prices are on our website with the link to Ticketek to purchase. We have held all prices at the 2020 level and the offering is the same.
EXHIBITORS - COME AND JOIN US AT EASTER 2022.
Airpix, exhibitor at Warbirds 2018
THE NEXT WARBIRDS OVER WANAKA AIRSHOW IS ON 15TH, 16TH, 17TH APRIL 2022 - EASTER
AIRCRAFT ANNOUNCEMENT - CURTISS KITTYHAWK P-40 The Curtiss Kittyhawk P-40 is an American single-engined, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground-attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 was used by most Allied powers during WWII and remained in frontline service until the end of the war. The RNZAF operated 297 Kittyhawks.
This aircraft is owned by Frank and Liz Parker (see Aircraft Owners below).
MEET THE PILOTS Behind every great aircraft displaying at the world-famous Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow is a team of dedicated people including some of the world’s best airshow display pilots. Continuing our series of short video clips we’ve called ‘Meet the Pilots’. Next up is Paul 'Sticky' Strickland and the L-39 he flew at Warbirds 2018.
Flying the L-39 in 2018, Paul ‘Sticky’ Strickland, is a former USAF F-16 pilot and member of the world-famous Thunderbirds aerobatic team. Since leaving the air force ‘Sticky’ formed the civilian Patriots L-39 display team which performs at airshows around the US.
While Paul loves flying the L-39, he still remembers back to his air force days, especially flying the F-16. “After a stint in Europe I came back to the US and was flying the F-5 fighter. Then came the move to the F-16 which was like going from a Triumph Spitfire to a Maserati race car. A monster capable of pulling 9-Gs with a tactical radar and decisive manoeuvring, the F-16 was like a glove one fits on and simply sighs at the comfort and fit,” says ‘Sticky’.
Meet Sticky Strickland
NZ AIRCRAFT OWNERS - LIZ AND FRANK PARKER
When it comes to the New Zealand Warbirds scene there is one couple which needs little introduction – Liz Needham and Frank Parker.
Liz and Frank have enjoyed long and varied aviation careers and have both displayed over many years in high-performance Warbird fighters at the Warbirds Over Wanaka Airshow.
Liz began flying in the 1970s, gaining a type rating in a Tiger Moth and became a flight instructor in 1976. Her warbird journey began in 2003 when she secured a type rating in Harvard 1057 (an aircraft she would later own). The next step was formation and safety training (FAST) and an invitation to join the NZ Warbirds Association’s flag-ship Roaring 40s Harvard aerobatic display team.
Over the years Liz has flown many other types including the P-40 Kittyhawk and Spitfire. Liz is one of just two female Spitfire pilots in the world. For a day job Liz has had a distinguished commercial career and up until recently was a B-777 captain and has clocked up more than 25,000 flying hours.
For husband Frank it’s been around half a century since he first flew solo at the Walsh Memorial Flying School at Matamata. A 16-year career flying in the RNZAF was followed by a successful career as a commercial airline captain.
Read more....Photos: Liz and Frank Parker
WARBIRDS 2020 MERCHANDISE
See our merchandise shop for all Warbirds Airshow kit and 2020 gear.
Below is a list of Aviation magazines we have for sale from $0.50c each. If interested please contact mandy@warbirdsoverwanaka.co.nz and we will advise which Volumes and Issues we have. Postage/Couriers will be an additional cost and we will quote before confirming sale.
TITLE
NZ Aviation News
Classic Wings - Duplicate copies
Classic Wings - Single copies
Classic Wings in folders
NZ Wings/Pacific Wings
NZ Wings
Flying Review International UK
Warplane - UK Aerospace Publishing
Aeroplane Monthly - UK Key Publishing
Confederate Air Force Dispatch - USA
Kiwi Flyer - NZ
Encyl. Of Aircraft Illustrated - Orbis Publishing UK
Images of War WWII UK - War Diary 1939-45
War Machine - UK Orbis Publishing
NAC Airline Review
Air Classics - Challenge Publishing USA
Aeronautics - UK
Air Force Magazine US Association
The Aeroplane, UK Temple Press
Air Training Corps Gazette UK/Air Pictorial
Boeing Airliner - USA
Flight and Aircraft Engineer (Royal Flying Club)
Warbirds Worldwide UK
World Aircraft Information Files, USA Aerospace Publishing
Vintage Airplane - USA EAA
Vintage News - UK Vintage Aircraft Club
Flight International - UK DVV Media Group
Flight Safety CAA - NZ
Air Progress - USA Challenge Publications
Air Transport World - USA Penton Publication
Sport Aviation - USA EAA
Air Display International - UK Ian Allen Publishing
Aero Australia - Chevron Publishing
Flightpath - UK Key Publishing
Dispatch - CAF USA
D.C.O - UK, Journal of the Spitfire Society
Pilot - UK The Riverside Press
Warbirds International - USA Challenge Publications
JANE'S All the World's Aircraft, UK Sampson Low, Marston
The Aeroplane Spotter, UK Temple Press
War in the Air - Aerial Wonders of our Time
Shell Aviation News - UK
The NZ Weekly News - Moa Beckett
Air Mail - RAF Assn Journal
Flying - Ziff-Davis Publishing
NZ Defence Quarterly
Airways - First 50 years, Union Airways/NAC/Air NZ
Air Trails - USA
Flight
Aviation Magazine
Aero WWI, Journal of Early Aeroplane
Aeronautics Aircraft Monogram Close Up
Profile Aircraft
Air Review - Japanese
Air World - Japanese
The Maru Mechanic
Camouflage & Markings of type 1 fighter - Hayabusa, Model Art Co. Japan
Famous Airplanes of the World, Bunrindo
WWII US Navy Carrier Aircraft Still flying - Japan, El Publishing
DO YOU WANT TO FURTHER SUPPORT THE WARBIRDS OVER WANAKA INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW?
If you would like to help the Warbirds Community Trust recover from our significant loss after cancellation of the 2020 Airshow, we would be very grateful for your donation of $50.
Please donate at this link:
warbirds-over-wanaka.myshopify.com/products/donationThank you to all that have already donated, your financial support is much appreciated.
Another Warbirds Over Wanaka Flying Scholarship success story!
During the month of July, Warbirds Over Wanaka Flying Scholarship recipient Lachlan Falconer took one step closer to fulfilling his dream, by achieving a type rating in the T6 Harvard.
Lachlan said “The Harvard is a critical type rating to have for flying any heavier warbird types”.
Lachlan is very grateful for the advice and mentorship he has received from his early days of flying in Tiger Moths, and it has continued within the warbird community with the guidance from many of its members. One day he wishes to be able to return the generosity he has received to the next generation of warbird pilots by sharing the experience and knowledge he has gained.
How did Lachlan sum up flying the Harvard? “I love the Harvard, it’s such an iconic warbird in New Zealand and the world. It’s flying characteristics are similar to other period trainers. It’s not difficult to fly, but it demands of you, accuracy and good handling skills to fly it well, as it emphasises every mistake you make.”
“The Harvard has much better handling and control effectiveness than I was expecting. You can feel the extra weight and energy behind you, especially at the end of the landing roll.”
Lachlan’s advice to anyone who is passionate about warbirds and wants to fly them is “Just get involved. Hang out at your local airfield. Learn to fly tail wheel aircraft, join a warbird aircraft syndicate and volunteer to help out at airshows. You’ll gain so much experience and knowledge. It’s a lot of fun with great people. I’ve personally been involved behind the scenes at Warbirds Over Wanaka since 2002. It’s just part of my life now”.
“I wish to thank the Warbirds Over Wanaka Community Trust for their financial support they have provided myself and the other flying scholarship recipients. Without their generous financial support, it would have been much more difficult for me to achieve this next vital step in my warbird flying career.
Also, a big thank you to Mark O’Sullivan for making his aircraft available and to Ryan Southam for providing excellent flight instruction. It really has been a dream come true.”
Lachlan will continue to focus future flying on continuing to build on his formation and display flying skills as well as advancing in aerobatics.
