The latest newsletter released today.
WARBIRDS OVER WANAKA 2022 AIRSHOW CANCELLATION
It is going to take more than a world-wide pandemic to keep the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow down for long.
We were devastated when New Zealand Government directives in regards to large events made it impossible for us to continue to plan for our Easter 2022 Airshow. This was disheartening for all those involved who in many different ways make this amazing Airshow happen every second year – from our small management group to our wonderful volunteers, aircraft owners and pilots, the RNZAF, RAAF and USAF and all our sponsors and funders, not to mention the thousands of people who had already bought tickets.
Having no choice but to cancel the Airshow did not make it any easier, but we hope that by giving everyone a couple of month’s notice it has given them plenty of time to unwind their plans. If you were booked to come to Wanaka we urge you to consider keeping your booking and still come and visit our beautiful town. Our local businesses are hurting, like other tourist towns in New Zealand, and could do with the support.
Everyone in the Warbirds office had been especially looking forward to a spectacular event in 2022 to mark the end of an amazing 14 years service by our Event Manager, Mandy Deans. Mandy has played an integral part in the international success of our event and is well-respected by everyone in the Warbirds and airshow communities.
Mandy has enjoyed every minute of her time with the organisation but says it’s time to explore new opportunities – whether that is taking on some exciting new projects or engaging in more recreational pursuits. I am sure everyone will join me in thanking Mandy and wishing her all the best for the future.
And now the focus turns to Warbirds Over Wanaka Easter 2024 (March 29th, 30th and 31st). We have so many great ideas for the next Warbirds, from home and abroad, so rest assured 2024 will be a spectacular return for this world-famous event.
WARBIRDS OVER WANAKA 2022 REFUNDS
Warbirds Over Wanaka ticket holders from both New Zealand and Overseas will have a full refund. No tickets or monies will be transferred to 2024.
Ticketek has already refunded directly everyone that paid by current credit cards - the monies should be on your card sometime over the next few weeks. Ticketek will be in touch with anyone who has a permanently closed/cancelled or expired card or who paid by other means, in the near future, to organise the refund.
TWENTY24 LTD
A strong link with Warbirds will continue at Wanaka Airport’s biggest hangar with confirmation it has been bought by local aircraft engineering and restoration company, Twenty24 Limited.
The hangar had been home to the Warbirds and Wheels Museum for the past 10 years but the downturn in local tourism brought about by Covid saw the museum forced to close last year. Previously the hangar was used as an engineering workshop to keep the aircraft in Sir Tim Wallis’ Alpine Fighter Collection flying.
Twenty24 Ltd owner, Callum Smith, has worked on numerous Warbird aircraft over the years including the P40 Kittyhawk, P51 Mustang and Sir Tim’s Polikarpovs. Current projects include three 1930s Staggerwings, an ex-RNZAF Harvard and work on a DC-3. Other Warbird projects are also in the pipeline for 2022.
Callum has a long association with the world-famous Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow which will continue to have its office in the hangar. His skills are sought out by many display aircraft owners, especially those who have bought aircraft from overseas and need assistance to get them back together and flying in time for the airshow.
Callum says it’s an exciting time for his company which he owns and operates along with his wife Trish. “We have outgrown our old hangar at the airport and this massive facility gives us the opportunity to expand our operations including working on a lot more Warbird aircraft which we hope will feature at Wanaka airshows for many years to come.”
Warbirds Over Wanaka General Manager, Ed Taylor, says Callum is a great supporter of the airshow. “Callum is one of the busiest people during an airshow, helping owners with last minute engineering assistance once they arrive on the airfield. His expertise across many types of Warbird aircraft makes his being on the airfield an integral part of making sure the event runs smoothly,” says Ed.
RARE WWII WARBIRD VIDEO RESTORED
A twenty-one year old video documentary detailing the restoration and eventual return to airworthiness of Sir Tim Wallis’ Second World War Hawker Hurricane warbird, has been located and resurrected from near extinction by the Historical Aviation Film Unit (HAFU).
The aircraft, Hurricane P3351, was built in early 1940 and during the summer of that year saw action in both the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain. Following an accident in the UK the aircraft was re-built, and in May 1942 it was shipped to Russia via one of the many Arctic Convoys sending vital supplies to the beleaguered USSR. Serving with the Soviets on the Arctic Front until it was shot down in 1943, little is known of the aircraft’s Russian history until it was recovered and purchased as a derelict hulk by Sir Tim some 50 years later.
What followed was a total rebuild of the aircraft, initially in the UK, and then finally in New Zealand by volunteers from Air New Zealand's Engineering Services division. The aircraft was subsequently displayed at numerous Warbirds Over Wanaka airshows in the early 2000's, as part of Sir Tim's Alpine Fighter Collection.
The Historical Aviation Film Unit has sourced a carefully stored copy of the original VHS tape, and has remastered the film for re-release as a new digital copy of the documentary.
The documentary features New Zealand warbird pilot Keith Skilling providing commentary about the first flight of the aircraft, the quality of its restoration, and the characteristics of the Hurricane as a military flying machine. After viewing the video again for the first time in two decades Skilling said: “It’s fantastic to be able to look back at what Sir Tim was doing twenty years ago and to see how the Alpine Fighter Collection was developing at that time. While it’s a shame the Hurricane is no longer in New Zealand, the fact is if it wasn’t for Sir Tim and his passion, no-one would have had the opportunity to see it in action at all. It’s great that HAFU are giving us the opportunity to watch this material again.”
For a limited time the 55 minute documentary will be available to view for free on HAFU’s streaming platform, Historical Machines TV, via the following link:
www.aviationfilm.com/hmtv/p3351
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.
