CANCELLED Warbirds Over Wanaka 2022

[ErrolC]

Nov 20, 2021 7:06:08 GMT 12 skyhawkdon said:

First come first served.

I'm not aware of any NZ airshow with designated seating (other than high-end stuff like tables in top-tier zones).

[machina]

I only asked because as I was purchasing the ticket it had ‘row’ and ‘seat’ which by default stated “GA” and “-“, respectively. I assumed this meant first come but wanted to check.

[Dave Homewood]

WARBIRDS OVER WANAKA 2022 TICKET SALES

Tickets for the 2022 Airshow are on sale with ticket prices 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.

Air New Zealand have just released a Grabaseat deal flying from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch on Friday 15th April, returning Monday 18th April. Price includes a Warbirds Over Wanaka Silver Pass grandstand ticket. LIMITED NUMBERS AVAILABLE, with or without an accommodation option.

EXHIBITORS - COME AND JOIN US AT EASTER 2022.

Coffee at Warbirds 2018

We have an excellent range of food and beverage vendors coming to the Airshow – all tastes will be catered for! Registrations for food vendors are now closed, however we would still like a couple more dedicated coffee vendors – please get in touch if you have any recommendations.

Our Trade stands promise to provide a great opportunity for some retail therapy, with everything from clothing, jewellery, artwork, homewares to aviation-related products on offer. We still have booths available if you are interested.
REGISTER HERE NOW!

THE NEXT WARBIRDS OVER WANAKA AIRSHOW IS ON 15TH, 16TH, 17TH APRIL 2022 - EASTER

AIRCRAFT ANNOUNCEMENT - Supermarine Mk IX Spitfire

A WWII piston-engine Spitfire restored by the Deere family of Marton, in honour of Air Commodore Alan Deere, who served with the RAF for forty years.

THE RAAF F-35A LIGHTNING II - Don't miss this!

AIRCRAFT ANNOUNCEMENT - RNZAF BLACK FALCONS

GROUND EXHIBIT ANNOUNCEMENT – FIELD GUN BARRAGE

The Warbirds Over Wanaka Warhorse re-enactor group are all fired up to attend next Easter’s Airshow with their tribute to the role of field guns in WWII - a ‘barrage’ from at least six field guns and other armaments. This might be the largest gathering and mass firing of field guns in the Southern Hemisphere in decades.

One or two 25-pounders have been a regular sight at the Airshow for many years, primarily as part of the Warhorse static display and o start the community lakeside aerial display on Good Friday.

The display will involve the guns being rolled out to form a battle line down the crowd line. The guns will be fired one after the other, reloaded and fired again and again giving airshow visitors a glimpse of what it would have been like for the Allied forces engaged in such famous battles as El Alamein and Monte Casino.

The ‘barrage’ will be quite a logistical exercise getting all the guns in position as quickly as possible and firing, it will be a big wall of noise,

The 25-pounder was the major allied field gun during WWII. At El Alamein for instance there were some 800 guns deployed. The 25-pounder was introduced just before the war started and was used by armed forces throughout the Commonwealth, including the New Zealand Army, for many decades afterwards.

WARBIRDS OVER WANAKA SCHOOLS PROGRAMME - Friday 15th April 2022

Warbirds Over Wanaka presents our Schools Programme for 2022 and invite your students to participate. All students aged 0-16 are FREE to attend on Friday 15th April 2022.

One of Warbird’s objectives is the education of young New Zealanders about our country’s aviation history. We aim to inspire young people to take an active interest in all facets of aviation at the Airshow.

We invite all students and parents to join the Air Training Corps, 50th (Alexandra) Squadron Cadets on short tours running every half an hour from 9am until 12pm on the 15th April. The meeting point is outside the Warbirds Over Wanaka Event Office, straight ahead of the main entrance at Gate 1.

RNZAF SCHOOL TO SKIES PROGRAMME

This programme travels all around the country and is a fully interactive hands on experience. The RNZAF bring a general aviation sized aircraft and provide an opportunity for hands on maintenance/engineering and the exploration of how things work;

They introduce aviation-based science – the theory of flight (lift generation and the four forces, the three axis of control and primary flight control surfaces etc.) in a super fun and engaging way;

They bring a variety of training aids with us including a wind tunnel, a standalone gas turbine engine (or a 3D printed sectioned model), model aircraft, jigsaw puzzle planes, uniforms and much, much more.

Their mobile program can cater for children of all ages and is designed to be a unique and fun learning experience that builds confidence and fosters curiosity.

See more here

[Mustang51]

Wondering how the announcement today of restrictions into NZ for tourists shall affect WOW. I am hoping that with all the work that has taken place it won't be a problem and lots of sales to Kiwis

[Dave Homewood]

Yes it is hugely disappointing to see the borders will not open till two weeks after the airshow. Really annoying.

[tbf2504]

Are all the barrage artillery guns to be 25 pounders? the illustration above has a 105mm pak howitzer of Vietnam era?

[Dave Homewood]

EXHIBITORS - COME AND JOIN US AT EASTER 2022.

Exhibitor in the Trade Marquee at Warbirds 2018

We have an excellent range of food and beverage vendors coming to the Airshow – all tastes will be catered for! Registrations for food vendors are now closed, however we would still like another dedicated coffee vendor – please get in touch if you have any recommendations.

Our Trade stands promise to provide a great opportunity for some retail therapy, with everything from clothing, jewellery, artwork, homewares to aviation-related products on offer. We still have booths available if you are interested. REGISTER HERE NOW!

AIRCRAFT ANNOUNCEMENT - ASH25 GLIDER

The Schieicher ASH 25 Glider display is one you simply cannot miss. Bringing tears to mine and others eyes, (even some of the hardened WWII fighter fans), this graceful bird with pilot Doug Hamilton, is for many, the star act of the Airshow. With one of the largest wingspans of any glider in the world at 25 metres, the two-seater Open Class glider is capable of a top speed of 280km/h. Doug is a veteran of Wanaka Airshows and a leading New Zealand glider pilot.

AIRCRAFT ANNOUNCEMENT - FRAZER BRIGGS - MOSQUITO

Warbirds Over Wanaka has finally got a Mosquito coming to the Airshow! Albeit with a 3 metre wingspan and two 60cc engines. Frazer Briggs (pictured with his Father Michael) will be flying his Mosquito bomber and his Lavochkin LA-7. New Zealand's most accomplished model aircraft flying veteran, Frazer has represented New Zealand overseas and has been a great supporter of Warbirds Over Wanaka.

You will find it hard to distinguish this model from the real aircraft once it's in the air!

Model aircraft Lovochkin LA-7 coming to you at Easter courtesy of Frazer Briggs. Powered by a 250cc radial engine with an impressive wingspan. Visit the Southern Lakes Model Fliers Club display in Hangar 8 at the Airshow to see more models.

GROUND EXHIBIT ANNOUNCEMENT – FUTURE OF AVIATION

An Electric aircraft, a drone logistics company and a solar space initiative are the latest exhibitors to be confirmed for our “Future of Aviation” exhibition at Warbirds 2022.

The first exhibitor confirmed was Wisk, which is currently trialling its all-electric, self-flying air taxi in the McKenzie Country. The air taxi will be on display at Wanaka. See: wisk.aero/aircraft/

ElectricAir operates the first and only electric passenger plane in New Zealand and its flying display at Warbirds will be a first for a Kiwi airshow. The Pipistrel Alpha Electro is a two-seat light sport aircraft designed for pilot training. Composite with carbon fibre wings and fuselage, making it light and strong, it's around 70% quieter than a petrol equivalent and of course produces zero exhaust emissions. The Electro can fly for about an hour plus reserves at a fuel cost of approximately $2. See: www.facebook.com/RadioNewZealand/videos/350729776191248

Kea Aerospace is developing a solar powered, remotely piloted aircraft that will fly continuously in the stratosphere for months at a time to collect frequent high-resolution aerial images. The zero-emission Kea Atmos will operate at an altitude of around 65,000 feet (20 kms), flying far above the weather and conventional air traffic. With a wingspan of 32-metres, the Kea Atmos will be the largest non-crewed aircraft designed and built in the Southern Hemisphere. See:

Also exhibiting is Swoop Aero, an Australian drone-powered logistics company. Swoop Aero is aiming to provide services accessible by one billion people in 2030, across a range of industries including health, transport, disaster management, and search and rescue. Swoop Aero has already played a significant role in using its drones to get Covid-19 vaccines to remote communities around the world. See:
and

GROUND EXHIBIT ANNOUNCEMENT – WHEELS AT WANAKA

Wheels at Wanaka will have a number of unique vintage wheels on display. From Vintage Tractors and Trucks, to Classic Cars and huge Earthmovers, plus Stella the Steam Engine. West Otago Vintage Club have kindly loaned Stella and she'll be puffing and tooting with all her might. At the main entrance, come say hello and re-live the romance of transport from yonder years.

WARBIRDS OVER WANAKA CLUB MERCHANDISE WINNER!

Many congratulations to Brian Patterson who won our latest Warbirds Club merchandise draw. Brian has been a Club member since 2014 and has been to most Airshows since 1992. A very loyal follower, see Brian's collection of badges and passes from some of the Airshows he's attended.

WARBIRDS VOLUNTEERS 2022

We're recruiting and allocating volunteer roles now. Please register ASAP, if you'd like to be close to the action and part of the Warbirds 2022 Crew. If you know someone who might be interested please get them to register here.

WARBIRDS HEALTH & SAFETY 2022

At Warbirds Over Wanaka we are committed to the health and safety of all our patrons and event team.

As a consequence of the NZ Government's requirements we are doing everything we can to be prepared for any restrictions that might be in place nearer the event. Currently the mandate is that only vaccinated people will be able to attend big events like Warbirds Over Wanaka.

We want as many of our ‘Warbirds’ family to be able to join us next Easter. To this end we are urging all our Team and those buying tickets to our event, to be vaccinated. We believe that getting as many New Zealanders as possible double vaccinated is the single best thing that people can do to help us ALL get back to some normality and enable us to hold our Airshow.

Warbirds Over Wanaka will be responsive to NZ Government mandates. We will communicate our full policy to you all as soon as we are able.

To keep up to date with our latest Health & Safety announcements please see our website.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

We are all go here at Warbirds Over Wanaka's headquarters at Wanaka Airport. Lots of exciting new exhibits and aircraft for you to view. We are so looking forward to catching up with you at the Airshow.

Our office will be closed from the 23rd December, reopening on 10th January 2022.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas, relaxing family times and safe travels.

Ed, Mandy, Suzy, Jane and Colleen.

[typerated]

Is presumably going to be Canx.

[retiredav8r]

why? still 2 month to go

[typerated]

True, But I don't think we will have the same quick up, peak and down of countries like the UK – UK has had it 2 months now.
Hopefully it will be spread over a longer period here.
Also, can't see out government being crazy enough to stop restrictions almost as soon as it has peaked (UK) – hopefully.

I’d like to be wrong but can’t see Wanaka being anything but dead in the water.

Feel sorry for the organisers – they will know anything they do from here is likely for naught (for the second time).

[johnnyfalcon]

At the very least, the F-35s won't be able to come I'd imagine...

[Deleted]

My internal optimist wants to point out there's still a little while before the show, but we'll see I guess.

Jan 23, 2022 18:55:08 GMT 12 johnnyfalcon said:

At the very least, the F-35s won't be able to come I'd imagine...

Well that's a very good point.

[Dave Homewood]

I think it is a little too early to speculate over Wanaka just yet, they have several weeks to make their decision. Even if we all fear the decision won't be good. I feel so sad for the organisers of the Tauranga airshow and also Wanaka, and all the other events being put once again into this position.

Mr Whippy came down out street this evening. I'd not seen a Mr Whippy van in the street for years, and I fancied a snow freeze so I went out and bought one. The poor Mr Whippy bloke was a bit distraught, saying every one of the events he had scheduled to be at over the summer season has now been cancelled, and that he has no livelihood now, and this time around the government is not paying any compensation either. It is the small time businesses like his that will really suffer.

[retiredav8r]

We cant compare the UK management of Covid to NZ. The UK seems to be run by a group of school kids and has no plans in place for control. At least NZ has an attempt at controlling the virus with limiting numbers at events, masks and vaccinations. If we can keep our border tight and restricted for a couple of weeks, hopefully we will see a reduction of cases, not huge increase.
I also thought the minister today announced financial support for small business and employee leave. As for the ice cream truck, nothing stopping him driving around neighbourhood's like they use to and not only attend major functions. Sometimes less equals more.

[mcmaster]

Jan 23, 2022 20:33:09 GMT 12 @zacyates said:

My internal optimist wants to point out there's still a little while before the show, but we'll see I guess.

Jan 23, 2022 18:55:08 GMT 12 johnnyfalcon said:

At the very least, the F-35s won't be able to come I'd imagine...

Well that's a very good point.

Hope still can proceed - fingers and toes crossed. Re the F35, was the plan for it or them to base out of Christchurch? Just wondering as for one recent show in Tasmania the F35 didn’t even land in TAS but flew out of Williamtown and did the display, got some juice from a KC-30 in transit and back to Williamtown. Would or could they do that for Wanaka? Thinking unlikely. At same time the RAAF hasn’t seemed keen to put the new jets at non military fields at least to date.

[ErrolC]

Jan 24, 2022 0:33:52 GMT 12 mcmaster said:

Jan 23, 2022 20:33:09 GMT 12 @zacyates said:

My internal optimist wants to point out there's still a little while before the show, but we'll see I guess.
Well that's a very good point.

Hope still can proceed - fingers and toes crossed. Re the F35, was the plan for it or them to base out of Christchurch? Just wondering as for one recent show in Tasmania the F35 didn’t even land in TAS but flew out of Williamtown and did the display, got some juice from a KC-30 in transit and back to Williamtown. Would or could they do that for Wanaka? Thinking unlikely. At same time the RAAF hasn’t seemed keen to put the new jets at non military fields at least to date.

USAF F-16s used Christchurch, while the RAAF Hawks used Queenstown.

[obiwan27]

Jan 23, 2022 21:02:21 GMT 12 retiredav8r said:

We cant compare the UK management of Covid to NZ. The UK seems to be run by a group of school kids and has no plans in place for control. At least NZ has an attempt at controlling the virus with limiting numbers at events, masks and vaccinations. If we can keep our border tight and restricted for a couple of weeks, hopefully we will see a reduction of cases, not huge increase.
I also thought the minister today announced financial support for small business and employee leave. As for the ice cream truck, nothing stopping him driving around neighbourhood's like they use to and not only attend major functions. Sometimes less equals more.

There's been no virus control, there has been plenty of control over the people of this country, including NZ citizens effectively locked out of their own country by the woeful, not fit for purpose MIQ system.

The summer we were promised if lots of people got vaccinated has turned into a damp squib with event after event being cancelled.

If the government maintains the current approach, then it is likely that this event will be cancelled too.

The UK Govt is dropping vaccine mandates, mask mandates and other restrictions as the effect of omicron has been significantly less than what modelers suggested before Xmas. Ours are no better.

[Dave Homewood]

Really sad news. I feel so sorry for the Warbirds Over Wanaka team to have this happen yet again.  This was just sent out.

MEDIA RELEASE: WARBIRDS OVER WANAKA CANCELLATION – 24.1.22

For immediate release.

One of New Zealand’s major events has been forced to cancel for the second time in two years.

Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow, which was first held in 1988, traditionally attracts some 55,000 people over three days and injects more than $40million into the Southern Lakes regional economy.

Warbirds Over Wanaka Community Trust Chairman, John Gilks, says the board of trustees were left with no option but to cancel following the Government’s decision to put the whole country into the red traffic light setting (under code “red” public events are limited to a maximum of 100 persons).

“The Government has indicated that the country will remain in red for weeks so we cannot continue to plan for an Airshow. The health and safety of the amazing team which delivers Warbirds Over Wanaka and all our visitors is paramount,” says John.

“We know this will be a huge blow for all those people who have worked hard to pull this event together, especially following on from the disappointment of being one of the first major events in New Zealand to cancel because of Covid back in March 2020. It is also going to be upsetting for the thousands of people who have already bought tickets and were looking forward to the enjoyment our event brings so many.”

John says a huge effort goes into organising a big event like Warbirds. “Our small management team is backed up by hundreds of aircraft owners, pilots, volunteers, contractors, suppliers and exhibitors, along with our funders and sponsors, to deliver what is regarded as one of the world’s best Warbirds airshows.”

“We are also extremely disappointed for the numerous businesses, not just in Wanaka but around the region, which benefit hugely from the Airshow. We know they were upset when we cancelled back in 2020 and they were looking to our event this Easter as a major financial boost given the tough times they have faced over the past almost two years. However, by taking the decision to cancel immediately after the latest Government announcement the Warbirds Trustees and Management believe they have given the many accommodation providers and other businesses which benefit from the Airshow, greater time to make alternative plans to recover the business lost as a consequence of our cancellation.”

The 2022 Airshow was also to have been a major part of the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s 85th Anniversary celebrations and at least two international air forces were planning to be here to join in the celebrations, bringing aircraft which had never been seen in this country before.

The next Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow is planned for Easter 2024.

Warbirds Over Wanaka ticket holders from both New Zealand and Overseas will be offered a full refund. Ticketek will be in touch with them in the near future to organise the refund.

ENDS –



For further information contact:

John Gilks
Chairman
Warbirds Over Wanaka Community Trust
0274 342 666
[e-mail]

Ed Taylor
General Manager
Warbirds Over Wanaka Airshows Ltd
0274 307 549

[l29]

Perhaps it should have been 4 shots for summer.... Bro

[retiredav8r]

Jan 24, 2022 8:32:39 GMT 12 obiwan27 said:

Jan 23, 2022 21:02:21 GMT 12 retiredav8r said:

We cant compare the UK management of Covid to NZ. The UK seems to be run by a group of school kids and has no plans in place for control. At least NZ has an attempt at controlling the virus with limiting numbers at events, masks and vaccinations. If we can keep our border tight and restricted for a couple of weeks, hopefully we will see a reduction of cases, not huge increase.
I also thought the minister today announced financial support for small business and employee leave. As for the ice cream truck, nothing stopping him driving around neighbourhood's like they use to and not only attend major functions. Sometimes less equals more.

There's been no virus control, there has been plenty of control over the people of this country, including NZ citizens effectively locked out of their own country by the woeful, not fit for purpose MIQ system.

The summer we were promised if lots of people got vaccinated has turned into a damp squib with event after event being cancelled.

If the government maintains the current approach, then it is likely that this event will be cancelled too.

The UK Govt is dropping vaccine mandates, mask mandates and other restrictions as the effect of omicron has been significantly less than what modelers suggested before Xmas. Ours are no better.

Yes there has been control over people in this country, too try and arrest the virus.
NZ citizens being locked out of there own country, why in hell did they travel overseas in the first place during a pandemic, to see mum and dad, granddad? How many of these selfish travelers returned with the virus?
We were not promised get vaccinated would solve the pandemic, but were informed that being vaccinated would help in preventing catching the virus.
Biggest problem is ignorant people that think because they are important(only in their eyes)they can travel, not get vaccinated, not wear a mask etc.
Using the UK as an example is only good at showing how not to control a pandemic.